Basum Tso

Basum Tso lies at about 3,480 metres in eastern Tibet, low enough and wet enough that the slopes around it carry conifer forest rather than bare grassland, which makes it look quite unlike the lakes of the central plateau. The water is deep green, snow peaks close the valley at the far end, and a small island near the middle holds Tsodzong, a Nyingma monastery of the fourteenth or fifteenth century reached by a causeway or boat. A kora path runs around parts of the shore past prayer flags and old trees, and villages of timber houses sit in meadows along the water.

What you actually see

• The green lake - deep water ringed by conifer forest.
• Tsodzong monastery - the small Nyingma temple on the island.
• The snow peaks - mountains closing the head of the valley.
• The shore kora - a walking circuit past prayer flags and villages.

When to go

April to October, with rhododendron and meadow flowers in late spring and colour in October; winter is cold and the road can be difficult. Cloud and rain are common in summer.

Honest expectations

Entry is charged and includes shuttle transport within the site. Foreign visitors need permits for Tibet arranged in advance. The lake is a standard stop on Sichuan-Tibet highway tours and busy in season.

Nearby

Nyingchi lies east; Lhasa is west along the highway.