8D7N Pamir Highway Tajikistan Adventure

Upon arrival at Dushanbe Airport, you will be taken to a Turkish restaurant for a traditional breakfast. Afterward, your guide will provide a welcoming briefing and lead you on a city tour of Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital. Highlights include the Somoni Monument, the world’s second-tallest flagpole, Rudaki Park, Hissar Fort, and Navruz Palace, where you can explore Central Asian folk crafts. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Today, travel toward the Pamirs, crossing a mountain pass to reach Kalaikhumb, halfway to Khorog. We’ll take the northern route via Tavildara and the Khaburabad Pass (3,255m), or, if weather doesn’t permit, through the Kulyab region. The region’s conservative dress and beards reflect local customs, but the hospitality remains warm. Lunch will be at a roadside café or picnic.

After an early breakfast, we embark on a scenic drive to Khorog, the capital of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), along the Panj River, a natural border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. We will visit the Karon Archaeological Complex, known as the "Machu Picchu of Tajikistan." The site is still under study by historians and archaeologists. In the late afternoon, we'll arrive in Khorog, check into a luxury boutique hotel, and visit its botanical garden, the second-highest in the world.

After an early breakfast, we drive toward Ishkashim, the most attractive destination in Gorno-Badakhshan, known for its wealth of archaeological sites (castles, petroglyphs, over 60 shrines, and thermal springs) and stunning views of the Wakhan Corridor and the snow-covered Hindu Kush in Pakistan. About 30 km from Khorog is the famous Garmchashma thermal spring, first described by Danish explorer Ole Olufsen in 1897. Believed to have healing properties, it’s a great spot for a quick bath. In the afternoon, we reach Ishkashim, where we’ll overnight and enjoy a folklore Pamiri concert.

After breakfast, we continue our exploration, visiting the village of Namadgut, home to the ruins of the vast Kakhkakha Fortress, dating back to the 2nd century BC (Kushan Empire). Across from the fortress is the Ostoni-Shohi Mardon Shrine, with calligraphy-covered gates and early wood carvings. Next, we visit the house museum of astronomer Sufi Muborak Wakhoni (1839-1930), a traditional Pamiri house featuring carved pillars and beams, along with a solar calendar used for the Navruz festival. We then head to Yamchun, home to the Yamchun Fortress (III-I centuries BCE) and the nearby Bibi Fatima hot spring, believed to improve fertility, where you can take a quick bath. After lunch at a traditional guesthouse, we visit Vrang to see the Buddha Stupa, and then stop at Abrashim Qala Fort in Zong. We overnight at a guesthouse in Zong.

Another adventurous day begins after breakfast as we head to Murhgab, the largest district in Gorno-Badakhshan, home to a predominantly Kyrgyz population. The scenic drive includes several stops for photos and learning discoveries, depending on the availability of nomadic yurts along the way. We will visit Alichur village and enjoy lunch at the roadside café, Golden Fish.

Today is going to be a big day. After an early breakfast, we drive back to Khorog, the capital of Gorno-Badakhshan Oblast (GBAO), with a stop in Bulunkul for lunch. We will visit the stunning Bulunkul and Yashikul Lakes, where the scenery is breathtaking, and make several photo stops. On the way, we'll also visit old wooden bridges over the Ghund River.

We continue our journey back to Kalai Khumb along the Panj River (also known as the Oxus River), which forms the border with Afghanistan. The views from this perspective are truly captivating. We will enjoy a walking tour around Darvaz town. Dinner will be served at the guesthouse, located on the shore of the river.

We embark on a long journey to Dushanbe, taking the southern route via Kulyab. Along the way, we will make several stops, including a brief visit to Hulbuk Fort (IX-XI centuries) at the Vose settlement and a stop at the Nurek Reservoir. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Kulyab. We will reach Dushanbe in the late afternoon, with some time to rest before a farewell dinner with the guide, driver, and fellow travelers.

Transfer to airport for departure