Osh to Dushanbe on Pamir Highway in 7 days
Overview
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.
Inclusions
- Transport 4WD
- Fuel
- English speaking Driver & Driver's meals and accommodation
- Fuel surcharge
What to expect
Itinerary
Day 1: Osh – Sarymogol village – Tulparkol lake at Lenin Peak Base Camp, 5 – 6 hr
Pass By: Osh, Osh
Breakfast. Drive to Sarymogol village, 4hr. A nice valley opens up when you reach Taldyck pass (3600 meters) with green pastures and yaks grazing around. Arrival in Sarymogol village and cross the bridge to get to yurt camp 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.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Tulparkol lake – border crossings – Karakul lake – 5 – 6 hr
Pass By: Lake Tulpar-Kol, Sary Mogul Kyrgyzstan
Early breakfast. Take a day hike from your yurt camp to the Traveler’s pass at 4130 meters, 3 hrs. Enjoy the beauty of glaciers while walking up to the pass. Rest at the top of the Traveler’s pass to gaze at glaciers tumbling off the massive peak. Back to your yurts, 2 hrs. Lunch in a yurt. Drive to the check point, 2hr. Cross the borders and travel to Karakul lake in Tajikistan, 2 hrs. The totally different landscape opens up confirming that this is Tajikistan. Be accommodated in a guesthouse. A short walk around the lake.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Karakul lake – Murgab village – Alichur village, 6-7 hr
Pass By: Alichur, Alichur, Gorno-Badakhshan Province
Travel goes on to Murgab via the highest pass Akbaital (4655 m) you will ever do in Tajikistan, 3hr. Take photos of glaciers on the pass. Lunch in Murgab village. Walk around the village and explore the town. Head on to Alichur village, 3 hrs. Overnight and dinner in a guesthouse
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Bulungkul lake – Kargush pass – Wakhan valley – Langar village, 5-6 hr
Pass By: Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan
Breakfast. Take a side trip to visit alpine Bulunkul & Yashylkul lakes with nice hot springs. Drive back to the main road and head up to the Kargush pass (4 344m). Arrival at the Kargush pass and start the 3-4 hrs trek to Panorama Ridge at 4800 meters. While walking up, two small lakes behind you at roadside open up to cheer you. Enjoy the stunning mountain scenery of Great Pamir on the Afghan border on top of the pass. Walk back to your car. After the pass, drive down to the Afghanistan border for another checkpoint to check your GBAO permit. Road follows the river Pamir all the way to Wakhan valley 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 a friendly homestay in Langar village.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 5: Langar village – Yamchun fortress – Ishkashim village – Khorog city, 5-6 hr
Stop At: Khorog, Khorog, Karotegin Province
Breakfast. Right after you leave your guesthouse, we do a side trip 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 an amazing view of Wakhan valley. Further up the hillside are located the hot springs of Bibi Fatima, with its crystal waters rich in minerals. 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 drive 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.
Duration: 6 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 6: Khorog to Darvoz (Kalaikhum), 5–6 hr
Pass By: Kalaikhum, Tajikistan
Breakfast. Travel to Darvoz district. A gorgeous road goes along the river up to the Vanj valley where the road widens up. The road continues along the Afghan border up to Kalaikhum village with picturesque scenery. Arrival in Kalaikhum village and be accommodated in a guesthouse.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 7: Kalaikhum to Dushanbe, 5–6 hr
Pass By: Dushanbe, Dushanbe
Breakfast. Travel to Dushanbe along the Panj river through numerous local villages along the way. Deep rocky valleys and gorgeous mountains accompany you up to the Shurobod pass before Kulab village. Lunch in a Chaikana (local cafes). Visit 11th-century Hulbuk Palace on the way and enjoy the views of the world’s highest hydropower station Nurek in a distance. Arrival in Dushanbe. Accommodation in your hotel.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 1: Osh – Sarymogol village – Tulparkol lake at Lenin Peak Base Camp, 5 – 6 hr
Pass By: Osh, Osh
Breakfast. Drive to Sarymogol village, 4hr. A nice valley opens up when you reach Taldyck pass (3600 meters) with green pastures and yaks grazing around. Arrival in Sarymogol village and cross the bridge to get to yurt camp 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.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Tulparkol lake – border crossings – Karakul lake – 5 – 6 hr
Pass By: Lake Tulpar-Kol, Sary Mogul Kyrgyzstan
Early breakfast. Take a day hike from your yurt camp to the Traveler’s pass at 4130 meters, 3 hrs. Enjoy the beauty of glaciers while walking up to the pass. Rest at the top of the Traveler’s pass to gaze at glaciers tumbling off the massive peak. Back to your yurts, 2 hrs. Lunch in a yurt. Drive to the check point, 2hr. Cross the borders and travel to Karakul lake in Tajikistan, 2 hrs. The totally different landscape opens up confirming that this is Tajikistan. Be accommodated in a guesthouse. A short walk around the lake.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Karakul lake – Murgab village – Alichur village, 6-7 hr
Pass By: Alichur, Alichur, Gorno-Badakhshan Province
Travel goes on to Murgab via the highest pass Akbaital (4655 m) you will ever do in Tajikistan, 3hr. Take photos of glaciers on the pass. Lunch in Murgab village. Walk around the village and explore the town. Head on to Alichur village, 3 hrs. Overnight and dinner in a guesthouse
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Bulungkul lake – Kargush pass – Wakhan valley – Langar village, 5-6 hr
Pass By: Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan
Breakfast. Take a side trip to visit alpine Bulunkul & Yashylkul lakes with nice hot springs. Drive back to the main road and head up to the Kargush pass (4 344m). Arrival at the Kargush pass and start the 3-4 hrs trek to Panorama Ridge at 4800 meters. While walking up, two small lakes behind you at roadside open up to cheer you. Enjoy the stunning mountain scenery of Great Pamir on the Afghan border on top of the pass. Walk back to your car. After the pass, drive down to the Afghanistan border for another checkpoint to check your GBAO permit. Road follows the river Pamir all the way to Wakhan valley 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 a friendly homestay in Langar village.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 5: Langar village – Yamchun fortress – Ishkashim village – Khorog city, 5-6 hr
Stop At: Khorog, Khorog, Karotegin Province
Breakfast. Right after you leave your guesthouse, we do a side trip 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 an amazing view of Wakhan valley. Further up the hillside are located the hot springs of Bibi Fatima, with its crystal waters rich in minerals. 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 drive 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.
Duration: 6 hours
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 6: Khorog to Darvoz (Kalaikhum), 5–6 hr
Pass By: Kalaikhum, Tajikistan
Breakfast. Travel to Darvoz district. A gorgeous road goes along the river up to the Vanj valley where the road widens up. The road continues along the Afghan border up to Kalaikhum village with picturesque scenery. Arrival in Kalaikhum village and be accommodated in a guesthouse.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 7: Kalaikhum to Dushanbe, 5–6 hr
Pass By: Dushanbe, Dushanbe
Breakfast. Travel to Dushanbe along the Panj river through numerous local villages along the way. Deep rocky valleys and gorgeous mountains accompany you up to the Shurobod pass before Kulab village. Lunch in a Chaikana (local cafes). Visit 11th-century Hulbuk Palace on the way and enjoy the views of the world’s highest hydropower station Nurek in a distance. Arrival in Dushanbe. Accommodation in your hotel.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Warm clothes and layers as it gets warm during the day, but can go below freezing at night and when it rains
- Good trekking shoes
- Day pack to carry camera, water, sunscreen, etc.
- Sun protection as the sun is very strong at altitude: Sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 30 or above), and a sun hat /cap
- Water and windproof jacket and pants. It gets especially windy on the mountain passes
- Medical kit for treating blisters, traveler’s diarrhea and other minor illnesses.
- Water purification tablets or drops if you want to clean the spring water
- Refillable water bottle
- Wet wipes and/or anti-bacterial gel to clean hands
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
396irisr
October 2023
Everything from the biginning, in the agency, with the agent Azi, the drivers, Amit and Nurbeg, the companions, the stay... I would highly recommend Alay Tours organization!
Everything from the biginning, in the agency, with the agent Azi, the drivers, Amit and Nurbeg, the companions, the stay... I would highly recommend Alay Tours organization!FreeInTheWorld
October 2023
Did the 9D/8N Osh->Dushanbe Pamir Highway Trip. A definitely memorable trip for the amazing mountainous scenery, people encountered, and the trekking along the way. Communication with Aziret, CBT Osh had been fast and clear. Payment method was flexible and smooth. The itinerary was well organ...
Did the 9D/8N Osh->Dushanbe Pamir Highway Trip. A definitely memorable trip for the amazing mountainous scenery, people encountered, and the trekking along the way. Communication with Aziret, CBT Osh had been fast and clear. Payment method was flexible and smooth. The itinerary was well organized and planned by Visit Alay. Cars were always clean, well-maintained and comfortable. Our drivers, Mohammed & Umed, were good-drivers, patient, and speak enough English to communicate well with us. We had been quite flexible about the itinerary: changing stops to stay at better guesthouses/towns, and visited some not indicated sites along the way. All went smoothly. 1-3 person would be great. 4 people is fine as long as the group agrees to seat rotation. In overall, the trip was a very good value. Highly recommended.pauleV1286AC
September 2023
It was an excellent trip. Our driver/guide, Kanybek, was both an excellent driver and a wealth of information. He speaks excellent English and was very accommodating in what we wanted to see and do. I do suggest you see if you stretch the trip out for 8 or 9 days.
It was an excellent trip. Our driver/guide, Kanybek, was both an excellent driver and a wealth of information. He speaks excellent English and was very accommodating in what we wanted to see and do. I do suggest you see if you stretch the trip out for 8 or 9 days.SanchiaTemplar
October 2019
8 days travelling solo with Kuba; he’s fantastic & easy to spend time with. He has good English, knows good home stays & restaurants, adapts programme to suit, very good driver. The Pamir Highway is an incredible journey, full of contrasting geography & culture. The mountain scenery is unbeatable
8 days travelling solo with Kuba; he’s fantastic & easy to spend time with. He has good English, knows good home stays & restaurants, adapts programme to suit, very good driver. The Pamir Highway is an incredible journey, full of contrasting geography & culture. The mountain scenery is unbeatabledjmmmmq
October 2019
Talant is very responsive and will answer all your questions in regards to planning your trip. He helped plan my trip through the Pamirs and helped put an itinerary together for my trip through Uzbekistan. It's a trip you won't forget! I highly recommend it!
Talant is very responsive and will answer all your questions in regards to planning your trip. He helped plan my trip through the Pamirs and helped put an itinerary together for my trip through Uzbekistan. It's a trip you won't forget! I highly recommend it!533ferj
October 2019
Fuimos en un coche muy cómodo, con un chofer muy profesional. El viaje es precioso, los paisajes en el Pamir y en Whakhan merecen muchísimo la pena. Creo que repetiré.
Fuimos en un coche muy cómodo, con un chofer muy profesional. El viaje es precioso, los paisajes en el Pamir y en Whakhan merecen muchísimo la pena. Creo que repetiré.