Trek in Zorkul lake       

      

Type of tour:   This tour is designed such that it allows a quick look at the Pamirs starting from Dushnabe. Having conducted jeep adventure we shall visit Bartang valley where we have days trekking in the Jizeiv valley. The tour ends in Osh after having adventures in the Zor Kul lake in Eastern Pamir

Major Destinations: Dushanbe - Khalikum - Bartng Jizeive valley - Khorog - Wakhan valley - trek in Engels peak - Eastern Pamir trek in Zorkul aria - Murghab - Kara Kul - Tulpar kul horse riding in Aly valley then ends in Osh

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Estimate Duration: 129days in total, jeep tours  and trekking from Dushanbe  to Osh via Khorog , hiking in Bartng valley, treking in Wakhan, 6 days of trekking  in Zorkul aria and end the tour in Osh.

Group size: unrestricted

Notice: Best season to visit these areas is June to October.

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Day 1 /                      Dushanbe – Kalaikum - 380 km – 9/10 hrs. / drive

Transfer from Dushanbe to Kalaikum through Kulob/ Excellent views on the way. We will stop for photos shooting. Visit of Hulbuk, 10the century Silk Road building. Breathtaking landscape along the Panj river (the famous Oxus river). Across the river lies Afghanistan. We will drive along the river, having picnic in the pristine nature. Overnight in homestay in Kalaikum, 1100m, Guesthouse (BLD).

 

Day 2 /                      Khalaikum – Jizeiv (Bartang valley)- 200 km - 7 hrs. / drive & 2.5 h walking

Drive towards Yemts (Bartang Valley) along the Panj river. After crossing Vanj valley we will enter into the Pamir region and meet the “Pamiri” population. On the way you will see many different villages. Views of the valley are amazing. Lunch in a Chaikana. Drive up to Jeziev valley until the bridge (about 25 km). After crossing, the bridge will start hike up 2.5 hrs. to Jeziev, the village is very nice, near small lake,  overnight in local’s house, 2900m, Traditional Pamir House (BLD).

 

Day 3 /                     Jizeiv – Khorog – 2 hrs. / walking and 2 hrs. / drive.

Morning walk. There will see other beautiful lakes, walking down until the bridge 2 hrs. Drive to Khorog and having lunch on the way to Khorog. Having reached the capital of the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), Visit bazar and nice park. Overnight in Khorog, 2300m, Hotel (BLD).

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Day 4 /                     Khorog - Ishkashim - 125 km – 3/4 hrs. / drive

Morning drive to Ishkashim. Here we enter various settlements of Wakhi. Ethnological, historical and cultural: social landscape is unique. On the way stop for hot springs at Garm-e-Chasma. After that, we reach the mouth of the Wakhan River valley. This is where the 19th century Great Game ended, between the Russian and British empires. From here, the road continues up along the north side of the river. There are amazing views of the Pamirs to the left and the Afghan Hindu Kush to the right. Overnight in the Guesthouse (BLD)

 

Day 5 /                     Ishkashim - Langar - 135 km – 3/4 hrs. / drive

Morrning drive from Ishakshim to Langar, we will stop along the way for a scenic picnic. Further will admire the Khakha Fortress, dating from the third century BC and rising from a platform of natural rock. Just 300m further on is the interesting Ismaili mazar (tomb) of Shah-i-Mardan Hazrati Ali. After that, we move to next Zoroastrian "Fortress of Fire Worshippers". Further up the hillside, there is the hot springs at Bibi Fatima: minerals and very salty, the water at Bibi Fatima is crystal clear. At Yamg, visit the reconstructed home of Sufi mystic Muabara Kadam, who died in 1910. Near his house, there is a stone pillar with a hole, in which he used to calculate a solar calendar. Then drive along the Wakhan valley from Yamg to Langar. Above the village of Vrang, stands a Buddhist complex dating from 4th-7th centuries. Then drive to Langar. Overnight in the home stay (BLD).

 

Day 6 /                     Langar  - Engels Peak – 5/6 hrs. / walking 

Early in the morning, In the cool of the morning, we climb up above Langar village to see the petroglyphs. Then walking to Engels Peak meadow trekking, on the way pic-nick. Camping in the meadow night in tent. Meals (BLD) 3700 m

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Day 7 /                     Engels Peak - Langar –- 6  hrs. / walking

Early morning see Engels Peak meadow and start trekking down to Langar, on the way pic-nick. Overnight in home stay (BLD) 2900 m

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Day 8 /                     Langar – Bulunkul lake – Bash Gumbez - 200 km – 5/7 hrs. / drive

Drive from Langar to Bulunkul over the Khargush pass (4344m), These barren landscapes are beautiful. It is like typical western desert and canyons. It is a small Bulunkul village, far from town. Few people live in this village. The local people are very friendly and the lifestyle is simple and harmonious with nature. If there is a place to escape your technologically advanced world, it will certainly be Bulunkul. Having pic-nic then drive to Alichur. From Alichor, small settled village of nomadic Kyrgyz, we continue our trip by jeep on Pamir Highway to Bashgumbez village. The terrain here is desolate but grandiose. But the valley is nice. There are many summer pastures where nomadic Kyrgyz graze their livestock. On the way, we will visit Akbalik holy spring. After we visit Bashgumbes village, 9 km from the main road, where you will see very old China's tomb. Overnight in the yurt. (BLD)

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Day 9 /                    Bashgumboz - Ak Zoo lake  - 25 km - 1 hrs. / drive & 5/6 hrs / walking

Morning drive little bit around 6 km then start our trek to Akzoo lake, on the way will cross the pass Kara Seky (4500m), very beautiful view of the mountains. On the way will see marmots and have a picnic. You will witness nomadic life and enjoy the hospitality in Kyrgyz nomads, 4000m. Overnight in yurt or tent.

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Day 10 /                     Ak Zoo Lake – Orto Uch kol  - 5 hrs. / walking

Morning we will walking from Ak zoo lake to Orto uch kol summer pasture. The valley is unique because it offers high land pasture and pastoral communities.  On the way you will see Yaks, sheep and typical Eastern Pamir’s nomadic lifestyle. View of the valley is wonderful and you will meet local peoples. This day we enjoy the nomadic hospitality, Yurt Stay (BLD).

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Day 11 /                       Orto Uchkol – Kengshiber  - 4/5 hrs. / walking

Morning we will start trekking to Keng shiber (4100m), summer pasture. This day we enjoy the nomadic hospitality, Yurt Stay at 4125m (BLD).

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Day 12 /                       Kengshiber – Zorkul Lake Area – 5/6  hrs. / walking

Morning we will start trekking towards to Zorkul lake through Belairyk valley, we will use the Yaks for the luggage, on the way we will cross the pass Bel-Airik, (5015m). We will see Marco Polo sheep along the way. This place is high but it is worth to see the famous lake Zor Kul, known as the Victoria lake. It is spectacular and we will organize camping here, 4250m (BLD).

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Day 13 /                          Zor Kul – Kara Jilga – 5/6  hrs. / walking

Morning we will start trekking to Kara-Jilga (4000m) summer pasture. This is where many local communities of farmers from Murgab and Kono Kurgan village come for (jailoo) summer pasture. These areas are highly protected by the Zor Kul National. Today these areas are only place where Marco Polo (Ovis Poli) sheep still live in freedom. On the way we will see Kok-Jigit Lake. Overnight in nomad yurt again, 4200m Yurt Stay (BLD). 

 

Day 14 /                           Kara Jylga - Jarty Gumbez – 4  hrs. / walking

Today we will walk towards to Jarty Gumbez. In the morning we start trekking to Aiding Kol lake (4200m) very amazing views. Up in front we see Afghanistan, Big Pamirs.  After pic-nic we go to Jarty-Gumbez hot springs.  We overnight in Jarty Gumbez in Kuban’s guesthouse.  We rest and overnight in Jarty Gymbez, 4100m Guesthouse (BLD).

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Day 15 /                         Jarty Gumbez – Murghab – Kara Kul - 235 km – 8/9 hrs. / drive

Today we drive early morning, which differs with its landscapes last part of Tajikistan and beginning of Kyrgyzstan with stunning mountains and snake flown river Murgab. Today lunch in Murgab, the administrative town of Eastern Pamirs since the imperial town. It is larges district in GBAO with huge territory and population. On the way will see the Chinas site big mountain Muztak-Ata 7000m and various landscapes. The Chinese border will be 70 km far from us. On the way we will visit meteorite crater & Shor bulak observatory. From Pass good view of Muz Tak mountain. On the way, we visit Shakhty rock paintings. It takes back to Neolithic period. Three very similar figures are placed underneath the last animal. This representation has been compared to the so called clavicorn figures of Paleolithic art. The famous Russian archeologists, Ranov has done much research on it. It dates (8000-5000 B.C.).  After  lunch  drive towards Kara Kul lake. Be prepared because increasable landscapes are waiting for you, especially the lake Kara Kul. The highest point of the journey is Akbaital pass (4655 m). The Kara kul lake is highest salted lake in Central Asia.   Overnight in home stay. (BLD)

 

Day 16 /                          Kara kul – Sary Mogol – Tulpar kul lake - 170 km - 6 hrs. / drive

Early in the morning we drive to from Karakul lake to Sary Mogol village near the Lenin peak 7000m, view of the Alay range is so beautiful. Today we stay ‘see you later Tajikistan’ over the Kyzyl-Art Pass (4282m) to the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Look behind you here for a stunning panorama of the Pamir Alai range. Further, visit Tulpar Kul lake. From hill will be beautiful scenery of Lenin Peak.  Overnight in Tulpar Kul lake near Peak Lenin. 3000m. Yurtstay (BLD)

 

Day 17 /                        Tulpar kul lake – Achik tash Daroot summer pasture – 5/6 hrs. / horse riding

Overnight in the tent. (BLD)

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Day 18 /                       Summer pasture - Sary Mogol – 5/6 hrs. / horse riding

Overnight in the home stay. (BLD)

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Day 19 /                       Sary Mogol - Osh - 260 km – 4/5 hrs. / drive

Early morning drive to Osh. The north Alai range and its colors are just too nice. En route, we will cross the Taldyk Pass (3554m) and enjoy some beautiful views. We travel from Sary Tash and we expect to arrive in the afternoon to Osh, Kyrgyzstan's oldest city. Free time to explore the city. Osh is ancient – various sources date it back around 3000 years, and legends abound over who founded it, including Alexander the Great and King Solomon. On the edge of the Ferghana Valley it is home to both Uzbek and Kyrgyz people, with its position on the border giving rise to an extremely lively market, one of the most interesting in Central Asia. The rock known as Solomon’s Throne is an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims, and a 15th century mosque on the top has now been reconstructed, with excellent views of the surrounding countryside. Overnight in Osh, 1000 m. Hotel (BLD).

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Good-bye Pamirs, Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan

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.

 

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Price & date on request

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