The Ultimate Pamir Highway Tour
Tour Details
8 days
End of May - beginning of September
Season
from $1,490 / per person
Description
The Pamir Highway twists and turns through the remote Pamir Mountains, whose splendor and mystique have beckoned daredevil explorers for centuries. From its western gateway near Kulob and Kalaikhumb to the long-abandoned fortresses of Ishkashim and Langar, footprints of past civilizations mingle with present-day villages and mind-blowing scenery to create a surreal atmosphere known to leave even the most seasoned travelers speechless.
The Ultimate Pamir Highway Tour is a 8-day dream journey through the splendid Pamir Mountains, a once-in-a-lifetime trip chock full of adventure. Traveling in a 4WD vehicle with a qualified driver, you’ll start at Dushanbe and visit the full range of Pamir sites including well-developed Khorog, dizzyingly high Murghab and quiet, remote Karakul, with stops at citadels, petroglyphs, lakes, natural hot springs and the famed Ak-Baital Pass along the way.
Program
Meals Provided: none
- Hissar Fortress (17th-19th centuries), where the impressive gates of a castle, once the home of a Bukharin emir, still amaze with their stateliness;
- Kukhna Madrasah (17th century), a spacious religious school that functioned until the early 20th century, it now contains a small history museum;
- Khistin Caravanserai (19th century), an unusual caravanserai constructed of burnt brick.
- National Museum of Tajikistan, holding more than 40,000 expositions on Tajikistan’s history, nature and art, including a 12-meter statue of Buddha discovered on Tajikistan territory;
- Haji Yaqub Mosque (19th century), Dushanbe’s landmark mosque that can hold up to 3,000 people;
- Rudaki Park, a beautifully manicured park filled with fountains, flowers and foliage, with a tasteful monument of Rudaki in the center;
- Gurminj Musical Instruments Museum, dedicated to celebrating the musical heritage of the Tajiks and Pamiris through a collection of national instruments, music lessons and periodic concerts;
- Ayni Opera and Ballet Theatre (1940s), whose gorgeous outer décor is accentuated by the pristine lawns that surround it;
- Statue of Ismail Somoni, a classy tribute to the founder of the Tajik people which towers 25 meters high in the city center;
- Mehrgon Market, one of Dushanbe’s newest attractions, this large indoor bazaar is housed in an ornately designed and decorated atrium.
Tour Duration: approximately 5 hours
Meals Provided: Breakfast
Along the way you’ll visit these notable sites:
- Hulbuk Fortress (9th century), a bastion of the once powerful city of Hulbuk that served to safeguard the nearby entrance to the Pamir Highway;
- Vose District Museum, which displays artifacts, replicas and information on Hulbuk Fortress;
- Mir Sayyid Aliya Hamadoni Mausoleum (14th century), burial site of the man credited with bringing Islam to the region that quietly impresses with beautiful outer tilework, gold domes and well-kept premises.
Overnight at a hotel in Kalaikhum.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Khorog, a small mountain town that lies in a valley over 2000 meters above sea level, is the capital of the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO).
Upon arrival have a small tour of Khorog’s main attractions:
- Pamir Botanical Gardens, which at 2,320 meters is considered one of the highest botanical gardens in the world. The park contains many examples of local foliage and a great panoramic view of Khorog.
- Khorog Regional Museum, filled with presentations of the history and culture of Khorog from ancient times through the Soviet era.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart to Ishkashim (130km, 4-5hrs), a small town at the mouth of the Wakhan Corridor where the 19th century Great Game ended. Continue up the north side of the river, relishing amazing views of the Pamirs to the left and the Hindu Kush to the right.
The Wakhan Valley (also pronounced Vakhan) is a majestic alpine valley in the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
Visit the Khakha Fortress (c. 2nd century BC). Located near the village of Namadguti, it’s one of the oldest fortresses in Wakhan Valley and perfectly captures the wild, remote atmosphere of this region.
Arrive in Ishkashim. Visit the famous Ishkashim Market, a bazaar situated just across the river between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Overnight in the Ishkashim guesthouse.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Museum of Sufi Muborak-Kadami Vakhani, a 19th century Sufi scholar and poet;
- Buddhist Stupa in Vrang (c. 4th century), which along with a nearby monastery have mysterious origins;
- Bibi Fatima Zahra Sacred Hot Springs, whose warm, clear waters provide natural refreshment in this rugged region;
- Yamchun Fortress (4th-3rd centuries BC), one of the most spectacular and well-preserved sights in the whole Wakhan Valley, it stands alone and determined atop a rocky hill.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Relax on the road as you skirt the Pamir River and driving through the Khargush Pass (4300m) and Nayzatash Pass (4100m), from which you’ll have indescribable views of Afghanistan and the surrounding ranges.
Arrive in Murghab and overnight in a guesthouse. (Note that at a height of 3600 meters, it might be difficult to sleep due to the dry air and lack of oxygen).
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch
Price includes:
- Airport pick-up in Dushanbe;
- Transport throughout the tour (4WD);
- Accommodation based on double/twin room (7 nights, with breakfast);
- Full-board (lunches and dinners) from day 2;
- Service of an English-speaking guide for the whole duration of the tour (except day 1);
- Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
- GBAO permit (Pamir permit).
Accommodation:
| Dushanbe - 2 nights | Rumi, Serena or similar |
| Kalai-Khumb - 1 night | Karon Palace or similar |
| Khorog - 1 night | Dekhli Darbor, Lal or similar |
| Ishkashim - 1 night | Guest house |
| Langar - 1 night | Homestay |
| Murgab - 1 night | Pamir or similar |
Prices
| Persons | Economy |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $3,390 |
| 2 persons | $2,090 |
| 3 persons | $1,650 |
| 4 persons | $1,490 |
per person
Single supplement: Economy $150
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