Login
Facebook
YouTube
WhatsApp
Twitter
There are some of the finest lakes in Asia, which come with diverse scenery, culture and fauna. From high-altitude lakes appearing in ever-changing hues to volcanic crater lakes steeped in legend, these natural wonders leave you intrigued by their beauty and mystery. Mirroring soaring peaks, serving as sacred pilgrimage sites or hosting rare wildlife, these lakes are more than just scenery and are culturally and ecologically important. Some remain relatively unspoiled by mass tourism and provide peace; others are the destination of choice for photographers, trekkers, and explorers.
10 Beautiful Lakes In Asia
If you seek tranquillity, adventure, or a journey into the heart of some of Asia’s most spectacular landscapes, these ten lakes should be on your travel list.
1. Pangong Tso, India And China
Located at 4,350 meters altitude in Ladakh, Pangong Tso is an astounding saltwater lake that is 134 km long, of which 60% is in Tibet. Renowned for its chameleon shade, the lake dances from deep blue to turquoise to green, based on the light and time of day. The dazzling contrast with Ladakh’s stark, brown mountains sets up a nearly extraterrestrial landscape. Though the salt concentration is high, the lake freezes over in winter. It is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with migratory species such as bar-headed geese and Brahminy ducks.
Best Time To Visit: May to September
Nearby Attraction: Tso Moriri
2. Rara Lake, Nepal
Nestled within Rara National Park in northwestern Nepal, Rara Lake is the largest and deepest lake in the country at an altitude of 2,990 meters. Bedecked with lush pine, spruce and juniper woods, the pristine alpine lake reflects the snow-capped summits of the Himalayas. What makes Rara so special is its remoteness and the most common way to get there is over multiple days of trekking or on a flight to the tiny Talcha airstrip. The lake also hosts the rare snow trout, which can be found nowhere else. This national park is also home to Himalayan black bears, musk deer and shy red pandas.
Best Time To Visit: September to November, April to June
Nearby Attraction: Sinja Valley
3. Kelimutu Lakes, Indonesia
Photo: LukeTriton / Wikimedia Commons
Kelimutu’s crater lakes on Flores Island in Indonesia change colour constantly, from turquoise to blood-red or even black depending on the mineral content and other volcanic activity. The lakes have changed colours over 40 times in the past century. These three lakes, Tiwu Ata Bupu (Lake of Old People), Tiwu Ko’o Fai Nuwa Muri (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched Lake), are based on local mythology. For the Lio people, the lakes are the resting places of souls, with every colour shift reflecting a spiritual transition. The transformation is not predictable, so each visit is a unique experience.
Best Time To Visit: May to September
Nearby Attraction: Bena, Ngada village
4. Yamdrok Lake, Tibet, China
Photo: Haogang0325 / Wikimedia Commons
The wind-swept Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, sits at an altitude of 4,441 meters in the shadows of towering Himalaya peaks. The shape of Yamdrok looks like the ghost arm of a branching dragon, with turquoise waters unfurling through miles of valleys. Tibetan Buddhists say the lake is the avatar of a goddess, its waters imbued with spiritual strength that guarantees the prosperity of Tibet. The stunning scenery of Yamdrok is best viewed from the Gampa La Pass, where deep blue waters meet rolling golden hills. Yamdrok does not freeze in winter, supporting migratory birds and even Tibetan nomads who take yaks to graze on its shores.
Best Time To Visit: April to October
Nearby Attraction: Samding Monastery (Tibetan monastery led by a female reincarnation)
5. Kaindy Lake, Kazakhstan
Photo: Katariyakartikey / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
A flooded forest with spruce tree trunks rising eerily from its depths, Kaindy Lake in Kazakhstan’s Tian Shan Mountains is an unusual sight. This surreal occurrence followed a 1911 earthquake that caused a landslide, damming a river and sinking the valley. The lake’s striking turquoise hue comes from mineral-rich glacial runoff, producing an otherworldly tableau. Kaindy’s waters are freezing year-round, rarely exceeding 6°C, but divers come from all over to see its submerged forest. Sunlight shines through the crystalline depths of the ghostly underwater landscape, where tree branches seem immaculate.
Best Time To Visit: June to September
Nearby Attraction: Kolsai Lake
6. Song-Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan
Photo: Ninara / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Sitting at 3,016 meters, Song-Kul Lake is the jewel in Kyrgyzstan’s alpine crown. Surrounded by rolling grasslands and distant snow-capped peaks, it is a summer pasture for nomadic herders, who erect traditional yurts along its shores. Song-Kul is devoid of trees, making for an unbroken horizon where sky and water melt into one another. The lake is frozen for almost six months of the year, and even in the summer, its sapphire waters are cold. Other than some temporary pasture huts, due to its high altitude and isolation, there are no permanent settlements, so you get an entirely genuine nomadic experience.
Best Time To Visit: June to September
Nearby Attraction: Tash Rabat
7. Inle Lake, Myanmar
Photo: Marc Veraart / Wikimedia Commons
Myanmar’s Inle Lake is a floating world where the Intha people live in stilt houses and move through its waters using a one-legged rowing technique. Its gentle surface is punctuated by floating gardens, ancient pagodas and busy markets that move positions every day, all set across an expanse of 116 square kilometres. The lake is renowned for its hydroponic agriculture; farmers grow tomatoes and flowers on floating islands of reeds and silt. It is also home to the endangered Inle carp. Surrounded by Pa-O and Shan villages, Taunggyi offers a cultural mix as well.
Best Time To Visit: October to February
Nearby Attraction: Indein Village
8. Lake Baikal, Russia-Asia Region
Photo: Sergey Pesterev / Wikimedia Commons
Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest and oldest freshwater lake, harbours 20 percent of Earth’s unfrozen freshwater, ranking it among Asia’s most daunting natural wonders. More than 25 million years old, this UNESCO-listed lake reaches a depth of 1,642 meters and contains more than 2,000 unique species, among them the endemic Baikal seal, the world’s only freshwater seal. In winter, its exterior becomes a sheet of clear ice that reveals frozen methane bubbles and long cracks, which stretch for kilometres. Ice roads emerge, enabling vehicles to cruise across what resembles solid glass.
Best Time To Visit: February to March and June to September
Nearby Attraction: Olkhon Island
9. Toba Lake, Indonesia
Photo: ButetSinaga / Wikimedia Commons
Lake Toba, the world’s biggest volcanic lake, was created by one of history’s largest eruptions about 74,000 years ago. This supervolcano is now home to the enormous caldera lake of 1,130 square kilometres, with the fertile Samosir Island sitting neutral in the middle. Unlike the vast majority of volcanic lakes in Asia, Toba is alive, its warming waters supporting fishing villages and traditional Batak culture. The island’s ancient stone tombs, traditional Batak houses and ritual dances make it a cultural as well as a natural treasure. Covered in misty pine forests, the surrounding hills lend the lake an almost mystical quality.
Best Time To Visit: May to September
Nearby Attraction: Sipiso-Piso Waterfall
10. Band-e Amir, Afghanistan
Photo: Employee of U.S. Department of State / Wikimedia Commons
Often called the “Grand Canyon of Afghanistan,” Band-e Amir is a chain of six deep blue lakes surrounded by steep limestone cliffs in the remote Hindu Kush mountains. Located at 3,000 meters above sea level, these lakes are fed by natural springs that contain travertine minerals, which infuse the water with their distinctive deep cobalt and turquoise colours. Band-e Amir was designated Afghanistan’s first national park in 2009 to protect its rare ecosystem with its population of ibex, wolves and golden eagles.
Best Time To Visit: May to September
Nearby Attraction: Bamiyan Buddhas
The lakes in Asia are not only scenic wonders but also an integral part of the region’s culture, history and ecology. From the sacred waters to the volcanic majesty, each offers a unique experience, whether it’s trekking to remote alpine shores or exploring the floating villages. These lakes make for memorable adventures or for someone looking for peace. Plan a trip with TripXL and explore the beauty of Asia.
Cover Photo: Aleksey Mikhalchuk / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
