Departure Statuses Explained
While each car can accommodate up to four travelers, reaching four participants is not a requirement for the tour to operate.
Departures can still go ahead with fewer travelers, as long as the group members are comfortable with the price per person based on the current group size.
In some cases, travelers may prefer to limit the group to three people per car to increase comfort. In this case, the maximum number of travelers for that departure is reduced to three, and the price per person is adjusted accordingly—for example, on our 7-day tours, the price changes from $550 per person (4 travelers) to $730 per person (3 travelers).
The price per person varies depending on the number of travelers sharing the car (please refer to the Pricelist section on each tour’s detail page). Some departures may also have a fixed price, indicated by a “Fixed Price” tag, which means that the price is fixed, despite the number of travelers in the group. More about it later in this article.
Departure Statuses
Each departure may have one or more of the following statuses to indicate its current state.
Guaranteed
A departure is marked as Guaranteed when the current participants are committed to taking the tour at the agreed price per person, based on the number of travelers sharing a car.
For example (Dushanbe → Osh tour):
- 4 travelers → $550 per person
- 3 travelers → $730 per person
- 2 travelers → $1,090 per person
- 1 traveler → $2,200
If travelers confirm that they are willing to proceed at the current price level (even if no additional people join), the departure is considered Guaranteed.
This can happen in several ways:
- One or more travelers decide to go ahead regardless of group size
- A group agrees to cover the cost for fewer participants
- A traveler may request a fixed price and agree to cover empty spots
- In some cases, Discover The Pamirs may set a fixed-price departure and operate it accordingly
In all cases, “Guaranteed” means the departure is expected to run based on confirmed commitment from participants—not because a minimum number of travelers has been reached.
Pending
A departure is marked as Pending when the current participants prefer to wait for more travelers to join in order to reduce the cost per person.
In this case, the tour will only go ahead if enough travelers join to reach a suitable cost-sharing arrangement. Until then, the departure remains open for others to join.
Open
A departure marked as Open means there are still available spots, and new travelers are welcome to join.
Full
A departure marked as Full means all available spots have been booked.
However, if you are interested in traveling on the same date, you can contact us to create a new departure, subject to availability.
Modified
A departure marked as Modified means that the itinerary, duration, or route has been adjusted compared to the standard tour.
As a result, the price may also be updated accordingly. Please refer to the departure details for the exact itinerary and pricing.
Afghan-BM (Afghan Border Market)
A departure marked as Afghan-BM indicates that the itinerary aligns with the operating days of the Afghan border markets in the region.
This means there is a chance to visit one of these markets during the tour, depending on timing and local conditions.
For more details about the Afghan border market experience, please visit the dedicated information page.
In addition to departure statuses, pricing may vary depending on the pricing type applied to each departure.
Pricing Types
In addition to the departure status, each departure also has a pricing type. Each departure follows one of the following pricing models:
Fixed Price
A departure marked with a “Fixed Price” tag means that the price per person is set in advance and does not depend on the number of travelers in the group.
This type of departure is usually associated with Guaranteed status, meaning the tour is expected to operate based on confirmed commitment, regardless of how many travelers join.
In this case:
- The price remains the same whether there are 2, 3, 4, or more travelers
- The departure is not dependent on group size
- Travelers benefit from price certainty at the time of booking
Fixed-price departures may be created in several ways:
- A traveler or group agrees to cover the cost of empty spots
- A traveler requests a fixed price to secure the departure
- Discover The Pamirs may offer a fixed-price departure to simplify booking
In some situations, the group size may slightly exceed the usual limit of 4 travelers per car (for example, 5–6 travelers total). This is done to avoid disproportionately high costs for a single additional traveler.
In such cases, all participants are informed in advance, and the price per person will not exceed the indicated price for that departure. In some cases, additional discounts may also be applied.
Group-Based Price
If a departure does not have a “Fixed Price” tag, it follows a group-based pricing model.
This means:
- The price per person depends on the number of travelers sharing the car
- The more travelers join, the lower the cost per person
- The departure may remain Pending until a suitable group size is reached
This flexible system allows travelers to balance cost and comfort, depending on how many people join the departure.
We aim to make travel to the Pamir Mountains affordable and accessible for everyone. Join us to explore the breathtaking landscapes of the Pamirs and experience authentic local life with our experienced team.
Don’t miss out—secure your place today and get ready for an unforgettable journey.