Karambar Lake Trek From Ishkoman

The Karambar Lake trek reaches a glacial lake at 4,272 metres on the watershed between the Ishkoman valley in Gilgit-Baltistan and the Broghil valley in Chitral, close to the Afghan border. There are two ways in: up the Ishkoman valley from Imit, the last main village on the Gilgit-Baltistan side, or from Lashkargaz in Broghil. Trip reports give anything from three to six days for the round trip on foot, depending on how far a jeep can take you, and the season is short: realistically June to August.

This guide focuses on the Ishkoman approach, compares it honestly with the better-documented Broghil route, and covers the season, altitude, permits and border advice.

Where is Karambar Lake?

Karambar Lake lies at the head of the Karambar valley, the upper part of Ishkoman, in Ghizer district. It is about 3.9 km long and up to 2 km wide, covers about 2.6 square kilometres, and is up to 55 metres deep. Wikipedia lists it as the second largest lake in northern Pakistan after Attabad, and its water is unusually clear: a scientific survey recorded a Secchi disc reading of 13.75, the highest in published studies of Pakistani lakes.

Since 2011 the lake and the land around it have been part of Qurumbar National Park, which covers about 738 square kilometres and adjoins Broghil Valley National Park on the Chitral side. Its listed wildlife includes Himalayan ibex, snow leopard, brown bear, wolf, lynx and Marco Polo sheep, and birds such as the golden eagle and bearded vulture, though trekkers rarely see the big mammals.

Two approaches: Ishkoman or Broghil

Most published trip reports use the Broghil side. The Ishkoman side starts closer to Gilgit but has the least reliable information.

The Ishkoman route from Imit

The drive in is straightforward by northern standards. From Gilgit you follow the Ghizer road to Gahkuch, the district headquarters, then turn north up the Ishkoman valley through Chatorkhand to Imit. OSRM routing puts Imit about 118 km from Gilgit, and trekking accounts put the jeep ride from Gilgit to the upper valley at four to five hours. Public transport goes as far as Chatorkhand and the lower valley; beyond that, shared or hired jeeps are the norm. Our guides to Gahkuch and the Ishkoman valley cover the road and the villages.

Beyond Imit, the walk is the part to plan carefully, because sources do not agree on it:

• Distance. In a straight line, the lake is about 46 km north of Imit. How much of that you walk depends on how far a jeep can get up the valley in a given season, which changes with flood damage and river levels.
• Days. Trip reports range from a three-day round trip from a high road head to five or six days from lower down, including a day at the lake.
• Route. The path follows the valley of the Karambar river north towards the watershed. There are no lodges, shops or marked trail.

We could not find a reliable, recent stage-by-stage description of this route, so we have not printed one. The sensible approach is to hire a guide in Imit or Chatorkhand who has walked it recently, agree the route and the number of days before you set off, and add at least one spare day for weather.

The Broghil route from Lashkargaz

On the Chitral side, the trek starts at Lashkargaz, at the end of the jeep track up the Yarkhun valley through Mastuj. Published accounts put the walk at about 30 km out and back over three to four days, or four to five days round trip with a local guide and porter hired in Lashkargaz. Getting to Lashkargaz is itself a long jeep journey from Chitral town via Mastuj, which accounts put at anything from one very long day to two days.

Our Broghil valley guide covers that approach, the Wakhi villages and the permits on the Chitral side in detail.

When to go

June to August is the realistic window, and July is the safest month. Snow can still lie on the higher ground in early June and the lake can be partly frozen, while by September the nights at the lake fall well below freezing. Streams are lowest in the early morning, before the day's melt swells them, so plan crossings for the start of the day.

Our Ghizer seasons guide explains how the valley's weather runs through the year.

Altitude, permits and the border

Altitude

The Ishkoman valley rises from about 2,100 metres to 3,700 metres before the final climb to the lake at 4,272. That is a big gain in a few days. Climb steadily, drink plenty of water, and if anyone develops a severe headache, vomiting or confusion, go down. Nights at the lake are cold even in July, so a sleeping bag rated well below freezing is not optional.

Permits

Pakistani citizens do not need a special trekking permit for this route, according to trekking accounts, but carry your CNIC for the checkposts. Foreign nationals should check the current rules before planning, because requirements in border areas change; our guide to trekking permits for foreigners explains the system. If you plan to fish, you need a fishing licence.

The border

Ishkoman borders Afghanistan's Wakhan corridor, and the lake lies close to that border. The UK government's travel advice, current in September 2026, warns against all travel within 10 miles of the Afghan border anywhere in Pakistan, which is likely to include the lake and the upper part of the route. Pakistani trekkers do walk to Karambar, but check with the police and district administration in Gahkuch before going beyond Imit. Overseas visitors should read their own government's advice, since travelling against it can void insurance. Our guide on whether Ghizer is safe covers the wider district.

What to arrange and carry

• A local guide, and porters or pack animals if you are carrying full camping gear. Hire them in Imit or Chatorkhand, or through an operator in Gilgit.
• Everything you need to camp. There is nothing at the lake: no shelter, no food, no shop.
• A tent and sleeping bag for sub-zero nights, plus warm layers and a waterproof shell.
• A stove and fuel, food for the full trip plus a spare day, and a way to treat water.
• Cash. Do not count on finding an ATM in Ishkoman; draw what you need in Gilgit.
• No signal. Expect no mobile coverage for most of the walk, and leave your route and return date with someone in Imit or Gilgit.

Is it worth it?

Yes, for experienced trekkers who want a remote, high lake with very few other people, and who are comfortable with uncertainty. Karambar is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the country, and on the Ishkoman side you are walking through herders' country rather than along a busy trekking route.

It is not for a first multi-day trek, for anyone short of time, or for anyone uneasy about walking close to an international border. If the full trek does not fit, a drive up Ishkoman to Chatorkhand and Imit shows you the valley in a day or two, and our lakes of Ghizer guide covers the district's other lakes.

Frequently asked questions