TOUR
The Pamir Highway: Expedition to the Roof of the World
The Wakhan Valley, high-altitude lakes and the Ak-Baital Pass — a route through the most remote region of Tajikistan.
About This Tour
The Pamir Highway is the M41 road, built through the mountains at altitudes of up to 4,655 metres. It runs along the Afghan border, past Silk Road fortresses, high-altitude lakes and settlements where life has changed little in the past century.
Over nine days, you'll complete a full loop: from Dushanbe via Kulob to the Panj River, on to Khorog and the Wakhan Valley, up onto a plateau above 4,000 metres, past the lakes of Bulunkul and Yashilkul, through Murghab to Karakul, and back via Kalaikhum.
Half the nights are spent in hotels, half in Pamiri guesthouses. That's not only about comfort: in the guesthouses you eat with your hosts around a shared table and experience everyday Pamiri life firsthand. We arrange the GBAO permit for you.
Tour Programme
1Dushanbe — Kulob — Kalaikhum
The road passes the Nurek Reservoir and the Shurabad Pass. By evening you reach the Panj River, with Afghan villages visible on the far bank. Night in a hotel in Kalaikhum.
2Kalaikhum — Khorog
The road runs through rock canyons along the Panj. In Khorog, a walk through the botanical garden — one of the highest in the world — and through the town's orchards, where in season you can pick apricots, mulberries and apples straight from the branch. In the evening, a concert of Pamiri music and a workshop in traditional dance, accompanied by rubab and doira.
3Khorog — Garm Chashma — Ishkashim
The mineral springs at Garm Chashma, with their terraced mineral formations. Then into the Wakhan Corridor, where the snow-capped peaks of the Hindu Kush come into view. First night in a Pamiri guesthouse.
4Ishkashim — Yamchun — Langar
Yamchun Fortress stands on a cliff above the valley; it's dated to the 3rd century BCE. Nearby are the Bibi Fatima hot springs. In Langar, ancient petroglyphs. Night in a Wakhi guesthouse.
5Langar — Khargush Pass — Alichur
The climb onto the high plateau above 4,000 metres, where the landscape turns bare and almost lunar. In Alichur, a chance to meet yaks and ride one. Night in a family guesthouse.
6Alichur — Bulunkul — Yashilkul
Two high-altitude lakes among treeless mountains. Lunch of fresh marinka, a fish caught by local fishermen.
7Murghab is the highest town in the region. Its
Alichur — Murghab market, built from shipping containers, is a place to buy felt crafts directly from the women who make them.
8Murghab — Karakul — Kalaikhum
The Ak-Baital Pass at 4,655 metres — the highest point of the Pamir Highway. Then Lake Karakul (3,960 m), which sits in an ancient meteorite crater. By evening, the descent back into the valley. Night in a hotel.
9Kalaikhum — Dushanbe
The return to the capital, and a farewell dinner in Dushanbe.
What's Included
Included
- Transport: 4WD or minivan
- Guide and drivers
- Accommodation: 3–4★ hotels and guesthouses
- Three meals a day
- Cultural programme: concert, dance workshop, historical sites
- Activities: yak riding, orchard walks
- All fees: permits, taxes, entrance tickets
- GBAO permit arrangement
Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Additional hotel services
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips for the guide and drivers
What to Bring
- Clothing: several layers. Thermals, fleece, a windproof jacket or down jacket — weather on the passes changes quickly.
- Footwear: trekking shoes or boots, plus something light for the guesthouses.
- Sun protection: SPF 50+ cream, lip balm (the air at altitude is very dry), sunglasses.
- Water: a reusable bottle or flask — we provide drinking water on the route.
- Electronics: a head torch and a power bank.
- Cash: there are almost no ATMs along the highway.
Photo Gallery
Price
On request
The price depends on group size and dates
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