Karakul Lake

GBAO

Meteor-crater lake at 3,900 m

A vast salt lake in an ancient impact crater on the high Pamir plateau, ringed by 7,000 m peaks and a handful of Kyrgyz yurt homestays — the last stop before Kyrgyzstan.

LakesMountainsAdventureNational Parks

Essentials

Best season

July – September

Visit duration

1 day

Difficulty

Hard

Altitude

3900 m

GPS

39.0167, 73.5333

Entry fee

Tajik National Park fee ≈ 30 TJS

Opening hours

Open access

Daily cost

≈ $70 / person

Open in 2GIS Tajikistan

Best time to visit

Monthly weather and road accessibility for Karakul Lake
Month °C mm SnowRoadBest
Jan-1812Yesclosed
Feb-1614Yesclosed
Mar-818Yeslimited
Apr020Yeslimited
May518open
Jun1010open
Jul138open
Aug126open
Sep76open
Oct-110Yesopen
Nov-912Yeslimited
Dec-1512Yesclosed

Getting there

  • 4x4 on the M41
  • Shared jeep Murghab ↔ Osh
Full transportation guide →

Recommended activities

  • Lakeshore walk
  • Yurt homestay
  • Stargazing
  • Birdwatching

What to pack

  • Down jacket even in July
  • Thermal layers
  • Lip balm
  • Cash — no ATMs

Safety

Nights drop below freezing year-round; oxygen is thin. Acclimatise in Murghab first.

Emergency numbers & embassies →

Nearby attractions

Traveller reviews

Reviews are stored privately in your browser.

All 16 destinations →