Pamir overland adventure | Peak Adventures Tajikistan

PAMIR HIGHWAY ROUNDTRIP

DAYS STYLE START | FINISH SEASON Price

11 Road trip & culture Dushanbe | Osh March - December from 790$

OVERVIEW

Embark on an adventure of a lifetime through Tajikistan's Pamir Highway. See with your own eyes what Marco Polo described as Badakhshan and where the histories most secretive wars occurred during the Great Game. On this trip, we will show you how local people in remote areas live and introduce you to their culture and history. And while traveling through some of the magnificent mountain ranges with spectacular landscape views you will experience the hospitality in every sense of this word. Filled with authenticity and history that goes back to thousands of years ago, when traders of the silk road from China used to pass with their caravans through this road, you will see the traces of the ancient Silk Road and other archeological sites, including over 10000 rock paintings and petroglyphs going back more than 10000 years, castles and fortresses going back 2000 year and ancient shrines to Muslim saints, witnessing the practices and beliefs of the local religion. This trip is less strenuous and rather relaxed, however, it doesn't mean it is boring, in fact, you are going to be busy with lots of moving around, with walking tours of towns and cities and villages, some long days, and possibly remote locations. Our core principles on this trip are spontaneity, flexibility, organization and effective time management.

This tour can be done, either way, starting from Dushanbe or Osh

Enjoy the famous hospitality of Pamiri people and Kyrgyz nomads
Hike to see some of the 6000 petroglyphs in Langar
Visit the ancient fortress Yamchun located at the heart of the Pamirs
Enjoy the views of Hindukush mountains in Afghanistan when you are in wakhan valley

Stay in a traditional Pamiri house in Wakhan Valley
Hike in the scenic Jisew valley
Ride on horseback in a famous Bachor to Yashilkul lake trail
Enjoy the view of Alichur valley
Sleep in a traditional Kyrgyz yurt and experience a nomads life

ITINERARY

Day 1: Dushanbe to Kalai Khumb

We set off in the morning towards south Tajikistan until reaching Shurobod town were we will join Panj river and continue north-east to Kalai Khumb. Here we will be driving along the Tajik-Afghan border. The road here enters to a narrow gorge with barren mountains and the views of small villages from both sides of the river. We will enjoy spectacular views of Hazratishoh mountain range and the mountains of Afghanistan. On reaching Shurobod we will stop in a Tajik village and have lunch in a traditional Tajik village house with the family. Depending on your fitness level we will also have an opportunity for a short hike to get amazing views of the surrounding mountains of Darvoz region. Closer to Kalai Khumb we will also visit a famous Chorchaman resort with many waterfalls and beautiful garden. For overnight you can choose either to stay at a local guesthouse or at a 3 star Karon Palace hotel in Kalai Khumb.

Day 2: Kalai Khumb to Khorog

After a healthy breakfast we continue our drive along the Panj river to Khorog, an administrative center of Pamirs. We will have the views of beautiful mountains and gorges of Afghanistan all day long today. In the morning some 20 km from Kalai Khumb we will drive up the mountain to visit Karon historical site a recently excavated archeological site, it is believed that people in an ancient Karon settlement used to play polo according to an existing polo field in the site's area. Then we will continue on driving passing the Vanj ditrict and later Rushan. Our lunch will be in an open air road café in Rushan. Upon arrival we will have dinner and walking excursion in Khorog central Park. The hotel choices in Khorog are abundant. From a luxury Serena Hotel to budget family guesthouses. To get information on available choices go to our book accommodation page and mention your choice in the booking message.

Day 3: Khorog to Yamchun

In the morning we will explore Khorog first before continuing our driving adventure further south to wakhan. We will visit Khorog museum and Botanccal garden, from where we will have a spectacular view of this city. Later we set off for Yamg in Wakhan valley. After Ishkasim town we will visit several sites, including Kah-kaha and Yamchun forts. We will also visit a shrines decorated with Ibex and Marco Polo sheep horns, which is a custom in this part of Tajikistan. A truly spectacular views of Hindukush mountains from one side and Tajik mountain on the other side will make your drive exceptional today. Before reaching Yamg we will visit the famous Bibi-Fatima hot spring where you will take bath after a long day. In Yamg we will stay at local homestay.

Day 4: Yamchun to Alichur

We will start the day with a visit of Mubarak Wakhani museum in Yamg. Sufi Mubarak Wakhani (1839-1903) was a Tajik mystic poet, musician, astronomer, and Ismaili religious scholar from Wakhan. He developed several unique music styles and instruments along with many practical astronomic tools like solar calendar to predict the coming of the Navruz holiday. Then we will continue on driving along Wakhan visiting Buddhist stupa, left from Kushan empire and another shrine of an important regious figure of the past en route. In Langar we will make a bigger stop and hike to see some 6000 petroglyphs above the village some dating back more than thousand years ago. After the hike and lunch we shall leave Wakhan and drive to Bulunkul village over Khargush pass (4322m). Considered as the coldest place in Tajikistan, Bulunkul is the name of the village and the lake nearby. Here a moon-like scenery will lead the road and in Bulunkul you will feel so remote that you will loose your sense of time. Night in local homestay.

Day 5: Alichur to Karakul

In the morning we will drive to Yasilkul lake first and then to Karakul village over a highest point of the Pamir Highway - Albaital Pass (4655m). Along the road we will make several stops in Alichur plateau where we will make a detour to see wild Marco Polo sheep and stop at Chatyr Tash mount for taking pictures of Alichur valley. We will walk to Karakul lake when we reach the village. Karakul lake is a body of water created millions of years ago by a meteorite and noted as one of the most geologically fascinating places on earth. Here you will be able to enjoy amazing views of lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains. If you haven't been to a moon, here you will definitely have the feeling of being there. We spend the night in a local village house.

Day 6: Karakul to Osh

On our last day we will enjoy the last views of the Karakul lake from the Southern part. We shall drive to an Urtabuz viewpoint located at 4300m, which will require a little hike. After, we will drive up to the Kyzyl Art pass (4336m). We cross the border and enter Kyrgyzstan. Usually the procedure is easy and straight forward, unless there will be a lot of tourists crossing the border. In that case it will take a little longer. After crossing the Kyrgyz checkpoint which is 35km away from the Tajik border, we will make our way to Osh crossing the Allay valley and Toldek pass with fabulous views. Here our tour ends.

SHORT ITINERARY AND MAP

DAY 1 DUSHANBE - ANJIROB

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: - 244 km

See & Do: Norak reservoir, Hulbuk Fort, Afghan Bridge, Hiking on Chusk mountains

DAY 2 ANJIROB - RUSHAN

Accommodation: Hotel

Distance: 293 km

See & Do: Chorchaman resort, Karon Historical site, the views of Afghan villages

DAY 3 RUSHAN - KHOROG

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 67 km

See & Do: Afghan bazar, Khorog city Park and Botanical garden

DAY 4 KHOROG - YAMCHUN

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 260 km

See & Do: Kah-kaha and Yamchun fortresses, Shrine, small hike around the fortress

DAY 5 YAMCHUN - ZONG

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 60 km

See & Do: Bathing in a Hotspring, visiting Yamg museum, Hiking to the Silk fort

DAY 6 ZONG - ALICHUR

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 180 km

See & Do: Passing Khargush pass, Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes

DAY 7 ALICHUR - KARAKUL

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 214 km

See & Do: Passing Ak-Baital Pass, Stopping at Murgab town, Visiting Kyrgyz pasture with Yurts

DAY 8 KARAKUL - GHUDARA

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 150 km

See & Do: Passing Kokjar pass, Solar calendar, Kyrgyz pasture

DAY 9 GHUDARA - KHIJEZ

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 100 km

See & Do: Visiting remote villages, Driving on extremely narrow roads, Watching wildlife - Ibex

DAY 10 KHIJEZ - KALAI KHUMB

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 205 km

See & Do: Vamar fortress

DAY 11 KALAI KHUMB TO DUSHANBE

Accommodation: Homestay

Distance: 370 km

See & Do: Wildlife watching at local conservancy in Darvaz, Evening farewell dinner in Dushanbe

ITINERARY

PRICE & INCLUSIONS

I NEED A FULLY GUIDED TOUR

INCLUDES

All transportation
All meals (Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners)
All accommodation (5 nights, homestays and guesthouses)
Drinking water on the tour
English, German-speaking guide
All entrance fees

I NEED A FULLY GUIDED TOUR

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I NEED ONLY CAR WITH A DRIVER

INCLUDES

Transportation with a driver
Accommodation booking
Supplementary water for every day
Peak Adventures Pamir Highway Guidebook
Free Travel Simcard
24 hour support

I NEED ONLY CAR WITH A DRIVER

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TAILOR YOUR OWN TOUR

We make a huge effort to get to know our client's needs. After all, not all travelers have the same preferences when it comes to planning a vacation to a place like Tajikistan, where abundant possibilities are available. At Peak Adventures we sit down and plan with you offering our experience and knowledge needed to plan your ultimate trip. So let us know what you are looking for

GROUP DEPARTURES

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Group Size

4 - 6 PAX

Availability

Available

Price

790 $

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Group Size

4 - 6 PAX

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Price

790 $

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4 - 6 PAX

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Price

790 $

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DEPARTURE DATES

PAMIR HIGHWAY ROUNDTRIP

OVERVIEW

ITINERARY

SHORT ITINERARY AND MAP

PRICE & INCLUSIONS

I NEED A FULLY GUIDED TOUR

I NEED A FULLY GUIDED TOUR

I NEED ONLY CAR WITH A DRIVER

I NEED ONLY CAR WITH A DRIVER

TAILOR YOUR OWN TOUR

GROUP DEPARTURES

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