The Great Himalayan Lakes

The picture-perfect turquoise blue lakes of Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, and Tso Kar in the eastern highlands bordering Tibet are among the most spectacular destinations in Ladakh. These vast expanses of shimmering sapphire-blue water are hemmed in by dramatic barren mountains, snowy peaks, and some of Asia’s largest high-altitude lakes.

Whilst Pangong Tso is usually combined with a visit to Leh and the Nubra Valley, Tso Moriri and Tso Kar are normally visited on the way up from Manali to Leh. A visit to either Pangong Tso or Tso Moriri will reveal that the road journeys you undertake to either lake are equally spectacular and enable you to appreciate Ladakh’s extraordinarily varied and dramatic landscape. Other smaller lakes, including the sacred Tiricha Lake near Sumur in the Nubra Valley, the striking Tso Kiagar, and the glacial Suraj Tal Lake on the way up to the Baralach La pass, are also incredibly photogenic. The juxtaposition between barren mountains, blue sky and glittering water makes the Himalayan lakes particularly photogenic.

We recommend an overnight stay at Pangong Tso to savour the lake’s scenic splendour as well as observe the shimmering blue waters of Pangong Tso change colours at sunrise and at least two nights at Tso Moriri given its remoteness and as this lake is not only a birdwatcher’s delight but also offers the chance embark on a stimulating walk along the shores of the magnificent lake and follow the migratory route of the Changpa nomads.