The Pamir Highway – Dushanbe Round Trip is an 11-day tour in Tajikistan, featuring a journey along the Pamir Highway, one of the world’s most adventurous roads. Highlights include exploring ancient ruins like the 11th-century Hulbuk Palace, hiking in the Bartang Valley to the remote Jizeu Village, experiencing local Pamiri culture through homestays, trekking in the Wakhan Valley for breathtaking views, and visiting historical sites such as Yamchun Fortress and Babi Fatima Hot Springs. The tour also includes scenic drives past picturesque lakes and through unique landscapes.
Destination: Pamir Highway, Tajikistan
Itinerary: Dushanbe – Darvoz (Kalaikhum) – Bartang Valley – Jiseu Village – Khorog – Ishkashim – Langar – Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes – Alichur – Murgab – Karakul lake – Murgab – Darvoz (Kalaikhum) – Dushanbe
Tour type: auto + hiking
Duration: 11 days, 10 nights
Best Season: May – October
Altitude: passes at 2400 – 4700 m
Requirements: Trekking shoes, waterproof & warm clothes, hat, sunscreen & sunglasses
Overnight stays: local homestays
Note: This itinerary can be shortened or prolonged depending on your time.
DAY 1: DUSHANBE TO KHALAIKHUM (DARVOZ)
Accommodation: Local Guesthouse Driving: 5-6 h
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 homestay.
DAY 2: KHALAIKHUM TO JIZEU VILLAGE
Accommodation: Local Homestay (Shared Rooms) Hiking: 2 h Driving: 3-4 h
Today we drive towards the Bartang Valley and begin an adventure that may prove to be your favourite 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 organise our accommodation once we arrive in the village. Food, blankets, pillows and water is provided at the homestay.
DAY 3: JIZEU VILLAGE TO KHOROG
Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel Hiking: 2 h Driving: 3-4 h
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.
DAY 4: KHOROG TO LANGAR
Accommodation: Local Homestay Driving: 4-5 h
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 Langar. Dinner will be in our homestay tonight.
DAY 5: TREKKING TO ENGEL’S PEAK
Accommodation: Local Homestay Hiking: 8-9 h Driving: 1 h
Early today as we have the opportunity to trek one of the most beautiful trails along the entire Wakhan Valley: the challenging 9-hour radial trip to the 4000m-high meadows at the base of Engel’s Peak. Your driver will take you to the starting point at Hisor village. While hiking, 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 by this unique opportunity to get deeper into the Pamir Mountains. You should take a packed lunch for yourself to enjoy on the edge of a lake in the meadows. On our way back as we exit the gorge leading to Engels Peak, we turn right and take a steep trail leading to Petroglyphs and down to Langar village to meet our drivers. Dinner and overnight at the same homestay.
“Engels peak” trekking details:
Duration: 9 hours
Distance: 20 km
Max elevation: 3956 m
Min elevation: 3254 m
Total Gain/Loss: 783m + / 83m –
Footnote: The trek takes 5 hours up and 4 hours down, but you can do half of the hike if a 9-hour hike is too long for you.
DAY 6: LANGAR TO ALICHUR VIA BULUNKUL
Accommodation: Local Homestay Hiking: 2- 3 h Driving: 5- 6 h
Today we leave Langar early and visit the ancient petroglyphs and fortress before passing over 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 Hindu Kush and Afghanistan’s Big Pamir mountains 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.
DAY 7: ALICHUR TO KARAKUL LAKE
Accommodation: homestay Driving: 5 hrs
We’ll have breakfast cooked by the family and soon will drive off towards Murghab, the largest town on the Pamir Highway. We shall have lunch in a local cafe or guesthouse, 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.
DAY 8: HIKE TO ORTOBOZ PASS AND BACK TO MURGAB
Accommodation: homestay, Hike: 4-5 h Driving: 5 h
We’ll have breakfast cooked by the family. Time to go to conquer the Ortoboz hike at 5141m. Drive to the south shore of Karakul Lake up to the starting point of the hike, 10 minutes. Trek starts at about 4150m altitude. The first half of the hike is in grassy meadows. The second half is on rocky ground. Reach the pass and celebrate your accomplishment at 5041 meters. Enjoy the 7000-meter high Pamir Mountain ranges all around you in a distance. After the summit, descend to the car, drive back to Murgab village. Enjoy walking around this remotest town. Tonight’s accommodation will be in a local homestay near the shores of Karakul Lake.
“Ortoboz peak” Trekking details:
Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Distance: 11 km
Max elevation: 5041 m
Min elevation: 4150 m
Total Gain/Loss: 809m + / 809m –
Footnote: You can do the half of the hike if it gets difficult and too long for you.
DAY 9: MURGAB TO KHOROG CITY ON M41 ROAD
Accommodation: comfortable hotel
After breakfast, we return to Khorog city on M41 Road which is actual Pamir Highway Road. The numerous villages located along the road gives us a chance to explore the daily life of locals while driving. Make a stop to take a photos while driving over the passes. Accommodated in your hotel.
DAY 10: KHOROG TO DARVOZ (KALAIKHUM)
Accommodation: homestay Driving: 5 -6 h
Note: We return to Dushanbe on the road we came from Dushanbe to Khorog. Even though it is the same road, there are much to see on the way that you missed while coming to Khorog.
Breakfast. Travel to Darvoz district. A 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. Arrival in Kalaikhum village and be accommodated in a guesthouse.
DAY 11: KALAIKHUM TO DUSHANBE
Accommodation: homestay Driving: 5- 6 h
Breakfast. Travel to Dushanbe along the Panj river through numerous local villages along the way. Deep rocky valleys and gorgeous mountains accompany you up to the Shurobod pass before Kulab village. Lunch in a Chaikana (local cafes). Enjoy the views of the world’s highest hydro power station Nurek in a distance. Arrival in Dushanbe. Accommodation in your hotel.
Price in USD for Pamir Highway- Dushanbe Round Trip:
| number of people | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| price per person | 2000 | 1000 | 670 | 500 |
Included:
English speaking driver
Transport
Side trips
Deriver’s meals and accommodation
Fuel, 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.
Pamir Highway- Dushanbe Round Trip Photo Gallery
Practical Information for Pamir Highway – Dushanbe Round Trip
The Pamir Highway is a high-altitude mountain road called M-41 that runs through the Pamir Mountains of Central Asia, connecting Kyrgyzstan with Tajikistan. It runs along the border with China and Afghanistan and is known for its stunning mountain landscapes, high-desert scenery, and rugged road conditions.
The Pamir Highway is considered one of the world’s most epic road trips and is a bucket list item for many travelers and adventurers.
Our Pamir Highway tours – either private or in small groups — provide travelers with a comfortable and sturdy 4×4 vehicle, experienced English-speaking driver to navigate the roads and border crossings, day hikes to explore nearby nature, and the opportunity to stay in local villages with families along the way. Our tours allow you to enjoy the beauty of the Pamir Mountains without the worry of challenging driving, breaking down, or wondering where to eat or sleep.
The best time to take a Pamir Highway road trip is during the summer months (June-August), when the weather is the warmest and the roads are generally free of snow and ice. Our Pamir Highway Tours run from May to October which provides more flexibility, but temperatures will be colder, especially at night, in May and October. However, you will be rewarded for this with wild flowers in the springtime and colorful leaves in the autumn.
It is important to note that weather conditions in the Pamir Mountains can be unpredictable and can change quickly, so it is always a good idea to be prepared with additional layers, jackets and waterproof and/or windproof gear.
The price of our Pamir Highway tours includes an English-speaking driver/guide, transportation (4×4 vehicle and fuel), the driver’s accommodation and meals, and included activities (e.g., day hikes).
The cost of accommodation, meals and entry tickets for attractions is not included in the price of our Pamir Highway Tours.
You can estimate around $20-$30/person per day for a homestay with dinner and breakfast included.
Driving the Pamir Highway can take anywhere from 3-13 days, depending on the starting and ending points, the route and the pace of travel. It is important to plan for extra time in case of unexpected delays, such as road closures or bad weather.
In 2022, Tajikistan government introduced a unilateral visa-free regime from January 1. Visa-free regime applies to citizens of the following countries for 30 days:
1. Australia
2. United Arab Emirates
3. Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
4. State of Brunei Dorusalam
5. State of Kuwait
6. State of Qatar
7. New Zealand
8. United States of America
9. Iceland
10. Canada
11. Swiss Confederation
12. Malaysia
13. Hungary
14. Austrian Republic
15. Argentine Republic
16. Federal Republic of Germany
17. Dominican Republic18.Republic of Indonesia
19. Italian Republic
20.Republic of Korea
21. Republic of Cuba
22. Republic of Latvia
23. Republic of Lithuania
24. Maldives
25. Republic of Poland
26. Portuguese Republic
27. Republic of Singapore
28. Turkish Republic
29. Republic of the Philippines
30. Republic of Finland
31. French Republic
32. Republic of Croatia
33. Czech Republic
34. Republic of Chile
35. Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
36. Republic of Ecuador
37. Republic of Estonia
38. Hellenic Republic
39. Principality of Liechtenstein
40. Principality of Monaco
41. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
42. Kingdom of Bahrain
43. Kingdom of Belgium.
44. Kingdom of Denmark
45. Kingdom of Spain
46. Kingdom of the Netherlands
47. Kingdom of Norway
48. Kingdom of Thailand
49. Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
50. Kingdom of Sweden
51. Jamaica
52. Japan
Even so you are on visa-free status, you are required to obtain a GBAO permit and do OVIR (Office of Visas and Registration) registration to visit Pamir region. You can get GBAO permit and do registration at OVIR office.
Who needs visa?
Well, all other foreign citizens not listed on visa-free countries need visa. Tajikistan has electronic visa. You can obtain it online. The most popular one is a government e-visa website. There is also an old website which is complicated to use (https://www.visa.gov.tj/index.html). It has more required section where you will need invitation letter. So, it is better to use the first one. The advantage of e-visa is that it comes with GBAO permit and you are not required to do OVIR registration.
Accommodation options along the Pamir Highway mainly include guesthouses and home stays in the small towns and villages along the way. These accommodations usually have basic services and are in a local family home, but they are clean and comfortable. They also offer a unique opportunity to experience local Pamiri and Kyrgyz culture, hospitality and traditional cuisine.
On our Pamir Highway tours the driver will book accommodation in the villages, but you have the option to book your own accommodation in the cities of Khorog or Dushanbe (e.g., on Booking.com). Accommodation in villages with dinner and breakfast usually costs around $20-$30/person per day.
The Pamir Highway is a high altitude road and reaches elevations of over 4,600 meters (15,000 feet) in some areas, which can cause altitude sickness in some travelers. In fact, the border crossing between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at Kyzyl Art Pass is at 4,280 meters (14,000 feet).
Therefore, it is very important for travelers to acclimatize slowly and to stay well-hydrated to minimize the effects of altitude. We recommend walking slowly at altitude and drinking lots and lots of water to try and prevent altitude sickness.
The Pamir Highway – Dushanbe Round Trip is an 11-day tour in Tajikistan, offering a blend of driving and hiking through scenic landscapes. Key highlights include:
Exploring the Pamir Highway, one of the world’s wildest roads.
Visiting the 11th-century Hulbuk Palace and entering the Pamir Mountains.
Hiking to the remote Jizeu Village in the Bartang Valley.
Staying in local homestays to experience Pamiri culture.
Trekking to Engel’s Peak and panoramic views in the Wakhan Valley.
Visiting historical sites like the Yamchun Fortress and Babi Fatima Hot Springs.
Passing through Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes, Alichur, Murgab, and Karakul lake.
How much money should I bring with me?
Well, homestays with B&B + dinner is about 20 to 30 USD per person per night. Some sights as Bibifatima hot springs in Wakhan Valley charge entrance fees. All in all, it is recommended to have 300 USD per trip. Please, know that you need cash. Homestays don’t have visa payment terminals. The best way is to exchange your USD/Euros into local currency. Even if you bring USD/Euros, make sure you have small Notes of USD/Euros. Homestay might not have a change to give you back.
Accommodation
Homestays are shared rooms with 2-3-4 beds in one room. Private rooms can be available upon request with some extra price. You should inform us or your driver.
Toilets
Most of the homestays in Pamirs have flush toilets except for Alichur and Karakol villages. They have outside Turkish toilets, not flush.
Shower
Dushanbe, Khorog and Murgab homestays/hotels have showers inside the room or shared bathrooms. But, all the homestays in Pamirs have a shared showers. Some have small saune-like rooms for showers as in Alichur village.
Lunches
No good cafes on the way in Pamirs. Most of the time you do a picnic lunches. So, bring dry fruit, nuts, biscuits. However, you can ask your driver if you really need cooked lunch. They can arrange it on the way by ordering in advance at homestays. Lunch is about 5-6 $ per person.
Water
The best way is to buy a big 10 litter bottled water from big cities and put in a car. You can refill your small bottle when necessary. All the homestays in Pamirs take water from springs for drinking and cooking. The spring water is not filtered, but boiled before cooking. We encourage all of our homestays to boil a water before using for cooking.
Shopping:
Dushanbe, Khorog, and Murgab village has shops to buy your food and other items. Try to do shopping in Dushanbe or Khorog city since the price gets double or triple in Pamirs.
Hikes and treks
This 11 days tour has four short day-hikes. You will do the hikes without a guide. We have GPS of all the hikes in the itinerary to navigate in the mountains. Don’t forget to ask us to send it to you. Just get app MAPS.ME on your phone and use to follow the trail.
Electricity
There is electricity at all homestays except for Jiseu village at Bartang Valley. Homestays in Alichur village takes electricity from solar panels. Cars have also USB chargers.
Internet en-route.
Homestays/hotel in big cities as Dushanbe, Kalaikhum, Khorog, Murgab have wifi, but homestays in Pamirs don’t have internet. However, you can buy a local sim card and get access to internet use at least to check your emails and WhatsApp. The best mobile operators in Tajikistan are Tcell and MegaFon.
Reccomended packing list:
• Warm clothes and layers as it gets warm during the day, but can go below freezing at night and when it rains
• Sun protection as the sun is very strong at altitude: Sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 30 or above), and a sun hat /cap
• Water and windproof jacket and pants. It gets especially windy on the mountain passes
• traveler’s diarrhea and other minor illnesses
• Lip balm: your lips get chapped very easily in the mountains
• Wet wipes and/or anti-bacterial gel to clean hands
• Hat and gloves to wear at night for warmth
• Headlamp to navigate the toilet at night