The best time to take a Pamir Highway road trip is during the summer months (June-early September), when the weather is the warmest and the roads are generally free of snow and ice. July and August are the warmest and most popular months – the weather is mostly dry, with long daylight hours. High-altitude nights...
Archives: FAQs
FAQ
How long does it take to drive the Pamir Highway?
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...
FAQ
What is the Pamir Highway?
The Pamir Highway is a legendary high-altitude road (officially the M41 highway) that traverses the Pamir Mountains through Tajikistan and a portion of Kyrgyzstan. Although the origins of the Pamir Highway are ancient trading routes, construction of the road began in the late 19th century by the British with most of it built by the...
FAQ
Are tips expected in Kyrgyzstan for guides or drivers? What should I tip at the end of the tour?
Tipping is not mandatory in Central Asia, but it is always very welcome if you are happy with the service and had a good experience. Our guides and drivers never demand tips, but they certainly appreciate them. Although they are paid a fair wage, these extra thank-you amounts do help, especially in countries like Kyrgyzstan...
FAQ
How do you ensure responsible and sustainable tourism on your tours?
We are a locally owned company and very committed to community-based, sustainable tourism practices. This means we operate and make decisions in order to try and ensure that our tours and operations provide positive socioeconomic impact on local communities and limit our environmental footprint. Our commitment to sustainability principles and community tourism includes: We hire...
FAQ
Who are your guides? Will they speak English?
Our guides are one of our greatest assets as they are all local experts in their field. You’ll be accompanied by a friendly, knowledgeable local guide throughout your tour. Our guides speak English (some are fluent, others conversational but very understandable) and of course they speak the local languages (Kyrgyz, Russian, and often Tajik or...
FAQ
Is there electricity and Wi-Fi during my tour?
In cities and larger towns like Osh, Bishkek, and Karakol, you’ll have regular electricity (220V, European-style two-pin outlets) and usually free Wi-Fi at hotels and guesthouses. Many cafes and restaurants in these places also offer free wifi. Once you go into the mountains or rural areas, you might expect limited electricity and very little internet...
FAQ
What type of accommodations will I stay in on a cultural tour or when not trekking?
On our Kyrgyzstan cultural tours or outside of the nights in the mountains, we choose local accommodations that are the best available in each location, with an eye for comfort, cleanliness, and local charm. In towns and cities, we typically use well-regarded family-run guesthouses or B&Bs. These usually are private rooms (single or double) with...
FAQ
What is included in the tour price, and what’s not included?
Our tour prices are designed to be comprehensive and cover nearly all your essential expenses during the trip. Inclusions vary a bit by itinerary, so it is important to check the specific details of your tour as to what is included in the price and what isn’t. In general, the tour price includes: All accommodation...
FAQ
What kind of transportation is used during the tours?
We provide all necessary private transportation during our tours, using comfortable and reliable vehicles suited to the local terrain. In cities or on good paved roads (for example, transfers around Bishkek, Osh, or Issyk-Kul region), we typically use a minivan or SUV depending on group size. For the Pamir Highway and transfers to mountain villages...