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© SAIGA Tours
Start
Jul 24, 2022
Osh
Osh
2022-07-24
End
Jul 31, 2022
Dushanbe
Dushanbe
2022-07-31
Duration
8 days
Price
US$1195.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
This is a great tour for nature lovers, taking in all the best parts The Pamir Highway is famous for a reason, and no trip to Tajikistan is complete without it. We’re starting this tour in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, from where we’ll start the epic drive to Dushanbe via Murghab, Ishkashim, Khorog and loads of spectacular lakes and unbelievable views. We’ll make our way through the Tajik side of the Wakhan Corridor, skirting the Afghan border, at one point just a few metres away, and you’ll be able to see across the narrow river that forms the border. Using 4x4s for this trip, you’ll be experiencing roads like you might not have before, and at times it’ll feel like we’re the only people in the world.
INCLUSIONS:
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Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels/guesthouses, breakfast included |
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Where itinerary mentions yurt or homestay accomodation, single supplement and twin share may be affected |
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Transport as per itinerary |
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Entrance fees to most sites (as per itinerary) |
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SAIGA guide and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $175
EXCLUSIONS:
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Visa fees if necessary |
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Visa support if necessary |
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Some activities, eg. treatments at sanatorium (as per itinerary) |
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Meals other than breakfast |
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Transport to and from the start and end of tour |
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
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PCR Tests and any other COVID related expenses |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Take in the breathtaking views on the Pamir Highway
Explore the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan - Osh - with its huge Bazaar
Get a peak across the Panj River at the mysterious country of Afghanistan
Relax at the at the Garam Chashma hot springs
Day 1Sun Jul 24
Osh
- Meeting in Osh in the afternoon, we’ll take a city tour of the 3,000 year old town. Although in some ways it’ll feel like we’ve re-entered civilisation after a few days in the Kyrgyz countryside, Osh feels a lot different to Bishkek. There’s a bit of a rugged, wild west sort of feel, that’s quite charming.
- We’ll visit the sacred Suleiman Too Mountain, the main attraction in Osh. We’ll walk to the top of the rocky outcrop, no doubt meeting lots of local pilgrims happy to have a chat on the way.
- Not only is the scraggy hill a site in itself, but it’s also home to Sulaiman Too Museum, one of those famous crazy Soviet buildings that appear on all the lists of weird Soviet structures.
- Next we’ll go to the Osh bazaar, one of Central Asia’s largest open-air markets. This is a great opportunity to find some cool souvenirs – hats, coats, rugs, fabrics, ornaments, loads of the cool stuff you’ve been admiring on locals and in their houses over the past few days.
Day 2Mon Jul 25
Osh, Sary Tash
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Today we’ll drive to Sary Tash. In itself it’s not much of a destination, but as the start of the Pamir Highway, it’s a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon and evening before we start the next part of this epic drive.
Day 3Tue Jul 26
Tajikistan border crossing at Kyzyl Art, Murghab
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Drive to Murgab through the Ak Baytal Pass. At over 4,600m high, th
is is the highest section of road in the former Soviet Union.
- We’ll stop near Karakul Lake for picturesque views of Lenin Peak. At 7,134m, Lenin Peak is partly in Tajikistan and partly in Kyrgyzstan, and is the second highest mountain in each country. The highest in Tajikistan is Somoni Peak, which was previously called Peak Stalina. Lenin Peak is the easiest to climb mountain over 7,000m, with the most ascends per year, for a mountain of that size.
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Arrive in Murghab, a small city in the Alichur Valley. Surrounded by high snow-covered mountains, this area is inhabited by Kyrgyz and Pamir Tajik people. From here you’ll get great views of the high summit of Muztagh Ata Peak, which is 7,546m, but ac
tually in China.
- Take a walk to explore the city and its traditional market. We’ll stop for a picture at the Lenin statue of course. A large number of the shops here are constructed using shipping containers giving the local market a very colourful unique feeling.
- Overnight in homestay in Murghab.
Day 4Wed Jul 27
Murghab, Langar Valley, Lake Yashilkul, Langar
- We’ll keep driving along the next section of the Pamir Highway, on a section of road that was completed in 1931. We’ll stop at Yashilkul and Bulung Kul, two more spectacular lakes, then we make our way through the Khargush Pass.
- This part of the Pamirs was made famous by the Chevy Chase and Dan Akroyd film Spies Like Us.
- We won’t actually be in the Wakhan Corridor, but as we drive along the River Panj, we’ll be just across the river from it, the Hindu Kush to the south and the Pamirs to the north.
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After a pretty exciting day of driving and sight-seeing, we’ll arrive in Langar and spend the night there.
Day 5Thu Jul 28
Langar, Yamg, Ishkashim, Khorog
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Our first stop will be in Vrang, where we’ll see the caves dug by the Buddhis
ts who used to live here.
- Then we’ll stop in Yamg village to see the tomb and reconstructed house museum of Sufi mystic Mubarak Kadam, along with the stone that was used as a solar calendar 700 years ago.
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We’ll check out Kah-Kakha Fortress and Abrashim Fortress, before arriving in Ishkashim, and contin
uing on towards Khorog.
- In the afternoon, before we arrive in Khorog, we’ll stop at the Garam Chashma hot springs to relax after another day driving the Pamir. There are also cafes here for those who would rather relax with a beverage and bite to eat.
- Arriving in Khorog you’ll have a chance to explore the city yourself. Although it was once of strategic importance to the Soviet Union, this is now a really poor area of Tajikistan.
Day 6Fri Jul 29
Khorog, Kalaikhum
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Today we’ll drive to Kalaikhum, a cute little town of 1,600 people,
nestled into the valley. From here you can easily see across the river Panj into Afghanistan.
- I'm sure it's not just us that finds something really strange and exhilirating about looking across a border. It's just a few metres, you could throw a rock there, and yet it's like a whole different world. Especially when the other country is one that is so special and unique.
Day 7Sat Jul 30
Kalaikhum, Dushanbe
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Today we will arrive in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital city. We’ll take a t
our of the city centre, including Rudaki Street, the Somoni Monument and Central Park, where you can gawk at the huge flagpole which was the largest in the world from 2011 to 2014.
- We’ll visit the largest teahouse in the world, where you can either just enjoy a locally made tea, or have something to eat in this iconic building.
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