Chinese name: 羊卓雍错Yángzhuō Yōngcuò
Location: Nagarze County, Shannan, Tibet, China; or southern edge of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, around 114 kilometers to the southwest of Lhasa City
Altitude: 4,441 m (14,570 ft)
Type: one of the Great Three Holy Lakes in Tibet; the largest inland lake at the northern foothills of the Himalayas
Opening Hours & Ticket: all day long; 40CNY/Person (all year round)
How to Get There: No direct bus to Yamdroktso Lake; you may either hire a private car or choose our clean and safe tour vehicle with seasoned local tour guide and driver. It often takes 2 hours 30 minutes to drive 114km from Lhasa to Yamdrok Lake.
Lying on the southern edge of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, Lake Yamdrok (Yamdrok Tso or Yamdrok Yumtso) in Nagarze, Shannan, is the largest inland lake at the northern foothills of the Himalayas as well as one of the Great Three Holy Lakes in Tibet, along with Namtso and Manasarovar Lake.
Located around 114km to the southwest of Lhasa, this stunning lake with an altitude of 4,441 meters has been one of the most attractive sights on the Land of Snows. Traveling along G318 Friendship Highway and S307 National Road, you can take a break at the crest of the Kamba La Pass, the ideal place to get the best vista shots of Yamdroktso with the imposing Mt.Nojin Kangsang standing tall in the far distance. Strolling along the lake-shore, you may encounter the devout Tibetan pilgrims prostrating in full length, observe the beautiful turquoise-blue water changing the color with the sunlight, get a closer look at the fish living freely in the holy lake, take fabulous pictures with Tibetan Mastiffs dressed in their colorful ruffs, etc. By the way, do not forget to bring your camera and wide-angle lenses to capture the starry night sky and migratory birds on the islands.
What’s more, Lake Yamdrok Yumtso is a major hub for trips to Potala Palace in Lhasa, Mount Everest Base Camp in Shigatse, and Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake in Ngari. Please follow our in-depth guide below and make the most of Yamdrok Lake tour.
