Circle trip: Pamir Highway, Bartang and Wakhan

Our guide and driver will pick you up in the morning. Please have breakfast and be ready by 7:30 am. Driving to Kalai Khumb, a town located on the Panj River. En route, visit Hulbuk Fortress and the Nurek Dam. The road is paved and quite good. We will have lunch in a café in Kulob. After passing Shurobod pass, you will see the first view of Afghanistan, on the other side of the Panj river.  Overnight in Kalai Khumb – the center of the Darvaz region, which is the first region of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO).

Altitude: 1900 m
Driving distance: 370 km
Duration: 8 hours

Today we have to start our journey earlier, because at day-time the road from Kalai Khumb to the entrance of Rushan is closed due to the road reconstruction at daytime. We need to pass the construction area early morning. After passing the construction area, we will have breakfast. Continue driving towards Bartang valley. After having lunch in Baghu village of Bartang valley, we continue driving to the Jizeu bridge where our trekking to Jizeu starts. We leave our bags in the car and visit the beautiful, remote, untouched and isolated village of Bartang valley, called Jizeu. Jizeu has no road, no electricity and no mobile or internet connection, but has very beautiful forests and lakes inside the village, located among the high Pamir Mountains. Overnight in Jizeu. 

Driving distance: 203 km
Trekking: 8 km 
Trekking time: 3 hours
Altitude: 2700 m 

We do hike in upper Jizeu and come back to our homestay at lunch time. Trekking down to the bridge, where our car will be waiting for us. Continue exploring Bartang valley. On the way stop to visit petroglyphs in Dasht village, near Siponj. Driving to Basid village. Dinner and overnight in a homestay in Basid. 

Trekking: 8 km 
Trekking time: 3 hours
Driving distance: 58 km
Altitude: 2300 m 
 

Drive to Barchidif village - another beautiful village in Bartang village of Pamir. On the way we visit Roshorv village (3000 m), where we can have lunch and do a short hike towards the footer of the  Azalsho Olimov peak (before, Labnazar peak) 5990m. On the way to Barchidif we visit Nisur village, where we can see an interesting unique apple tree, which gives fruits twice a year. Dinner and overnight in Barchidif village. 

Altitude: 2500 m 
Distance: 72 km
Hiking duration: 2 hours 
 

Continue exploring Bartang valley. In Sawnob village we can visit a fortress and see a cave, which were used to protect people from enemies. Driving upper Bartang valley, and exploring villages and the local people. After having lunch in Kudara village (3000 m) – the last village of Bartang valley, we continue driving to Karakul lake via Kokjar pass. Karakul lake is the largest lake in Tajikistan, the area of which is XX . Overnight in Karakul village in a homestay.  

Altitude: 3900 m 
Distance: 189 km

Today we will be driving on the Pamir Highway, and passing over the highest point of the Pamir Highway – 4655 m, which is called Ak-Baital pass. Taking photos at the Akbaital sign. If a group wants, there is another viewpoint above Akbaital, the altitude of which is 4750 m approximately. We can hike to the top, and take a very nice panorama photo from the top. 

Driving to Rankul village. On the way a short photo stop for taking photos of Rangkul lake. Driving to remote Rangkul village, which is just 3 km far from the China border. You will see the view of the Muztaata mountain located in China. 

Driving to Murghab and staying in a homestay in Murghab.  

Altitude: 3750 m 
Distance: 207 km

After breakfast, visit the Murghab bazaar, which is made of truck containers. Murghab is a small town, where majority of the population are Kyrgyz people. You can visit Yak House at the bazaar or at the ACTED office, to see or buy souvenirs.  
Driving to Bulunkul village – the coldest village in Pamir, where the temperature in winter time reaches down to minus 63 degrees Celsius. There are 50 households living in the village.  We will visit Yashilkul lake with our car and do hiking to Bulunkul lake. Overnight in Bulunkul village in a homestay. 

Altitude: 3800 m 
Distance: 143 km

Today we will be driving down to the Wakhan valley - one of the most beautiful destinations of Pamir region. Driving to Langar village. After lunch we visit petroglyphs – the drawings on the stones, which have more than 5000 years age. Continue driving to Vrang village, where you will do a hike to visit Buddah stuppa (40 min.). Drive towards Yamg village. Visiting the museum of Sufi Mubaraki Wakhoni – the famous pamiri astronomist, scientist.  Driving to Bibiftotima hotspring. On the way visit Yamchun fortress. Swimming in the Bibifotima hotspring. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse. 

Altitude: 3000 m 
Distance: 381 km

Driving to Khorog – the administrative center of the region. On the way, stop at the Qahqaha fortress - a 4th century AD monument left from Kushan era.  It is the second notable fortification built in Wakhan to secure Western Pamirs after Yamchun fort. After lunch visiting Garmchashma hotspring, which is helpful for skin diseases. Continue driving to Khorog. In Khorog we can visit Khorog Central Park, Khorog bazaar, DePamiri Handicraft, and etc. Overnight in Khorog.

Altitude: 2500 m 
Distance: 200 km

After breakfast, driving back to Qalai Khumb. After Rushan, the road will be repeating. At day time, the road will be closed due to the construction, but it will be open at lunch time. So we should be close to the starting point of the construction in order to enter the area, and may be cross the construction at the lunch time. 
Dinner and overnight in Qalai Khumb. 

Altitude: 1900 m 
Distance: 240 km

Driving back to Dushanbe via Tavildara pass. Enjoy the scenic drive along the Pamir Highway (M41).  Having farewell dinner at a restaurant in Dushanbe. We will drop you off at your hotel. Saying good-bye to your guide and driver! The end of the tour.  

Altitude: 800 m 
Distance: 286 km