Kara Kul Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Local Kashgar to Tashkurgan buses will stop at Kara Kul, though some travellers have had trouble flagging one down again when they were ready to return or move on. You can catch the bus to Kashgar (Y43) or Tashkurgan (Y25) if they stop to let tourists take photos of the lake. Seats are usually available to Kara Kul on the bus from Kashgar to Pakistan, on a stand-by basis (Y43).

Tour and travel agencies in Kashgar can organise day trips to the lake for about Y500, with a guide and lunch. An overnight stay adds at least Y200 per person for bed, dinner and vehicle charges. More-interesting trips, such as an overnight stay at Subash with local walks, a night or two at Muztagh Ata base camp or five- to seven-day treks on the mountain, can also be arranged.