Namtso, “Heavenly Lake”, lies half a day’s drive north of Lhasa. Once you’ve set eyes on its crystalline, turquoise water, framed by a backdrop of rolling grasslands and snow-covered mountains, all travel fatigue is instantly banished. The views from the many small monasteries, meditation caves and other sacred sites surrounding the lake are breathtaking – quite literally, with the altimeter at 15,500ft (4,718m), only a notch lower than the height of Everest Base Camp!