National park · China
Karakol Lake喀拉库勒湖
Visit Karakol Lake: join a group tour (≈¥150 per person) for transport and 2–3 h at the lake; day‑trip entry fee not fixed – check; overnight stay needs a permit – check; avoid July–Aug crowds; best months Jun–Sep.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
More
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²)
approximate
Established
2020
Best months
Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²)
- Approx. 10 km² (check).
- Established
- 2020
- Best months
- Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Kashgar
Karakol Lake sits at 3,600 m on the Pamir plateau in Xinjiang, China, offering high‑altitude scenery with three 7,500 m peaks and nomadic Kyrgyz culture.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2020.
Size and age
10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²) · national park since 2020
Approx. 10 km² (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Kashgar.
Why go
- High‑altitude lake with snow‑capped peaks of Muztagh Ata, Kongur Tagh and Kongur Tiube.
- Remote nomadic culture; camel or horse rides around the lake.
- Photogenic reflections on a turquoise‑green lake at 3 600 m.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- Jancheck
- Febcheck
- Marcheck
- Aprcheck
- Maycheck
- Juncheck
- Julcheck
- Augcheck
- Sepcheck
- Octcheck
- Novcheck
- Deccheck
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High‑altitude birdsJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Lake shoreline | Main visitor area, camel/horse rides, short lakeside trail. | Open with day‑trip ticket. |
| Western shore villages | Yurts and small hotel; night accommodation. | Permit required for overnight stay. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are the lake centre; Kashgar and Tashkurgan are approximate city centres.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day‑trip tour (includes transport and lake time) | CNY 150 (≈ US$25) | person | Tour price estimate; actual entry fee not published – check |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Night‑stay permit permit or guide
Park rules
- Permit
- Night‑stay permit required; arrange before arrival.
- Camping
- Not allowed outside designated yurt villages.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use provided stoves.
Where to stay
In the park
Yurt with Kyrgyz family
Basic yurt, ¥30 per night, meals extra.
Near the park
Chinese hotel near drop‑off
Rooms ¥50, basic amenities.
Safety
Altitude medium
Border proximity low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Lake trail is mostly flat but at high altitude; not suitable for limited mobility.
- Camel/horse rides require basic riding ability.
Visiting lightly
- Stay with local families; income supports nomadic community.
- Do not litter; carry out all waste.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Karakol Lake?
A day‑trip with transport and 2–3 h at the lake costs ¥150 per person; overnight stays need a ¥200 permit.
What are the best hikes in Karakol Lake?
The lakeside trail (≈3 h, moderate) and a camel/horse trek around the shore (3–5 h) are the main options.
When is the best time to visit Karakol Lake?
June to September offers the clearest weather and fewer crowds; avoid July–August if you dislike peak tourist numbers.
Do I need a permit to visit?
A permit is only required for overnight stays; day trips do not need a permit, but agencies may arrange one.
How do I get there from Kashgar?
Hire a taxi or shared 7‑seater vehicle for ¥500 (2–3 h); many agencies also offer group tours for ¥150.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Karakol Lake
Loading…
Was this useful?