Lake Namtso, Tibet, China

Lake Namtso is the second largest saltwater lake in China.  Traveling there from Lhasa gave us the opportunity to experience more of Tibet’s stark countryside.  This place has more appeal to Chinese travelers than to Westerners.

Lhasa is 12,100 feet, and Lake Namtso is 15,479 feet.  There was a snow alert  for the pass we had to climb to get there.  Once there, we enjoyed butter tea with our lunch.  There are souvenir vendors, restaurants, and outhouses with portable squat toilets.  Horses are available and you can have your photo taken sitting on a yak.  At this altitude, after walking down to the lake, I rented a horse to ride back to the car park. 

Framed by snow capped peaks and rock cliffs, the lake’s azure water was bright under a sunny sky.