Adventure from Osh via the Pamirs, to Dushanbe

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Type of tour: 11 days of tour starts from Osh, Kyrgyzstan via the Pamirs to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. This tour is designed for those who would like to travel by jeep starting from Osh, Kyrgyzstan, visiting the Pamirs and ending in Dushanbe, with some hikes in special areas. It includes half a day hike around Zor Kul area, a day hike at the mouth of the Bartang valley. In addition, this tour includes the Alai valley, Lenin Peak, Kara Kul Lake, Rang Kul, Nomadic life in the Kenshiber area and both great Wakhan valleys. Moreover, you get to see Yashil Kul lake, Bulun Kul Lake and hike in the western end of the Bartang valley.

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Major Destinations: Osh, Alai Valley, Sar Mogol, Kara Kul, Rang Kul, Murgab, Kenshiber, Alichor, Bulung Kul, Yashil Kul, Langar, Yamg, Ishkashim, Khorog, west end of Bartang valley, Kalaikum and Dushanbe.

 

Estimate Duration: 11-day tour total, a day hiking in Zor Kul area, a day hiking at the western end of the Bartang valley and the rest involves touring around with a jeep to see the beautiful scenery.

Group size: unrestricted

Notice: April to October is the best season to do this tour.

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Day 1 Osh - Trance-Alai Range (Kygryzstan )

We will welcome you in Osh, an ancient city in southern Kyrgyzstan. Early morning, we drive via the  beautiful Alay Valley, over the Taldyk Pass (3615m) for an unforgettable adventure. Stop on the way for lunch. Our destination is Sary Mogul (3000 m) village at the foothill of the Trance Alai range. From here the natural scenery of Pamir Alay range is spectacular. We could see the Lenin Peak (7134m) from Sary Mogol village, Homestay (BLD).

 

Day 2 Sary Mogol village - Kara Kul Lake (Tajikistan)

Drive from Sary Mogol to Kara kul Lake, the highest salty lake in  all of Central Asia. It is located in the Eastern Pamir plateau. We drive overland to the border with Bor Dobo. After the 55km of no man’s land between Kyrgyzstan - Tajikistan, we cross at the Kyzyl Pass (4282m) the Tajik border post. The landscape and people completely changed as we go higher into the Pamirs. The terrain here becomes barren and rocky. Nomadic Kyrgyz herders inhabit this region. We stay at Kara Kul Lake, Guesthouse (BLD).

 

Day 3 Kara Kul – Rang Kul – Murgab Town

We continue our journey in the high semi-arid plateau of Eastern Pamirs. We drive north over Akbaital Pass (4655), the highest point of the journey. From here, it is a long descent to Rang Kul and Murgab. On the way turn left to the valley Rang kul in order visit Rang Kul Lake. We will have a picnic at Rang Kul Lake and after we drive to Murghab, Pamir Hotel (BLD).

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Day 4 Murgab – Kengshiber Summer pasture

From Murghab we continue our trip on the way to Kengshiber summer pasture. The terrain here is desolate but grandiose. On the way we visit Shakhty rock paintings (4200). Three very similar figures are placed underneath the last animal. This representation has been compared to the so-called clavicorn figures of Paleolithic art. It dates from 8000-5000 B.C. Further  on we visit Jarty Gumbez hot springs, take a swim and drive to Kengshiber. This is a  summer pasture and today we stay with nomadic herders, Yurt Stay (BLD).

 

Day 5 Half a day hike – Alichor village

Today we are going to have day hike to see the Zor Kul Lake and Afghanistan. Hike from Keng-Shiber to Belairik valley (5 hours) up to the Belairik Pass (5000m), from the pass we will see Zorkul Lake, and Afghanistan. We will enjoy the beautiful scenery and the nature. is beautiful. After the hike we drive to Alichur valley, Yurt stay (BLD).

 

Day 6 Alichor – Langar - Yamg

Today is the last day of our journey in the high plateau of Eastern Pamirs. Early in the morning we drive the Wakhan corridor, a long valley of juncture between Afghanistan and Tajikistan along the border. On the way we visit Alichor village, Bulunkul Lake and Yashil kul Lake. After we leave the high land and drop down to lowlands. Now we drive to Langar village over the Kargush Pass (4344). On the way we will several lakes  and visit Ratm Fort. We will experience Wakhi lifestyle in Langar, Our Wakhan experience continues. We drive from Langar to Yamg village. The Wakhan valley is full of villages of ethnic diversity. Thus we visit Sufi Muborakqadam Museum and the solar calendar. Continuing on we then stop at the 4th Century Buddhist stupas at Vrang, reminders of the ancient pilgrim caravans that passed through the region. There are a number of these ancient fortresses in the area, and we visit Yamchun fort, perhaps the most impressive of them. We take a break at the Bibi Fatima hot springs, named for the Prophet Mohammed’s sister. We stay in Yamg, Homestay (BLD).

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Day 7 Yamg village - Ishakshim - Khorog

Drive towards the end of the Great Wakhan valley. We detour to visit the nearby village of Namadgut to visit the Khahkha Fortress. This impressive structure rises from a naturally formed platform of rock and dates back to the Kushan era of the 3rd Century. We will stop at Garmchasma hot springs for an (optional) dip in the waters. From here, we enter the Tajik half of the Wakhan Valley (shared with Afghanistan) and pass regional gem mines mentioned by Marco Polo. Khorog, the capital of Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast is a small town that at various times has been under the control of the Russia, the Emirate of Bukhara and Afghanistan. The Russians built a fort here in the Soviet era, with Khorog being in a strategic location on the border with Afghanistan, but today it languishes and is one of the least developed parts of the country, with the Aga Khan Foundation contributing to the bulk of the local economy. It holds the distinction of being home to the second highest botanical garden in the world. Guesthouse (BLD).

 

Day 8 Khorog – Jizev (Bartang Valley)

From Khorog we leave for Yemts through the Bartang valley with some 180 km of terrain ahead of us, and the promise of some spectacular scenery along the way. The contrast across the Bartang river valley is telling. Tajikistan is undoubtedly a poor country, but in general, the roads are paved, and it is as if the river represents not just a physical divide, but also a step back in time. Arrival in Jizev village in the Bartang valley. This day the trek begins on the river Bartang just beyond Bhagoo village, across one of the bridges. The hike is mostly gentle uphill, for about 8km to the upper of three lakes. The first houses in Jizev are reached after about 5km. The abundant vegetation, the gnarled trees, the lakes and the ever-changing river - sometimes frothing with energy, sometimes limpid and blue - create a very special peaceful atmosphere. We will explore the area this day. This route passes lakes and the rivers, traversing some of the most magnificent scenery in the Pamirs, Homestay (BLD).

 

Day 9 Jizev – Kalaikum    

Today we drive to Kalaikum along the Panj river. After the Vanj valley we will leave the diverse Pamir region. Moreover, we will exit the Tajik zone for another cultural region. On the way you will see many different villages. Views of the valley are amazing. Lunch in a Chaikana (traditional tea house). We will stay in Kalaikumb, Guesthouse (BLD).

 

Day 10 Khalikum – Kulob - Dushanbe

Transfer to Kulob, excellent views along the way. We will stop for photo shooting and a picnic, and visit a small museum in Hulbuk, before Kulob. After that we continue on to the town mausoleum of Sheikh Said- Hamadoni, dating from the first Islam period. Breathtaking landscape along the Panj river (Oxus River). Across the river lies Afghanistan. We will drive along the river, have a picnic in the pristine nature and then we arrive in Dushanbe, Hotel (BLD).

 

Day 11 Good bye Pamirs, Tajikistan

 We hope you had a wonderful time in the Pamirs. Today you will fly back to your country. We are always glad to have you back in the Pamirs again. Have a good flight back to your home country. 

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Items to bring with you

• Sleeping bag & Liner sheet

• Thermarest mattress

• Rain gear

• Down jacket & Windbreaker

• Water bottle

• Daypack

• trekking socks

• Sun hat

• Gloves

• Sun glasses

• Sun cream with high protection - lipstick

• Flashlight or headlamp

• Water purification tablet of water filter

• Personal medical kit

• Camera & extra battery for the camera.

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Temperatures: please note that there can be large variations in temperatures. In the daytime it can be very hot and a thin layer of clothing will be comfortable but long sleeves protect will you from the sun’s rays. At night, it can be cold so a layered approach is best. Predicting temperatures is very hard but they could range between 5°C and + 25°C. Rainfall in the Pamirs at this time of year is not expected but dust storms are. Please take a waterproof layer just in case.

“Other custom-designed tours can be planned to meet your needs or wishes.”

Price & date on request

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