Karakul Lake, meaning Black Lake in Uyghur, is situated on the Pamir Plateau beside the Friendship Highway from Kashgar to Islamabad. Taxkorgan or Tashkurgan is a county with an altitude of 3000m near Parkistan. This overnight 2-day trip from Kashgar will let you view the imposing the snow-covered mountains, the stunning high mountain lake, Taxkorgan county, and meet the nice people. Note: Now it is required to apply the permit to visit the lake due to its location near the border, the files include your passport & visa copy, address etc. Please book this tour at least 7 days before your travel date and pass to us above required files.
Today you will take a car ride to the Pamir Plateau. Firstly, the red mountains on the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway are amazing. Then the White Sand Lake beside the snow-capped mountains is impressively pretty. At lunch time, you will arrive at the Karakul Lake, which is situated by the renowned Muztag Ata, the father of Ice. Karakul Lake is a beautiful mountain lake with altitude nearly 3600 meters. It is a stunning scenery to view the lake and the snow-capped mountains at the same time.
The Kirgiz are local people living in the houses and yurts near the lake.
Later, you will continue the driving to Taxkorgan that is situated at the border between China and Pakistan, where there are Tajik people living here. Tonight you will stay in a hotel with the altitude around 3300 meters.
You could taste the yak hot pot for your dinner.
Enjoy the small town scenery in Taxkorgan this morning, then you will visit the Stone City that was built 2000 years ago, and the ruin still can trace back its original style. It said that the stone city used to be the small state in the history in the ancient Silk Road.
Moreover, you will also view the grassland on the Pamir Plateau, where there are yaks, sheep and horses etc.
Later, you will take a car ride back to Kashgar.
Entrance fees
4-star hotel in Taxkorgan
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kashgar city center
Private tour
Transport by private vehicle
1 hotel breakfast
Gratuities
Full board meal
Please bring your passport
Pick up: 9:30am
Pick up location: Centrally located Kashgar city hotels
Duration: 2 days
Difficulty: Easy(not suitable for high-mountain sick people)