Lhasa - Lakenla Pass - Holy Elephant Heavenly Gate
Depart from Lhasa in the early morning, driving along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, passing through the Northern Tibetan grasslands. Colorful prayer flags flutter along the way, and the Qiangtang grasslands offer boundless scenery, with the distant [Nyainqentanglha Mountains] capped in year-round snow, a breathtaking sight. Then arrive at the [Lakenla Pass], from where you can gaze at the heavenly lake Namtso in the distance. Namtso has vast shores surrounded by grasslands, with clear waters reflecting the surrounding snow-capped mountains—a beautiful scene like a sparkling pearl set upon the vast Qiangtang grasslands.
This itinerary does not go to the Tashi Peninsula of Namtso. Instead, we will continue along the half-circle route around Namtso until reaching the core scenic area on the north shore of Namtso, the [Sacred Elephant Gate]. The large elephant-trunk-like stone gate lies quietly by the lakeside, with a crescent-moon-shaped shoreline ahead, where the Nyainqentanglha Mountains and Namtso gaze at each other. Snow mountains and lake waters meet, the lake surface is azure like a mirror, devout Tibetan pilgrims have left traces of prayers around, and prayer flags and khata flutter in this serene and beautiful spot. If time permits, you can also climb to the top of the Sacred Elephant Gate to overlook Namtso and the stunning shoreline of the Sacred Elephant Gate.
🍽️ Breakfast not included, lunch included, dinner included
🏨 Sacred Elephant Heavenly Gate