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DaMitti CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Yashilkul

Lake

Yashilkul in the Eastern Pamirs sits as a high-altitude lake ringed by steppe and peaks; trekkers and birdwatchers use it as a base for alpine routes and seasonal yak pastures.

Yashilkul DushanbeKhujandIskanderkulYashilkul
In this guide

Yashilkul essentials

Country: Tajikistan
Driest months: Jul-Sep
Pay in: Somoni (ЅМ)
Language: Tajik
Emergency: 03

Yashilkul at a Glance

Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Yashilkul

Summer months offer the most reliable road access and hospitable conditions for visiting high-altitude Yashilkul.

Summer (best)
June-September · 5-20°C
Roads are most passable and the highlands are accessible; nights can remain cold.
Late spring / early autumn
May & October · -5-10°C
Cooler and riskier for road closures; snow can appear at any time at high passes.

Weather & Climate near Yashilkul

Climate

Yashilkul's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -20°C to 20°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.

Air Quality: AQI 41 Good
Best Time to Visit
SeptemberAugustJuly
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
21°
Warmest Month
-38°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -18° - -9° -18° 14 mm overcast 78% 1.6 m/s 0.3 low 9.8h
February Poor -20° - -8° -18° 16 mm overcast 79% 1.5 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.7h
March Poor -16° - -2° -13° 22 mm overcast 74% 2.1 m/s 1.0 high 11.8h
April Poor -6° - 5° -3° 24 mm overcast 61% 2.1 m/s 1.7 very high 13.0h
May Acceptable 0° - 11° 4° 23 mm overcast 51% 2.3 m/s 2.3 extreme 14.0h
June Very Good 3° - 16° 9° 11 mm overcast 45% 1.9 m/s 2.7 extreme 14.5h
July Very Good 6° - 20° 13° 8 mm partly cloudy 39% 1.9 m/s 2.9 extreme 14.3h
August Very Good 8° - 20° 14° 7 mm partly cloudy 37% 2.1 m/s 2.6 extreme 13.4h
September Excellent 3° - 16° 9° 4 mm some cloud 35% 2.0 m/s 2.0 very high 12.3h
October Good -3° - 10° 2° 9 mm partly cloudy 42% 1.9 m/s 1.1 high 11.1h
November Acceptable -9° - 3° -6° 9 mm overcast 58% 1.6 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.0h
December Poor -17° - -4° -14° 14 mm overcast 69% 1.9 m/s 0.3 low 9.5h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Yashilkul

Yashilkul is reached by road across the Pamir Highway (M41). Common staging towns include Khorog; travel requires permits and local guides in Gorno‑Badakhshan. Roads are seasonal and weather dependent.

Tips for Visiting Yashilkul

  • Allow time to acclimatize; the lake sits at high altitude and travel in the Pamirs can be demanding.
  • Travel with a licensed guide and a reliable vehicle on the M41 Pamir Highway; distances between services are large.