Kashgar & Pamir

From Kashgar Old Town up the Karakoram Highway onto the Pamir Plateau, to Karakul Lake, Muztagh Ata and Tashkurgan.

This area uses Kashgar as its gateway, heading southwest along the G314 China–Pakistan Friendship Highway (the Chinese section of the Karakoram Highway) into the Pamir Plateau. Kashgar Old Town, the Id Kah Mosque, the Fragrant Concubine Tomb and the Grand Bazaar showcase Uyghur culture; the highway passes through Gez Canyon, by White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake, where Muztagh Ata (the "Father of Ice Mountains") and Kongur Peak are reflected in the water; Tashkurgan is home to the Tajik people and has the Stone City, Golden Grass Beach, Bandir Blue Lake and Apricot Blossom Village, and continuing south leads to the Khunjerab Pass port (on the China–Pakistan border). A common itinerary is 4–5 days: 2 days in Kashgar plus 2–3 days in the Pamirs, by chartered car there and back. Tashkurgan sits at about 3,100 m, Karakul Lake at about 3,600 m, and Khunjerab at over 4,700 m; going there requires a border permit or registration under current rules, and there are many checkpoints along the way. Kashgar Old Town is lively at night, lined with ethnic handicraft shops and teahouses; the Tajik people of the Pamir Plateau are warmly hospitable, and if the opportunity arises you can visit a herder's family, experience the eagle dance and traditional wedding customs, and feel the unique cultural charm of the plateau.

Destinations

Itineraries