Dushanbe to Bishkek on Pamir Highway

Day 1. Dushanbe to Kalaikhum

Welcome to the Pamir Highway! Today we start our drive towards the gorgeous village of Khalaikhum. We will visit the 11th-century Hulbuk Palace along the way before finally entering the iconic Pamir Mountains. After driving through the spectacular valleys of the Shurobod Pass we will arrive in the village of Khalaikhum. Here we will join the Panj River, which we will be following for the next few days, and have our first views into mysterious Afghanistan, just over the border. We will have dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Accommodation: hotel, Driving: 6-hour

Day 2. Kalaikhum to Jizeu Village

Today we drive towards the Bartang Valley and begin an adventure that may prove to be your favorite part of the trip. The 4x4s will drop us off at the trailhead to Jizeu Valley and we will commence a truly spectacular 2-hour hike to the remote Jizeu Village. The views we will discover on this hike are barren and wild, and this is known for being one of the real highlights of the Pamir Highway, that very few travelers visit. There are no roads to this village, so we will need to take our supplies with us for one night staying with local families. You do not need to bring much with you – just a change of clothes, medication, water for the hike and your camera gear, and everything else will stay with our driver in the 4x4s. We will have lunch and dinner in the Jizeu Village. This is an isolated region, and we will only be able to organize our accommodation once we arrive in the village. Food, blankets, pillows, and water are provided at the homestay.
Accommodation: homestay,   Driving time: 6-hour,    Hike: 2-hour

Day 3. Jizeu village to Khorog town

We will wake up for sunrise in the remote Jizeu Valley before having breakfast. Once we collect our belongings, we say goodbye to our wonderful hosts and hike back towards the main road. Our driver will meet us there and we will continue our journey towards Khorog, one of the main towns along the Pamir Highway, with plenty of photo stops along the way. In Khorog you can stay in a comfortable hotel and explore the city afternoon.
Accommodation: hotel,    Driving: 4- hour,    Hike: 2-hour

Day 4. Khorog city to Langar village

While the traditional Pamir Highway traverses through the interior mountains of Tajikistan, we will choose to follow the Panj River and enter the famous Wakhan Corridor! We leave the town of Khorog and continue to gain altitude as we make our way towards Yamg. Be amazed as the imposing Afghan mountains rise up on our right-hand side and local farmers across the river go about their daily lives. We’ll stop off at the Ishkashim Fortress along the way then climb up towards to the village of Yamchun. Here we will find the 12th-century Yamchun Fortress, with one of the most sensational views along the entire region. The nearby Babi Fatima Hot Springs is also a great spot to stop, and for those who are interested, you can bathe in their natural waters (note that clothing is forbidden inside the hot springs, and men and women are separated). After these highlights, we’ll drive back down towards the popular village of Langar, with its wonderful terraced farmland.  Dinner will be in our homestay tonight.
Accommodation:  homestay,    Driving: 6-hour

Day 5. Hike to Engel’s Peak

We depart Yamg early today as we have the opportunity to trek one of the most beautiful trails along the entire Wakhan Valley: The challenging 9-hour return trip to the 4000m-high meadows at the base of Engel’s Peak. You will be rewarded with remarkable views of the Hindu Kush and alpine streams. This is known as being one of the best side trips along the Pamir Highway, and we have no doubt that you’ll be blown away with this unique opportunity to get deeper into the Pamir Mountains. We’ll have a packed lunch with us to enjoy on the edge of a lake at the meadows, before climbing back down to Langar village. Dinner and overnight at homestay.
Footnote: The trek takes 5 hours up and 4 hours down. The trail goes slowly up, moderate.
“Engels peak” hike details: Duration/distance: 9 hours/20km, Max/Min elevation: 3956 m/3254 m, Total Gain/Loss: 783m / 83m
Accommodation: homestay,    Hike: 9- hour

Day 6. Langar to Alichur village via Bulunkul Lake

Today we leave Langar early towards the Kargush Pass. Once we arrive at the security checkpoint at Kargush we say goodbye to the Pamir River and the nomadic Afghan farmers across the way and drive a short distance further to start another trek. The 4-hour hike up Panorama Ridge reaches 4800m above sea level and has insane views of the Wakhan Range of Afghanistan and remote lakes. It’s a moderate hike, but worth the views at the top. Once we descend, we’ll continue to the tiny village of Bulunkul and have the chance to see the high alpine lakes of Bulunkul and Yashikul. We will drive to the nearby Alichur village for our local homestay tonight.
Accommodation: homestay,    Driving: 5-hour,    Hike: 3-hour

Day 7. Alichur to Karakul Lake

We’ll have breakfast cooked by the family and soon will drive off towards Murghab, the largest town on the Pamir Highway. Here we take a short walk around the village and have a lunch in a local cafe, then continue onwards to Karakul Lake. Today we cross over the 4655m high Akbaital Pass then drive down to Karakul Lake at 4000 meters above sea level. Arrival at the lake with numerous households on the shore. Enjoy walking around this remotest village. The vistas, as you can appreciate, are phenomenal. Tonight’s accommodation will be in a local homestay near the shores of Karakul Lake.
Accommodation: homestay,    Driving: 5-hour

Day 8. Karakul Lake to Tulparkul Lake, Kyrgyzstan

Today we leave Karakul early and make our way to the Kyrgyz border. After exiting Tajik border, an 18-km scenic drive on neutral zone with glaciated slopes around goes all the way to the border. Once we enter Kyrgyzstan, we will drive down to the beautiful village of Sary Moghul for lunch, and much-appreciated showers. When we are all cleaned up and fed, we continue on another hour to the stunning Tulparkul Lake at 3500 meters above sea level. We’ll be staying in a traditional yurt camp, which has been called the prettiest yurt stay in all of Kyrgyzstan. Tulparkul Lake is at the base of Peak Lenin, standing at 7134m tall.
Accommodation: yurt camp,    Driving: 5-hour

Day 9. Hike to Lenin Peak glaciers – Osh city 

Breakfast. Explore the snow-capped Lenin Peak in the Pamir mountain range by taking a day hike from your yurt camp to the Traveler’s pass at 4130 meters, 3 hrs. Enjoy the beauty of glaciers while walking up to the pass. Rest at the top of the Traveler’s pass to gaze at glaciers tumbling off the massive 7000 meters peak. Back to your yurts, 2 hrs. Afterward, we will return to the lake for the afternoon lunch and drive to Osh city, the second largest city with 3000 years history, 4-hour drive.
Accommodation: hotel,    Driving: 5-hour,    Hike: 5- hour

Day 10: Osh city – Kaldama Pass – Kazarman village

Before we leave the city, we take a 2-hour city tour to explore the old bazaars, the holy Sulaiman Mountain with its museum, and other historical sights. As we leave the city and reach the mountains, an exotic trip with bushes along the road begins. Amazing mountain ranges open up on top of the Kaldama Pass highlighting our day.  We drive down the village Kazarman. Dinner and overnight at homestay.
Driving: 5-hour,   Accommodation: homestay

Day 11. Kazarman – Ak Tal village – Naryn city – Tash Rabat

Today, we enjoy driving along the overflowing river Naryn, the largest river in Kyrgyzstan. We drive over several small passes with panoramic view of colorful white and red mountains. You can spot yurts of shepherd’s busy with their daily activities. Lunch in Naryn city. Afternoon, our trip continues to Tash – Rabat caravanserai. After arrival and some hot tea at yurt camp, we explore the Tash-Rabat, a 15th-century stone caravanserai along the Silk Road where traders stopped for overnight and sharing the news.  Dinner and overnight at yurt camp.
Driving: 6-hour,   Accommodation: yurt camp

Day 12. Tash Rabat to Song Kol Lake

Today, our journey take us to the most exotic alpine lake “Song Kol “ standing at 3000 meters above sea level and surround by scenic mountains. The vast valleys around the lake and the good quality of grass in the mountains make this place as a biggest summer pasture for animals.  Every year hundreds of shepherds around the region come here with their livestock to spend summer time. As we reach the pass, a blue and turquoise Song Kol Lake opens up. We descend the yurt camp on the shore the lake.  Lunch at yurt camp. Afternoon, walk around the lake to experience the nomadic life of the Kyrgyz people.
Driving: 6-hour,   Accommodation: yurt camp

Day 13. Song Kul lake – Bishkek city

A road begins to go up to the pass as we leave the Song Kol Lake behind. We take a short stop on the pass to admire the last beauty of the lake and the mountains around.  On the way, we pass through Kochkor city where we stop at handicraft shop to see and buy some hand-made souvenirs made of sheep’s wool. Lunch at Kochkor city. After lunch, our drive continues to Bishkek. Arrival and be accommodated at your hotel. Farwell dinner at café.
Driving: 6-hour,   Accommodation: hotel

Price in USD:

Included: 
English speaking driver
Transport
Side trips
Deriver’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.