Classiс adventure in Pamir

Name of tour: Classiс adventure in Pamir

Duration: 9 days & 8 nights

Day 1: Dushanbe – Khoburubot – Kalai Khum
Our final destination for the first day of tour in Tajikistan is the village of Kalai Khum. Taking the mountain we will be driving over the mountain pass of Khoburubot (3 252 m) which is also known as Western Pamir Tract. The latter goes through beautiful valleys and gorges with rivers that are perfect for us to stop by, have a rest, and take amazing photos. Along the way, you will meet very hospitable and kind-hearted locals in small villages. These people are proud of highly respect their traditions and folklore. Those who are into ethnic and cultural explorations will not be disappointed as well as those who are big lovers of exotics and wild nature.

Day 2: Kalai Khum – Khorog
We start the day early in the morning. We will be driving to one of the tiniest towns, to the town of Khorog to continue the tour. Rocky mountains surround the town all around. The town stands on the banks of three rivers, where the rivers of Shokhdara and Ghund flow into the Pyanj river. We can meet Pamir people on our way to Khorog. These people are differentiated by a number of anthropological traits from the Tajik people. Most of the Pamir people have blonde hair, fair skin, and blue eyes. Pamir mountains are the second highest ones with permanent human settlements coming behind the Himalayas in Tibet. Traditions of locals have gotten differentiated from those of Tajik people due to life in high mountainous areas. The night is in a guesthouse.
 
Day 3: Khorog – Murgab
From the town of Khorog, we will travel Murgab, the most remote part of Tajikistan. There is a saying that not seeing Murgab is equal to not visiting the Pamir in the first place. Murgab is considered to be the Roof of the World. Murgab has dozens of peaks that go above 6000 m above the sea level. Murgab has a landscape that is oftentimes compared to the moon’s surface. It is fair enough given the uniqueness of the place. Murgab features an almost arctic climate due to its desolation and high-altitude. Summers are pretty cool with dry air, whereas the winters are snowless and very cold. The overnight stay is in a guest house.
Day 4: Murgab – Yashil Kul Lake – Bulunkul Lake – Langar
On this day we will be heading to beautiful lakes of the Pamir. These are Yashil Kul and Bulunkul that are located in the district of Murghab at an altitude of 3700 m. Under the direct lights of the sun, the lakes appear to show colors in between violet and dark-blue. The lakes also demonstrate an abundance of fish species. One can also find yaks in the area. They are quite unique in the sense that they provide both milk and meat while also serving as a beast of burden. They share characteristics of both cow and sheep. On our way, we will also go through the high mountain pass of Naizatash (4137 m). In the afternoon we will continue our way to Langar. The night is in a homestay.
 
Day 5: Langar – Khorog
We leave Langar and will be travel along the Pamir Tract to Khorog. The highway itself is, in fact, the second-highest mountain road coming behind the Tibet highway. Most of the highway is on the elevation above 4000 m. There is also a mountain pass of Koitezak (4271 m). This place with barely accessible landscapes with rocky mountains has its own unique biodiversity. The fauna of the place features Turkestan rat, grizzly bear, tiger-cat, stoat, fox, badger and etc. There is also a large population of Marco Polo sheep and a big population of the snow leopard which are under threat of going extinct. The overnight stay is in a guest house.
 
Day 6: Khorog – Kalai Khum
The rocky mountains at a high altitude of over 6000 meters made it barely possible to build a road. As we will be passing the Pamirs, you have a great opportunity to get to know the ethnography, history, and day-to-day life of mountain dwellers, while enjoying the beauty of untouched nature. Along the way, we will have a few stops in villages to meet locals and see their lifestyle. There are villages to both sides of the river which goes in narrow valleys between mountains. On the other side of the river there are Afgan stony villages with its gardens which create unique views to Tajikistan.
 
Day 7: Kalai Khum – Norak – Dushanbe
On our way to Dushanbe we will be driving along the border with Afghanistan. Shuraba pass which is at an elevation of 2 267 m will be the highest point of the day. Over the course of decades the Pamirs have been inspiring the world’s greatest explorers such as Marco Polo, Mirza Muhammad Haidar, and Hsuan Tsang. No doubt that the beautiful mountains in Pamir will amaze you in a good way. You will be driving along the river of Ryanj. The Tajik Sea which is the water reservoir of Norak will be on our way. The night is in a hotel in the capital city.
 
Day 8: Dushanbe – Hissor – Dushanbe
A guided tour of a city will take up most of the day. The route of the tour includes the House of parliament, White House, National library, National state seal, and Rudake Park. We will take a walk to the Ministry of Inner Affairs and to the biggest national flag in the world which is on the 165 m tall pole. The dimension of the flag is 30 to 60 meters. You will also get to visit the Central Museum where you will have an excursion. After this, we will drive 35 km to the fortress of the VII century, Hisor fortress. The historic site features a fortress and citadel. The fortress served as a residence for the delegate of the Emir of Bukhara. It was well-defended construction with walls that are 1 m thick. It stood on high ground and had loopholes for guns and cannons. Inside the fortress had a market square with caravanserais and shops. Nowadays, the entrance gates with towers are all that remains from the fortress. The site also has recently restored monuments of Madrasa I Kuhna (school of 16th-17th centuries), mosque, and the mausoleum of Mahdumi Azam. By the end of the day, we return to Dushanbe. The night is in a hotel.
 
Day 9: Dushanbe – Airport
Transfer to the airport is in the morning.