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Karambar Lake: Pakistan's Second-Highest Alpine Lake

📅 Aug 16, 2026⏱ 6 min read
Editorial note: Prepared by the Pakistan Tours local operations team. Visa, permit, safety, access and price information can change; confirm current official requirements and your written quotation before travel.

Karambar Lake, at roughly 4,272m in Ghizer District, is Pakistan's second-highest lake after Rush Lake, and among the most remote destinations covered on this site, reachable only by a demanding multi-day trek.

Where it sits: The lake straddles the boundary between Ghizer District (Gilgit-Baltistan) and Upper Chitral (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), close to Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor, border-adjacent wilderness rather than a standard tourist stop.

Protected status: Since 2011, the area has been protected as Qurumbar National Park, safeguarding its wildlife and pristine condition, no roads reach the lake, and this genuine inaccessibility is precisely what keeps it this untouched.

Getting there: Two main approaches exist, via Chitral (driving to Sor Laspur, then a 4-5 day round-trip trek through the beautiful, isolated Broghil Valley) or via Gilgit (driving to Ishkoman Valley's Chatorkhand, then a 3-4 day trek). Both routes cover 30-40km one way through remote terrain.

What makes it scientifically notable: Karambar is considered one of the highest biologically active lakes on Earth, with local Wakhi communities having used the surrounding valleys as summer grazing grounds for centuries.

Practical reality: No accommodation exists near the lake, camping is the only option, and hiring an experienced local guide is essential rather than optional given the wilderness terrain and altitude.

Best time to visit: July through September, when the lake's water is unfrozen and trekking routes are most accessible.

See our Ghizer Valley destination guide for the wider region this remote trek departs from.

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