Bishkek to Dushanbe Pamir Highway Trip

Day 1: Bishkek – Burana Tower – Song Kul Lake

Driving: 5-hour,   Accommodation: yurt stay

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.

Day 2: Song Kul lake – Naryn City – Tash Rabat

Driving: 6-hour,   Accommodation: yurt stay

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. Arrive in Tash Rabat Silk Road caravanserai. We take a tour to this historical site. Overnight and dinner in a yurt.

Day 3: Tash Rabat – Naryn city – Kazarman village

Driving: 7-hour,   Accommodation: homestay

Head on to Kazarman village. Enjoy driving along the overflowing river Naryn, the largest river in Kyrgyzstan. Pass by yurts of shepherds while driving over passes. Arrival and accommodation in a homestay.

Day 4: Kazarman village – Kaldama Pass – Osh city

Driving: 6-hour,   Accommodation: hotel

The highlight of the day is Kaldama 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 that delights your senses. Arrival in Osh city and accommodation in a hotel.

Day 5: Osh city – Sary Mogol village –  Lenin Peak Base Camp

Driving: 5-hour,   Accommodation: yurt stay

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. Arrive 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 the snowcapped mountains of Lenin Peak (7134 m). Walk around the lake. Overnight & dinner in yurt.

Day 6: Sarymogol village – Karakul Lake in Tajikistan,  

Driving: 5-hour,   Accommodation: homestay

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 Tajik border point. Enjoy driving over Kyzylart Pass (4280 m) with 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 a guesthouse at Karakul lake. A short walk in the village. Be accommodated in a guesthouse.

Day 7: Karakul lake – Murgab village – Observatory Hill – Alichur village

Driving: 5-hour,   Accommodation: homestay

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. Lunch in Murgab village. After lunch, we head on to Alichur village. On the way, we take a side trip to the so-called Observatory hill. You will see a nice view of Muztak Ata peak of China on top of the hill if no clouds on 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.

Day 8: Bulunkul – Panorama Ridge hike at Kargush pass – Langar

Driving: 6-hour,   Accommodation: homestay

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. Arrive on the pass and start the hike to Panorama Ridge at 4800 meters. It gives you a chance to view a snowy Afghan Wakhan and to spot the 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 the Afghanistan border for another checkpoint to check your GBAO permit. Road follows the river Pamir all the way to the 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.

Day 9: Trekking to Engels Peak in Wakhan Valley

Trekking time: 8-9-hour,     Accommodation: homestay

Do a challenging day hike (5 hours up and 4 hours down) or a relaxing overnight hike with a great camping spot at a high elevation. It is an easy walk with the only pass before the meadow at 4000 meters even though the distance could be long. Your trek starts at Zong village by driving up to the north end of the village. Turn right to take an 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 the magnificent Hindu Kush Mountain Range of Pakistan and lush valleys of the Panj river. Arrive at the meadow and break for the lunch here or on the shore of a small lake beyond the meadow with the stunning view of Engels Peak. Back to your car and drive to Yamg village for overnight.

Day 10: Yamg village – Yamchun fortress & hot springs – Ishkashim village – Khorog city

Driving: 5-hour,   Accommodation: homestay

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 the 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 at Namadgut village when you get closer to Ishkashim village. It is worth a 10-minute stop. Continue to drive 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 café. Night in a hotel.

Day 11: Bartang Valley – Jizeu Valley – lakes & wildlife community

Driving: 5-hour,   Hiking: 2-hour,     Accommodation: homestay

Drive to Bartang valley, 3-hour. Arrive 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.

Day 12: Bartang Valley to Kalaikhum village

Driving: 5-hour,   Hiking: 2-hour,     Accommodation: homestay

Breakfast. Walk back to your car, 2-hour. 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. Arrive in Kalaikhum village and be accommodated in a guesthouse.

Day 13: Kalaikhum village to Dushanbe city

Driving: 6-hour,  Accommodation: no

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

Price in USD

number of people	1	2	3	4
price per person	2950	1475	985	740

 

Included: 
English speaking driver
Transport
Side trips
Driver’s meals and accommodation
Fuel
Border fees for transport
Taxes

Not included:
Your meals and accommodation
Entrance fees to sites

• If you plan for a private tour, you can choose your own start date and book it exclusively for yourself.
• If you prefer to join a group and share costs with fellow travelers, visit this page to view available group dates.
• Should none of the listed trip dates suit your schedule, you are welcome to set your own date. We will then advertise your chosen date to gather other interested travelers to join you.