Karakol Lake

Karakol Lake is in Xinjiang, China.

Understand
Karakul Lake (meaning "black lake") is approximately 200 km from Kashgar, Xinjiang province, China, in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture on the Karakoram Highway, before reaching Tashkurgan and the Khunjerab Pass on the China - Pakistan border. At an altitude of 3600m (though a height of nearer 3,900 m has been quoted), it is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlun mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are Muztagh Ata (7546 m), Kongur Tagh (7649 m) and Kongur Tiube (7530 m). The lake is popular among travellers for its unreal scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. There are two Kirgiz settlements along the shore of Karakul lake, a small number of yurts about 1km east of the bus drop-off point and a village with stone houses located on the western shores.

Climate
Fall can be quite cold and windy, and a same day return to Kashgar should be considered if you're not well prepared.

Get in
A permit is required for visitors who wish to stay the night. This permit is checked sometimes by the local police in the lake area. This can be very difficult to arrange on your own, but all travel agencies in Kashgar are familiar with the process. However, ignore all agents who tell you that the daytrip require a permit.

A daily bus (&yen;35) heading for Tashkurgan which passes the lake leaves from the long distance bus station in Kashgar at 11:30AM Beijing Time (please note that the bus station operates on Xinjiang Time which is -2.00 hours BT; thus the departure time on the ticket is 9:30AM). It arrives at the lake after about 4-5 hours. (April 2011)

A more reliable means of travelling there is a bus that leaves from TaXian BanShiChu 塔县办事处 (It is best to take a taxi to this as it is at the edge of Kashgar town). Tickets are ¥51 per person and buses leave at daily 9:30AM daily. It is also possible to hitch a ride with trucks from here. As always, bargain hard!

Another way to get to Karakul Lake is to book a tour through a travel agency. A reasonable price is &yen;200 per person round trip for a day trip with about 2-3 hours at the lake, although such a low price must be bargained hard. There are tourists who are willing to pay &yen;4,000 for a two day trip to the lake, and the travel agencies would like to charge that much if possible. &yen;200 is on the very low side, actually, but is possible depending on the season.

Alternatively, a taxi can be booked from most hotels in Kashgar for a set price of &yen;500 per car, per day (i.e. it can be done as a day trip). The plus is that a shared taxi will take about 2-3 hours to get there.

Many people visit the lake either as a stop off when travelling the Karakorum Highway between Pakistan and Kashgar, Xinjiang in China.

Fees and permits
A permit is now required for all non-PRC citizens traveling on the Karokoram Highway. See above.

There is a small area in the center of the west bank of the lake that requires an entrance fee of &yen;50 (tickets available at the entrance). It's better to avoid this rip-off and walk around the lake, if you want to stop just for a drink in the small restaurant; nobody is likely to ask you for the entrance fee.

Get around
Local Kirgiz have camels & horses which can be rented for a ride around the lake (5 hours by camels and 3 hours by horses)

Do
The Kyrgiz locals outside the park will do a three-hour horse or camel trek around the lake and a long motorcycle ride up Mutgaza Ata and hiking until you're tired, all for 100 kuai. Definitely a bargain and will be very memorable.

Buy
Local Kirgiz make traditional handicraft items and will be happy to sell some to you.

Eat
There is dining at the Chinese hotel, but prices are ridiculously high. Locals will cook meals for you inside their own yurts for about 10 kuai per person.

Sleep
There is a Chinese hotel with rooms (&yen;50) and semi-authentic yurts (&yen;40) at the bus drop-off point. The much better way is to stay with a Kyrgiz family in a yurt (&yen;30 per yurt, &yen;10 for tea/dinner/breakfast) or village house. Alternatively, there is hotel accommodation in nearby Tashkurgan.

Prices do vary, and the Chinese hotel will try to rip you off. Staying with the Kyrgiz families is a much better experience. They are very honest and hospitable people and the young men who act as travel guides are great hosts.

Stay safe
Given the high altitude, rough terrain, and proximity to international borders, one should be careful to not wander too far without previous preparation.

Go next
The daily bus from Tashkurgan, heading back to Kashgar, arrives at the drop-off point near the Chinese hotel at around noon Beijing Time. If all seats are taken, there might be the chance to catch a taxi for around &yen;120-150. Alternatively it may be possible to hitch a ride, although some form of payment will be expected (possibly around &yen;50).