Tour to Tajikistan and Pamirs

Hi

Next June, I am planning to travel to Tajikistan, and start trip in Dushanbe and then to Pamirs, and further to Osh and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). I am interested in hiking, but no trekking.

I was looking in internet but the trips I found are quite expensive ... One guy from Italy recommended to take a tour (he gave me contacts and details of the tour he took) and it is $600 for 11 days trip, for the group of 6 persons.

Do you think it is expensive for Tajikistan? I see it is around $55 per day, inclusive of transport, accommodation and food.

Any recommendation?

Thank you

That quote seems reasonable. After all the Pamirs are wild and remote with long difficult roads, and not many fuel places, so it is smart to carry extra fuel. Food is the same, there are few places to stop and eat at a restaurant, so you may be eating from the provisions that are transported with you. I did find a great little fish restaurant that served fresh trout, but it was not in the Pamirs. The mountains are well above 11,000 feet so no trees, and you may find yaks but no cows or horses at that elevation. It is because cows and horses develop edema around their heart at that altitude and die, and you can too, so better read up on altitude sickness. The hunting guides I met mentioned carrying a "Gamov bag" to help with altitude sickness for the hunters coming from low elevations.

Check out the META website (www.meta.tj) for a selection of local tour operators that might suit your requirements.

META don't do tour operations themselves any more but they are the people that really know the Eastern Pamir and if you are interested in getting involved in some local projects, they know some good ones to help the local communities.

my itinerary sharing with you .. join us .. already 3 other persons expressed their interest, so we are 4 who might take this trip

Tour Name: Pamir Highway Tour (through Wakhan corridor)
Type: Budget travel
Total distance: around 1800 km (from Dushanbe to Osh through Wakhan Corridor)
Total days: 11 days
Total cost: $600 per person (6 persons group); $644 per person (5 persons group); $710 per person (4 persons group); $820 per person (3 persons group)
• Cost includes food, accommodation and transportation during 11 days of stay in Tajikistan
• Fee for transport and accommodation in Dushanbe, Khorog and Murgab to be paid in Dushanbe in advance on arrival
• Remaining costs are paid per actual by guests while travelling
Comment:

• Guide can be arranged in Pamirs for $30-$50 per day.
• Transport (hired or public) from Osh to Bishkek can be arranged.

• Tour includes hiking in Garm-chashma, Langar village and Bulunkul area
• No trekking is included.
Amendments:
• The duration and program is amendable, per guests request
• Roshtkala valley visit can be added into the tour program (1-3 days), staying in Jelondi and driving back to Khorog, before departure to Ishkashim (day 5).
Commission fee:
• 10% commission fee will be charged from the total amount
Plan Overview:
Day Description Cost
Day 1 Arrival to Dushanbe, airport pickup ($20 per car), stay overnight in the apartment in the city center ($20 per person)
Food in Dushanbe
Day 2 Visiting Dushanbe museums, Gissar Castle, galleries, etc. Stay overnight in the apartment in the city center ($20 per person)
Food in Dushanbe
Day 3 Travel to Khorog on 4x4 vehicle (700 km). Sigthseeing on the road (historical South Khatlon, Darvaz, Vanj, Rushan and Shugnan). Flying by place is an option ($120).
Overnight in Khorog homestay (hotels from $25 per person)
Day 4 Stay in Khorog: visit handicraft shops, Botanical Garden, Nosiri Khusraw spring, Khorog museum, unique Khorog Park, etc
Overnight in Khorog homestay (hotels from $25 per person) 15
Car Rent for next 8 days Rent car for the trip Khorog to Osh, through Ishkashim (inc. Vakhan Corridor), Yashilkul, Bulunkul, Murgab (around 1800km). $0.9 per km to be billed per actual kms. For the part of the route, guests will pay only for petrol. No public transport is available on this route.
Per diem for the driver 8 days
Breakfasts, Lunch and dinners (8 days). Guest will pay for the food consumed based on actuals. Average $10 per person per day spent on food.
Day 5 8am departure. Khorog or Ishkashim Afghani Market visit (only on Sundays). Drive to Garm-chashma hot spring, Hiking to the Narzan and further to the mountain valley (2-3 hours hiking) and stay overnight in the sanatorium area
Overnight in homestay nearby (sanatorium around $20-$30 per person)
Day 6 Travel to center of Ishkashim district (spinel of Badakhshan, fortress, hot spring, historical places). Then Road to Great Vakhan Valley (Sild Road); Visit Namadgut village (ancient fortress, holy place Shohimardon, etc; visit Vrang village (Zaroastrizm stuppas, caves in mountain, etc); Visit Yamchun village (UNESCO heritage); bath in warm and exotic spring water Bibi Fatima (named by the daughter of Prophet Muhamad);
Overnight in the sanatorium (Bibi Fatima hot spring) or homestay
Day 7 Langar village (famous Petroglyphs) and Hiking to meadow of Engels peak
Overnight in Langar village
Day 8 Visit Yamg village (shrine and museum), Zomg village (400 years old Pamiri Traditional House), Travel to east Pamir. Bulunkul Lake. Hiking in Bulunkul
Overnight in Bulunkul (homestay).
Day 9 Walk to Yashilkul Lake. Drive to Alichur
Overnight in Kyrgyz Yurt in Alichur
Day 10 Travel to Murgab. Discover Murgab area (some nice nearby areas)
Overnight in Murgab.
Day 11 Travel from Murgab to Karakul (biggest closed lake of Tajikistan). Drive to Osh, Kyrgyzstan
Overnight in Osh

i have contacted them, but did not like their cost and communication in english. they were not that flexible as i am a budget traveller

Unfortunately, our trip was moved to June 18 departure from Dushanbe and we need one more person to join us in the tour. 2 persons from our tour could not leave Dushanbe earlier and they still plan to departure on June 21 from Dushanbe.

Is there anyone who wants to join us? we have the last space left in our group for 10 days tour to Pamirs on June 18.

hi Travellerinworld,
can you keep me posted on how it was. We are planning a similar trip next year . More or less the some period.
Can you give me an idea of climate that time of the year??
Thanks