The Northern Route of Ngari: Crossing the Forbidden Zone of Life to Meet Your True Self
The Northern Route of Ngari, located in western Tibet, delves deep into the heart of the "Roof of the World," offering a dreamlike journey that connects the most breathtaking highland landscapes with mysterious cultural heritage. This route traverses the vast wilderness of the uninhabited Changtang region in northern Tibet, dotted with sacred lakes like Lake Manasarovar and Namtso, and towering sacred mountains such as Mount Kailash and Nyenchen Tanglha. Historical relics like the ruins of the Guge Kingdom and Tholing Monastery whisper tales of past glory. In Tibetan legends, Mount Kailash is the abode of gods, the waters of Lake Manasarovar can cleanse sins, and the overnight disappearance of the Guge Kingdom remains an unsolved mystery. The unique geographical features and profound cultural heritage attract countless travelers to this enigmatic land.
🛬【Itinerary】
Recommended duration: 10–13 days to fully appreciate the grandeur and mystery of the Northern Route of Ngari.
Sample itinerary:
D1: Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Shigatse
Depart from Lhasa, cross the Gampa La Pass, and encounter the jade-like waters of Yamdrok Lake. Then visit the awe-inspiring Karola Glacier before arriving in Shigatse in the evening.
D2: Shigatse → Lhatse → Saga
Travel westward along National Highway 318, passing through Lhatse and enjoying the highland scenery before arriving in Saga for the night.
D3: Saga → Zhongba → Lake Manasarovar → Lake Rakshastal → Darchen
Visit the "Sacred Lake" Manasarovar and the "Ghost Lake" Rakshastal, experiencing their contrasting atmospheres. Arrive in Darchen in the evening for a distant view of Mount Kailash.
D4: Darchen → Mount Kailash Kora (optional) → Zanda
If opting for the kora, embark on the sacred pilgrimage around Mount Kailash. Otherwise, head directly to Zanda, marveling at the unique landscape of the Zanda Earth Forest along the way.
D5: Zanda → Guge Kingdom Ruins → Tholing Monastery → Zanda
Explore the mysterious ruins of the Guge Kingdom and visit Tholing Monastery, feeling the weight of history. Return to Zanda in the evening.
D6: Zanda → Shiquanhe
Cross uninhabited areas to reach Shiquanhe, the capital of Ngari Prefecture, for a short rest.
D7: Shiquanhe → Gê'gyai → Xiongba → Yare → Rendo Township
Enter the core section of the Northern Route of Ngari, passing through deserts and grasslands before arriving in Rendo Township.
D8: Rendo Township → Lake Ngariqung → Lake Renqingxiupu → Lake Taruo → Lake Zabuye → Coqên
Encounter multiple highland lakes, each with distinct colors like gems embedded in the earth. Stay overnight in Coqên.
D9: Coqên → Lake Zarinamco → Lake Tangra Yumco → Wenbu South Village
Visit Lake Zarinamco and Lake Tangra Yumco, staying overnight in Wenbu South Village to experience the tranquility of a lakeside settlement.
D10: Wenbu South Village → Wenbu North Village → Nyima
Travel along Lake Tangra Yumco to Nyima County, enjoying the lake and mountain views from different angles.
D11: Nyima → Lake Daze → Lake Seribu → Lake Siling → Bangor
Admire several lakes, with Lake Siling, Tibet's largest lake, offering stunning beauty. Stay overnight in Bangor.
D12: Bangor → Namtso → Holy Elephant Gate
Head to Namtso and visit the Holy Elephant Gate, marveling at the breathtaking lake views and unique landforms. Optional lakeside camping or lodging.
D13: Holy Elephant Gate → Damxung → Lhasa
On the return journey, revisit Namtso before passing through Damxung back to Lhasa, concluding the trip.
⛺【Must-Visit Attractions】
Mount Kailash: Revered as the center of the world by Bon, Hinduism, and Tibetan Buddhism, its pyramid-shaped peak is perpetually snow-capped. A kora (circumambulation) around the mountain is believed to accumulate immense merit, making it a sacred site for countless devotees.
Lake Manasarovar: One of Tibet's three sacred lakes, its crystal-clear waters are said to purify the soul. The surrounding scenery, framed by Mount Kailash, exudes a divine aura.
Guge Kingdom Ruins: The once-glorious Guge Kingdom vanished overnight, leaving behind majestic palaces, temples, and cave ruins. Its mysterious history and spectacular architecture attract explorers.
Zanda Earth Forest: The world's most typical and extensive Tertiary stratum weathering formation, its bizarre shapes create a dreamlike landscape under shifting light, a paradise for photographers.
Lake Siling: Tibet's largest lake and a haven for migratory birds, its vast blue waters and surrounding wildlife embody untamed beauty.
Lake Tangra Yumco: The largest sacred lake in Bon religion and the cradle of the ancient Zhangzhung civilization. Its elongated, deep waters and the idyllic Wenbu South Village on its shores offer serene beauty.
🍩【Must-Try Foods】
Yak Meat: Ngari's yak meat is firm and nutritious. Try yak jerky for its chewiness or yak hotpot, where tender meat pairs with local vegetables in a rich, flavorful broth.
Tibetan Yogurt: Fermented from yak milk, it has a thick texture and tangy flavor. Sweetened with sugar or honey, it’s a refreshing treat.
Butter Tea: A highland staple made from butter and strong tea, it provides energy and helps with altitude sickness, offering a rich, memorable taste.
Tsampa: A traditional Tibetan staple made from roasted barley flour mixed with butter tea or barley wine. Easy to carry and filling, it’s a must-try for experiencing Tibetan cuisine.
🏨【Accommodation Guide】: Choose your preferred star rating—our planners will book according to your needs.
🚌【Transport Guide】: Private car service throughout for comfort and privacy.
🧡【Tips】
Altitude Sickness Prevention: With an average elevation above 4,500m, altitude sickness is a risk. Take anti-altitude sickness medicine (e.g., Rhodiola) 1–2 weeks in advance. Carry oxygen bottles and other remedies. Avoid strenuous activity, get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and seek medical help for severe symptoms.
Documents: Bring ID and border permits (required for Ngari; obtainable at your hometown or Lhasa). Some sites may check documents.
Clothing: Large temperature swings mean thick down jackets, thermal pants, and windproof layers are essential year-round. Pack high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and UV-protective clothing. Comfortable hiking shoes are a must; bring professional gear if planning a kora.
Supplies: Carry ample water, snacks, and basic medicines (cold, fever, stomach). Some areas lack supplies. Bring power banks and spare camera batteries to capture the journey.
Environmental Care: Ngari’s fragile ecosystem demands no littering or vegetation damage. Minimize impact to preserve this pristine land.
Communication/Navigation: Some areas have weak or no signal. Download offline maps and navigation apps, share your itinerary with family, and stay connected.
Ma Bianxuan is absolutely wrong! This lake is in Tibet Ali, blue like a jewel, clean enough to see the shadow of the snow-capped mountains, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, like a painting. The believer said that the lake can wash away all sins, take a sip and drink it, and it is cool and sweet. In summer, the lake is full of wild flowers, and in winter, it is iced and shiny. You can take a photo as a mobile phone wallpaper. People who turn to the lake walk while reading the scriptures, and you follow it for a walk, and your heart is particularly practical. The most godlike thing is that it is separated from the ghost lake next door by the road, one light and one salty, and it is like twins. This place is high in altitude but not cold. Lying on the grass and watching the clouds drift past, you can stay in a daze all day. That's it!
The car passed by, beautiful. One of the three holy lakes in Tibet, but because in Ali, few people went there specially. In Gang Rinpoche South. Usually you need to drive by yourself. This time there is a shuttle bus from Puland to Ali District Bus Terminal. I am fortunate to see the style and meet.
Today, I came to the lake and got stuck. Fortunately, three Tibetan rescue guys, Sangdan, Garma and Qujiang, helped us drive out the car under the rain. They also filled the pits that were not easy to walk along the way. It was very hard. Thank you again!
Mapangyucuo is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Compared with Yangzhuoyucuo and Namcuo, Mapangyucuo is located in the remote Ali, not known for its reputation, and visitors know less. There are thousands of lakes large and small in Tibet, and there are only three holy lakes. Mapangyucuo is the real holy lake in the hearts of Tibetans. The surrounding area of the lake is located in eight temples of various religions and sects. Every year, many believers turn to the lake. When I went there was November in the Gregorian calendar, which was the off-season for tourism in Tibet. Although the holy lake was surrounded, no one was guarding it. We didn't buy tickets and easily turned over the fence to reach the lake. The southwest corner of the lake stands at an altitude of more than 7600 miramunani, and the northwest side of the lake is the famous mountain of Okrug Rinpoche. Looking at the lake from a distance, the water is extremely deep blue, and when you approach it, it shows different colors such as deep blue, bright blue, light blue, and light green, similar to Duoqingcuo. This season, the plateau weather is very cold, the wind is also very strong, and the lakeside stone is thick with ice. The lake near the shore is densely packed with water birds, tens of thousands, including hemp ducks, black ducks, spotted fins and so on. Seeing such a beautiful scenery, sometimes I want to become a water bird, free between the blue sky and the blue water.
The pure beauty of Mapanxuan's mistake cannot be expressed in words. A small mani pile is built on the lakeside, sitting quietly, letting the body and mind integrate into the earth, and letting the mind receive the essence of nature, if there is a god.
Mapanyucu, one of Tibet's three holy lakes, is located in the "roof of the world" - Ali region. This is the second and first freshwater lake in China for water storage and transparency. And along with the nearby Gang Rinpoche Peak, it is regarded by Buddhist believers as the "holy place - the center of the world". Mapangyu is the Buddhist "source of the four rivers" - Maquan River, Peacock River, Xiangquan River, Shiquan River, of which the Shiquan River is the upper reaches of the Indus River. "Mapangyu" translates to Chinese as "the invincible jasper lake". So this is the pilgrimage hot spot for Buddhists around the world. In July, travel around Tibet and come to Ali from Everest Base Camp. After the Mayoula Pass at 5211 meters above sea level, I ran all the way to Ali's most beautiful scenery, the Holy Lake Ma, next to the Cuo. After dinner that day, enjoy the sunset view of the Holy Lake on the hill of Jiwu Temple. First saw Ma Bangcuo, amazing, shocking: in front of you is a blue lake, bluer than the sea, more beautiful than the gem, blue people are swaying, as if to be melted in this blue water. The sky is blue, the clouds are scattered, and there is a rainbow hanging on the sky. Nearby is the green grass, the snow-white pagoda, the colored meridian, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The snow-capped mountains and clouds are connected together, the blue water and the blue sky are connected together, so a fairyland, do not think about the world... At sunset, the clouds reunite, press the lake, a few red clouds, light up the gray sky and the dark lake. Jiwu Temple and lakeside houses under the dusk look holy and lonely. Watching the sunset in the strong wind by the lake, watching the mistake next to Ma gradually spread gold, red, purple and gray... Jiwu Temple on the hill by the lake flashed the sacred golden light under the sunset. Occasionally, a few dogs barked, a few wisps of smoke, the wind gave people warmth, people could not bear to move their steps, and their hearts were empty. The dusk by the holy lake on the plateau is silent, let go of all the worries of the world, and breathe quietly...