THE greatest road adventure in SOVIET asia
August 30 ⇾ September 10
In addition to our regular group departures to Central Asia, we also offer tour services for private travel parties and lone wolves alike. As a traveller-oriented boutique operator, tailored trips and bespoke adventures are our bread and butter. Get in touch for more info on our customised journeys to Central Asia!
DAY 1 TO DAY 2 – Osh
Meet-and-greet at Osh International Airport, transfer to our hotel of choice in downtown Osh and introductory briefing about the region.
Two full days entirely devoted to Osh, the country’s second largest urban agglomeration and the gateway to both the fertile Fergana Valley and the epic Pamir Highway.
The list of highlights of our sojourn in Osh will include the gargantuan Lenin Statue, the local Great Patriotic War Memorial, the exotic Grand Bazaar, the grandiose Central Mosque, and the towering Solomon's Throne with its aesthetically remarkable Soviet-era museum.
Overnights in Osh.
DAY 3 – Sary Tash
In the morning we'll begin our journey along the legendary M41, also known as the Pamir Highway, and head towards Gorno-Badakhshan, a mountainous autonomous region in Eastern Tajikistan.
Today’s final destination will be Sary-Tash, an otherworldly Mad-Max-style Kyrgyz hamlet along the road and the last major human outpost in Southern Kyrgyzstan before the border with Tajikistan.
Overnight in Sary-Tash.
DAY 4 – Pamir Highway
After having crossed the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, we'll reach Karakul, a tiny Soviet-era concrete village built along the dusty shores of the namesake lake.
We'll then continue our epic journey along the Pamir Highway heading towards Rangkul, yet another remote hamlet surrounded by unreal natural beauty and crumbling Soviet ruins.
After lunch we'll drive south to Murghab, the main urban settlement in Northern Pamir, where we will visit the local headquarter of the National Mountaineering Association to learn more about the history of this extremely remote corner of Central Asia.
Overnight in Murghab.
DAY 5 – Pamir Highway
Another glorious day of driving along the Pamir Highway: we'll first head for the tiny village of Alichur, where we'll enjoy a traditional Pamiri lunch, and then reach the absurdly isolated lakeside hamlet of Bulun-Kul.
Overnight in Bulun-Kul.
DAY 6 – Wakhan Valley
Today we'll enter the Wakhan Valley, arguably the most beautiful dale in the whole Pamir region.
We'll drive on remote mountain roads and catch stunning glimpses of Afghan villages located a few metres away on the opposite bank of the Panj, the narrow whitewater river marking the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
In the afternoon we'll reach Vrang, a pretty rural village mostly inhabited by the Wakhi people, an Iranic ethnic group predominantly living between Northeastern Afghanistan and the southern fringes of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.
Overnight in Vrang.
DAY 7 – Wakhan Valley
We'll continue our adventure across the Wakhan Valley visiting hot springs and ancient pagan temples along the way.
We'll stop in several Wakhi hamlets along the way and after lunch we'll reach Ishkashim, a relatively large village functioning as a crossing point to those intrepid travellers and traders who venture into Afghanistan.
Overnight in Ishkashim.
DAY 8 – Khorog
Morning walk around Ishkashim and spectacular drive to Khorog, the capital of Badakhshan.
Badakhshan as distinctive polity with its contemporary borders and official designation GBAO - Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region was created in 1925 as autonomous republic within Soviet Tajikistan. During the good old Soviet years, a lot of resources had been allocated to Gorno Badakhshan as a sensitive borderland of the USSR, for instance through privileged access to higher education and the construction of strategic infrastructure like the Pamir Highway.
Khorog City Tour: House of the Soviets, Aga Khan Botanical Gardens, Pamir University, Central Bazaar, Lenin Statue.
Overnight in Khorog.
DAY 9 – Kalaikhum
Morning transfer to the dusty Tajik town of Kalaikhum via the quaint villages of Rushan and Lyakhsh.
Besides the routine pauses for food, toilet and random landscape pictures, we'll break the journey in semi-abandoned Soviet outposts with plenty of USSR-era remnants on display: perfect locations for photographic discoveries.
Overnight in Kalaikhum.
DAY 10 to DAY 11 – Dushanbe
Early morning transfer to Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe and two days devoted to its many Soviet (and non-Soviet) wonders: Concert Palace, State Circus, Rohat Chaikhana, Mevlana Mosque, National Theatre, City Library, Green Bazaar, Ministry of Economic Development, Cable Car Station, and a surprisingly vast amount of well-preserved USSR-era mosaics.
Overnights in Dushanbe.
DAY 12 – Farewell to the Mountains
After enjoying a last Tajik meal together, we'll take care of your transfer to Dushanbe International Airport.
For those wishing to take the train/bus to reach further destinations, we’ll arrange for a transfer to the local train/bus station in Dushanbe.
Possible tour extensions to this itinerary include: Afghanistan and/or Kyrgyzstan.
End of the tour.
2990 €
INCLUSIONS
Double/twin hotel accommodation (breakfast included), private transport in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (car/minivan), all entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance.
EXCLUSIONS
Single supplement, international flights, main meals (lunches and dinners), extra drinks, visa fees (if required), tips, travel insurance.
© Gianluca Pardelli | www.gianlucapardelli.comPamir Highway Tours | Pamir Tours | Travel to | Adventures Pamir | Pamir Travel | Pamir Trips | Pamir Adventure | Pamir Holiday | Pamir Tour