From Lenin Peak to Pamir Highway

Tour Type: auto

Total Duration:  8 days

Best Season:  mid-June – end of September

Level of Difficulty:  medium

Maximum Altitude on the Trip:  4 400 meters ASL

Start and End Point:  Osh

Transport: jeep/minivan/minibus depending on the size of the group

Best group size:  2- 8 persons

TRIP ITINERARY

Osh – Sary-Mogol – Murgab – Alichur – Langar – Ishkashim – Khorog – Darvaz — Dushanbe

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Murgab village:  Murghab is a high-mountain village in the eastern part of Tajikistan located at an elevation of 3600 m above sea level. Vegetation is scarce on such elevation, and those rare trees are well taken care of. Murghab still looks like a rough place; some even call it post-apocalyptic for the image of numerous clay houses with rocky plateau and mountains in the background. There is scarcity of water supply and electricity that are provided only at particular timing due to cost-saving purposes. Infrastructure includes only a small hospital, bazaar, hotel and a few guesthouses. Population of Murghab is around 6300 people represented by Pamirians and the Kyrgyz.

Khorog: Khorog (a.k.a Horog, Khoroq, Khorogh, Khorugh, or Xoroq) is an administrative center of Gorno-Badakhshan region, and the only city in Pamir. It is located approximately in the middle of the Pamir Highway: 600km to Dushanbe and 730km to Osh in Kyrgyzstan. In Khorog the Pamir highway branches out: the northern road goes along a deep mountain gorge straight to Murgab. During the “Great Game” between Russia and the Great Britain, Russians tried to get control of Pamir, and built a road from Osh to Sary-Tash, then to Murghab and finally to Khorog. They organized a frontier post on the banks of river Panj and a small village of Khorog began to develop. In the beginning of the 20th century, with arrival of the Soviet rule, Khorog became an administrative center of the Gorno-Badakhshan autonomy, and in 1928 received the status of the city. During the 20th century it was a trading point on the Pamir Highway and still serves as such up to now.

Dushanbe: Dushanbe, the capital city of the republic, is located in Hissar Valley in the south of Tajikistan. Although the name of the city is rather new, its historical past dated back as far as 3 thousand years. Archeologists have dug out the remains of Greek-Bactrian settlements, the site of ancient settlement from Kushan period, site of ancient Shishi Khon village and other medieval settlements. In the early 20th century Dushanbe was the summer residence of Hissar beks. In 1920 the last of Bukhara emirs Said Alimhon fled from Bukhara and made Dushanbe his residence. But Bolsheviks forced him to leave Dushanbe and run abroad.

Day 1: Breakfast. Drive to Sarymogol village, 4 hours. A nice valley opens up when you reach Taldyck pass (3600 meter). Green pastures with yaks scattered around. Arrival in Sarymogol village and cross the river to get to yurt camp at Tulparkol lake (3500 m). Enjoy the beauty of long stretched glaciers of Lenin Peak (7134 m). Walk around the lake. Overnight & dinner in yurt.

Day 2: Breakfast. Travel to Murgab village (6 hours). Cross the Kyrgyz border and drive on no man’s land for about 20 km to get to Tajik border point. Nice Kyzylart pass (4280 m) and snowcapped glaciers at roadside. Cross the Tajik border and head up to Karakul lake, 1 hour. Totally different landscapes and reliefs open up in front of you. Have lunch in guesthouse at Karakul lake. The journey goes on to Murgab via the highest pass Akbaital ( 4655 m) you will ever cross in Tajikistan. Take photos of glaciers on the pass and be accommodated in a guesthouse, 3 hours.

Day 3: Morning drive to the so called observatory hill. You will see nice view of Muzdak Ata peak in China on top of the hill if no clouds are 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 guest house.

Day 4: Breakfast. Travel to Langar village. On the way make a stop for hiking to the view point at the altitude 4774 m above sea level (trekking time 3-4 hours). From the top of the mountain you can observe the great mountains of China, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Picnic lunch on the top of the mountain. Continue driving to Langar village over the pass Kargush (4 344m). After the pass, the journey follows the river Pamir, 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 home stay in Langar village.

Day 5: Breakfast. Travel to Ishkashim village. We do a detour on the way to admire the 12th century Yamchun Fortress rising from a platform of natural rock. Walk up to edge of the fort and you will have amazing views on Wakhan valley. Further up the hillside the hot springs at Bibi Fatima are located, with its crystal waters and many minerals. 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. Overnight in home stay at Ishkashim village. Optional, visit Saturday market in Ishkashim between Tajiks and Afghans if you happen to be there on a Saturday.

Day 6: Drive to Khorog. Again we do detour on the way to visit the hot springs at Garm-e-Chasma. Nice villages on the way to have more glances at Tajik culture. Stop along the way for a picnic lunch. Arrival in a Khorog city and be accommodated at guest house. Afternoon, visit the interesting Regional Museum and Central Park of Khorog city. Evening hike in the botanical garden that has many various plants and trees to explore.

Day 7: Today travel from Khorog to Darvoz on the way to Dushanbe. Arrival in the evening in Darvoz and overnight in the homestay with meals. (Long driving day about 9- 10 hours)

Day 8: After breakfast drive to Dushanbe along the Pang river with amazing views and travel through numerous local villages. Lunch in a Chaikana (local cafe). In the evening, arrival in Dushanbe. Accommodation in your hotel.