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Pamir Bike Tour

#Hot Springs #Bike tours #Pamir Highway #Lakes

Review

Meeting point
Dushanbe
End location
Osh

Duration

17 days

Length

1800 km

Location

GBAO Region

Recommended group composition

13-15 per

Difficulty level

Very easy - Suitable for individuals with minimal physical fitness or experience. Involves short, flat walks with little elevation gain or loss.

Easy - Requires basic physical fitness. Involves moderate walking on well-maintained trails with gentle inclines and declines.

Optimal - Suitable for individuals with average physical fitness. Involves moderate to challenging hiking, often with some elevation gain or loss.

Intense - Demands good physical fitness and endurance. Involves long hikes on rugged terrain with significant elevation changes.

Extreme - Suitable for experienced hikers and mountaineers. Involves technical climbing, glacier crossings, and exposure to high-altitude environments.

Super extreme - Reserved for highly skilled and experienced adventurers. Involves challenging mountaineering expeditions with significant risks and potential dangers.

Intensive

Super extreme
Extreme
Intensive
Optimal
Easy
Very easy

Recommended age

18+

Tour price on request.

Select dates

Price:

2 500 $ / pr

Tour in brief

The past four years Pamir Guides has been organizing bike tour along the Pamir highway, Tajikistan. Pamir Guides are highly recommended, among other tour agencies, for this kind of tour due their experience and high quality of service. The bike tour in Tajikistan, Pamirs is 18 days in total, starts from Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan and ends in the city of Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan. Unlike other itineraries, this bike tour includes the Wakhan valley, which is off the main Pamir Highway M41.Estimate Duration: 18 days of a bike tour along the Pamir Highway in total, 2 days of jeep ride before reaching Kalaikum and Khorog. The cycling starts in Khorog and ends in Osh. We ride on a jeep in Khargush valley due to the extreme of the road conditions of the road for cyclists.

Tour organizer and guide

LLC Pamir Guides

LLC Pamir Guides

It is hard to imagine Pamir Guides, a successful tour operator in Central Asia, without acknowledging the founding fathers. Saitaali and Kuban, come from a little town called Murgab (3560 m) in Eastern Pamir. They started their career when they were working as guides for ACTED (a French development organization) around the year 2000.

Tour program

Day 1. Dushanbe

Day 1. Dushanbe

• Arrival in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

• Welcome and transfer to the hotel.

• Today we will visit the National Museum of Antiquities: excellent archaeological collection.

• Dushanbe is a relatively modern town that rose to prominence during the Soviet era, (named Stalinabad).

• Its name means “Monday” in the Tajik language: this was the day that the market was held when Dushanbe was still a small and fairly insignificant village.

• The ousted Emir of Bukhara, fleeing from the Bolsheviks, stayed in Dushanbe and cooperated with Enver Pasha’s Basmachis until he had to leave the region to flee to Afghanistan in 1921, the year the town was freed from the Basmachis as well.

• Hospitality in Dushanbe, Hotel (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo , Excursion Where we live Hotel

Day 2. Dushanbe – Kalaikumb

Day 2. Dushanbe – Kalaikumb

• We set off east towards the Pamirs, driving through beautiful scenery and interesting villages.

• We drive along Lake Nurek (dam).

• We cross the Shurabat Pass (3252 m).

• We arrive in Kalaikumb at the end of the afternoon.

The Pamir Mountains:
• Spanning across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and China, the Pamirs lie at the junction of some of the world’s highest mountain ranges — including the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Tian Shan — with peaks exceeding 7000 meters. Known locally as “the Roof of the World,” they are a vast region covered in snow and glaciers throughout the year, with a harsh climate and a brief but pleasant summer season.

• The Pamirs are home to unique wildlife, including Marco Polo sheep and the snow leopard.

• The region’s villages are isolated in valleys, with different dialects spoken in different communities, despite being located close to each other.

• This area was historically significant during the Great Game, the territorial rivalry between Russia and Britain in the late 19th century. Adventurers mapped the high passes and staked claims on behalf of their empires.

• The Pamir Highway (M41), running from Dushanbe to Osh, Kyrgyzstan, is the second-highest road in the world.

• Enjoy the hospitality in Kalaikumb, Guesthouse.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo , Excursion Where we live Guesthouse

Day 3. Khalikum – Khorog

Day 3. Khalikum – Khorog

• Today we drive through wild and superb scenery, alongside the Pianj River, which forms the border with Afghanistan.

• Lunch: Picnic in Khorog.

• We stay at the relatively luxurious Hotel Serena.

Khorog:
• Khorog is the capital of the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), an area known for its dramatic landscapes.

• Optional visit to the bazaar and the Botanical Garden, one of the highest in the world, located at an altitude of 2800 meters.

• Khorog is a small town that has historically been under the control of various powers, including Russia, the Emirate of Bukhara, and Afghanistan.

• The Russians built a fort here during the Soviet era, as Khorog occupies a highly strategic location on the border with Afghanistan.

• Overnight in Khorog, Hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Hotel

Day 4 Khorog – Garm-Cheshme

Day 4 Khorog – Garm-Cheshme

• Today we start cycling! In the morning, we begin biking from Khorog to Garm-e-Cheshme hot springs.

• Lunch: Picnic along the route.

• Overnight in Garm Shashma, Guesthouse.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo , Excursion Where we live Guesthouse

Day 5. Garm-Cheshme – Ishkashim

Day 5. Garm-Cheshme – Ishkashim

• Biking along the Pianj River to reach Ishkashim, the regional center of the Wakhan Valley.

• Lunch: Picnic along the route.

• Leisure time in Ishkashim, a large village where we will stay overnight.

• Overnight in Ishkashim, Guesthouse.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Guesthouse

Day 6. Iskashim – Darshai

Day 6. Iskashim – Darshai

• Saturday morning: Visit the Afghan bazaar (if it’s open).
• After the visit, we bike through the Wakhan Valley, which is shared with Afghanistan.
• Visit the Kakha Fortress, dating from the 3rd century BC, during the Zoroastrian period.
• Lunch: Picnic along the route.
• Today we will camp in the Darshai region.
• Overnight in Darshai region, Tent.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Tent

Day 7. Darshai – Yamchun – Bibi Fatma - Hisor

Day 7. Darshai – Yamchun – Bibi Fatma - Hisor

• Biking up to Yamchun: 35 km through the stunning landscape.

• From Yamchun, we travel to the Bibi Fatima hot springs by Jeep or continue biking (7 km of steep gravel road, reaching 3000 m).

• Thermal bath and picnic at Bibi Fatima hot springs, named after the Prophet Mohammed’s daughter. Local women believe the springs can increase fertility.

• Visit the Khakka Fortress, an impressive structure dating back to the Kushan era of the 3rd century. This fortress rises from a naturally formed rock platform, and there are several similar ancient fortresses in the area.

• We will also visit the 4th-century Buddhist stupas at Vrang, which are reminders of the ancient pilgrim caravans that once passed through the region.

• Lunch: Picnic along the way.

• Overnight in Yamchun, Homestay.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Homestay

Day 8. Hisor – Bulunkul

Day 8. Hisor – Bulunkul

• Today, we continue to explore the amazing landscape of the Wakhan Valley.
• Short stop and a 30-minute walk to see the Petroglyphs on a steep path.
• We then drive up to the Khargush Pass (4344 m). On this journey, we leave behind the lush Wakhan valley and enter a more rocky, barren landscape.
• Picnic along the route.
• Upon reaching the Pamir Highway / M41 (completed in 1931), you may have the option to bike up to Bulunkul.
• Lunch: Picnic.
• Overnight in Bulunkul, Camping.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Camping

Day 9. Bulun kul – Alichur - Bashgumbez

Day 9. Bulun kul – Alichur - Bashgumbez

<ul>
    <li>An excellent and adventurous trip will take us across the unspoiled lunar landscape of high mountains and wide plateaus to the Chatir Tash herder’s camp.</li>
    <li>Short stop at the “Ak Balyk” Lake and the Mausoleum of Alimbek Datka at Bashgumbez.</li>
    <li>Picnic along the route.</li>
    <li>The Eastern Pamirs have been populated by nomadic ethnic Kyrgyz since the 17th century. Their traditional architecture is beautifully represented by yurts, mobile habitations made of felt on a wooden frame, with interior decorations showcasing the wealth and skills of the owners.</li>
    <li>Felt and wool are the base materials for many of their handicrafts, and precious stones, including rubies and emeralds, are found in the region.</li>
    <li>This area is rich in nomadic pastoral life.</li>
    <li>Lunch: Picnic.</li>
    <li>Overnight in Chatir Tash among the nomads, staying in a Yurt.</li>
    <li>Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD).</li>
</ul> Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Yurt

Day 10 Bashgumbez - Murghab

Day 10 Bashgumbez - Murghab

• The road up to Murghab is spectacular, passing through the settlement of Mamazair.

• We continue driving to a small town beside the Murghab River at an altitude of 3,650 m.

• A young husband visited this area in 1890 and wrote: "It is a dreary, desolate spot… with a certain amount of grassy pasture and a few scrubby bushes by the river, but surrounded by barren hills, and bitterly cold. How these Russian soldiers can support existence there is a marvel… shut up in dreary quarters, with nothing whatever to do - week after week, month after month passing by in dull monotony…". Over a century later, not much has changed.

• Picnic along the route.

• We arrive in Murghab (3670 m) in the afternoon.

• Murghab serves as our base for one night as we explore the area. The Mustag Ata peak (7546 m), located 110 km northeast of town, is visible in the distance.

• Lunch: Picnic.

• Overnight in the town of Murghab, Hotel Pamir.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Hotel

Day 11. Murghab - Akbaytal

Day 11. Murghab - Akbaytal

• After breakfast, we start biking towards the North across a very dry and rocky high plateau.
• Picnic along the route.
• At the foot of the Ak Baytal Pass (4654 m), you may choose to sit in the Jeep and be driven to the campsite on the other side of the pass.
• Lunch: Picnic.
• Overnight at Ak Baytal, Camp.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Camp

Day 12. Akbaytal – Karakul

Day 12. Akbaytal – Karakul

• Today we depart for Karakul. This biking day will take us through some of the most dramatic scenery of the trip, with lunar-like landscapes and a bright blue lake.
• Picnic along the way.
• We descend to Karakul Lake, the highest lake in Central Asia, situated at an altitude of 3915 meters. The lake is too high to support aquatic life, adding to its unique and serene atmosphere.
• Lunch: Picnic.
• Overnight in Kara Kul villages, Guesthouse.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Guesthouse

Day 13 Kara kul – Sary Tash

Day 13 Kara kul – Sary Tash

• We start biking towards the border today.
• Our last Pamir Highway pass is Kyzyl Art (4282 m), which forms the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
• Border formalities will take a minimum of 1 hour at each border.
• After crossing the pass, there will be 20 km of ‘no man’s land’ where we will travel on a very rugged gravel road to reach the Kyrgyz post.
• Picnic along the route.
• Be warned that even in August, we could experience sub-zero temperatures in the border areas, so be sure to have extra layers in case we are delayed by the formalities.
• Lunch: Picnic.
• Overnight in the Alai Valley, Guesthouse.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Guesthouse

Day 14. Sary Tash – Sary Mogul – Tulparkul lake

Day 14. Sary Tash – Sary Mogul – Tulparkul lake

• After breakfast, we start biking on the flat road of the Pamir Alay Plateau, enjoying an excellent asphalted surface road.
• Picnic at Sary Mogul village.
• From here, we continue biking on a gravel road and reach our yurt camp at Tulparkul Lake in the afternoon.
• Lunch: Picnic.
• Overnight at Tulparkul Lake, with a view of Lenin Peak, staying in a Yurt.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Hotel

Day 15. Tulparkul lake – Lenin Peak base camp. Hiking

Day 15. Tulparkul lake – Lenin Peak base camp. Hiking

• From the yurt camp, we will hike to the base camp (4000 m) situated at the foot of Lenin Peak (7134 m).
• Picnic above the base camp, with stunning views of Lenin Peak and the surrounding mountains.
• In the afternoon, we will hike towards Lenin Peak and then return to the yurt camp.
• Lunch: Picnic.
• Overnight in the same yurt camp by Tulparkul Lake.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Hotel

Day 16 Tulparkul lake

Day 16 Tulparkul lake

• Today offers the possibility of beautiful hiking along the numerous lakes in the area.
• These days will provide a relaxing and enjoyable break after the intense cycling in the Pamir Mountains.
• Enjoy the serene landscapes, the fresh air, and the peaceful surroundings as we explore the area at a leisurely pace.
• Overnight in the summer pasture at Tuiuk Pasture, staying in a Yurt.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Yurt

Day 17 Tulparkul lake – Osh

Day 17 Tulparkul lake – Osh

• After leaving Tulparkul Lake, we depart the high mountains of the Pamir Alay Range, leaving behind the crossroads of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.

• The drive offers a contrast as we encounter lush farmlands and small villages, unlike the stark high-altitude plateau we recently crossed in Tajikistan.

• En route, we will cross the Taldyk Pass (3554 m) and enjoy some beautiful views.

• We will travel around 185 km from Sary Tash and expect to arrive in the afternoon in Osh, Kyrgyzstan's oldest city.

• Our first night in Kyrgyzstan will be spent at the Eco House Hotel.

• After arrival, we will have free time to explore the city.

Osh is ancient – various sources date it back around 2500 years, with legends suggesting it was founded by figures like Alexander the Great and King Solomon. Located on the edge of the Ferghana Valley, Osh is home to both Uzbek and Kyrgyz people. Its position on the border has fostered a lively market, one of the most interesting in Central Asia.

• The Solomon’s Throne rock is an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims, with a 15th-century mosque at the top, now reconstructed, offering excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

• Osh is also home to the largest mosque in Kyrgyzstan and is one of the few places in the former Soviet Union still to have a statue of Lenin.

• Overnight in Osh.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (BLD). Excursions and leisure Walk , Photo Where we live Hotel

Day 18. Good bye Pamirs, Tajikistan

Day 18. Good bye Pamirs, Tajikistan

• We hope you had a wonderful time exploring the Pamir Mountains and all the stunning landscapes, culture, and adventure they offer.
• Today, you will fly back to your country.
• We are always glad to have you in the Pamir region and look forward to welcoming you back again in the future.
• Have a safe flight back to your home country!

End of Tour. Where we live Without accommodation

Map

Information

What's included:

  • All transfers throughout the tour, including jeep rides on difficult routes (e.g., in the Khargush valley).
  • Transportation between cities and overnight stays as per the itinerary.
  • Accommodation in hotels, guesthouses, yurts, and campsites according to the itinerary.
  • Stays in prime locations, such as hotels in Dushanbe and Khorog, guesthouses, and camps in remote areas.
  • Full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the tour, including picnic lunches on the road.
  • Local cuisine, with the opportunity to try traditional regional dishes.
  • Professional guides and support team, including bike mechanics.
  • Assistance on the route and help with any issues that may arise.
  • Cycling and hiking routes in various regions, including mountain passes, valleys, and historical sites.
  • Visits to local attractions, such as bazaars in Ishkashim, hot springs in Yamchun, the Khakka Fortress, and Buddhist stupas in Vrang.

What's not included:

  • The cost of international flights to and from Tajikistan (e.g., to and from Dushanbe).
  • Purchases of souvenirs, drinks, and other personal expenses.
  • Medical and travel insurance, including cancellation or accident coverage.
  • It is recommended to obtain a travel insurance policy for areas with remote infrastructure.
  • If a visa is required for any of the countries, the cost of obtaining it is not included.
  • Special tours or activities not included in the program (e.g., extra excursions or visits to additional attractions).
  • Meals outside the scheduled itinerary (e.g., if participants want to dine at a café or restaurant outside the program).
  • In some cases, bike rental may not be included if the client does not bring their own bike or does not choose to rent one from the operator.

Items to bring with you

  • Sleeping bag & Liner sheet
  • Thermarest mattress
  • Rain gear
  • Down jacket & Windbreaker
  • Water bottle
  • Daypack
  • trekking socks
  • Sun hat
  • Gloves
  • Sun glasses
  • Sun cream with high protection - lipstick
  • Flashlight or headlamp
  • Water purification tablet of water filter
  • Personal medical kit
  • Camera & extra battery for the camera.

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