Solo Camping at Karomber Lake in -5°C Without a Sleeping Bag – Last Part | EP:38

My plan was to camp at Lashkargaz, but when I reached there, I found the meadows completely burned. From a distance, I saw a beautiful green meadow called Irshadgaz, but when I got closer, the ground was full of water, so I decided to continue my journey towards Karomber Lake. The route from Lashkargaz is extremely tough. Just after 2.5 to 3 km, there is a steep 500-meter climb where even four people push a single bike to cross. But I was the only biker from Pakistan who managed to cross it alone on my Suzuki GR150. On the way, I met six bikers from Multan and Kabirwala who warned me about the freezing cold at Karomber Lake. They decided to return, but I continued my journey. Crossing broken bridges, streams, and tough paths, I finally reached Karomber Lake at 9:30 pm. In the darkness, I could not even see the lake. I pitched my tent near a small stone wall made by shepherds. Only then I realized my sleeping bag was missing. I felt my soul leave my body – it was -5°C, and I had neither a sleeping bag nor a raincoat. My only option was to wear all my clothes and try to survive the night. Surrounded by complete darkness, the sounds of animals, and the thought of snow leopards, I managed to survive the longest night of my life at 12,100 ft. When I opened my tent at 4 am, I saw the first glimpse of the magical Karomber Lake. At sunrise, the beauty of the lake left me speechless – mountains reflecting in the crystal-clear water, and around 400 yaks grazing by the lakeside. Karomber Lake lies in the Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, only 1.5 km from the Afghan border. Its water flows towards Ishkoman valley, eventually reaching Gakuch. In the past, rivers and lakes used to define borders, and whoever controlled the water owned the territory. To reach Karomber Lake, you need an NOC (free of cost) from the DC office in Upper Chitral at Buni. You must have your original CNIC and bike documents. From Mastuj, the distance is 162 km, which I covered in 15 hours going up and 11 hours coming back. Ideally, this journey should be done in 2–3 days to enjoy more and reduce exhaustion. On my return, after 8 km I found my raincoat lying on the trail, and after 12 km I found my sleeping bag in a stream. Finally, I reached Mastuj bazaar around 5:30 pm and checked into the same hotel from where I started. This journey to Karomber Lake was one of the hardest and most beautiful experiences of my life – a night close to death, and a morning filled with unforgettable beauty. #KaromberLake #GhizerValley #GilgitBaltistan #Mastuj #UpperChitral #BroghilValley #TravelWithNabeel Subscribe to Travel with Nabeel to explore more hidden gems across Pakistan. Follow me on social media for more updates: Instagram: [Instagram: itsnabeel218] Tiktok: [TikTok: travelwithnabeel] Facebook: [Facebook: TravelWithNabeel] For business inquiries: 📧 Email: [[email protected]]