Peikutso Lake

Peikutso Lake(佩估错) is a beautiful alpine lake located near Shishapangma, the 14th highest mountain in the world. This remote lake sees very few tourists but is a great place to go if you are wanting to see some of the off-the-beaten-path areas of Tibet. The lake sits at an elevation of 4600m/15,100 feet and is a bright turquoise color all year round. On the way to the lake, you will have amazing views of the Himalayan Mountains. There is also usually a lot of wildlife in this area including wild horses, wolves, foxes, deer, gazelle, black-necked cranes as well as yaks and sheep.

To get to Peiku Lake, turn west off the Friendship Highway just north of the Lalung La mountain pass. The turn-off is approximately 72kms south of Tingri or 81kms north of Nyalam.  The lake is a 1.5-hour drive from the turn-off. After driving for about an hour, you will come across the small village of Seylong. Near the village, there is a checkpoint where your driver will need to register and your guide will need to show your permits. You will also have to buy an entrance ticket for the Qomolangma Nature Preserve. The entrance ticket is Y65 per person and Y40 for a vehicle entry ticket. The road doesn't lead all the way to the lake. You will need to hike the last hour or so to the lake, though the hike is quite worth it. If you have time, hike around to the far side of the lake for an amazing picture of the lake with Shishapangma in the background.

Peiku and the area surrounding it are truly some of the best areas in Tibet. With bright blue water, the snow-capped Himalayan Mountains and abundant wildlife, it is strange to think that this area sees so few tourists. The road leading out to the lake is all dirt and is quite rough in spots, but the scenery makes it well worth the drive. There are no hotels or restaurants anywhere near the lake. The closest town is Saga, which is 4 hours away (the town of Dzongka is 1 1/2 hours away from Peiku Lake but is completely closed to foreigners). If you decide to camp in this area, make sure you are well equipped with tents, sleeping bags and food.