Osh to Dushanbe on Pamir Highway in 7 days

Osh to Dushanbe on Pamir Highway in 7 days

DESCRIPTION: Drive over stunning highland landscapes. Stay with local people along the way and experience the Pamiri culture. Pass the famous Wakhan Valley, on the river-border with Afghanistan, stopping by local villages and markets as well as a mix of historic sites. Enjoy panoramic views while doing the short hikes on your tour. 

Tour type: Auto – Jeep

Duration: 7 days, 6 nights

Best Season: May – October

Altitude: passes at 2400 – 4700 m

Requirements: Trekking shoes, waterproof & warm clothes, hat, sunscreen & sunglasses

Overnight stay: guesthouses, yurt

ITINERARY: Osh city – Sarymogol – Lenin Peak Base Camp – Karakul lake – Murgab – Alichur – Wakhan valley – Ishkashim – Khorog city – Darvoz (Kalaikhum) district – Dushanbe city

DAY 1. OSH – SARYMOGOL VILLAGE – TULPARKOL LAKE AT LENIN PEAK BASE CAMP, 5 – 6 HR

Breakfast. Drive to Sarymogol village, 4hr. Arrival at Tulparkol lake (3500 m) next to Lenin Peak Base Camp, 1hr. Enjoy the beauty of snowcapped mountains. Walk around this turquoise alpine lake Tulparkol. Overnight & dinner in a yurt.

DAY 2. TULPARKOL LAKE – BORDER CROSSINGS – KARAKUL LAKE – 5 – 6 HR

Breakfast. Take a day hike to the Traveler’s pass at 4130 meters, 3 hrs. Back to your yurts, 2 hrs. Lunch in a yurt. Drive to the checkpoint, 2hr. Cross the borders and travel to Karakul lake in Tajikistan, 2 hrs. Be accommodated in a guesthouse.

DAY 3. KARAKUL LAKE - MURGAB VILLAGE – OBSERVATORY HILL – ALICHUR VILLAGE, 6-7 HR

Breakfast. Drive to Murgab via the highest pass Akbaital (4655 m) 3hr. Lunch in Murgab. Head on to Alichur village, 3 hrs. On the way, visit Observatory Hill. Back to the main road and drive to Alichur. Overnight in a guesthouse.

DAY 4. BULUNGKUL LAKE – KARGUSH PASS – WAKHAN VALLEY - LANGAR VILLAGE, 5-6 HR

Breakfast. Visit alpine Bulunkul & Yashylkul lakes with nice hot springs. After head up to the Kargush pass (4 344m) and do 3-4 hrs trek to Panorama Ridge at 4800 meters. After drive through Wakhan corridor with a chance to see nomadic Afghan Kyrgyz caravans. Overnight and dinner in a homestay.

DAY 5. LANGAR VILLAGE – YAMCHUN FORTRESS - ISHKASHIM VILLAGE – KHOROG CITY, 5-6 HR

Breakfast. Visit 12th century Yamchun Fortress. See an amazing view of Wakhan valley. Further up the hillside are located the hot springs of Bibi Fatima. Back to the main road. 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. Continue to driving to Khorog city. Afternoon, visit the interesting Regional Museum and Central Park of Khorog city. Evening hike in a Botanical Garden that has various plants and trees to explore. Dinner at a cafe. Night in a hotel.

DAY 6. KHOROG TO DARVOZ (KALAIKHUM), 5–6 HR

Breakfast. Travel to Darvoz district. Road continues along the Afghan border up to Kalaikhum village. Arrival in Kalaikhum village. Overnight in guesthouse.

DAY 7. KALAIKHUM TO DUSHANBE, 5–6 HR

Breakfast. Travel to Dushanbe along the Panj river. Lunch in a Chaikana (local cafes). Visit 11th century Hulbuk Palace on the way and enjoy the views of world’s highest hydro power station Nurek in a distance. Arrival in Dushanbe. Drop off in your hotel.