Yamdrok Lake Tours — Kora, Trekking and Loops
Yamdrok Lake is one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet, a long turquoise lake below the Gampala Pass, about three hours from Lhasa. Most visitors see it for half an hour from the pass. We offer three ways to know it better: a kora around it, a trek on its shores, or a loop that passes it on the way to somewhere else.
What Is the Best Way to See Yamdrok Lake?
Choose a kora for meaning, a trek for walking, or a loop for variety. A kora is a full circle around the lake, made clockwise as pilgrims do, part on foot and part by vehicle — the right choice in Saga Dawa, the holiest month. A trek means real walking days on the shore, with camping. A loop drives out by one road and back by another, with time to walk by the lake on the way.
Yamdrok Lake Kora — a Full Circle, Walking and by Vehicle
- 7 Days Yamdrok Lake Inner Kora — 7 days, small group or private. The closed circle around the mountainous peninsula in the south of the lake, from Nagarze and back, past Samding Monastery. Two nights in Nagarze.
- 7 Days Yamdrok Lake Outer Kora — 7 days, small group or private. The closed circle around the whole lake, from the foot of the Gampala Pass and back, with the snow mountains of the south shore.
Yamdrok Lake Trekking
- 7 Days Yamdrok Lake Trek on the Inner Circle — 7 days, camping. Three walking days on the pilgrims’ paths of the inner circle, with our vehicle carrying the camp and bringing fresh food. No yaks needed.
- Walking the Yamdrok Lake shoreline — private, any length. Day walks along the western shore with the vehicle as a shuttle, built into a private journey.
Yamdrok Lake Loop Tours
- 7 Days Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake and the Yarlung Valley — 7 days, small group or private. Half a day walking along the lake, then over the Zhila Pass to the Yarlung Valley for Yumbulakhang and Samye, and back to Lhasa.
- 5 Days Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake — 5 days, small group, from US$560. Over the Gampala Pass, along the quiet east shore and back to Lhasa over the Zhila Pass.
- Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake Culture & Nature Tour — 5 days, private — a journey we ran for real guests. The quieter way in, by Jedexiu and Chode Monastery, never the same road twice.
- Lhasa · Yamdrok · Gyantse · Shigatse — 6 days, private. Yamdrok Lake and the Karo La glacier to Gyantse and Shigatse, and back to Lhasa.
Yamdrok Lake is also on the way on most of our tours to Gyantse, Shigatse and Everest Base Camp. See all our loop tours, or send us a free inquiry — we answer within 12 hours, Monday to Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to see Yamdrok Lake?
It depends on what you want. A kora is a full circle around the lake, part on foot and part by vehicle, best in Saga Dawa. A trek gives you real walking days on the shore with camping. A loop tour drives out and back by different roads, with time to walk by the lake on the way.
What is the Yamdrok Lake kora?
A pilgrims’ circuit around the lake, always made clockwise and ending where it began. The inner kora, about 110 km, goes around the peninsula in the south of the lake; the outer kora, about 230 km, goes around the whole lake.
Can you trek at Yamdrok Lake?
Yes. Our 7-day trek walks three days on the inner circle with camping, our vehicle carrying the camp, and we can add day walks along the western shore to a private journey.
How far is Yamdrok Lake from Lhasa?
About three hours by road, over the Gampala Pass (4,794 m). The lake lies at about 4,440 metres, some 800 metres higher than Lhasa, so we always spend a few days in Lhasa first.
Is Yamdrok Lake a holy lake?
Yes. Yamdrok Lake is one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet, with Namtso and Lake Manasarovar, and Tibetans make the kora around it, especially in Saga Dawa.
We answer within 12 hours, Monday to Saturday.