Embark on a 5-day adventure along the Pamir Highway from Osh to Khorog, where you’ll traverse the majestic Pamir Mountains. This journey offers stunning landscapes, cultural encounters, and visits to iconic locations like Ishkashim, Langar, and the serene Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes. Explore the remote Murgab, the serene Karakul Lake, and the famous Lenin Peak Base Camp. Comfortable guesthouse and traditional yurt stays enhance this high-altitude experience.
Destination: Pamir Highway, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Drive over stunning highland landscapes. Stay with local people along the way and experience the Pamiri culture. Enjoy panoramic views while doing the short hikes on your tour.
Tour type: Auto – Jeep
Duration: 5 days, 4 nights
Best Season: May – October
Altitude: passes at 2400 – 4700 m
Requirements: Trekking shoes, waterproof & warm clothes, hat, sunscreen & sunglasses
Overnight stay: guesthouses, yurt
Osh to Khorog on Pamir Highway
ITINERARY: Osh city – Sarymogol – Lenin Peak Base Camp – Karakul lake – Murgab – Alichur – Wakhan valley – Ishkashim – Khorog city
Day 1. Osh – Sarymogol village – Tulparkol lake at Lenin Peak Base Camp, 5 – 6 hr
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. Arrival in Sarymogol village and cross the bridge to get to yurt camp at Tulparkol lake (3500 m) next to Lenin Peak Base Camp, 1hr. Enjoy the beauty of snowcapped mountains. Walk around this turquoise alpine lake Tulparkol. Overnight & dinner in a yurt.
Day 2. Tulparkol lake – border crossings – Karakul lake – 5 – 6 hr
Early breakfast. Take 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 peak. Back to your yurts, 2 hrs. Lunch in a yurt. Drive to the checkpoint, 2hr. Cross the borders and travel to Karakul lake in Tajikistan, 2 hrs. The totally different landscape opens up confirming that this is Tajikistan. Be accommodated in a guesthouse. A short walk around the lake.
Day 3. Karakul lake – Murgab village – Observatory hill – Alichur village, 6-7 hr
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. Head on to Alichur village, 3 hrs. On the way, we take a side trip to Observatory Hill. You will see a nice view of Muztak Ata peak of China on top of the hill if no clouds in 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 4. Bulungkul lake – Kargush pass – Wakhan valley – Langar village, 5-6 hr
Breakfast. Take a side trip to visit alpine Bulunkul & Yashylkul lakes with nice hot springs. Drive back to the main road and head up to the Kargush pass (4 344m). Arrival at the Kargush pass and start the 3-4 hrs trek to Panorama Ridge at 4800 meters. While walking up, two small lakes behind you at roadside open up to cheer you. Enjoy the stunning mountain scenery of Great Pamir on the Afghan border on top of the pass. Walk back to your car. After the pass, drive down to Afghanistan border for another checkpoint to check your GBAO permit. Road follows the river Pamir all the way to Wakhan valley with the chance to admire the Big Pamir of Afghanistan with nomadic Afghan Kyrgyz caravans. Great rugged Hindu Kush mountain ranges welcome you right before entering Wakhan valley. Overnight and dinner in a friendly homestay in Langar village.
Day 5. Langar village – Yamchun fortress – Ishkashim village – Khorog city, 5-6 hr
Breakfast. Right after you leave your guesthouse, we do a side trip 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. Back to the main road. Another fortress Khaaka comes up along the way at Namadgut village when you get closer to Ishkashim village. It is worth a 10 minutes 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 cafe. Night in a hotel.
Trekking options: you can add following day-treks to this trip. Then the price given will change slightly. We have GPS all treks if you are interested. They are doable without a guide.
1) Camel riding in Rangkul lake 2) Day trek from Pshart to Madyan valley outside Murgab village 3) Day trekking Panorama Ridge at Kargush pass with great views of Big Pamir in Afganistan 4) Day trek to see the Engels peak and great of Hindi Kush mountain range in Wakhan valley 5) Day hike or overnight hike in Jiseu valley in Bartang
Price in USD:
| number of people | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| price per person | 1500 | 750 | 500 | 375 |
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.
