Shyok River

Originating from the mighty Rimo Glacier in the Karakoram, the Shyok River (meaning "River of Death" in Yarkandi Balti) winds through towering granite canyons to nourish the villages of Nubra and Baltistan before joining the Indus. Flanked by silver sand dunes, poplar groves, and rugged mountain walls, riding along its riverbanks is a defining highlight of the northern expedition.