Adventure in Pamirs

Welcome to Dushanbe! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be greeted by your private guide and the driver and escorted to the hotel for check-in. Tajikistan, the smallest country in Central Asia, has more than half of its territory located on the Pamir Plateau, which features the most complex and diverse scenery in Central Asia. During the Tajikistan vacation packages, we’ll explore the grandeur of the Pamirs, the "Roof of the World"!

Your sightseeing in Dushanbe begins with a visit to the National Museum of Antiquities, whose exhibits mainly focus on genuine archaeological relics. Its more than 500 collections include, but not limited to, the rare 13-meter (43-foot) long Buddha in Nirvana, the most treasured in the museum, and the Grecian sculptures and pottery unearthed along the Amu Darya River, all of which show that Tajikistan’s religious culture has gone through Zoroastrianism (an ancient Persian religion), Buddhism and Hellenistic culture over the past two thousand years. When entering the museum, visitors are required to take off their shoes or wear the shoe covers provided by the museum.

We’ll also stroll around the Botanical Garden and take a look at the first batch of rare vegetation planted in the 1930s. Also serving as a recreational venue, the garden is always crammed with families having picnics, couples taking wedding photos, and fitness buffs jogging. Besides, the hillside Victory Park is on our list, which was built to commemorate the victory and fallen heroes of the Eastern Front War (1941-1945). After the tour, you’ll be transferred back to the hotel.

➤ Dinner Recommendation in Dushanbe (at your own expense)
Toqi Teahouse, specializing in Tajik cuisine, is much frequented by the locals. Try the qurutob, a national dish made of naan bread crumbs soaked in wet quruts (dried yoghurt balls), accompanied by fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables, as well as soomeli sauce made from spices, salt and mint. It originated from the ancient agricultural life and was once the daily staple food for farmers and shepherds. Moreover, plov (stir-fried rice), grilled skewers, and samosas (grilled buns) are also signature dishes.
Average Cost per Person: TJS 150-200 (USD 15-20)
Address: Ul. KurBona Raximova, 29, Dushanbe

★ Reasons for Choosing Us

1. Safety: The Pamirs feature complex road conditions, especially the M41 Highway from Khorog to Murghab, marked by the unpaved bumpy dirt roads. But don’t worry, we promise you well-performing 4x4 SUVs and experienced local drivers, ensuring you a safe and tremendous expedition!
2. Convenience: Accommodations in the Pamirs are not as fully furnished as those in cities, but we’ve selected the best ones for you. Transfers during the tours will be well-arranged to save your time and energy for pure fun, and the private vehicle allows you to avoid sharing space with other tourists during the long drives.
3. Professional English-speaking Guide: Tajikistan boasts rich historical cultures of the ancient Silk Road and the Pamirs, but it ranks low in English proficiency, and some scenic spots lack English signage. Our knowledgeable English-speaking guide will explain the historical backgrounds and interesting anecdotes.

Accommodation: Hotel Atlas Dushanbe (4 stars) or similar

Today, we’ll continue diving into Dushanbe. First, have an excursion to the Hisor Fortress, 30 kilometers (19 miles) west. Given its advantageous location, a pivotal junction along the Silk Road, it held both significant commercial and military significance, and was captured by many famous conquerors, including Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Timur. And in its history of over 3,000 years, it has been destroyed more than 20 times! Wandering around the fortress complex, you can catch sight of the magnificent red-brick arched gate dating back to 500 BC, the ancient Islamic schools, and the Sangin Mosque, characterized by its dome embedded with four bottomless water jugs, greatly enhancing the acoustics of the hall.

Afterward, drive back to the heart of the city and stroll around Rudaki Park, where the statue of Rudaki, the father of Persian literature, stands in the center. The park resembles a city oasis surrounded by many urban landmarks, and we’ll admire them from the exterior successively, including the National Library in an open-book overall design, the Stele with the Emblem of Tajikistan built to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Tajikistan's Independence, the Palace of Nations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Parliament, as well as the world’s second-tallest Dushanbe Flagpole, measuring 165 meters (540 feet) high. We’ll also view the Statue of Ismoil Somoni. After Tajikistan's independence, almost all the Lenin statues were replaced by Somoni’s, as he, jointly with Rudaki, developed the country’s national identity. During the tour, you’ll find that many roads, parks, and theaters are named after the two notables throughout the country.

In the afternoon, head to the National Museum for an overview of the historical and cultural development of Tajikistan from ancient times to the modern era. Appreciate the massive collection of exhibits, including ceramics, minerals, animal and plant specimens, copper vessels, folk embroidery and gifts from various countries. Browse the exhibition hall dedicated to the Pamir region to get insights into the upcoming Pamir expedition. Then, marvel at the luxurious Navruz Palace, a venue for national meetings and international conferences. Take your time appreciating its interior decorations, such as the spectacular wood carvings and marble flooring, showing a blend of Tajik ethnic style and modern style.
➤ Tip: These urban landmarks are beautifully lit at night, and you can appreciate them by yourself if you wish.

Bazaar is an indispensable stop for experiencing the local daily life in Central Asia. Dushanbe, literally meaning “Monday” in Tajik, is derived from the "Monday Bazaar" in the old days on the Silk Road. And our last stop today is the iconic Asian Bazaar. In the bustling market, the spice vendor will hold pinches of spice to show you their high-class quality; the naan bread baker makes naan bread with a sickle-shaped tool and a clay oven; the owner of the yogurt stall may scoop up a spoonful of thick yogurt for you to taste; and the fabric vendor enthusiastically shows you the colorful tie-dye cloth. It’s also a good place to sample local food, like the chewy horse meat and juicy pomegranates. You can purchase some dried fruits and preserves to add a delicious touch to your plateau tour ahead.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Atlas Dushanbe (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we’ll make our way to Kalai-Khumb, a picturesque town along the way to the Pamirs. After driving out of the modern Dushanbe, take in the rural and mountain landscapes, including the low, flat houses, occasional stalls selling agricultural products along the roadside, vast meadows and snow-capped peaks. After around 2 hours, make a brief stop at the Nurek Reservoir. Ascend a viewing platform and be smitten by the vast azure water, which is home to a large earth-fill dam with a height of 300 meters (984 feet). Then, hop in the car and drive through the 2,267-meter (7,437-foot) high Shuraba Pass. We’ll also drive along the Panj River on the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, along which you may spot Afghan villagers leading donkeys or herding sheep on the opposite cliff.

Around dusk, when the 16-columned white gate pops into your sight, it means your arrival in Kalai-Khumb, a secluded town featuring a pleasant environment, with low-roofed houses interspersed with green trees standing along the river, backed by rows of towering mountains.

➤ Notes for the Pamirs

1. Visitors entering the Pamirs are required to obtain a GBAO (Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast) permit. You can select the GBAO option when you apply for an e-visa, even though you are eligible for the visa-free policy.
2. Accommodation conditions on the Pamir Plateau are limited, especially in the remote villages, where there are only family-run guesthouses with 3-4 rooms, and thick cotton pads are used as beds. However, this is the chance you experience the most authentic life in the Pamirs. You can also bring your own sleeping bag.
3. We’ll admire several scenic spots and mountain passes at altitudes of 2,000-4,000 meters (6,562-13,123 feet). To prevent altitude sickness, take exercise to strengthen your heart and lungs in advance, and pack anti-altitude sickness medicines and an oxygen cylinder.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Karon Palace Hotel Kalai-Khumb (4 stars) or similar

★ Conquer Legendary Pamirs, Roof of the World!

Today, the Pamirs await! We’ll head to Khorog, the largest city in the Pamir Plateau and the capital of the GBAO region, via the famous M41 Pamir Highway, which stretches for over 1,500 kilometers, connecting Dushanbe in Tajikistan and Osh in Kyrgyzstan, with the altitudes ranging from 900 meters (2,953 feet) to 4,655 meters (15,272 feet). The bumpy, winding gravel roads along the cliffs are less visited, but an ultimate goal for nature lovers. As we move forward along the rising terrain, the width of the Panj River changes over time, cottages hidden in the greenery on the opposite bank gradually fade away, and layers of snowy peaks meet the blue sky with fluffy clouds floating in the distance. We may encounter the Pamiris, who are also called the Mountain Tajiks. Due to the limited conditions in remote mountainous areas and rare interaction with the outside world, they live different lives from the Plain Tajiks in many aspects. For example, the Plain Tajiks mainly follow an agricultural culture, while the Pamiris live a nomadic life; they both belong to the Iranian language family, but the former speak Tajik, while the latter speak Pamiri; although they both believe in Islam, the Plain Tajiks are more traditional Muslims, while the Pamiris retain some beliefs of Zoroastrianism, worshiping the fire.
➤ Tip: The Pamir region has a poor network signal, with occasional disconnections. It’s advisable to inform your family and friends beforehand to let them know you are safe.

Upon arriving, you’ll find that Khorog resembles a secluded world; its remote location is far from cities like Dushanbe, and the Pamir Mountains form a natural barrier. The Ghund River flows through the city, with tall poplars and neatly maintained sloping-roofed cottages standing along the banks. After checking into the hotel, you can turn on the TV and watch Afghan TV programs to learn about life on the other side of the river. How interesting!

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lal Hotel Khorog (3 stars) or similar

After breakfast, hop in the car to admire the Botanical Garden, the world’s second-highest, at an altitude of 2,200 meters (7,218 feet). In the untouched garden, over 17,000 arbors and shrubs from all over the world, including some thick-trunked pine trees aged several hundred years, are vibrant and blaze with colors. When it comes to summer and autumn, flowers in full bloom scatter all around, making a fairyland. Looking down at the entire valley, you can say that Khorog is truly an oasis in the Pamirs. Then, drop by the Garm Chashma Hot Spring, which boasts a history of thousands of years. Although it is not modernly equipped, the natural sulfur hot spring provides wellness benefits. It features small private indoor pools and an outdoor pool, with stalactites hanging down from the rocks, which are rotated between men and women about every 1-2 hours. If it beckons you, bring your towel, and don’t miss applying a handful of white mud to your body, which smooths your skin.

Afterward, continue driving to Ishkashim, known as the entrance to the Wakhan Corridor. With the Amu Darya River resembling a mirror, there’s another Afghan village of the same name, Ishkashim, on the other side. It would be a treat if your visit falls on the weekend market day, when villagers from both countries gather by the border bridge to trade fruits, vegetables, spices, clothes, etc.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bahodur Guesthouse, Ishkashim or similar

★ Unveil Secret Wonders of Borderland - Wakhan Corridor

Today, follow your guide to embark on a journey through the Wakhan Corridor! It is a narrow valley located between Tajikistan and China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, with a total length of around 400 kilometers (249 miles) and an average altitude of over 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), perpetually covered in snow. It also played a vital role on the ancient Silk Road, through which shrewd traders from neighboring countries passed with treasures, like Chinese silk and porcelain, and Indian spices and gemstones. The Wakhan Corridor has long been inhabited by the Wakhi people, whom you may encounter when driving along the way, maintaining an original herding lifestyle. Every summer, they would migrate with their livestock to higher pastures. Sometimes, the family have to walk for several days to find a good pasture! As winter comes, they return to the village before roads are blocked by snow.

En route, let’s visit the Kaahka Fortress, a quite old fortress completed in the 3rd century and built of clay and stones, where you can see its large scale from the remaining battlements and walls. Looking around, enjoy the magnificent views of the Wakhan Valley and the distant Hindu Kush Mountains, all within sight. It was once an important stop along the Silk Road, and now, a small house atop the fortress houses Tajik border guards. Then, continue the fortress tour to Yamchun Fortress; the former military fortress was mainly constructed of stone and is now nearly in ruins, with rubble scattered around. Nevertheless, you can still see that its compartments were divided into residential areas, defensive fortifications, and storage rooms, connected by steps, and some even have battlements. Afterward, drive upwards for about 5 minutes, and arrive at one of the Pamirs’ most popular hot springs, Bibi Fatima Hot Springs, whose water gushes out from between the rocks. It is named after the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and is highly valued by the locals, who believe that it’s beneficial for women’s fertility.

We’ll also visit the Buddhist ruins in Vrang Village. The relics are in a neat six-layer square formation, with an alleged footprint of the Buddha on the top. In addition, numerous artificial caves are scattered around, which are said to be meditation abodes for monks. There’s a stele carved with the history of Xuanzang, an eminent monk from the Tang Dynasty of China (618-907), who travelled via Vrang to study Buddhism in India.

The last stop today is the House-Museum of Mubarak Kadam Wakhani located in Yamg Village. The great man was an astronomer, mystic poet, musician, and scholar of the Islamic Sufi sect. Catch a glimpse of the stone pillar, which he used to calculate the solar calendar, and the traditional Wakhi musical instruments he once played. Whether at the entrance of the museum or during the two-day drive, you may have noticed the spiral-shaped antlers, which belong to the Marco Polo sheep that live in the harsh Pamir Plateau. In the 13th century, the famous Italian traveler Marco Polo spotted the sheep, and since then, it has been named after him. Finally, we’ll continue driving to Langar Village, the eastern end of the Wakhan Valley, and stay overnight.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sash Guesthouse, Langar or similar

After breakfast, follow your guide to admire the rock paintings in Langar, spanning from the Bronze Age (1,500 BC) to the Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries), and even the 20th century! The massive tilted rocks are spectacular, carved with adorable paintings featuring goats, yaks, unintelligible writing, and modern graffiti. After the visit, keep on driving for 3 hours and pass through the 4,344-meter (14,252-foot) high Khargush Pass to reach the most charming lakes on the Pamirs - the Yashilkul Lake and Bulunkul Lake, both lying over 3,700 meters (12,139 feet) above sea level. Upon arrival, enjoy a hiking tour and immerse yourself in the stunning alpine lake scenery: the colors of the lakes vary in different hues of blue under the sunlight; the vast grassland around the lakes is dotted with yellow flowers; and perhaps you encounter some villagers fishing in the productive lakes. The lakes are also home to wild birds, like geese, seagulls, and bar-headed geese, making them famous for bird-watching, especially in late summer (Jun.-Aug.). If you are a bird-watching enthusiast, bring your binoculars. As Bulunkul is considered the coldest place in Tajikistan, with the lowest temperature once dropping to -63°C (-81.4ºF), it’s necessary to cover yourself with a quilt at night even in summer.

Afterward, hop in the car and head to today’s final stop, Murghab. Jagged rocks, snow-clad peaks, occasional trucks, scattered white flat-roofed houses and herds of livestock form a scene that is so similar to that of hundreds of years ago, except for a few electric poles standing upright. 3 hours later, the Murghab River comes into view, whose winding riverbanks are coated with lush grass, with herds of cattle and sheep leisurely grazing. Upon arrival in Murghab, check in at the hotel. The town is inhabited by many ethnic Kyrgyz, who would go to Dushanbe or Osh in Kyrgyzstan around the end of October to spend the winter.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Pamir Hotel Murghab or similar

Today, we’ll spend the whole day driving along the Pamir Highway to return to Khorog. Along the way, pass by the Koitezek Pass at an altitude of 4,271 meters (14,012 feet), which features lunar-like landscapes, and you can use your cotton slippers and a neck pillow to make you feel better at the bumpy and rough section. You may spot children frolicking in the river, who don’t have as many forms of entertainment as those in cities, but nature shapes their simple and pure souls. Keep forward and enter the Ghund Valley, which is flowed by the clear Ghund River from east to west with a cheerful current, a tributary of the Panj River. Driving along the smooth asphalt and bumpy gravel roads at the river valley, which change back and forth through villages, look through the car windows to see farmlands and herds passing by; the high mountains on both sides are almost barren, but in the river valley at the foot of the mountains, you’ll be struck by the lush vegetation.

After arriving in Khorog, check in at the hotel. If you arrive in July, you may encounter the Roof of the World Festival. During the three days, traditionally clad dancers, singers and musicians from nearby countries, including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan, play their traditional musical instruments and perform dances showcasing the diverse cultures of the Pamir region.

➤ Khorog Recommendation (at your own expense)
After the long drive, unwinding in the cozy and comfortable Luni Coffee Shop is a great choice. Find a quiet corner and enjoy a cup of rich coffee, a Napoleon cake, a honey and nut cake or a croissant. Tea and sandwiches are also provided. It closes at 23:00.
Average Cost per Person: TJS 15-30 (USD 1.5-3)
Address: Lenin Street, Khorog

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lal Hotel Khorog (3 stars) or similar

Today, we’ll return to Kalai-Khumb. There’s only one way accessible between Khorog and Kalai-Khumb, so we’ll backtrack the way downstream along the Panj River, which passes by on our left. When it comes to the narrow parts, the blooming pomegranate trees beside the cottages, the golden wheat fields embedded on the green slopes, and the vast alfalfa meadows, as well as Afghan villagers leading donkeys through the fields on the opposite bank, come into view. Where the river is open, the water flows gently, with occasional sandbars. En route, drop by a small village nestled against the mountain, where rows of earthen and stone houses are surrounded by mulberry trees bearing white fruits. You’ll be accompanied to walk into a warm house to learn about locals’ lives. You may see the floor and sofa are covered with thick dark carpets, and the hospitable host is busy beside the stove, with innocent children helping aside in an upbeat mood. If it falls on Ramadan (around March and April), you may see children going door-to-door to ask for candies.

After the visit, continue driving, pass by the cliffs, mountains and torrents of water, and finally arrive at Kalai-Khumb. After the check-in procedures, enjoy a good rest at the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Karon Palace Hotel Kalai-Khumb (4 stars) or similar

Today, we’ll return to Dushanbe via the Khaburabot Pass at an elevation of 3,252 meters (10,669 feet). On one side of some narrow mountain paths are cliffs without guardrails, unleashing the thrill of the adventure, but the magnificent views of river valleys and canyons scattered with simple villages will definitely make it worthwhile! As we keep moving forward, the altitude gradually drops to below 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), with flat and wide asphalt roads extending. Upon arriving in Dushanbe, check into the hotel and the rest of the day is on your own.

➤ Recommended Activities in Dushanbe (at your own expense)
If you’re still energetic, stroll along the Rudaki Avenue and tour the 200-year-old Haji Yaqub Mosque. Get a glimpse of its grandeur, capable of accommodating 3,000 people for prayer, and the colonnades adorned with tiles, blue domes and an exquisite façade. Getting out of the mosque, find a tea house and enjoy some leisure moments, sipping Tajik green tea. Trading along the Silk Road brought about the prevalence of tea culture to Dushanbe, and in the tea houses, locals sit around, holding earthenware bowls of tea, chatting and laughing merrily.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Atlas Dushanbe (4 stars) or similar

Today, bid adieu to your best Tajikistan vacations. The guide and the driver will escort you to the airport and see you off. Wish you a pleasant and safe journey home!

If you would like to tour other historical sites in Tajikistan along the Silk Road, such as Khujand and Panjakent, or if you want to extend your journey to other Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, please feel free to contact us, and we’ll customize the best itinerary for you.

Meal: Breakfast