To the roof of Tajik Pamir

Meeting with your guide and driver at Dushanbe International Airport. Transfer to the hotel and check-in, then sightseeing in Dushanbe.  Welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant of the city.

Dushanbe is situated in the middle of the Hissor Valley at about 800 meters altitude. The city is not based on settlement or ancient city, it was built in 1929 as the capital of the new Soviet Tajik Republic under the name of Stalinabad.

Interesting museums are the National Museum of Tajikistan, the National museum of Antiquities, the small musical instrument museum Gurminj

Intersting squares are the Rudaki Park, the Opera-Ballet square, the Ayni square and Rudaki avenue, the Botanical garden, the city panorama of the Victory Memorial.

Morning depart to the Gissar fortress (Hissor), the residence of Gissar beks. Visit of the fortress and the historical museum situated with an old medresse. Return to Dushanbe. Overnight at the hotel

The well protected fortress was the residence of the governor of the Emirate of Bukhara - Gissar Bek (barony) in the nineteenth century. Inside the fortress there was a pool and a garden, and opposite there was a market, a caravanserai and a lot of small shops. The gate of the fortress with its portaland arch, the one-storiedold madrassa and a two-storied building of the new madrassa of XVII-XIX centuries are only lasted out up to now. The Mahdumi Azam Mausoleum, dating back to the XVI - XVII centuries, is located not so far. Inside there is a simple alabaster gravestone of a local Sufi teacher. Today, it is still an operating place of worship. The fortress was occupied in 1924 by basmachi (local bands of freedom fighters, today they would be called mujahideen) leader Ibragim Bek until the Red Army destroyed it completely. Only the gate remains though you can still clearlysee the structure of the fortress when you climb up the hills. The present Gissar fortress was opened in 1982, whereas the most recent restoration carried out in 2014. Today, this place is also popular for visits during marriages. 50 meters from the gate of the fortress there is a national teahouse, the interior of which is magnificently decorated by national masters.

We leave Dushanbe to Qal'ai Khumb (Kalaikhumb / Darwoz) on a new paved road by Kulob, where we will stop to see the mausoleum of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, an wellknown Iranian poet. The rest of the road leaves the Kulob plains to cross the Darwoz mountain range and thus join the Panj valley which marks the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. We go up this valley to Qal'ai Khumb to spend the night.

A long day driving into the Panj canyon. The road is difficult but the landscapes grandiose. All day long we walk along the Afghan border and we can see the harsh life of the Afghans. Arrived in Khorog, we will visit the botanical garden of Khorog before settling in our accommodation for the night.

We leave Khorog, to join Ishkashim, along the Panj river on the border of Afghanistan. After 35 km, we go up the Garmshashma valley for 6 km to relax in the warm waters. We then continue our journey with an incredible view of the Afghan peaks of the Hindu Kush. Arriving at Ishkashim, the valley widens. All along the road we can observe the typical houses of the Pamirs.

We drive along the Wakhan corridor, this neutral land between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Life for the villagers in this region is very harsh, especially in winter. This portion is historically very interesting. We will see first the fortress of Khaka, then that of Yamchun, near the village of Yamg, where you can also enjoy the hot water baths of the sacred spring of Bibi Fatima. Night at the inhabitant in the village of Langar.

A relax day after long hours driving on bad dirty roads. Langar offer few thousands petroglyphs, but it is also a typical pamiri village in the Wakhan corridor. 

The road between Langar village and Alichur village is closed by avalanche during the winter, avoid this road from January till April. 

The road follows the Afghan border, following the Pamir River to Khargush, then branches north. Before and after the Khargush Pass at 4344 meters above sea level, you will be able to see several salt lakes including Karadara, Khargush and Chukurkul. After the pass of Khargush, we arrive on the high plateau of Alichur where you can see other salt lakes, the largest of which is Sasyk Kel. Short stop at the village of Alichur, one of the highest and coldest in the whole of the former USSR. We find an asphalt road, and continue towards Murghab, the administrative center of the High Pamirs. On the way, stop at Lake Ak-Balyk, which means white fish, but a mysterious lake. At the end of the day, arrival in Murghab, installation in a guest house.

We will start early in the morning our day trip to Shorkul, Rangkul and Karakul lakes (40-50 km from Murgab). In the morning, we drive to the Chinese border to discover the Shorkul and Rangkul lakes at 3782 meters altitude, the both lakes are endorheic salty lakes connected by the Iziuk Darya (river). The Rangkul lakes flows inside Shorkul lake and it is less salty than Shorkul. Both lakes freeze in winter and contain no fish, but support numerous invertebrates. The site was classified as an IBA (Important Bird Area) because it supports significant numbers of the populations of various bird species, either as residents, or as breeding or passage migrants; it has been designated as a protected Ramsar site since 2001.

Then we drive up to the Ak-Baïtal pass at 4655 meters altitude which open the bassin of the great Karakul lake, we stop at Karaat village situated at 3920 meters altitude on the shore of the lake.

This long day can be tailor-made to your wishes and you can choose the thema like botanical, cultural, historical, nomadical but we can also arrange a day hiking or the site of your choice.

In the morning, we drive to Yashik Kul lake, having lunch. Then road to the Koj Tezek pass 4271 m. alt. Then the road goes down in the Gunt valley between peaks Patkhor 6083m. alt. and Skalisty 5707m. alt. Arrival in Khorog, visit of the Botanical garden, night at the Pamir Lodge.

In the morning, drive to Qualai-Khumb village, on the bank of the Panj river. The dirty road follow the river in front of Afghanistan. Landscapes are again incredible surrounded of majestic mountains. We take time to have a picnic on the shore of the Panj river. Arrival in Qualai-Khumb, installation in the hotel or homestay.  

Road through the Kaburabot pass 3252m. alt. and Obikhingou valley. The road continue across mountains till the wide valley of Kyzyl Suu. Arrival in Dushanbe in the evening. 

We will recommend to cut this day in two, with a overnight in Tavildara or Obigarm.

In the morning, visit of the green market "Merghon" and continue visit depending on a flight time. Transfert to International Dushanbe Airport.