Karakul Lake

Karakul lies at about 3,600 metres beside the Karakoram Highway where the road climbs onto the Pamir plateau, and its interest is entirely in what stands above it: Muztagh Ata at over 7,500 metres, a broad ice dome rather than a spire, with Kongur Tagh nearby, both reflected in the water on the frequent still mornings. The shore is bare and treeless, grazed by yaks and camels belonging to Kyrgyz families who live in stone houses and yurts nearby and take guests. Walking the shore takes several hours, and the light on the ice changes through the day.

Highlights

• Muztagh Ata - the ice dome of over 7,500 metres above the lake.
• The reflections - the peaks mirrored on still mornings.
• The Kyrgyz camps - stone houses, yurts, yaks and camels on the shore.
• The shore walk - a circuit of several hours around the water.

When to go

June to September, when the highway is reliably open and nights are survivable; the lake freezes in winter and the road can close in snow. Mornings are stillest for reflections.

Practical notes

Altitude at 3,600 metres affects visitors arriving from Kashgar in a few hours. Nights are cold and yurt accommodation basic. Entry is charged, and touts at the roadside are persistent. Border-zone rules apply on this road.

Nearby

Tashkurgan lies south; Kashgar is north down the highway.

Key facts