Highlights of Tajikistan

Name of the tour: Highlights of Tajikistan

Duration: 9 days & 8 nights

Day 1: Dushabe – Hissor – Dushanbe
Upon arrival, our driver will meet you in the airport and take you to Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan. After driving 35 kilometers, we will come to Hissor fortress, dating back VII-XVII centuries. This is a historical place has fortified areas and citadel. The delegate of the Emir of Bukhara used the fortress to be the residence: this was well defended with 1m thick walls and loopholes for guns and cannons and it was located on a high hill. There was a busy market square with a caravan serai and shops, inside there was a pool and a garden and across from the fortress.  Except the entrance gate with its two imposing towers, the fortress has not much survived. In Hisar include other interesting sites like: the mausoleum of “Mahdumi Azam” from 16th century, “Madrasa I Kuhna” from 16th-17th centuries, mosque – the recently restored monuments. Then we will have lunch in Dushanbe. After we will visit Botanical garden and Victory Park with a panorama view on the city. After productive day the night will be in a hotel.

Day 2: Dushanbe – Norak – Kalai Khum
Today we will start our tour to Kalai Khum village. You will see Norak water reservoir that is called Tajik Sea. The road goes over the Shuraba pass that is 2 267 meters high above the sea level. This part of the tour will surprise you with breathtaking mountains in the territory of Pamir Mountains. Over the centuries, the Pamirs have inspired Marco Polo, Hsuan Tsang, Mirza Muhammad Haidar- the world’s greatest explorers. And during this tour you will travel here. The route will go along natural border – Pyanj River. Most of the travellers called this giant mountain system the ocean of white and blue mountains after visiting the Pamirs.  To see the way of local people’s life you will spend the night in a homestay.

Day 3: Kalai Khum – Khorog
Today’s day is dedicated to an excursion to Khorog. It is one of the tiniest cities on the map of the world. It is surrounded by rocky  mountains from all four sides. The town was built on the confluence of the 3 rivers where Shokhdara river and Ghund river flow into Pyanj river. You will meet Pamir people on the way to Khorog. A number of anthropological features set the Pamir people apart from the Tajik people. There is a high percentage of people with blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes. The highest mountains in the world with human population after the Himalayas in Tibet are Pamirs Mountains. Traditions of local people who is living in the mountains different from Tajik people with their life style. For the dinner we will go to the restaurant and you will spend the night in a guesthouse.

Day 4: Khorog – Ishkashim
On the fouth day of your tour, you will drive to the small village of Ishkashim. It is the capital of Ishkoshim District in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in south-east of the country. It is situated on the Panj River, at a point where its direction turns sharply north. The Panj River is a tributary of the Amu Darya which is 1 125 km long and forms a considerable part of the Afghanistan and Tajikistan border. The village of Ishkoshim lies opposite a town of the same name in Afghanistan. Although the name of the Afghan town is normally transliterated Ishkashim following Persian practice. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to homestay where you will spend the night.

Day 5: Ishkashim – Yashil Kul Lake – Bulunkul Lake
After the breakfast at the hotel you will go to the most beautiful lakes of the Pamirs, Yashil Kul and Bulunkul, stretched on the altitude of 3 700 meters above sea level, in the Murghab district. We will spend the night near the lakes. The color of water in Bulunkul is a subtle inter-play of violet and dark-blue in the sunlight. Species of fish like are found in abundance in the lake. There will be a great chance to see yaks, a unique species of domestic animals, sharing features of cow and sheep, traditionally used as a beast of burden apart from giving milk and meat products. Along the way to the lake we will go over Koitezak pass that is 4 271 meters high. The night will be spent in the homestay. Tajik family will prepare a traditional dinner for you.

Day 6: Bulunkul – Khorog
Today we will go to Khorog along Pamir Highway, known as M41 Pamir Tract. It is known as the second highest mountain road after highway of Tibet. The road to Khorog lies over breathtaking mountains and passes on the elevations of more than 4 000 meters above sea level. We will drive over Koitezak pass that is 4 271 meters high. Turkestan rat, tiger-cat, grizzly bear, badger, stoat, fox, grey and red wolves are amongst the most common species of wild mammals. Pamirs provides a large and thriving population of Marco Polo sheep, the largest sheep in the world, with all year round and a strong population of the highly endangered snow leopard. After having dinner in a restaurant, we will go to the guesthouse where you will spend the night.

Day 7: Khorog – Kalai Khum
Today we will return to Kalai Khum village on the same way we come. This place consists of high rocky mountains over 6 000 meters. Because of it only one road was possible to be built. Passing though the Pamirs, the tourists have the rare opportunity to not only marvel the beauty of virgin environment, but also know more about the ethnography, history and everyday life of mountain dwellers and with this imagine how the history of humanity evolved as in the story of creation. Human settlements are located on both sides of the river in narrow mountain valleys. On another side of the river you will see Afgan stony villages and gardens. We will spend today’s night in a homestay.

Day 8: Kalai Khum – Khoburubot – Dushanbe
After having breakfast, we will transfer to Dushanbe city through mountain road. We will drive over high and beautiful Khoburubot Pass that is 3 252 meters high known as Western Pamir Tract.  The nature, picturesque valley, river, gorges will amaze during whole tour and make you to take millions of photos. Also, you will be able to see and observe the way of life of local people. Tajiks are very hard working, hospitable, and kind-hearted and these make the nationality very unique. They respect their traditions and folklore very much. This tour is attractive for everyone, in particular for those who loves exotics, curious about the ethnic and cultural diversity and captivated by the beauty of wild nature. You will have very warm memories. After dinner at the restaurant you will be transferred to the hotel.

Day 9: Flight
After the breakfast in the hotel you will be transferred to the airport. It is the last day of your 9-day tour in amazing Tajikistan.