Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse
Depart from Lhasa, follow National Highway 349 past the blue waters of Yamdrok Lake (Yamdrok Yumtso), cross the ice tongue area of Karola Glacier, and finally arrive in Shigatse. The total distance is about 350 kilometers, with a drive of 7 hours, taking in snow mountains, holy lakes, and glacier wonders along the way.
[Yamdrok Lake · Spiritual and Holy]
It is one of the three great holy lakes of Tibet, formed when glacial debris blocked the river channel. The lake surface sits at an altitude of 4,441 meters and covers an area of 638 square kilometers. Viewed from above, the lake water is like a winding silk ribbon. Refracted by sunlight, the blue is rich in layers, sometimes light blue like a clear sky, sometimes deep blue like a mysterious gem. It is surrounded by snow mountains such as Noijin Kangsang Peak, which stands at 7,206 meters, majestic and spectacular, complementing Yamdrok Lake. Within the lake, 21 small islands are scattered like stars, each with its own character.
[Karola Glacier · Wondrous]
This glacier can be called "wondrous." It is located at the border between Nagarze County and Gyantse County, is one of the three major continental glaciers of Tibet, and is the eastern source of the Nyang Qu. It backs onto the southern slope of Noijin Kangsang Peak, and the front edge of its ice tongue sits at an altitude of 5,560 meters. The upper part of the glacier is a gently sloping ice cap, while the lower part is an ice tongue in the form of a hanging glacier. Under the sunlight, its ice surface gives off a cold gleam. Features such as crevasses and ice pagoda forests are extraordinary, as if they were ice-and-snow wonders carved by nature. Films such as Red River Valley were shot here.
🍽️ Breakfast included, lunch on your own, dinner on your own
🏨 Shigatse Star-rated Accommodation
