The tour begins with a spectacular flight through (not over!) the mountains from Dushanbe to Khorog, capital of the Mountainous Badakhshan Autonomous Region. From Khorog, we take a 4WD vehicle through the stunning vistas of the Pamir Highway, over the Ak-Baital Pass (at 4, 650 m, one of the highest stretches of road in the world) and on into Kyrgyzstan.

Route

The flight from Dushanbe to Khorog is itself one of the attractions of the tour, as the dramatic final approach is down a valley with sheer rock walls below snow-capped peaks. This flight has received ‘best of Central Asia mentions in several guide books.

There are some worthwhile sights in the Khorog area, most notably the hot springs at Garm-chashma. We will spend the first two days around Khorog enjoying the natural beauty, before beginning the 700 km TRIP to Osh.

Although it is possible to drive from Khorog to Osh in a couple of days, we will take a more leisurely five days in order to explore the sights along the way. During the first part of the TRIP, we will pass through the villages of Badakhshan region, which are stretched along the river valleys. The traditional way of life of the Pamiri peoples, adapted to life at altitudes of up to 4, 000 m, has been preserved to the present day. The Pamiri dwellings are built around a large enclosed CENTRAL five-pillared room, covered with a tiered wooden ceiling with an opening for light and an outlet for smoke.

After the town of Murgab, we will leave the Silk Road route and enter the desolate and unpopulated east Pamir region. This is a vast stony plateau with scarce vegetation, at an altitude of 3, 500-4, 500 m. The plateau is shaped like a giant dish, edged by mountain ranges, that rise only 1, 000-1, 500 m above the bottom. The scenery from here to the Kirghiz border is Spartan, dry and brown, but wonderfully mountainous and magnificent to look at. This region was known to Ptolemy and was also TRAVELed by Marco Polo, who wrote: ‘For twelve days you cross the valley; it is called Pamirs, and for the whole twelve days you see no houses, neither vegetation; food should be brought by yourself. There are no birds here because it is high and cold. Because of terrible cold, fire is not as bright and not of the colors like in other places. '

We will spend one night by the high mountain lake of Karakul, which was formed millennia ago when a meteor struck the Pamirs. Karakul is the largest of a range of about 800 ancient lakes in the Pamirs which were created by earthquake, tectonic activity and glaciers. The water in this lake is too high to support marine life and the region around it has been described as a moonscape.

On the last day we will cross the Kizil-Art Pass (4, 250 m) into Kyrgyzstan. On the other side of the pass, the scenery changes markedly. The high mountain peaks of Lenin and Somoni (Communism) form a divide, and the Kirghiz side is as green and lush as the Pamir is sparse and barren. The tour finishes in Osh. From there you can continue by road or air to Bishkek or Tashkent.

The following itinerary is intended as a working guide only and it is subject to variation as a result of local conditions, weather and governmental restrictions. We reserve the right to alter the length of the TRIP at any time if necessary. Flight timetables are altered occasionally and it may be necessary to vary our itinerary to adapt to these changes.

This price includes:
All transfers in Tajikistan, accommodation as described in the itinerary, all transport Russian jeep, Russian track (4WD vehicle), all meals 3 time a day, trek accompanies crew as described above.

Not included:
Airfare to Tajikistan, visas, government taxes and licenses, Visa and visa support.   Our visa should be paid for in Dushanbe airport on arrival. The current fee is USD $52 for a two-week visa. Government taxes and licenses are also payable in USD cash on arrival. Current rates are: $50: Badakhshan permit. This amount is subject to change, but we will notify you before travel.   Options : The tour begins in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and ends in Kyrghyz/Tajik border Kizil-Art pass. Flights Most arrivals to Tajikistan from Europe will take the Tajik Air flight from Munich or Istanbul, which flies once a week on a Saturday. We can sell you a ticket on this route or can provide advice on alternatives. Please contact us for details.