Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon

The Yarlung Tsangpo runs east across Tibet, then turns sharply around Namcha Barwa at 7,782 metres and cuts south through the Himalaya toward India, and in doing so it carves a gorge whose depth, measured from river to surrounding summits, exceeds five thousand metres, making it by that measure the deepest canyon in the world. The drop also opens a corridor for monsoon air, so the vegetation changes from plateau grassland to subtropical forest within a short distance. The accessible section near Pai offers viewpoints of the great bend and Namcha Barwa; the inner gorge remains among the least explored places in Asia.

What you actually see

• The great bend - the river swinging around Namcha Barwa.
• Namcha Barwa - the 7,782-metre peak above the gorge, cloud permitting.
• The vegetation change - plateau giving way to subtropical forest.
• The viewpoints - platforms along the accessible stretch near Pai.

When to go

March to May and September to November for the best chance of seeing the peak; the summer monsoon keeps it hidden for weeks at a time. Peach blossom fills the valleys in early spring.

Honest expectations

Namcha Barwa is clouded on most days. Only a short accessible section is open, with shuttle transport and set viewpoints; the deep inner gorge cannot be visited. Permits are required for foreign visitors.

Nearby

Nyingchi lies west; the peach blossom valleys are nearby.