Itinerary
- Day 1
Dushanbe
You'll arrive at Dushanbe airport where your private guide and driver meet you for the transfer downtown. Once you settle into your hotel, the day includes the National Museum of Antiquities with its historical artifacts, Victory Park (built to honor Soviet-Tajik soldiers from World War II), and the Botanical Garden to see native and exotic plants.
Included Activities
- Visit National Museum of Antiquities
- Visit Victory Park
- Visit Botanical Garden
Landmarks/POIs National Museum of Antiquities Victory Park Botanical Garden - Day 2
Dushanbe
After breakfast, you drive one hour to Hisor Fortress on a hilltop in the western suburbs, then return to downtown. From there, you'll walk through Rudaki Park with its statue and decorative arch, then view exterior landmarks like the National Library, Palace of Nations, Parliament, and the Dushanbe Flagpole. Later you pay respects at the Statue of Ismoil Somoni, tour the National Museum, see the grand Navruz Palace, and browse the Asian Bazaar.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hisor Fortress
- Explore Rudaki Park
- View city landmarks (National Library, Palace of Nations, Parliament, Dushanbe Flagpole)
- Visit Statue of Ismoil Somoni at Somoni Square
- Visit National Museum
- Tour Navruz Palace
- Explore Asian Bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Hisor Fortress Rudaki Park National Library Palace of Nations Parliament Dushanbe Flagpole Statue of Ismoil Somoni National Museum Navruz Palace Asian Bazaar - Day 3
Dushanbe to Kalai-Khumb
You'll head out early for an 8-hour drive to Kalai-Khumb on the M41 Highway (Pamir Highway), the world's second-highest highway. During the drive, you stop at a viewing platform to see the Nurek Reservoir with its azure waters. Later you pass through Shuraba Pass at roughly 2,267 meters/7,437 feet on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, then travel along the Panj River before arriving in Kalai-Khumb.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Nurek Reservoir from viewing platform
- Drive M41 Highway (Pamir Highway)
Landmarks/POIs Nurek Reservoir Shuraba Pass Panj River - Day 4
Kalai-Khumb to Khorog
This morning you continue on the M41 Highway to Khorog, the largest city in the Pamirs. You'll drive through steep winding mountain roads with views of Afghan rural scenes across the Panj River, which flows from east to west fed by mountain snowmelt. By late afternoon you check in at your hotel in Khorog.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive M41 Highway to Khorog
Landmarks/POIs Panj River - Day 5
Khorog
After breakfast, you take a short hike at the Botanical Garden near Khorog, one of the world's highest botanical gardens. Then you drive south for 1.5 hours to Garm Chashma Hot Spring, a former Silk Road rest stop. Later you continue 2 hours to Ishkoshim, the starting point of the Wakhan Corridor, where you can see the bridge to the Afghan town. Check in at the guesthouse and note that network signal may be limited here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Short hike at Botanical Garden near Khorog
- Visit Garm Chashma Hot Spring
Landmarks/POIs Botanical Garden Garm Chashma Hot Spring Ishkoshim - Day 6
Wakhan Corridor
You head into the Wakhan Corridor, a historically significant section of the ancient Silk Road. You visit Yamchun Village to see the 3rd-century Kaahka Fortress and Yamchun Fortress at roughly 3,200 meters/10,500 feet. Later you continue to Bibi Fatima Hot Springs, pass through Vrang Village known for its five-story stone stepped Buddhist pyramid, and visit the House-Museum of Mubarak Kadam Wakhani in Yamg Village. You finish the day in Langar Village, the largest stopover in the Wakhan Valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kaahka Fortress
- Visit Yamchun Fortress
- Visit Bibi Fatima Hot Springs
- Pass through Vrang Village
- Visit House-Museum of Mubarak Kadam Wakhani
Landmarks/POIs Yamchun Village Kaahka Fortress Yamchun Fortress Bibi Fatima Hot Springs Vrang Village House-Museum of Mubarak Kadam Wakhani Langar Village - Day 7
Langar to Murghab
You start with petroglyphs in Langar showing carvings of goats, yaks, and human images. After leaving Langar, you cross Khargush Pass at roughly 4,344 meters/14,252 feet. Three hours later you arrive at Yashilkul Lake and Bulunkul Lake, both around 3,700 meters/12,139 feet, and take a scenic walk. You see mirror-clear Bulunkul Lake reflecting surrounding mountains, sand dunes, and vegetation. Then you drive northeast for 3 hours to reach Murghab and rest at a local hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Petroglyphs in Langar
- Cross Khargush Pass
- Scenic walking tour around Yashilkul Lake and Bulunkul Lake
Landmarks/POIs Petroglyphs in Langar Khargush Pass Yashilkul Lake Bulunkul Lake - Day 8
Murghab to Lake Karakul and back
After breakfast, you head to Lake Karakul through AK-Baital Pass at roughly 4,655 meters/15,272 feet, the highest point on the M41 Highway. You hike for 1.5 hours and see the lake reflecting three dramatic peaks: Muztagh Ata, Kongur Peak, and Kongur Tiube. You observe the Kyrgyz people who herd yaks, sheep, and goats around the lake. Then you drive 3 hours back to Murghab.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike around Lake Karakul (1.5 hours)
- View Muztagh Ata, Kongur Peak, and Kongur Tiube peaks
Landmarks/POIs AK-Baital Pass Lake Karakul Muztagh Ata Kongur Peak Kongur Tiube - Day 9
Murghab to Khorog
You travel back to Khorog via the Pamir Highway, passing through Koitezek Pass at roughly 4,271 meters/14,012 feet, which can be bumpy. If you experience altitude sickness, your driver will stop for recovery time. Along the route you see the mighty Ghund River with green fir trees in the valley and scattered blue and gray iron roofs. You arrive in Khorog to rest and chat with locals who speak English.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Koitezek Pass
Landmarks/POIs Koitezek Pass Ghund River - Day 10
Khorog to Kalai-Khumb
You return to Kalai-Khumb along the same route, following the downstream Panj River. You stop at a village on the riverbank to learn about local life and see simple white flat- and sloping-roofed cottages, some weathered to yellowish color with utility poles nearby. You enter a red and blue carpeted decorated house to chat with locals and hear their stories about Pamir life and the warm stove.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at village on Panj riverbank
- Visit local house and learn about locals' lives
Landmarks/POIs Panj River - Day 11
Kalai-Khumb to Dushanbe
You head back to Dushanbe, driving by Khaburabot Pass at roughly 3,252 meters/10,669 feet, the first major mountain pass near Dushanbe. The terrain is rugged and poorly maintained due to avalanches and landslides, but offers hill-surrounded scenery with towering snowy summits, villages at mountain feet, pale orange mud houses, and hospitable villagers. You check in at your hotel upon arrival in Dushanbe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Khaburabot Pass
Landmarks/POIs Khaburabot Pass - Day 12
Dushanbe
Your Pamirs tour ends today. After breakfast, your guide and driver escort you to Dushanbe International Airport and see you off on your journey home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
