The Karakol Lake
The Karakol Lake, also called Karakul or Karakuli Lake meaning black lake, is located 196 km from Kashgar, Xinjiang province, China. It sits in Akto County, Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture on the Karakoram Highway, before reaching Tashkurgan, the Khunjerab Pass on the China - Pakistan border and Sost in Pakistan.
At an altitude of 3,600 m, 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 the Muztagh Ata (7,546 m), Kongur Tagh (7,649 m) and Kongur Tiube (7,530 m). Especially, the Muztagh Ata has a fame as father of ice mountains.
The lake is popular among travellers for its beautiful 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 1 km east of the bus drop-off point and a village with stone & wooden houses located on the western shores.
It is said that there are some bonfire night parties by the lake for boy and girl khalkhas with tourists. The party is full of songs and dances, as well as good smell of roast lamb skewer.
Reviews from some trip advisors:
Not to be missed! - I highly recommend a trip to Karakul Lake and traveling on the Karakoram Highway. If you go as far as Kashgar, don't miss it. Make sure you hire a guide. There are some excellent guides that can be set up via the Karakoram Cafe.
Then it's on through the most amazing scenery until you get to the lake. We were walking there in snow as the snow lies all year round. It wasn't deep but it was definitely there. The sun came out and the sky was blue and it was just magical.
On the trip we saw wild camels, loads of yaks, sheep and goats, fabulous mountains and huge sand dunes, which is odd because the place is almost as far from the sea as you can get. Great camel ride to the top of the dunes. The lake was very picturesque. There were 2000 camels for rent to ride to the top of the dune and you could see them up the side of the dune alone with people climbing the dunes
If you have a chance to do this trip, do it, it is an amazing adventure. We did it with a car and a driver and it has been th high light of this holiday. You'll not regret it.
Very Picturesque - Some great views available. Also some stunning views on the drive to the Lake. The Yurts are quite basic and would seem in winter local Uyghurs don't all live in the Yurts. Sad that the local school needs financial assistance to keep operating but was told a Taiwanese tourist funded new tables and chairs. Had lunch with local shepherds which was great. Wanted to horse ride round the lake but being about - 3 C, the local shepherd said he didn't want to saddle up the horse as i would get pneumonia.
Travel Tips:
1) 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)
2) The Kygriz 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.
3) Local Kirgiz make traditional handicraft items and will be happy to sell some to you.
4) 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.
5) Sleep: There is a Chinese hotel with rooms (¥50) and semi-authentic yurts (¥40) at the bus drop-off point. The much better way is to stay with a Kyrgiz family in a yurt (¥30 per yurt, ¥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.
