Along the Pamir Highway

19 days
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Small Group Tour
Join us on this true adventure along the iconic 'Pamir Highway' - 1250 kilometres of road (not all of it sealed!) that connects the ancient trading cities of Dushanbe and Osh. This is a journey of ever-changing scenery, high mountain passes, raging rivers, isolated villages and hardy peoples. Wakhan Corridor - Drive through the Wakhan Corridor and spot Af...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Wakhan Corridor - Spot Afghan villages lining the river
    • Ak-Baital Pass - Cross the highest pass of former USSR (4,655 m)
    • Song Kul Lake - Stay in a yurt on the lake's shores

What's this trip about?

    Join us on this true adventure along the iconic 'Pamir Highway' - 1250 kilometres of road (not all of it sealed!) that connects the ancient trading cities of Dushanbe and Osh. This is a journey of ever-changing scenery, high mountain passes, raging rivers, isolated villages and hardy peoples. Wakhan Corridor - Drive through the Wakhan Corridor and spot Afghan villages across the Panj River Ak Baital Pass - Cross the highest pass of former-USSR on the drive along the Pamir Highway Song Kul Lake - Walk through Kyrgyzstan's lush summer pastures and stay in a yurt on the shores of Song Kul Lake.

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age range30 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityDushanbe
End CityAlmaty

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Destinations

Activities

  • Adventure & Adrenaline
  • Caving
  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Mountaineering
  • Nature
  • Relaxing Retreat
  • Skiing, Snowboarding & Snow Sports
  • Swimming
  • Trekking

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Trip starts in Dushanbe. Explore the Tajik capital on a walking tour of the city

Arrive in Dushanbe. Please note for anybody arriving on flights that arrive into Dushanbe in the early hours of this morning, early check-in will be provided for you. For anyone arriving before today please contact us to book additional nights accommodation. ...

Meals Provided :
None

Day 2 Set off on the Pamir Highway in 4WDs. Spot Afghan villages across the Panj River

Leaving the city behind this morning, we set off on our journey to the Pamir Highway and across the Pamir mountains. We gradually gain altitude as we drive, with parts of the road remaining unsealed and rather rough in parts. Whilst we will be driving in specially ada...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 Continue the drive alongside the Panj River to Khorog, the heart of the Pamiri region

We set off for today for another shaky but enjoyable scenic journey, most of which will follow the glacial Panj River. Looking across to the opposite banks of the river, we spot Afghan villages clinging to the hillsides and the pathways that traverse and snake their w...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 4 Venture into the Wakhan Corridor and take a dip in the Garmchashma hot springs

Leaving Khorog behind this morning we first drive to Garmchashma, the site of a natural hot spring in the heart of the Pamirs. With its alpine-blue water and temperatures upwards of 40°c, the spring has been a popular site for centuries and for those that wish to take...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 Continue along the Wakhan Valley, visiting the impressive 3rd century Khahkha Fortress

We continue our journey along the Wakhan Valley today, with several places of interest to see along the way. We first make a small detour off the Pamir Highway to the village of Manadguti, where we find the Khahkha Fortress. Dating back to the 3rd century BC, this for...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 Free day in Hissor with the option for a walk up to petroglyphs and along Engels Meadow

We spend a day in Hissor today, an interesting area to explore and the additional night here serves as a welcome break after the past few days long and adventurous drives. Today can be spent relaxing by the guesthouse, taking in the mountain views and exploring the vi...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 Climb higher into the Pamirs, crossing the Kargushi Pass and driving alongside mountain lakes

We turn back onto the Pamir Highway again this morning, leaving the lush valleys behind as we gradually gain in altitude and the landscape changes to a rockier, almost lunar environment. We cross the dramatic Kargushi Pass at an elevation of 4,300 metres above sea lev...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 Cross the border into Kyrgyzstan, passing through Karakul en route. Continue onto Tulpar Kul Lake in the shadow of Lenin's Peak

We wake this morning in the town of Murghab, lying at the centre of the region it characterises the severity of living in such a harsh environment. Literally translated to 'roof of the world', Murghab sits on a desolate flat plateau surrounded by snow-capped peaks, mo...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9 Optional morning walk to Lenin Peak Base Camp. Drive onto Osh

After breakfast we set off on foot this morning for a walk up to the Lenin Peak Base Camp. The walk starts gently as we descend down into a canyon to cross a bridge to the other side of the river. From here we ascend from the valley and onto a ridge, which we follow a...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast & Lunch

Day 10 Explore this ancient trading city at the Kyrgyz end of the M-41 - the Pamir Highway

After the long journey over the mountains, today is a day spent firmly in one place, and that is the ancient trader's city of Osh. Thought to be the oldest city in Kyrgyzstan, its roots can be traced back 3,000 years, although it was firmly placed on the map when it w...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 11 Full day's drive through the wilds of Kyrgyzstan, passing Toktogul Resevoir to Suusamyr Valley

Leaving Osh this morning, we continue our journey through central Kyrgyzstan with the scenery changing from the rugged, rocky mountainous terrain of the Pamirs to the lush meadows and pastures of central Kyrgyzstan. We stop for a picnic lunch overlooking the beautiful...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 Two-day walk through the Kyrgyz meadows and summer pastures

The next few days provide us with the chance to stretch our legs as we ditch wheels for walking boots with a two-day hike to Song Kul Lake. The morning starts with a short drive to Kyzart Village where we meet our trek support crew before setting off on our hike to...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13 Day two of the walk: cross Jalydyz Karagai Pass and hike down to the shores of Song Kul Lake

After a cosy night under traditional felt, we continue our walk this morning, ascending and crossing Jaldyz Karagai pass (around 700 metres of ascent) which takes us up and over the Song Kul range and into the lake's basin. The morning's climb affords wonderful views ...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 14 Drive to Lake Issy Kul and stay in a traditional yurt overlooking the lake

Back on the road today, we head for Lake Issy Kul, quite-rightly dubbed as the \ Pearl of Kyrgyzstan\ . En route we stop in the small town of Kochkor for a demonstration on the methods used to weave traditional felt carpets, a product that this area is highly regarded...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 15 Explore Fairytale Canyon on foot and walk into Jety-Oguz Valley. Stay in a farmer’s guesthouse

After a leisurely breakfast overlooking the shores of Issy Kul, we drive onto Szaka or \ Fairytale Canyon\ , so-called due to the bizarre landscape of captivating rock formations. From here we embark on an easy-graded walk to Jety-Oguz. The walk takes us over the p...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 16 Visit the churches and mosques of Karakol before returning to the guesthouse for a folklore show

This morning we head for the city of Karakol, where we meet civilisation once again. Embarking on a tour of the city we discover some of its most interesting sights, including the Dungan Mosque which was built in 1904 without using single nail, and serving as a place ...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 17 Cross the border into Kazakhstan walk the along the rim of Charyn Canyon

Bidding goodbye to our hosts this morning we set off for our third and final country, Kazakhstan. Our route takes us up into the tip of the eastern Tien Shen range when we cross the border at Kegen before descending down to the dry, dusty and hot Kazakh steppe. We sto...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast & Lunch

Day 18 Spend time discovering the cosmopolitan city of Almaty

Today we set out to explore some of the Almaty's major sites, starting in the Park of 28 Guards. The park is diverse, serving as popular meeting place for locals as well as housing a variety of important monuments and buildings. The park's focal point is the Ascension...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

Day 19 Trip ends in Almaty

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Almaty. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Almaty at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to...

Meals Provided :
Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $6,420
Price per day$338
Last Updated: 4/10/2024

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Jun 2019

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Logistics

Accommodation

Transportation & Flights

Bus, 4WD,

Transportation & flights

Bus, 4WD
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Driver(s), Local Guide(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Tajikistan -Nationals of the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand will require a visa before travel. E-visa's can be applied for via www.evisa.tj You must ensure that you also apply for the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) permit as part of your e-visa application. Kyrgyzstan: Nationals of the EU, Canada, Australia and the United States don't need a visa to enter and stay for a maximum of 60 days. Other nationalities may require a single entry visa and should consult the relevant consulate or www.kyrgyzvisa.com for more information. Kazakhstan: Nationals of the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand can travel to Kazakhstan without a visa, provided your stay does not exceed 30 days. If you wish to stay longer than 30 days, you'll need a visa. You should contact your nearest Embassy of Kazakhstan for further information. All visa related issues including information for other nationalities should be confirmed with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
Health & Safety
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against tetanus, infectious hepatitis, typhoid and polio. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at <a href="https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/know-before-you-go/travel-health">Explore Travel Health</a> and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 18
  • Dinner : 12
  • Lunch : 14
Age Requirements
30 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
explore-TAJ

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