Skip to main content
WindhorseTour
Shortlist (0) China travel guide Blog FAQ About us Contact us
info@windhorsetour.com +86-28-85593923
  • Home
  • Tailor-made tour Tailor-made
  • Tibet tours Tibet tours
    All Tibet group tours
    All Tibet private tours

    Destination

    • Lhasa
    • Central Tibet
    • Mount Everest Base Camp
    • Mount Kailash & Far Western Tibet
    • Eastern Tibet Nyingchi
    • Sichuan/Yunnan to Tibet overland
    • Sichuan Tibetan Kham
    • Train Journey to Tibet
    • Beyond Tibet - Nepal Bhutan Tour

    Theme

    • Pilgrimage Tour
    • Culture and Heritage
    • Family focused
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Train travel
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Winter getaways
  • China tours China tours
    All China private tours

    Destination

    • China Multi-city tours
    • Beijing
    • Xi’an
    • Shanghai
    • Hong Kong
    • Guilin & Yangshuo
    • Chengdu
    • Datong & Pingyao
    • Yunnan
    • Guizhou
    • Tibet
    • Yangtze River Cruises
    • Zhangjiajie National Park
    • Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong
    • Mount Huangshan
    • Mount Emei & Leshan
    • Daocheng Yading
    • Sichuan
    • Qinghai
    • Xiamen
    • Harbin

    Theme

    • Pilgrimage Tour
    • Culture and Heritage
    • Family focused
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Train travel
    • Trekking & Biking
    • Winter getaways
    • 1st Time travel to China
    • Panda Volunteer Program
    • Yangtze cruise
  • Silk Road tours Silk Road
    All Silk Road private tours

    Destination

    • Zhangye Rainbow Mountain
    • Dunhuang
    • Turpan
    • Kashgar
    • Badain Jaran Desert
    • Kanas Lake
    • Silk Road Tibet
    • Silk Road China
    • Kuqa
    • Hotan
    • Yining Grassland
    • Jiayuguan
    • Tianshui

    Theme

    • Culture and Heritage
    • Festival
    • Natural scenery
    • Overland
    • Photography
    • Trekking & Biking
  • Travel guide Travel guide
    All travel advice

    Tibet travel advice

    • Tibet travel advice
    • The Ultimate Guide on How to Visit Tibet
    • Best time to visit Tibet
    • Tibet Permit and How to Get the Tibet Travel Permit
    • 50 Things To Do in Tibet, Top Tibet Tourist Attractions
    • A Complete Travel Guide to Mount Kailash and Kora Trekking
    • How to avoid high-altitude sickness in Tibet

    China travel advice

    • China travel advice
    • Guide on How to Travel China, Tips, Popular Destinations [Updated 2023]
    • The Best Times to visit China: By season and by month
    • Planning a Trip to China with 10-Step Guide
    • Top 20 photography destinations in China
    • Top 30 Attractions in China
More
Home > Blog > WindhorseTour Travel Team > The three holy lakes of Tibet Namtso, Manasarovar and Yamdrok

The three holy lakes of Tibet Namtso, Manasarovar and Yamdrok

WindhorseTour Travel Team
WindhorseTour Travel Team

When you read the three names in the title: Namtso, Manasarovar and Yamdrok, what springs to mind? Any ideas? Here’s a hint: They are not the names of Arab countries, nor are they names of mountains. They are in fact, the three Holy lakes of Tibet.

Lake Namtso, with an elevation of 4,718m (15,479 ft.), lies about 250 km (155 miles) northwest of Lhasa. Namtso Lake is regarded by Tibetans as having the purest water quality of the Three Holy Lakes. Lake Titicaca, in South America, is commonly considered to be the highest lake in the world. In fact, Namtso Lake is 906m (2972.4 ft.) higher than Lake Titicaca. Namtso Lake is a mountain lake. It lies on the border between Damxung County and Bangoin County. Namtso Lake has the second highest amount of saline content among lakes in China. (The highest is Qinghai Lake). 

Standing on the shores of Lake Namtso , it appears to be a sea because it extends to the horizon. The lake and the blue sky seem to merge together, and waves surge high into the sky. The water beats stones along the shore. In Tibetan, “Namtso” means “Heavenly Lake," and in Mongolian, “Namtso” means “Tengri Nor" which also means “Heavenly Lake." Being 70km (43.5 miles) in length and 30km (18.6 miles) in width, Namtso Lake is the largest and highest lake in Tibet. 

Lake Mapham Yutso, also called Lake Manasarovar, is 4,500m (14,763.6 ft.) above sea level. It is considered the “mother of holy lakes" by Tibetans for this lake is the source of 4 rivers. In Tibetan, “Mapham” means “invincible”. The deepest part of Lake Manasarovar Yutso is 70m (229.7 ft.). Its perimeter has been assessed at about 90km (55.9 miles).

The third Tibet Holy Lake –Lake Yamdrok, is considered to own the most beautiful water in the world. “Yamdrok” means “Jade Lake on the pasture” in Tibetan. Lake Yamdrok is also called Turquoise Lake. Just like its name, the water is like a big piece of jade. The water source of Yamdrok is unique, with water from snow melt coming from the Nyenchhen Tanglha Mountain Range. Another feature of this lake is that the water has no outlet in spite of its continuous evaporation; still,  Yamdrok Lake enjoys a natural equilibrium between the inflow of snow water and its natural evaporation.

Tourists are recommended to take the Chengdu to Tibet train or the Qinghai to Tibet train to Lhasa, then take a car to the three lakes.  Reference:

    1. How can I get into Tibet?
    2. Get to Tibet by Air
    3. Train Travel From Chengdu To Lhasa
    4. Qinghai-Tibet Railway

    It is necessary for tourists to pack appropriately when visiting Tibet's Three Holy Lakes. Clothing-wise, I recomend bringing down garments; a warm hat, woolden sweaters, warm gloves and shoes. I also recommend wearing many layers of clothes, so you can add or remove articles as the weather changes. It often rains in Tibet during July and August, so you might have to walk through swamps to reach the lakesides, so you'd better bring waterproof boots, too. For more packing information, refer to: What to Pack or Tibet Travel Essentials. Finally, to lessen the effects of high altitude sickness, remember to drink plenty of water in order to keep your body hydrated and snack on carbohydrates for energy. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, or overexerting yourself before your body has a chance to acclimate.

    The natural beauty and mythical power of Lake Namtso, Lake Mapham Yutso and Lake Yamdrok are etched forever in Tibetans’ hearts and minds. If you know of other holy lakes in the world, I am looking forward to reading about yours in the comments section. My son suggested “Blue Lake” in New Zealand, which just goes to show that he has inherited his father’s natural flair for geography.

    Related tours:

    • 5 Day Lhasa City-Plus-Namtso Lake Tour
    • Tibet In-Depth 8 Day Tour (Lhasa / Tsedang / Gyantse / Shigatse / Yamdrok Lake)
    • Mt.Kailash and Lake Manasarovar Overland 15 Day Tour

    Related tours

    Tashilunpo monastery exterior
    Tibet Classical Tour Route
    Kumbum at Gyantse

    6 days Tibet classic tour

    Lhasa
    ⇀ Lhasa
    ...
    Lhasa ⇀ Gyantse ⇀ Shigatse ⇀ Lhasa
    6 days
    ∙ Private ∙
    Culture and Heritage
    On this classic Tibet tour, travel back in time and witness the unforgettable ancient culture of Lhasa, Gyantse and Shigatse. The amazing natural landscapes all the way presets you with the wonders of Tibet.
    Add to shortlist
    From CN¥ 4,070
    CN¥ 3,700
    View tour >
    Lhasa to Tsedang Tour Route
    Samye Monastery Great Photo

    5 days Lhasa and Samye cultural exploration

    Lhasa
    ⇀ Lhasa
    ...
    Lhasa ⇀ Tsedang ⇀ Lhasa
    5 days
    ∙ Private ∙
    Culture and Heritage
    A popular and short sightseeing trip in Lhasa and around with drive to Tsedang the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Discover the mystery of Tibet's Buddhist culture as you visit the most revered sites of Samye Monastery and Yumbulakang Palace.
    Add to shortlist
    From CN¥ 3,100
    View tour >
    distance views of namche barwa from lulang forest in nyingchih
    Lhasa Nyingchi Tour Route
    Peach Blossom in Nyingchi
    potala Palace - the landmark of Tibet
    Sera monastery monks debating tibet tour

    6 days Picturesque Tibet tour with Nyingchi visit

    Lhasa
    6 days
    ∙ Private ∙
    Natural scenery
    See "the Tibetan Switzerland" on a pleasant journey to Nyingchi located in central Tibet. Nyingchi is known for its natural beauty mixed among the high plateau unique scenery of gorgeous alpine lakes and green mountains.
    Add to shortlist
    From CN¥ 4,100
    View tour >
    Central Tibet Tour Route
    Panorama of Namtso Lake

    8 days Central Lhasa spiritual

    Lhasa
    ⇀ Lhasa
    ...
    Lhasa ⇀ Namtso ⇀ Reting ⇀ Tidrum ⇀ Drigung Til ⇀ Lhasa
    8 days
    ∙ Private ∙
    Culture and Heritage
    Explore rural Tibet along a road less traveled. Stay within central Tibet and see the different lifestyles and traditions of the nomads along with traditional villagers. Relax yourself in the unrivaled beauty of holy Namtso Lake.
    Add to shortlist
    From CN¥ 5,450
    View tour >
    Admin data
     

    Popular blogs from
    WindhorseTour Travel Team

    One Day Hike to Mount Qingcheng: the Front Mountain and the Back Mountain
    Cultural cues: don't give a clock as a gift
    11 Interesting Facts about Tibet that You Should Know
    Covid-19 Update 4/15/2020
    The difference in Chengdu's hot pot and dry pot

    Contact us

    • +86-28-85593923
    • info@windhorsetour.com

    Discover

      • Tibet group tours
      • Tibet tours
      • China tours
      • Silk Road tours
      • Create your tailor-made tour

    Company

    • About us
    • Blog
    • China travel guide
    • FAQ
    • Terms of use and Privacy statement

    Customer Reviews

    © 2006 - 2023 WindhorseTour.com - All rights reserved