Asia Lake Vacation Spots Map

Lake Baikal

World's deepest lake, Siberia's jewel

7.9

Olkhon Island, 45 miles long, is the largest of 27 islands in Baikal. The lake reaches 5,387 feet deep, the deepest on Earth. It holds about 19 percent of the world's unfrozen fresh water. Ice covers it from about January to May, thick enough to walk and drive on.

Highlights:

❄️ Swim in the icy, crystal-clear waters of Baikal
🚂 Ride the Circum-Baikal Railway for breathtaking views
🥾 Take a winter trek across the frozen lake surface

Fujikawaguchiko

Lake town with Mount Fuji views and onsen

8.1

This town lies on the north side of Mount Fuji and includes three of the Fuji Five Lakes. Lake Sai is quieter than Lake Kawaguchi. Its birdsong is listed among Japan's 100 Soundscapes. Lake Shoji is the smallest of the five and has calm water for photographing the mountain.

Highlights:

🚠 Ride the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway for stunning views
🏘️ Explore traditional thatched houses at Iyashi-no-Sato
🏞️ Admire Mount Fuji from scenic Lake Kawaguchiko

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Fuji, Hakone, Izu and volcanic islands

8.8

Japan created this park in 1936 as one of its first four national parks. It covers 474 square miles and is the most visited in the country. The Fuji Five Lakes and Lake Ashi lie within its borders. The Izu Islands were added in 1950.

Highlights:

🥚 Explore volcanic vents and black eggs at Owakudani
♨️ Relax in Hakone’s renowned hot spring baths
🗻 Climb iconic Mount Fuji for sunrise views

Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve

Colorful lakes in Tibetan mountains

7.8

High in northern Sichuan near the Gansu border, this valley holds dozens of blue, green and turquoise lakes. Its name means Nine Settlement Valley after the Tibetan villages along it. UNESCO listed it in 1992. Fallen tree trunks lie visible on the bottom of Five Flower Lake.

Highlights:

📸 Capture perfect reflections at Mirror Lake early morning
💧 Walk the boardwalk above Pearl Shoal Waterfall
🌈 Admire the vibrant hues at Five Flower Lake

Khao Sok National Park

Ancient Jungle and Emerald Lake Paradise

7.8

Rain falls from late April to December and peaks in September, so the drier months suit boat trips best. Cheow Lan Lake was created by a dam in 1982 and covers about 64 square miles. Limestone cliffs rise from turquoise water. Longtail boats reach caves and jungle.

Highlights:

🐘 Trek into the jungle to spot wild elephants and gibbons
🛶 Kayak through emerald waters surrounded by limestone cliffs
🏞️ Stay overnight in floating bungalows on Cheow Lan Lake

Hakone

Onsen town with Fuji views and lake cruises

8.6

The smell of sulphur drifts across Owakudani, where steam rises from volcanic vents. Lake Ashi formed in a volcanic caldera and lies 723 metres up. Sightseeing boats themed like pirate ships circle the lake in about 90 minutes. Hot spring inns line the shore with Mount Fuji views on clear days.

Highlights:

🚠 Take a scenic ride on the Hakone Ropeway
🖼️ Explore stunning sculptures at Hakone Open-Air Museum
♨️ Soak in relaxing waters of Hakone Onsen hot springs

Ladakh

Himalayan Cold Desert of Contrasts

8.5

Pangong Tso lies at about 14,200 feet, higher than the summit of Mount Fuji. The salty water still freezes in winter and a marathon is held on the ice in February. About two thirds of the 83 mile lake is in China. Visitors need a permit.

Highlights:

⛺ Camp overnight beside the Tso Moriri Lake under stars
🌊 Admire the surreal blue waters of Pangong Lake
🏍️ Ride through the world’s highest motorable pass at Khardung La

Maibara

Rail junction below Shiga's highest peak

7.1

Lake Biwa formed more than four million years ago and ranks among the oldest lakes in the world. Maibara lies on its eastern shore and has a Shinkansen stop. The lake is Japan's largest at about 259 square miles. Hikone Castle, built in the early 1600s, is one stop away.

Highlights:

🥾 Explore Mount Ibuki’s hiking trails for panoramic views
🚆 Take a scenic train ride along Lake Biwa
🏯 Visit Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few original castles

Kyrgyzstan

Untouched mountain wilderness awaits explorers

7.5

Guests are welcomed into yurts with bread and tea, a nomad custom still practised around the lakes. Issyk-Kul, at 5,272 feet, is the second largest mountain lake in the world. Song-Kol is a high pasture lake where herders camp in summer. Both reward slow travel.

Highlights:

🌌 Sleep in a traditional yurt under the starry sky
⛰️ Hike to the waterfall in the red canyons of Jeti-Ögüz
🏞️ Ride horseback through the alpine meadows around Lake Issyk-Kul

Kelimutu

Twin craters illuminated by fiery sunset

Cold dawn air and a faint sulphur smell greet visitors at three crater lakes on Kelimutu. The lakes shift between blue, green and red independently of one another. Most travellers stay overnight in the village of Moni for sunrise. A short walk from the car park leads to the rim.

Highlights:

📸 Snap Kelimutu's color-changing crater lakes at sunset
🏔️ Hike Kelimutu's crater rim for breathtaking views
🌅 Witness sunrise over Kelimutu's triple volcano crater lakes

Lake Kawaguchi

Mirror-like lake with the best Fuji views

The Kachi Kachi Ropeway climbs Mount Tenjo for wide views of Mount Fuji across the water. This lake has the longest shoreline of the Fuji Five Lakes at about 12 miles. It is the most visited of the five. Lakeside hotels and boat rides give it the most developed tourist facilities.

Highlights:

♨️ Relax in an onsen overlooking Mount Fuji
🛶 Cruise across Lake Kawaguchi for mountain views
📸 Capture Mount Fuji’s perfect reflection on the lake

Lake Pichola

Serene reflections over historic palace waters

Sunset is when boats leave Bansi Ghat beside the City Palace to cross the lake. Lake Pichola dates to 1362 and is about 2.5 miles long. The marble Lake Palace, built in 1746 on an island, is now a hotel. Udaipur grew on its banks.

Highlights:

🍲 Enjoy traditional Rajasthani thali near lake promenade
🏰 Explore City Palace complex and its museum galleries
⛵ Sail Lake Pichola at sunset for golden reflections

Best lake destinations in Asia