5,200 m base
Mount Everest from Rongbuk
The north side of Everest — monastery, flag-squares and the Rongbuk glacier with the peak behind them....
See this place →Sacred lake
Lake Namtso
The sky lake — turquoise water under the Nyenchen Tanglha range, and nothing else in sight.
CountryTibet
RegionNagqu · 480 km from Lhasa
Height4,718 m
Best timeMay–Sep
Typical visitOvernight stop
What it is
One of the highest large lakes on earth, salt water in the changeable blue-green colour that makes the name mean “sky lake”. The road runs over a 5,190 m pass to reach it, and the Nyenchen Tanglha mountains stand along the far shore.
How we visit it
As a night stop on the overland drive between Lhasa and Shigatse or Everests base: we cross the pass on the way out and stay lakeside, then return along the grasslands of the Changtang.
Before you go
Good to know
- Nearly 4,800 m u2014 sleep low if you are new to altitude; we will route accordingly
- Cold and windy at any time of year, even in July
- Fuel and food are scarce on this road; we carry both
Tibet Highlights
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5,200 m base
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