Travel 3rd place winner

At more than 4000 metres above sea level, in Tajikistan's far Eastern corner on the edge of China's Xinjiang, lies a mountainous plateau that is an unlikely oasis for migratory birds, flying from as far as the Himalayas, seeking the nutrient rich waters and grasslands of Rangkul and Shorkul Lakes. At the end of the valley, just a few kilometres away from China, is a village of about 1000 people, taking its name from the lake Rangkul. At least two hour's drive away from the Murghob - the nearest town, possibly up to four in a Soviet-era Lada, this is a truly remote and desolate place to inhabit. We arrived shortly before dusk, eager to explore the next day. Waking up, we found the entire plateau covered in a thick haze: unable to see the Chinese peaks, we slowly started driving back to Murghob. As the sun rose and slowly burnt the haze away, the seemingly lifeless landscape hesitantly revealed itself to be colourful, textured and dramatic.