Tajikistan: Trekking in the Pamir Mountains
The Pamir is called the "roof of the world" for a reason. It is the world's most powerful mountain knot, where mountain chains exceeding 7,000 meters above sea level converge: the Tienshan, Hindukush, Karakorum, Himalayas. It is also the land of a thousand glaciers, and among them is the world's longest mountain glacier - the Fedchenko Glacier, which reaches about 70 kilometers. It is from them that turquoise and green lakes were formed. We will get to know these natural wonders of Central Asia step by step during a hike. In places we will pass pastoralist settlements and their inhabitants. All away from civilization and in seclusion.
To ensure that fatigue does not overshadow the impressions of the beautiful surroundings, the bulk of our luggage will be carried by Tajik donkeys. After all, the specialty of the Barents.pl travel agency is traveling "light". Our legs, after a day's trek, will be immersed in Pamir's hot springs. During the trek we will spend the night in our own tents, although there will also be an opportunity to meet a traditional Pamir pastoralist family - dinner and an overnight stay in their home.
We will also look into the Kyrgyz people still using traditional yurts. They live in the eastern part of Gorno Badakhshan. This is a high mountainous desert plateau, bordering China's Xinjiang to the east and Kyrgyzstan to the north.
Another peculiarity of Tajikistan is the Pamir Highway (or Pamirskoye Shosse in Russian), the world's second highest international road. The Pamir Highway connects Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The Wakhan Corridor, whose breathtaking panorama can be seen from a fort in Yamchu, is one of the most interesting parts of the Pamir. The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow latitudinal strip of land separating Tajikistan from Afghanistan. The corridor, the result of the policies of the superpowers in the 19th century, divided Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and isolated its inhabitants - the Wakhs - from their neighbors for years. However, the Wakhs in recent years are beginning to reconnect in colorful border bazaars, which we will of course visit. Trade traditions in the region go back several hundred years. One of the routes of the Silk Road ran along the Wakhan Corridor! Join us for a fascinating trekking trip to the Pamir! The mystery of Asian tradition and the beauty of nature stands before you.
Dates of tours
| Number | Difficulty | Date | Duration | Price | Remarks | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EN-690-24 | 3 | 24.07.2024 to 08.08.2024 | 16 |
2490 EUR |
FULLY BOOKED |
Book now! |
ITINERARY:
DAY 1-2
Transfer flight to Kyrgyzstan. Arrival in the morning in Osh, in southern Kyrgyzstan. From there, we will have a several-hour drive to the area of Lenin's Peak (7134 meters above sea level). Rest and overnight in the mountains.
DAY 3-4
Before we reach Tajikistan, we have a two-day trek in the Lenin Peak area on the agenda. Accompanied by hospitable Kyrgyz people, we will see the stunning landscapes of one of the easiest seven-thousander peaks.
DAY 5
Today we will cross the border with Tajikistan, at the Kizil Art pass. We will cover about 400 km. Due to the condition of the road (and also to get used to the altitude), the trip will take us almost a full day. On the way we will pass the high mountain lake Kara Kul, which was formed about 5 million years ago as a result of a meteorite impact. After driving through the "Roof of the World" we will reach Murghab, the highest village in the former USSR, inhabited mainly by Kyrgyz people (3,612 meters above sea level). Murghab is said to have been the last city of the Soviet Union as a result of its isolation. A rest in a charming guest house awaits us.
DAY 6We continue our route through the Pamir Highway. Using off-road vehicles, we will travel another section of the Pamir Highway of almost 200 km. We will reach the Koi Tezak pass, located at an altitude of 4272 meters above sea level, and the famous Jelonda sanatorium (3545 meters above sea level). Overnight in tents.
DAY 7
The beginning of trekking in the Pamir. Meeting the guide and donkey chasers. We start trekking from Jelonda to the mountain lake Turumtai. Overnight in tents.
DAY 8
From Turumtai Lake we will set off towards Tokizbulok Pass to reach another mountain lake, Kokbay. Overnight in tents.
DAY 9
From Kokbay Lake, we will continue our route along the Jawshangoz River to the village of Robot. Overnight in tents.
DAY 10
The fifth day of our Pamir trek. We are heading to the highest point of our trip. Through the Redzhik Valley, we will go to the area around Lake Vrang.
DAY 11
This day we will face reaching the highest pass on our route - Vrang, measuring 5067 meters above sea level. During the trek you will see the Hindukush range, which is the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Wakhan Corridor, Afghan villages and huge tidal cones on the other side of the border Panj River. The day will be further enhanced by numerous (ford-crossed) streams and passing summer pastoralist settlements. The diversity of the landscape will also certainly be interesting: a narrow, dry, loose valley on the south side and a vast, slightly wetter one on the other side of the pass. There are patches of snow on the pass all year round. We will arrive for the night from the village of Vnukut.
DAY 12
The last day of our trekking. From the village of Vnukut, we will continue along the Pamir Highway. We will reach the village of Vrang, located at the gates of the Wakhan Corridor. If the weather permits, we will have the opportunity to see the majestic Karl Marx Peak (6723 meters above sea level). Overnight at a guest house.
DAY 13
We will get back to Murghab by off-road vehicles. Overnight in a guest house.
DAY 14
Transfer from Tajikistan to Osh. An evening in an interesting border city.
DAY 15
We will devote the day to visiting Osh. It is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan, after the capital of Bishkek and an important cultural and educational center. We spend a whole day in this multicultural city. In the morning, transfer to the airport.
DAY 16
On the morning we will make the return trip.
PRICE INCLUDES:
• a return flight ticket with all airport charges
• checked baggage and carry-on baggage in accordance with the weight limit of the airline
• care of an English-speaking guide
• care of the local mountain guide
• transfers and local 4x4 car trips by Pamir Highway
• donkeys carrying luggage during trekking, baggage carriers will carry the luggage during the crossing of the Vrang pass
• 6 nights with breakfast in a hotel and in houses in Pamir
• full board during trekking
• information materials and maps
• a compulsory insurance guarantee for the travel agency
• insurance of accident insurance and KL and luggage insurance
• a mandatory fee for the State Tourist Guarantee Fund (TFG) for each person
• mandatory payment to the state Tourist Fund for Assistance (TFP) for each person.
• insurance against contracting the virus (COVID-19) while abroad
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• visas to Tajikistan + permission for the region of Pamir (price around 100 EUR)
• food in cities, except for breakfasts
• Covid-19 test (if applicable)
FLIGHT:
The place of departure is WARSAW. In case you wish to travel from another destination or book flights on your own, please contact us for price quotation for this trip.
ACCOMODATION AND FOOD:
During trekking (8 times) in own tents. In addition, in guesthouses and hotels. We provide breakfast in the cities. The rest at your own expense. Food prices in Tajikistan are relatively low.
Food during trekking is the usual expedition food, satiating but easy to prepare - "the kind of food you used to take to the forest, to the mountains". Pasta, groats, canned meats/fish, vegetables, nuts, something sweet. This is not freeze-dried food.
TREKKING:
Trekking with light luggage. Big luggages are transported by donkeys. However, it may happen that donkeys will not pass the highest pass Vrang (5067 m.n.p.m.), then local porters will be hired.
ACCLIMATIZATION:
The highest point of the trip will be the area around the Vrang pass (about 5067 m above sea level). Before reaching this height, we will have three days of acclimatizing trekking behind. Most of the time we will move at an altitude of about 4000 meters. While trekking, there is no alternative way to pass the Vrang pass.
WEATHER:
The average temperature in Tajikistan in August ranges from 23-30 degrees C. It can be hot, but August is the optimal time for trekking.
GROUP:
We travel in small groups. The minimum number of people on a tour is 8, the maximum is 15/16.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• The itinerary may change depending on the date of departure, weather and other factors.
• Learn more about general conditions of participation and find out how to sign up for a trip.
• Attention! In case of the introduction of restrictions that prevent the implementation of the tour, we will refund 100% of the money paid up to 7 days from the date of cancellation of the tour.
• The organizer of the trip is Active Travel Agency Barents.pl.
