PAMIR GRAND TOUR IN 12 DAYS

Day 1. Osh – Tulparkul-lake (7-8 hours of driving including stops)

After flying into Osh, Kyrgyzstan, heading to Sary-Mogol, a village which offers the best views of Lenin Peak (7134 m). Half day or so walk to base camp peak Lenin and back, around beautiful and unbelievable landscape of Tulparkul Lake. Overnight in yurt in Tulpar Kul Lake camp. 260km

Meals: B/L/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day – 950m Osh. At end of the day – 3500m Tulpar Lake.

Day 2. Tulparkul-lake – Karakul lake – Murghab (10-12 hours of driving)

Driving towards the biggest lake in Tajikistan – Karakul via Bordeba-Kyzyl-Art, Kyrgyz-Tajik border check point. Hiking along the Karakul Lake. In the afternoon continue driving to Murghab via the highest pass in former Soviet Union, Ak-Baital (4656m). Short stop near the first Tsarist Russian military base in the Pamirs. Overnight in a home stay in Murghab. 290km

Meals: B/L/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day – 3500m Tulparkul lake, the highest point 4656 Ak-baital pass . At the end of the day – 3630 Murghab

Day 3. Murghab sightseeing: local bazaar and handicraft shops. There are two options for today:

Option A. De tour along Murghab River on the route Murghab-Madian valley: enjoying the Eastern Pamir landscape from a different perspective. Picnic on the bank of Murghab River, under the shade of trees. In Eastern Pamir, you can see trees only in Modian Valley. 80km

Option B. 8-10 hours trekking from Pshart valley to Madian valley. Overnight in a homestay/hotel in Murghab. 80km

Day 4. Murghab – Bulunkul (8-10 hours of driving)

Driving to Alichur and then to Bulunkul settlement (the coldest place in Tajikistan) with a few stops on Sassykkul and Tuzkul lakes. Walk to Yashikul Lake, takes 15-20 minutes, take photos, beautiful panorama. Overnight in a homestay in Bulunkul settlement. 145km

Meals: B/L/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day – 3630m Murghab. At end of the day – 3737m Bulunkul

Day 5. Bulunkul – Langar (8-10 hours of driving)

Departing Bulunkul and driving to Langar, the first settlement in the Tajik Wakhan on our way along the Pamir River via Khargush Pass (4344 m). If you are lucky, you will see Afghan caravan of camels, donkeys and horses on Afghan side across the Pamir River. In 13^th century Venetian traveler Marco Polo was here on his way to China, which he marked in his book. Take photos, in some parts Afghan side is so close. Short hike to ruins of Ratm fortress watch tower (wonderful view). Kind of isolated area with wild life. Overnight in a home stay in Langar/Zong. 130km,

Meals: B/Picnic/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day – 3737m Bulunkul, the highest point 4344m Khargush Pass. At end of the day – 2900m Langar.

Day 6. Langar – Engels meadow trek (15 mins of driving)

Engels Meadow Trek. Highlights: great view of immense Engels (6507 m) South Face. From meadow watch Hindu Kush mountain Range across the river, Tajik-Afghan border. On the back way go through another path to see Langar petroglyphs. Overnight in a homestay in Langar. 20km

Meals: B/Picnic/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day: 2900 Langar, the highest point 3945m Engels Meadow Camp.

Day 7. Langar – Khorog (8-10 hours of driving)

Driving to Khorog. On the way visit Budha Stupa in Vrang village, the Museum of Sufi Muboraki Wakhoni, astronomer and scholar of the 19^th century in Yamg, ruins of Yamchun fortresses and Qah-qah fortress (3-1 centuries BCE), soak in Bibi-Fotima hot spring and if there is time left in Garm Chashma hot spring. And see from distance the ruby mine in Sist. Overnight in a homestay in Khorog. 245km

Meals: B/L or Picnic/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day – 2900m Langar, the highest point Yamchun fortress 3200m. At the end of the day – 2100m Khorog.

Day 8. Khorog – Barchadev (8-10 hours of driving) Khorog city tour: Regional Museum, city park and PECTA (Pamir Eco-Cultural Tourism Association).

Departing Khorog and driving to Barchadev village of the Bartang valley. Short stops to stretch the legs and lunch in Khuf village. Overnight in a homestay in Barchidev. 210 km.

Meals: B/Picnic/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day 2100m Khorog, at the end of the day – 2900m Barchidev.

Day 9. Barchadev village - Sarez Lake.

In the morning after breakfast and proper rest, meet the local guide, who will help you with all logistics (food, accommodation and safety) during your trekking to Sarez Lake with the highest natural dam in the world 567m and back.

One day you will trek up to Sarez lake 18 km and the second day coming down from there. Usually trekking from Barchadev village to Sarez Lake dam takes 8-10 hours. It is recommended to start at 8-9 o’clock in the morning and get there before getting dark. The nature on the way is so beautiful, especially the river that flows from under the rubble of Sarez. The path in some places so narrow, take care.

On the half way, there is a camping site – Choikhona, where you can stop for lunch and short rest. After getting there, if it is still light, you can enjoy the beauty of the lake and around. Take pictures and talk to local people - employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations who work at the station. Night in tent.

Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day – 2900m in Barchidev and end of the day 3623 meter on Usoi dam.

Day 10. Sarez Lake – Barchadev village

In the morning enjoy the beauty of the lake and take some pictures. Go down to the bank of the lake and test the water of Sarez, the water absolutely transparent and fresh. The guide will tell you the story of Lake Sarez. Coming down from Sarez to Barchadev village. Coming down is usually easier for travelers. On the way enjoy the beauty of the nature and take some pictures. The water of the Bartang River is so clean and tasty for drinking. Night in homestay in Barchadev.

Sarez Lake (Tajik: Ñàðåç êӯë, SarezKūl) is a lake in Rushon District of Gorno-Badakhshan province, Tajikistan. Length about 75.8 kilometres (47.1 mi), max depth 505 meters, water surface elevation about 3,263 metres (10,705 ft) above sea level and volume of water is more than 16 cubic kilometres (3.8 cu mi). The mountains around rise more than 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) above the lake level.

The lake formed in 1911, after a great earthquake, when the Murghab River was blocked by a big landslide. Scientists believe that the landslide dam formed by the earthquake, known as the Usoi Dam, is unstable given local seismicity, and that the terrain below the lake is in danger of catastrophic flood if the dam were to fail during a future earthquake.[1] The Usoi Dam wall survived a localised 7.2 magnitude earthquake, the 2015 Tajikistan earthquake, on the 7th December 2015 with no visible signs of deterioration.

Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day 3623 meter on Usoi dam and at the end of the day in 2900m in Barchidev village.

Day 11. Barchadev – Kalai-Khumb (340km, 10-12 hours of driving)

Departing Barchidiv and driving towards Dushanbe along the Panj (Oxsus) River. Enjoying the view of the Afghan villages. Overnight in a homestay in Kalai-Khumb. 320km

Meals: B/L/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day – 2900m Barchidev, at the end of the day – 1295m Kalai-Khumb.

Day 12. Kalai-Khumb – Dushanbe (10-12 hours of driving)

Heading to Dushanbe. Short stop to see the mausoleum of a poet and scholar of the 14^th century Khoja Mir Sayid Ali Hamadani in Kulyab, Hulbuk fortress and at the viewpoint of Norak Lake Dam. Overnight in a guesthouse in Dushanbe. 355km

Meals: B/L/D
Altitudes above sea level during the day: in the beginning of the day – 1295m Kalai Khumb, the highest point Shurobod pass 2126m, at the end of the day – 780m Dushanbe.

What you will see: Tulparkul Lake/ Panj River and its gorges, along the Afghan border / Beautiful Afghan Wakhan landscape / The famous Wakhan valley /Ancient fortresses Kah-Kaa and Yamchun (III-I century BC) /Langar Petroglyphs /Karakul, Yashilkul and Sarez lakes/ the Pamir plateau / Hulbuk Fortress / from distance Nurek lake dam.

What you will enjoy: historical places / bathing in hot springs / Famous Wakhan corridor beauty/ amazing scenery of the Afghan Hindu-Kush / Engels meadow trek / Pamiri hospitality / Yashikul, Sarez, Karakul and Tulparkul Lake fantastic scenery / possibility of seeing ducks and Indian goose (Anser Indicus) in their natural habitat

Accommodation options:

1. Tulparkul Lake   - yurt

2. Murghab              -Guesthouse

3. Murghab              - Guesthouse

4. Bulunkul              -homestay

5. Langar                  -guesthouse in Langar or Zong

6. Langar                  -guesthouse in Langar or Zong

7. Khorog                 -Pamir Alibaba Hotel

8. Barchadev           -Homestay

9. Sarez Lake           - camping

10. Barchadiv           -guesthouse

11. Kalai-Khumb     -Roma guesthouse or others