Pangong Tso Lake, India

Closed to tourists until the mid-1990s owing to ongoing tensions between China and India, Pangong Tso on the India-Tibet border retains a certain air of mystique which adds nicely to its already outstanding and unique scenery. Luckily, the Indian portion of the lake, 154km south-east of Leh (regional capital of Ladakh) is now open to visitors with a permit and a stomach for the rough, airy road-trip required to get there. At an altitude of 4267m (13,999 feet), you’ll also need to get in a little bit of acclimatization before heading up to this one! The rough journey and the fact that three-quarters of the lake are in Chinese territory – and thus inaccessible – do not detract any from the lake’s appeal, and can in fact add to it, with the Indian portion offering tantalizing views into Tibet in addition to those of the glacier-covered Pangong Range to the south and the Changchenmo Range reflected across the waters to the north.