Driving times in Tajikistan (especially Pamir Hwy)?

[Provodnik]

Hello,

anyone knowing approximate driving times (when hiring a decent car with driver) for the follwong sections?

Dushanbe - Sarytag (near Iskenderkul lake, 140 km)
Dushanbe - Khalaikum (285 km)
Khalaikum - Khorog (240 km)
Khorog - Murgab (315 km)
Murgab - Karakul lake (115 km)
Karakul lake - Sarytash (100 km incl border TJ/KG)

Are these sections between Dushanbe and Sarytash feasible day-stages?


Provodnik

[mazeno]

easy riding, taking photos, once speeding for fun (ak baital-karakul section):
Dushanbe - Sarytag (near Iskenderkul lake, 140 km) - 1 day (leave dushanbe in early morning to avoid horrible afternoon traffic jam in anzob tunnel - most lorries start in the morning and reach the tunnel afternoon)
Dushanbe - Khalaikum (285 km) - 1,5 days (now it is not possible - the bridge on kingob river is down due to mudslides, alternatively: dushanbe-kulab-kalai khumb - 2 days)
Khalaikum - Khorog (240 km) - 1 day
Khorog - Murgab (315 km) - 1,5 days
Murgab - Karakul lake (115 km) - 0,5 day
Karakul lake - Sarytash (100 km incl border TJ/KG) - 0,5 day

these're my approx. times, not hired driver - i don't know if they are faster or slower.

[bremmo]

I agree on what Mazeno recommends, but if you have the time, I suggest you take double the time because it's so freakin' beautiful there! I was under time pressure so couldn't stop/stay everywhere I wanted, but could easily spend a couple of weeks on the pamir highway

[Garrian]

easy riding, taking photos, once speeding for fun (ak baital-karakul section):
Dushanbe - Sarytag (near Iskenderkul lake, 140 km) - 1 day (leave dushanbe in early morning to avoid horrible afternoon traffic jam in anzob tunnel - most lorries start in the morning and reach the tunnel afternoon)
Dushanbe - Khalaikum (285 km) - 1,5 days (now it is not possible - the bridge on kingob river is down due to mudslides, alternatively: dushanbe-kulab-kalai khumb - 2 days)
Khalaikum - Khorog (240 km) - 1 day
Khorog - Murgab (315 km) - 1,5 days
Murgab - Karakul lake (115 km) - 0,5 day
Karakul lake - Sarytash (100 km incl border TJ/KG) - 0,5 day

these're my approx. times, not hired driver - i don't know if they are faster or slower.

How many hours of actually driving do you think for this route?

[murg]

We did Khorog - Osh as follow:

Khorog - Yamchun one day / gravel
Yamchun - Alichur one day. mountain road.
Alichur - Murghab few hours. M41 good Road
Murghab - Sary Mogul: one day. Challenging Border.
Sary Mogul - Osh. Awesome road, have forgotten how Long it took. I'd say half a day. We arrived before 2pm.

Actual Times aka hrs are hard to say.

[murg]

I agree on what Mazeno recommends,..., but could easily spend a couple of weeks on the pamir highway

All true. I had too little time. If I could I'd stay 12 - 18 days in the Region. Roaming around by motorbike, doing hikes, lengthy conversations with locals, enjoying being remote.

It is beautiful there. Not only scenic, but beautiful.

[matt2matt2002]

Dushanbe - Khalaikum (285 km) - 1,5 days (now it is not possible - the bridge on kingob river is down due to mudslides, alternatively: dushanbe-kulab-kalai khumb - 2 days)

Is the bridge on kingob river still down?

This is the northern route?

Thanks

Matt