Karambar Lake, near the Broghil and the Afghan Wakhan, is one of the highest large lakes on earth and one of the remotest treks in Gilgit-Baltistan. Here is who runs it and what they charge in 2026.
Few operators publish a price for somewhere this remote; those that do are compared below, the rest quote per group.
About the Karambar Lake Trek
The lake sits around 4,300m, reached over 8-17 days depending on the approach (Ishkoman/Broghil or Chapursan). Challenging and committing, with full self-sufficiency.
- Ishkoman / Chitral edge
- Lake ~4,300m
- ~4-7 days
- Challenging
How I compared these packages
I did this the way I'd want a friend to do it for me. I went through every Karambar Lake Trek operator I could find, read each itinerary, and lined them up on the things that actually decide your trip - what's included, the porters and meals, the route, and the real 2026 price. 2 of 4 below publish a price you can hold them to; the rest quote per group, and I've said so plainly rather than guess. Prices are per person, usually land-only and group-based, with permits, flights, insurance and tips often on top. Every operator here is judged on the same yardstick. Operator links are nofollow. Where an operator has a genuine public rating I've shown it (Tripadvisor, Trustpilot and similar, with the review count and a link) - Google Maps ratings aren't publicly queryable, so I don't show those; an operator with too few public reviews shows a dash rather than a number.
At a glance - operators compared
| Operator | Length | From (2026) | Reviews | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TourRangers | 8 days | $390 | 4.6 ★ Google (5) | link |
| Saltoro Summits | 12 days | $1,400 | 4.9 ★ Google (49) | link |
| Hunza Adventure Tours | 14 days | Quote only | 4.7 ★ Google (12) | link |
| Karakorum Guides | 17 days | Quote only | — | link |
What stood out to me
- 馃挵 Lowest published price - TourRangers (from $390)
- 馃Л Most support - Saltoro Summits (from $1,400), the premium, higher-ratio option
Want a second opinion before you book?
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Plan my trek →Every operator, reviewed
Includes: private transport (Grand Cabin), waterproof twin/triple camps, professional guide and porters, mess tent + kitchen + cook, satellite phone and tracking, govt NOC/permits, fuel, tolls, taxes, basic first aid
Excludes: Personal-luggage porter, emergency evacuation, personal insurance, and miscellaneous expenses.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Islamabad to Booni/Chitral, 12-hour AC transport, depart 12:30 AM |
| Day 2 | Booni to Yarkhun (Broghil Valley) by 4x4 jeep, camp setup |
| Day 3 | Yarkhun to Lashkargaz, trek begins |
| Day 4 | Lashkargaz to Karambar Lake, explore and relax |
| Day 5 | Reserve day for weather and small side treks |
| Day 6 | Retrace from lake back to Yarkhun/Ishkarwaz after breakfast |
| Day 7 | Drive to Chitral city, arrive ~5:00 PM |
| Day 8 | Chitral to Islamabad, arrive 8-9 PM |
What's good
- Satellite phone and tracking explicitly included for this remote route
- Government NOC and permissions handled by operator
- Built-in reserve day (Day 5) for weather and acclimatisation
- Route genuinely reaches Karambar Lake (4272m) on Day 4
- Transparent PKR pricing: PKR 110,000 per person from Islamabad
Could be better
- Only one full day at the lake before retracing; short for such a long approach
- Personal-luggage porter charged separately, not in base price
- Emergency evacuation and personal insurance excluded
Includes: experienced local guides (20+ years), support team with reliable equipment, focus on safety/acclimatization, tailor-made itineraries; homestay night in Imit Village; no itemised cost breakdown
Excludes: Not specified on the page (no exclusions list published).
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Arrive Islamabad, hotel transfer, evening briefing and gear check |
| Day 2 | Islamabad to Gilgit, then Karimabad (Hunza), Baltit Fort |
| Day 3 | Karimabad to Sost to Chipursan Valley (Zood Khun), camp near Wakhi village |
| Day 4 | Trek to Yarzerech, meadows and streams, camp at base of cliffs |
| Day 5 | Trek to Chillinji Base Camp (~4,400m), camp near glacier |
| Day 6 | Acclimatization day, short hikes, pass preparation |
| Day 7 | Cross Chillinji Pass (5,335m), descend to Ishkoman side |
| Day 8 | Trek to Werthum Meadows, high pastures with wildlife |
| Day 9 | Trek to Imit Village (Ishkoman), cultural experience and homestay |
| Day 10 | Drive to Gilgit, free evening at bazaar, overnight hotel |
| Day 11 | Gilgit to Islamabad, free time for shopping/sightseeing |
| Day 12 | Departure, airport transfer |
What's good
- Strong acclimatisation profile with a dedicated Day 6 before a 5,335m pass
- Crosses high Chillinji Pass linking Chipursan to remote Ishkoman side
- Cultural depth: Wakhi village camp and Imit Village homestay
- Honest about being a seldom-visited, remote route
Could be better
- Does NOT reach Karambar Lake; this is a Chillinji Pass trek, not a Karambar trek
- No detailed inclusions list published on the page
- Exclusions not specified at all
- Pricing in USD ($1400), no PKR or permit/sat-phone detail
Includes: transport for whole trip, experienced mountain guide, domestic flights, camping & bridge fees, trekking equipment, mountain jeeps, porters, expert cook, site entrance fees, airport pick/drop; twin-sharing
Excludes: International flights, airport/departure taxes and visa fee, tips for guide/drivers/porters, and personal items.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Islamabad, airport greeting, city tour, overnight |
| Day 2 | Islamabad to Gilgit by early flight |
| Day 3 | Gilgit to Darkot village, early-morning drive |
| Day 4 | Darkot to Darkot base camp, distribute luggage among porters |
| Day 5 | Base camp to Chikar via Darkot Pass, depart 8 AM |
| Day 6 | Chikar to Lashkargaz, trekking into Broghil valley |
| Day 7 | Lashkargaz to Laly Rabat across flat terrain |
| Day 8 | Laly Rabat to Karamber Lake, reach the lake |
| Day 9 | Free day at Karamber Lake, photography, horse and yak riding |
| Day 10 | Karamber Lake back to Lashkargaz |
| Day 11 | Lashkargaz to Ishkarwaz to Mastuj |
| Day 12 | Mastuj to Chitral by road |
| Day 13 | Chitral to Swat Valley by road |
| Day 14 | Swat Valley to Islamabad via motorway |
What's good
- Reaches Karamber Lake (4,300m) plus a full free day there on Day 9
- Crosses Darkot Pass, a more adventurous route than a simple Broghil out-and-back
- Porters and expert cook during the trek included
- Domestic flights, transport and airport pick/drop all included
- Acknowledges remoteness: 'one of the most isolated remote areas of Pakistan'
Could be better
- No price published on the page
- No satellite phone or emergency comms mentioned for this isolated route
- Permits not specifically listed in inclusions
- Tips for guide, drivers and porters are extra
Includes: professional guide/leader, airport transfers, domestic flights & transfers, road transport, hotels and camps, cook + support staff + porters + gear, govt trekking permit fees
Excludes: Travel insurance, visa, international flights, tips, and miscellaneous personal items.
Itinerary, day by day
| Day 1 | Islamabad arrival, hotel transfer |
| Day 2 | Drive to Chilas, 10-12 hrs |
| Day 3 | Drive to Gilgit, 4-5 hrs |
| Day 4 | Drive to Bort, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 5 | Trek to Maturamdan, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 6 | Trek to Waraghut, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 7 | Trek to Sokhter Rabot, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 8 | Trek to Shuyinj, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 9 | Trek to Karambar Lake, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 10 | Free day |
| Day 11 | Trek to Ishkarwaz, 3-6 hrs |
| Day 12 | Trek to Darkot An base camp, 3-5 hrs |
| Day 13 | Trek to Rawat, 5-6 hrs |
| Day 14 | Trek to Darkot, 3-5 hrs |
| Day 15 | Drive to Gilgit and continue to Chilas, 6-7 hrs |
| Day 16 | Drive to Islamabad, 8-10 hrs |
| Day 17 | Transfer to airport |
What's good
- Most complete full traverse: reaches Karambar Lake (Day 9) then crosses Darkot An
- Government-licensed professional guide/leader specified
- Cook, support staff, porters and gear (excluding personal) all included
- Permits included in the package
- Free day (Day 10) at the lake plus daily trek hours stated for pacing
Could be better
- No altitudes given for Karambar Lake or the passes on the page
- No price listed at all
- No satellite phone or emergency-comms reference for this remote traverse
- Long 17-day commitment with multiple very long drive days
What's usually included - and what's not
On most of these treks the operator price includes guides and support staff, porters, camping equipment, in-trek meals and the trekking permit. It usually excludes international flights, travel insurance, personal climbing or trekking gear, tips for the crew, and on restricted peaks the government royalty fee. Always get the itemised inclusions, porter weight limit and the payment and cancellation terms in writing before you pay.
How to choose your operator
- Published vs quote - a real posted price is easier to compare; for quote-only operators, get it itemised.
- What's bundled - permits, domestic flights and porters are where cheap quotes cut corners.
- Group size - most headline rates assume a group; confirm the solo or small-group rate.
- Crew welfare - porter weight limits, wages and insurance say a lot about an operator.
- Local vs down-country - Baltistan and Hunza-based crews know the routes and logistics best.
Plan this trek deeper
My free local guides go beyond the operators - use them to decide what you want, then book or customise:
Nearby treks, peaks & base towns
Operators - want your trek reviewed here?
If you run this trek and publish real prices, get in touch to have your itinerary assessed and added. Every operator is judged on the same criteria.
Get your trek listed →FAQ
How much does the Karambar Lake trek cost in 2026?
One operator publishes about PKR 110,000 ($390) for an 8-day version; longer expedition-style itineraries run $1,400+ and many are quote-only.
How hard and remote is it?
Very remote and challenging - long days, river crossings and high camps with no resupply; satellite communication is sensible.
How many days?
8 days for the shortest published trip; 12-17 days for full Broghil/Darkot crossings.
When is it possible?
July to early September only.