Namtso from Lhasa
Namtso Lake lies about 240 km from Lhasa, with a lake level of 4,718 m according to an older official source from 2022. The road crosses the Nagen La pass at 5,190 m, which makes the trip one of the highest outings you can take from the city. Many visitors do it as a long day from Lhasa, others spend a night nearby.
Namtso is not part of a standard Potala Palace visit, but several tours add it to a longer programme. Like every trip in Tibet, it needs an agency, a guide and a vehicle, and your agency clarifies any additional documents the route requires.
Our picks: tours to Namtso
The private four-day tour goes to Namtso only, the group tour combines it with Everest Base Camp, and the small-group tour adds a longer route over ten days. Namtso lies high, so check the oxygen each tour lists.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
9-day Everest Base Camp and Namtso group tour
- Tibet Travel Permit and other permits where required
- 8 nights of accommodation
- Entrance fees including eco-buses
One night is in the Everest Base Camp tent camp, or in the Everest Town guesthouse in winter. Each person gets a portable oxygen bottle.
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10-day Everest Base Camp and Namtso small-group tour
- English-speaking Tibetan guide
- Tibet Travel Permit and other permits
- Entrance fees and Base Camp bus
Accommodation includes a dorm bed at Rongpuk Guest House. An invitation letter for the Chinese L visa is provided if needed.
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4-day private Namtso Lake tour from Lhasa
- Namtso admission on 2 visits
- Permit processing
- Portable oxygen bottle per person
Hotel nights are two in Lhasa and one in Damxung, with 3 breakfasts and 1 dinner. The tour goes to Namtso only and does not visit Potala Palace.
Check availability →Namtso Lake tours from Lhasa
A private four day Namtso trip, a nine day group tour with Everest Base Camp and a ten day tour that adds Namtso, with live prices and availability.
Direct bus in summer 2026
A dated service, not a year round timetable.
A notice of 17 August 2026 reports a daily direct bus from Lhasa to Namtso from 8 August to 31 October 2026. Passengers gather between 07:30 and 07:50, and the return reaches Lhasa at around 19:00. The bus alone costs 100 CNY. A package with entry and the internal bus costs 270 CNY.
The notice covers that summer period only, so do not count on the bus in winter. If you travel with a tour, the vehicle and the entry are usually part of the programme, which you can see in the includes.
Winter at Zhaxi Island
Free entry, paid shuttle, and a warning about ice.
In the winter campaign the Zhaxi Island area of Namtso has entry of 0 CNY. The shuttle there is not free: it costs 100 CNY until 31 October 2026 and 85 CNY from 1 November 2026 to 15 March 2027. The operator has also warned about ice on the lake. Do not walk on the ice or swim, and follow the instructions of your guide and the staff.
North shore road works
Shengxiang Tianmen and the access road.
The north shore with the Shengxiang Tianmen attraction is a different access from Zhaxi Island. The attraction has been open again since 26 September 2026. The road from Dongga and Qinglong to the Sanshengshi service point is closed in sections from 20 August to 31 December 2026 because of construction, and visitors are directed to another route. This is not a closure of Namtso as a whole, but ask your guide which access your day will use.
Yamdrok Lake
The turquoise lake on the Lhasa road.
Yamdrok Lake lies at 4,441 m. An older tourism source from 2011 gives about 100 km and two hours from Lhasa. From 16 March 2026 the notice lists a base tariff of 120 CNY, an adult price of 100 CNY and 60 CNY for certain groups. Whether a foreign card or document qualifies for the reduced rate is not explained, so ask your agency. In winter the lake is named among the destinations with free entry, although extras such as transport are still charged. Several tours on this page include Yamdrok in the route.
Altitude on the way
Take it slowly before you go higher.
Namtso is far higher than Lhasa, and the pass is higher still. Give yourself the first days in the city before you drive up, and read our page on altitude sickness in Lhasa. The private four day tour lists one portable oxygen bottle per person and one cylinder for the group among its includes. Back in town, the things to do in Lhasa page and the Tibet travel permit page cover the rest of the planning.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Namtso from Lhasa?
About 240 km according to an official source from 2022. Ask your guide for the driving time of your route.
Is there a direct bus to Namtso?
In summer 2026 there was a daily bus from 8 August to 31 October, at 100 CNY for the ride only or 270 CNY with entry and the internal bus. Do not assume it runs in winter.
Can I walk on the ice at Namtso in winter?
No. The operator warns about ice on the lake, so stay on the shore and follow your guide.
Does a Namtso tour include the Potala Palace?
It depends on the tour. The private four day Namtso trip visits the lake only, while the longer Everest tours combine several sights, so read the includes.