2-Day Tashkorgan Tour: Karakul Lake & Stone Fort
Two days on the Karakoram Highway to glacial lakes and a 2,200-year-old fortress
A 2-day tour from Kashgar follows the Karakoram Highway south to Tashkorgan, stopping at Baisha Lake and Karakul Lake (3,600m), where Muztagh Ata mountain rises across the water. Day two includes the ancient Stone Fort and a hike through golden grassland before the return drive to Kashgar. The vehicle, driver, highway tolls and fuel are included. You choose whether to add accommodation, meals and a guide at checkout.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Kashgar to Tashkorgan via lakes
- Breakfast in Kashgar
- Drive along Karakoram Highway
- Stop at Upal Village for snacks
- Visit Oytagh Red Mountain for photos
- Walk along Baisha Lake shore
- Visit Karakul Lake and admire mountains
- Lunch at lakeside restaurant
- Visit Taghrma Wetland
- Check in hotel in Tashkorgan
- Dinner with local delicacies
- Rest to adapt to altitude
Day 2: Tashkorgan sightseeing and return
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit ancient Stone Fort
- Hike golden grassland near fort
- Lunch in Tashkorgan
- Drive to Kashgar
- Optional visit to Muztagh Ata Glacier Park
The experience
The route starts after breakfast with a 50-kilometer drive along the Karakoram Highway, one of the world's most dangerous roads due to altitude and terrain, but also one of the most visually striking. A stop at Upal Village lets you buy fresh fruit, nang bread and local snacks from the market before continuing. The road then reaches Oytagh Red Mountain, where you can photograph the Kunlun Mountains and break from the vehicle.
Baisha Lake comes next: the water runs clear and blue while sand dunes stay snow-white, a contrast the lake's name (White Sand Lake) describes exactly. You walk the shoreline and photograph the view. Then the drive climbs to Karakul Lake at 3,600 meters, where Muztagh Ata (7,546m) and Kongur (7,719m) mountains dominate the horizon across the water. Lunch happens at a lakeside restaurant, and afterward you pass through Taghrma Wetland, the largest in the region, before arriving in Tashkorgan for the night. The operator notes the schedule is flexible: drivers will stop for photos or hiking whenever you ask, and you control how long you spend at each place.
Day two begins with a visit to Tashkorgan's Stone Fort, a crumbling castle that has stood for 2,200 years and is believed to be the site Ptolemy mentioned in his 2nd-century geography. A hike follows through the golden grassland beside it. After lunch in town, the drive back to Kashgar takes the same highway. If you want to visit Muztagh Ata Glacier Park along the way and touch the glacier itself, the driver can arrange that stop. The air-conditioned vehicle covers all fuel, tolls and parking for both days.
What’s included
- Air-conditioned vehicle throughout the 2 days.
- all fuel, highway tolls and parking.
- driver experienced in high-altitude mountain routes.
- flexible schedule so you set the pace at each stop and request photo breaks or hikes as you go.
Options for this experience
2 optionsBefore you book
Prices and times updated 8 days ago
Operated by Kashgar Uighur Tours-Kashgar Private One-day Tour
Is this one for you?The fixed route covers the Karakoram Highway's most dramatic section in two days, which is what fits both the high-altitude acclimatization Tashkorgan requires and the distance to Karakul Lake and back. If you want to add a guide, meals and accommodation, choose that option at checkout. The vehicle and driver alone suit travelers who prefer to arrange their own food and lodging or who are combining this with other plans in the region.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 18 years); Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What is Karakul Lake like when we get there?
Karakul Lake sits at 3,600 meters below two of the Pamir's highest peaks: Muztagh Ata (7,546m) and Kongur (7,719m), which reflect across the water. The lake is large enough that you take a break by the shore to admire the view, and lunch happens at a lakeside restaurant before you continue to Tashkorgan.
How does the Karakoram Highway compare to other roads in the region?
The Karakoram Highway ranks among the world's ten most dangerous roads because of its high altitude and challenging terrain, but it is also celebrated for the scenery of the Pamir Plateau. The drive includes stops for photography and village visits, so you experience it in stages rather than as one long stretch.
What is the Stone Fort and how old is it?
Tashkorgan's Stone Fort has stood for 2,200 years and is believed to be the site mentioned in Ptolemy's 2nd-century geographical guide. The name Tashkorgan itself means Stone Fort. On day two you visit the crumbling castle and hike through the golden grassland beside it.
Can we stop to touch the glacier on the way back to Kashgar?
Yes. Muztagh Ata Glacier Park sits along the return route, and if you want to visit and touch the glacier with your own hands, the driver can include that stop in the itinerary.
What meals and accommodation do we need to arrange separately?
The tour includes the vehicle, driver, fuel and highway costs. Accommodation, meals, a guide and entrance fees depend on which option you choose at checkout. Some packages include them, others do not.
2-Day Tashkorgan Tour: Karakul Lake & Stone Fort
2d · at your hotel
from US$ 299 per person
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