Today, there was only one destination on the itinerary – Namtso Lake. And once you hear the logistics, you’ll understand why.
This post is part of our 13-day Tibet journey, documenting each day of our journey across Nyingchi, Lhasa, Everest Base Camp, and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway. You can read the full itinerary here.
Early Start from Lhasa & The Long Road to Namtso Lake
We had breakfast again at 6.30am and departed the hotel at 8am. The tour guide told us upfront that the total travel time (round trip) would be about 12 hours, including roughly 3 hours at Namtso Lake itself. It is definitely going to be a long travelling day.
Oxygen Rental & High-Altitude Preparation
Our first stop was an oxygen rental shop. We picked up oxygen supplies that we would need as we continued ascending to higher altitudes for the rest of the trip.
There were two types of oxygen available for rental:
– Large oxygen tanks (similar to diving tanks), meant for use on the tour bus. These are tied and fastened securely to the seats.
– Small portable oxygen tanks, for personal use while walking around.
The recommendation was one large tank shared between two people, plus one small portable oxygen tank per person. This setup worked perfectly for us throughout the journey. When ascending to higher elevations, we took turns using the big tank, about half an hour each, which really helped.
At the shop, we also rented winter jackets (cost RMB 80 per jacket), worried that our own jackets might not be warm enough. Turns out, that was a very good call. The jackets came in handy not just at Namtso Lake, but later on at Everest Base Camp as well.
RMB 700 / 16 hours
RMB 400 – 6 hours
Scenic Drive Across the Tibetan Plateau
Once back on the road, the scenery kept changing. At one point, we even caught sight of a Qinghai–Tibet Railway train passing by – a nice little bonus.
We stopped for a toilet break at one of the most scenic rest stops I’ve ever seen, surrounded by snow-capped mountains in every direction. Such a photo-worthy rest stop!
Lunch followed shortly after, which was much needed before the final stretch of the journey.
Arrival at Namtso Lake Scenic Area
By early afternoon, we finally arrived at Namtso Lake, the highest saltwater lake in the world, sitting at 4,718 metres above sea level. Revered as one of the three sacred lakes of Tibet, Namtso is considered a holy lake in Tibetan Buddhism.
Our tour guide told us we were actually quite lucky – the lake had been closed for several days before our visit due to heavy snowstorms, so conditions had only just improved enough for tourists to return.
Nagenla Snow Mountain: Cold, Windy & Stunning
From the entrance of the scenic area, we drove up Nagenla Snow Mountain, one of the most scenic (and highest) points on the journey, standing at over 5,000 metres above sea level.
It was freezing cold and extremely windy, but the views were incredible – prayer flags fluttering wildly in the wind, surrounded by endless snow-capped peaks. At this altitude, the air felt noticeably thinner, and we were asked to bring our portable oxygen tanks down from the bus.
There were a few merchants selling prayer flags, prayer beads, and even offering photo opportunities with a little lamb. We bought a set of prayer flags (around RMB 150, if I remember correctly). They handed us a pen to write the names of our family members before hanging the flags up for us – a simple but meaningful moment.
Finally: Namtso Lake
From Nagenla, we descended toward the lake itself. Our tour bus dropped us off at the Namtso Lake Tourist Centre, where we transferred to a local scenic bus for the final leg of the journey.
And then – Namtso Lake.
Truly one of Tibet’s most breathtaking natural sights, the lake stretches endlessly toward the horizon – its deep blue waters shimmering under the sunlight, reflecting the sky and drifting clouds, and framed by snow-capped peaks. Waves gently lap against the shore, and the sheer scale of the place is honestly hard to put into words.
Return Journey to Lhasa & Dinner After a Long Day
All too soon, it was time to get back on the road for the long drive back to Lhasa. Even on the return journey, the views didn’t disappoint – we caught a particularly beautiful scene along the way that felt like a perfect final image of the day.
By the time we returned to Lhasa, it was already 8pm plus. We headed straight for a Western-set dinner at Shellong Manor, then back to the hotel to rest. A long day but Namtso Lake made every hour of the journey worthwhile.
Tomorrow we will be leaving Lhasa for Shigatse. Continue reading: Day 7: Lhasa – Yamdrok Tso Lake – Shigatse