Must-Drive G318 | Day 11: Lhasa → Shigatse 🚗💨
Route: Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Karola Glacier → Lake Puma Yumco → Shigatse Weather: Light rain 🌧️ Distance: ~600 km (13 hours) Altitude: 3,600m → 5,500m → 3,800m Stay: Shigatse (3,800m) 🌧️ A Bittersweet Day Our group shrank from 4 to 3 today—one friend had to fly back to Wuhan for an emergency. 😢 The vibe dipped, and now I’m the sole driver for the rest of the trip. Rain followed us from Lhasa, and thick fog swallowed Yamdrok Lake… but just as we reached the viewpoint, the mist magically cleared! ✨ Yamdrok Lake � Skipped the ticketed viewpoint (free spots ahead!). Fluffy sheep 🐑 for photo ops (¥20)—don’t snap pics secretly! As always, Yamdrok never disappoints. 💙 Karola Glacier ❄️ Mixed reviews online, so we drove past it. 🛣️ Detour to G219 (China’s Border Highway!) 1️⃣ Lake Puma Yumco 🌊 World’s highest freshwater lake (5,010m), dubbed China’s Baikal. Freezing winds 🥶 but surreal blue waters—worth braving the cold! 2️⃣ Tuiwa Village 🏔️ Highest village on Earth (5,070m), oxygen at half sea level. A cliffside monastery + sunset views 🏯🌄… and the "5070 Hotel" (for the fearless!). We noped out fast—altitude sickness ain’t fun. 😅 3️⃣ "I Wait for You in Shannan" G219 Checkpoint 📸 4️⃣ Tari Mountain Pass (5,500m) ⛰️ Near Bhutan border—considered exploring but pressed for time. 🌆 Arrival in Shigatse Reached by 8 PM (still bright!). After dinner, crashed at the hotel. 💸 Today’s Costs: Snacks: ¥123 Parking: ¥5 Dinner: ¥135 Hotel: ¥186 Charging: ¥53 TOTAL: ¥502 #JourneyToTheSacredLakes 🏞️ #TravelWhileYouCan ⏳ #MyAdventureMyRules ✊ #G318RoadTrip 🚙 #TibetDiaries 📖 #LakePumaYumco ❄️ #TuiwaVillage 🏡 #G219Highway 🛣️ #RoadTripVibes 🎶 #NoRegrets 🙌