A mystical place on the Karakoram Caravan Route

Shyok River Lodge is a true getaway. Hidden in the quiet valley of the mighty Shyokh River it offers a serene setting for anyone who wants to be in the wild, without roughing it out.

Shyok River Lodge is the name for two twin lodges, both situated among the wild, barren mountainsides of the Himalayas and the Karakoram, right at the spot where these two majestic mountain ranges meet. The lodges sit in the middle of a true oasis, amidst green fields, groves of willows, poplars, wild roses and tamarisk, and the omnipresent soothing rumble of mountain streams.

The lodge lies tucked away at the foot of the eastern end of the Karakoram Range. It oversees the Shyok River where it comes down from the legendary 5000m-plus Aksai Chin Plateau (formerly India, since 1962 occupied by China, present name Xinjiang). Legends abound among the descendants of the erstwhile traders who followed the Shyok River Upstream to cross Aksai Chin into Yarkand in Turkmenistan. Tales of extreme hardships, bravery and lost lives. But also of a vivid trade relationship with the Turkmenis. Many descendants of Turmenis traders still live in Shyok, Nubra and Leh. Before 1962, Shyok River Lodge wouldn’t have been a quiet place at all! Rather a bustling stop-over for large caravans.

The lodge lies at the point where the Shyok River makes a sharp bend and starts flowing northwest in the direction of Nubra. The access to the lodge itself is a spectacular journey, whether by car or on foot. Car travelers have to cross the 5300 m high Chang La on the former caravan route to Lhasa (Tibet), where you get breathtaking views of the Indus River (Ladakh) and the Zanskar Range. After veering off from this ancient trail before it reaches the big lake Pangong Tso, a beautiful narrow gorge gives access to the lodge. On foot, it is an even more spectacular 8 day journey starting from Leh and crossing four passes.

This video gives an impression of the road to Shyok River Lodge =>