Dushanbe to Osh

7-Days Pamir Highway Road Trip

Destination: Pamir Highway, Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan

Itinerary: Dushanbe – Darvoz (Kalaikhum) – Khorog – Ishkashim – Langar – Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes – Alichur – Murgab – Karakul lake – Sarymogol – Lenin Peak Base Camp – Osh city

Tour type: auto + hike

Duration: 7 days, 6 nights

Best Season: April – October

Min / Max Elevation: 2400m – 4700m

Overnight stays:  guesthouses, yurt camps

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.  To Khorog town

Once we collect our belongings, we say goodbye to our wonderful hosts and continue our journey towards Khorog city, 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. After lunch, you will have a time explore the city including a scenic Botanical Garden.
Accommodation: hotel,    Driving: 7- hour,

Day 3. Khorog city to Langar village in Wakhan Valley

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 4. 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 3-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 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 peaks. 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.
Accommodation: hotel,    Driving: 5-hour,    Hike: 5- hour

Price in USD:

number of people 1 2 3 4
price per person 1850 925 620 470

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.

    Dushanbe to Osh on Pamir Highway Photo Gallery

    Combine the following activities with your Pamir Highway Trips

    • English Speaking Drivers
    • Reliable Cars
    • Local Experience
    • Scenic Mountains