Question 1

How long does it take to drive the Pamir Highway?

Daniel · Accepted Answer

The length and duration of a Pamir Highway road trip depends on the route you choose and how much you want to see. The total distance of the Pamir Highway or M41 Highway is 1,200 km with the main portion from Osh, Kyrgyzstan to Khorog or Dushanbe, Tajikistan, but many people choose to do just a portion of this. A direct drive from Osh to Dushanbe along the main Pamir Highway (M41) could be done in as little as 3-4 long days with almost non-stop driving, but that would be rushing and you’d miss a lot.

Our Pamir Highway tours range from 5 days up to 15 days, depending upon the starting/end points and activities along the way. Most of our tours include time for exploring the Whakhan Valley, visits to ancient sites like the Ishkashim Fortress, and Yamchun Fortress, an opportunity to relax at the Bibi Fatima Hot Springs, and stops to enjoy views of Lenin Peak and other iconic peaks of the Pamir Mountains. You also have the option to include different day hikes in the Pamir Mountains along the way or incorporate a Afghan Market Tour.

One of our most popular Pamir Highway trips is from Dushanbe to Osh or Osh to Dushanbe that takes 7 days and allows time for side trips into the Wakhan Valley and overnight stops in places like Karakul Lake, Langar, and Khorog. Those with a shorter amount of time might want to focus on the high mountain part of the Pamir Highway between Osh and Khorog (5 days) or the opposite direction from Khorog to Osh. There is also the option to start (or end) your Pamir Highway trip in Bishkek which includes stops at the iconic Song Kul Lake, Silk Road site of Tash Rabat and other highlights in Kyrgyzstan in addition to all the Pamir Highway stops.

We recommend giving yourself as much time as you can for the Pamir Highway, ideally one week or more to go at a comfortable pace. The distances aren’t huge in terms of kilometers, but the roads are rough and you’ll enjoy it more if you can take it leisurely, say 4-6 hours of driving per day max, with plenty of stops for photos, tea, and day hikes. In addition, longer trips help with acclimatizing to high altitude gradually.

Question 2

How long does it take to drive the Pamir Highway?

Daniel · Accepted Answer

The length and duration of a Pamir Highway road trip depends on the route you choose and how much you want to see. The total distance of the Pamir Highway or M41 Highway is 1,200 km with the main portion from Osh, Kyrgyzstan to Khorog or Dushanbe, Tajikistan, but many people choose to do just a portion of this. A direct drive from Osh to Dushanbe along the main Pamir Highway (M41) could be done in as little as 3-4 long days with almost non-stop driving, but that would be rushing and you’d miss a lot.

Our Pamir Highway tours range from 5 days up to 15 days, depending upon the starting/end points and activities along the way. Most of our tours include time for exploring the Whakhan Valley, visits to ancient sites like the Ishkashim Fortress, and Yamchun Fortress, an opportunity to relax at the Bibi Fatima Hot Springs, and stops to enjoy views of Lenin Peak and other iconic peaks of the Pamir Mountains. You also have the option to include different day hikes in the Pamir Mountains along the way or incorporate a Afghan Market Tour.

One of our most popular Pamir Highway trips is from Dushanbe to Osh or Osh to Dushanbe that takes 7 days and allows time for side trips into the Wakhan Valley and overnight stops in places like Karakul Lake, Langar, and Khorog. Those with a shorter amount of time might want to focus on the high mountain part of the Pamir Highway between Osh and Khorog (5 days) or the opposite direction from Khorog to Osh. There is also the option to start (or end) your Pamir Highway trip in Bishkek which includes stops at the iconic Song Kul Lake, Silk Road site of Tash Rabat and other highlights in Kyrgyzstan in addition to all the Pamir Highway stops.

We recommend giving yourself as much time as you can for the Pamir Highway, ideally one week or more to go at a comfortable pace. The distances aren’t huge in terms of kilometers, but the roads are rough and you’ll enjoy it more if you can take it leisurely, say 4-6 hours of driving per day max, with plenty of stops for photos, tea, and day hikes. In addition, longer trips help with acclimatizing to high altitude gradually.