Bishkek to Dushanbe on Pamir Highway

Bishkek to Dushanbe on Pamir Highway

Explore Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on this thrilling tour. It reveals all the highlights of two countries ranging from exotic turquoise alpine lakes to the scenic day hikes in the Pamir Mountains. Experience the nomadic culture of Kyrgyz people while you stay in authentic yurts of shepherds

Itinerary

Day 1: BISHKEK – BURANA TOWER – SONG KUL LAKE, 5–6 HRS

Pass By: Bishkek, Bishkek
Pick up from your hotel. Travel to Song Kul lake. Take a detour to visit 12th-century architectural sight Burana Tower. An exotic view of alpine lake Song Kul opens up when you reach Kalmak Ashuu pass. Drive down to the shore of the lake and be accommodated in a yurt. Walk around the lake.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: SONG KUL LAKE – AK TAL VILLAGE– BAETOV VILLAGE – ASUU PASS – TASH RABAT, 5-6 HRS

Pass By: Song-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Drive south of the lake to reach Moldo Ashuu pass. Nice drive on switchbacks. Enjoy the beauty of colorful mountains while driving to Naryn city. Lunch break in Naryn. Arrival in Tash Rabat and visit the Silk Road caravanserai. Overnight and dinner in a yurt.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: TASH RABAT – NARYN CITY – KAZARMAN VILLAGE, 6–7 HRS.

Pass By: Kazarman, Kyrgyzstan
Head on to Kazarman village. Enjoy driving along the over flowing river Naryn, the largest river in Kyrgyzstan. Pass by yurts of shepherd’s while driving over passes. Arrival and accommodation in a homestay.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: KAZARMAN VILLAGE – KALDAMA PASS – OSH CITY, 5–6 HRS

Pass By: Osh, Osh
The highlight of the day is Kaldama's pass. Amazing mountain ranges open up on top of the pass. Descend down the pass. Driving through dense bushes covering the road and mountain slopes delight your senses. Arrival in Osh city and accommodation in a hotel.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: OSH CITY – SARY MOGOL VILLAGE – BASE CAMP OF LENIN PEAK , 5–6 HRS

Pass By: Lenin Peak, Osh Kyrgyzstan
Breakfast. Drive to Sarymogol village, 4hr. A nice valley opens up when you reach Taldyck pass (3600 meters) with green pastures and yaks grazing around. Arrival in Sarymogol village and cross the bridge to get to the yurt camp at Tulparkol lake (3500 m) next to the base camp of Lenin Peak, 1hr. Enjoy the beauty of snowcapped mountains of Lenin Peak (7134 m). Walk around the lake. Overnight & dinner in yurt.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 6: SARYMOGOL VILLAGE - KARAKUL LAKE, 5–6 HRS

Pass By: Karakul Lake, Tajikistan
Breakfast. Drive back to the main road and further up to the checkpoint, 2hr. Cross the Kyrgyz border and drive on no man’s land about 20 km to get to the Tajik border point. Nice Kyzylart pass (4280 m) and snowcapped glaciers at the roadside. Cross Tajik border and head up to Karakul lake, 1hr. Totally different landscapes and relief open up in front of you. Have lunch in the guesthouse at Karakul lake. A short walk in the village. Be accommodated in a guesthouse.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: KARAKUL LAKE - MURGAB VILLAGE – OBSERVATORY HILL – ALICHUR VILLAGE, 6-7 HRS

Pass By: Alichur, Alichur, Gorno-Badakhshan Province
Travel goes on to Murgab via the highest pass Akbaital (4655 m) you will ever do in Tajikistan, 3hr. Take photos of glaciers on the pass. Leave Murgab village for Alichur village. We take a detour to so-called Observatory hill. You will see a nice view of Muzak Ata peak of China on top of the hill if no clouds in the sky. Down the hill, there is a soviet truck full of skulls of Marco Polo sheep inside. Once upon a time, it was a hunting camp. Back to the main road and drive to Alichur village. Overnight and dinner in a guesthouse.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 8: BULUNKUL – PANORAMA RIDGE TREK AT KARGUSH PASS – LANGAR

Pass By: Langar, Tajikistan
Breakfast. Take a detour to visit Bulunkul and the Yashylkul lakes with nice hot springs. Back to the main road and head up to the Kargush pass, 1hr. Arrival on the pass and start the trek to so-called Panorama Ridge at 4800 meters. It gives you a chance to view a snowy Afghan Wakhan and to spot stunning mountain scenery of Great Pamir on the Afghan border. While walking up, two small lakes behind you at the roadside open up to cheer you. Break for lunch at the top of Panorama Ridge and walk back to your car on the south side of the ridge. Drive down to Afghanistan border for another checkpoint to check your GBAO permit. Road follows the river Pamir all the way to Wakhan corridor, with the chance to admire the Big Pamir of Afghanistan with nomadic Afghan Kyrgyz caravans. Great rugged Hindu Kush mountain ranges of Pakistan welcome you right before entering Wakhan valley. Overnight and dinner in a friendly homestay in Langar village.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 9: TREKKING TO ENGELS PEAK IN WAKHAN VALLEY, 8-9 HRS

Pass By: Engels Peak, Tajikistan
Do a challenging day hike (5 hours up and 4 hours down) or relaxing overnight hike with great camping spot at a high elevation. It is easy to walk with the only pass before the meadow at 4000 meters even though the distance could belong. Your trek starts at Zong village by driving up to the north end of the village. Turn right to take obvious trail along the manmade water channel joining the stream coming from the foot of Engels peak. Walk along the channel until you reach the end of the channel in a gorge and follow the stream to get to the green lush meadow valley. While walking up, enjoy the towering peaks of magnificent Hindu Kush Mountain Range of Pakistan behind you and lush valleys of the Panj river. Arrival at the meadow and break for the lunch here or on the shore of the small lake beyond the meadow with the stunning view of Engels Peak. Back to your car and drive to Yang village for overnight.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 10: YAMG VILLAGE – YAMCHUN FORTRESS & HOT SPRINGS - ISHKASHIM VILLAGE – KHOROG CITY, 5-6 HR

Pass By: Khorog, Khorog, Karotegin Province
Breakfast. Right after you leave your guesthouse, we do a detour on the way to admire the 12th century Yamchun Fortress rising from a platform of natural rock. Walk up to edge of the fort and you will have an amazing view of Wakhan valley. Further up the hillside are located the hot springs of Bibi Fatima, with its crystal waters rich in minerals. Another fortress Khaaka comes up along the way to Namadgut village when you get closer to Ishkashim village. It is worth a 10 minutes stop. Continue to driving to Khorog city. Afternoon, visit the interesting Regional Museum and Central Park of Khorog city. Evening hike in a Botanical Garden that has various plants and trees to explore. Dinner at a cafe. Night in a hotel.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 11: BARTANG VALLEY – JIZEU VALLEY – LAKES & WILD LIFE COMMUNITY

Pass By: Tajikistan, Tajikistan
Drive to Bartang valley, 3hrs. Arrival at the starting point and cross the bridge off the road. Walk along the stream up to the seasonally over-flowing, tree-lined river lakes in the village, 2hrs. Be accommodated in one of the guesthouses. The first lake is at the beginning of the village and the second one is about 2,3km beyond the last guesthouse. And 10 km beyond the second lake, there are two more lakes and a horizon of high peaks that need one more overnight to do it. Bring your food or things you need since there is no shop and electricity. You can use spring waters if it is Ok for you.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 12: BARTANG TO DARVOZ/KALAIKHUMB, 3–4 HRS

Pass By: Darvoz, Tajikistan
Breakfast. Walk back to your car, 2hrs. Meet your driver and travel to Darvoz district, 4hrs. The gorgeous road goes along the river up to the Vanj valley where the road widens up. The road continues along the Afghan border up to Kalaikhum village with picturesque scenery. Arrival in Kalaikhum village and be accommodated in a guesthouse.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 13: KALAIKHUM TO DUSHANBE, 5–6 HRS

Pass By: Dushanbe, Dushanbe
After breakfast, drive to Dushanbe along the Pang river with amazing views and traveling through numerous local villages. Deep rocky valleys and gorgeous mountains accompany you up to the Shurobod pass before Kulab village. Lunch in a Chaikana (local cafes). Visit 11th-century Hulbuk Palace on the way and enjoy the views of the world’s highest hydro power station Nurek in a distance. Arrival in Dushanbe. Accommodation in your hotel.

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.