TAJIKISTAN ITINERARY

June 29: Arrival in Dushanbe. Afternoon excursion to the Museum of Antiquities. Overnight in hotel***.

June 30: Drive to Kalai-Khumb over Saghir-dasht pass (10,950’). The road starts from hot and dusty Dushanbe and slowly climbs to the pass. The landscape changes from arid hills to mountain forests. 60 miles out we start reach the Vakhsh (Wild) and the Khingow Rivers. Across the pass we approach to Kalai-Khumb, center of Darvaz district of Tajik Badakhshan province on Tajik-Afghan border. Guest-house.

July 1: Drive to Khorog along Tajik-Afghan border on a spectacular paved road along the border. Across the river we’ll see the Afghan province of Badakhshan, with its remote villages-oases and rural life, with stunning paths built on steep rocks.
Guest-house.

July 2: Drive 3 hours to the border crossing into Afghanistan. After formalities, drive
5 miles to Sultan-Ishkashim town, the historical center of the Wakhan Corridor in the far NE of Afghanistan, surrounded by the Hindu Kush mountains. (NB: This crossing is strictly optional, only for those who wish to cross into Afghanistan. If it seems unsafe at the time, we will not do it.) After lunch and a tour of the ancient town, we’ll re-cross into Tajikistan and continue to drive along the border. There are many ancient ruins along this road. Two of them, Yamchoun and Kah-Kaha (Qah-Qaha) were built in the 3rd C BC, during the times of the Great Silk Route. There are some good thermal springs (Bibi-Fatima) as well. Afternoon drive to Yamg village, where we can visit local museum of Saint Muborak-qadami Vakhani, a local Sufi poet, scientist and traveler. Homestay.

July 3: Drive up the Panj River (Oxus R.), then along the Pamir River to Khargush Pass (14,240’). Descend into the high desert Alichur Valley with it’s lunar landscape
and salty lakes, formed by the glaciers and moraines of the last ice-age. Continue to Yashilkul Lake (12,200’). Camp.

July 4: Trek 9 miles to Kyrgyz-shabar along the Langar Valley. We start with an ascent to Bughramal Pass (13,120’), then after a short descent into the Langar Valley (11,800’) we walk up to a lovely shepherds’ summer place for camp at 13,780’.

July 5: Trek 8 miles to Kulin via Chap-dara Lake (14,300’). Chap-dara Lake is an aquamarine pearl among the ice-capped mountains. Camp near a shepherds’ retreat where we’ll enjoy local yogurt and fresh meat.

July 6: We continue our trek along Kulin Lakes, then descend to another shepherds’ retreat at Ukhinj (13,500’) for camp. This is a lovely place with crystal clear water where we’ll swim and bathe, surrounded with towering peaks.

July 7: Trek 7 miles to Zaroshkul Lake (14,830’) in wide open spaces with the great Pamir Mountains all around.

July 8: Early start for the 7 mile trek over pass Bar-dara Pass (16,400’), with an optional hike to a 17,400’ peak that gives big views across the surrounding ranges. Descend to upper Bar-dara Valley.

July 9: Trek 10 miles to Bar-dara village (10,000’) along a narrow Bartang River Valley, with towering rocky peaks all around. Bar-dara is one of the most remote villages in Tajikistan. Homestay or camp.

July 10: Trek 6 miles to the main road where we meet our vehicles. Drive the rough but spectacular road along the Bartang River to Roshan, then on the paved road to Kalai-Khumb along Panj River. Guest-house or Homestay.

July 11: Drive to Norak over Kulab. Drive west along the border with Afghanistan via the small town of Kulab to Norak, a huge lake, where we’ll hire a boat for some swimming and fishing. Camp.

July 12: By boat to the end of the lake where we’ll meet vehicles to drive us 2 hours to Dushnabe. Farewell dinner and a fine hotel.

July 13: Departure.

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