Highlights of Tajikistan

Breakfast. Drive to Sarymogol village, 4hr. A nice valley opens up when you reach Taldyck pass before Sarytash (3600 meters) with green pastures and yaks grazing around. Arrival in Sarymogol village and cross the bridge to get to yurt camp at Tulpar Kol Lake (3500 m) next to Lenin Peak Base Camp, 1hr. Enjoy the beauty of snowcapped mountains. Walk around this turquoise alpine lake Tulpar Kol. Overnight & dinner in a yurt.

Take a day hike from your yurt camp to the Traveler’s pass at 4130 meters, 3 hrs. Enjoy the beauty of glaciers while walking up to the pass. Rest at the top of the Traveler’s pass to gaze at glaciers tumbling off the massive peak. Back to your yurts, 2 hrs. Lunch in a yurt. Drive to the checkpoint, 2hr. Cross the borders and travel to Karakul Lake in Tajikistan, 1 hrs. The otherworldly landscape opens up confirming that this is Tajikistan. Accommodated in a guesthouse. A short walk around the lake.

Trek starts at about 4150m altitude. The first half of the hike is in grassy meadows. The second half is on rocky ground. Reach the pass and celebrate your accomplishment at 5041 meters. Enjoy the 7000-meter high Pamir Mountain ranges all around you in a distance. After the summit, descend to the car. Continue to drive to Murgab village, 3 hrs. Accommodation in a homestay.

Leave Murghab and head 14km to the northwest of Murghab on a dirt road. The trail begins at a yurt camp. After 90 minutes, walk on loose stones called talus and reach the Gumbozkul Pass t 4731 m. Enjoy the fantastic Pamir scenery. The trail down is obvious and descend 500 meters of altitude in what seems like minutes. 4 to 5 km from the end, you pass a yurt and are invited in for cheese and tea. Arrive at the unpaved road to meet your driver and go to Alichur village for overnight.

Take a side trip to visit alpine lakes Bulunkul & Yashylkul with nice hot springs. Drive back to the main road and head up to the Kargush pass (4 344m). Arrival at the Kargush pass and start the 3-4 hr trek to Panorama Ridge at 4800 meters. While walking up, two small lakes behind you at roadside open up to cheer you. You will be rewarded with a stunning view of the Wakhan Range of Afghanistan in a distance on top of the pass. The whole valley of Great Pamir at the foot of Wakhan Range looks otherworldly. After the hike, drive along Panj river dividing Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Try to spot nomadic Afghan Kyrgyz caravans. Great rugged Hindu Kush Mountains welcome you right before entering Wakhan Valley. Overnight and dinner in a friendly homestay in Langar village.

We do a side trip to admire the 12th century Yamchun Fortress rising from a platform of natural rock. Walk up to edge of the fort and you will have an amazing view of Wakhan Valley. Up the hillside are located the hot springs of Bibi Fatima, with its crystal waters rich in minerals. Back to the main road. Another fortress Khaaka comes up along the way at Namadgut village when you get closer to Ishkashim village. It is worth a 10 minutes stop. Continue to drive to Khorog city. Afternoon, visit the interesting Regional Museum and Central Park of Khorog city. Evening hike in a Botanical Garden that has various plants and trees to explore. Dinner at a cafe. Night in a hotel.

Drive about 3 hrs along nice villages to Bartang Valley. Arrive at the bridge and cross it. Walk along the stream up to the seasonally over-flowing, tree-lined river lakes, 2 hrs. Arrive in the village and be accommodated. Walk around the First Lake and experience the local culture in this wild and remote community.

Take a morning hike to the second lake about 2,3km beyond the last guesthouse. Enjoy these azure alpine lakes and the horizon of high peaks that needs one more overnight to do it. Return to your car on the same way you came yesterday. Drive to Kalaikhum on a gorgeous road along the river up to the Vanj valley where the road widens up. The road continues along the Afghan border up to Kalaikhum village with picturesque scenery. Arrival in Kalaikhum village and be accommodated in a guesthouse.

Breakfast. Travel to Dushanbe along the Panj River through numerous local villages along the way. Deep rocky valleys and gorgeous mountains accompany you up to the Shurobod pass before Kulab village. Lunch in a Chaikana (local cafes). Visit 11th-century Hulbuk Palace on the way and enjoy the views of the world’s highest hydropower station Nurek in a distance. Arrival in Dushanbe. Accommodation in your hotel.

After breakfast, take some time go around the city to explore Dushanbe. Lunch in a café. After that, drive on the main road M34 to Sarytag village in Fann Mountains. Scenic and rugged mountain edges open up when you get to the Anzob Tunnel. Cross the tunnel. Turn left on the main road and drive along nice canyon gorges. Stop at Iskender Kul Lake. Enjoy the blue colored lake on top of the hills nearby. Continue to drive over the pass up to Sarytag village. Arrival and Dinner.

Drive to the mountaineering camp via Artush village. Nice villages on the way to see local life. Arrival and start the hike along the river upwards. Turn right into the gorge at the junction of three valleys. A trail goes slowly all the way up to the top of the pass. On the top, enjoy a magnificent view of alpine Lake Kulikalon at the foot of glaciated Chimtarga Peak, the highest point in the Fan Mountains. Walk around while enjoying nature. Return to your car and drive back to Artush village. Dinner and accommodation in a homestay.

Drive to Seven Lakes, locally called Haft – Kul. Nice terraced villages on mountain slopes. A one-hour drive from the main road brings you to the first lake. Start exploring different colored lakes by stopping at each lake. Arrival at the seventh lake called Hazor Chashma. Get to the hill blocking the lake and break for lunch while enjoying the beauty of this turquoise lake. Back to your car and return to Penjikent city. Accommodation in a hotel.