2WD Motorhome in Karakoram and Pamir routes

[jpman]

Hi everyone!
I will go straight to the point: Are they perfectly doable by a big 2WD van or AC, or do I need a 4x4?
Thanks!

A bit of context:
- I am planning a trip in 2026 from Portugal to Beijing (China), and then heading down to Southest Asia. One of the (expected) highlights of the trip would be the Pamir and Korokaram routes. I am connecting them, crossing from Iran --> Turkmenistan --> Uzbekistan --> Kyrgyszstan --> Pamir route (from Osh to Dushanbe) --> then head down to Abbotabad to Kashgar --> Kashgar to Tibet --> Tibet to Beijing...

- I have checked permits, licenses, crossings, etc., and I think I have that under control.

- My plan is to do Pamir-Korokaram around late-August/early-September (happy to adjust if this is a bad idea).

- My original idea was to do it in an AC/motorhome (e.g. Mercedes Sprinter 316CDI, 156CV, 2WD, 7.16m long x 3.08m height). After checking dozens of videos, I noticed that the roads don't look that bad to me (and I expect vloggers to film the worst parts). And then you can see local people (I am not local, I know) driving all types of old vehicles, including trucks and buses. However, I haven't found any post here talking about that, and all I see from tourists are either 4x4 vehicles or bikes/bicycles. So I am not sure.

PS: This is my first post, and I want to thank the community for the immense source of help and information you have built here!! Hope I can contribute in the future

[mazeno]

it depends on your skills and experience and local conditions /eg snow, landslides etc/
usually early september is still ok
sometimes you could find the first snow on high passes which can stop you for a day until the services clear the way /eg too ashuu in the susamyr valley in kgz/

most of the routes which i had driven on 4x4 i also drive on my passenger car
/not only the main routes like pamir hwy, but also many remote tracks, maybe excluding places like the tanimas river valley and kokjar corner or crossing kok kyia river on the last part to the kelsuu lake moraine; anyway these're not on your way/
consider the facts i have more than 25yrs in offroad driving experience, has spent about 30yrs exploring asia /of course not only by car/, and local people tell me ты как местный

of course my passenger car is not a campervan /i mean big dimensions which in some remote places could be a problem/ so it is easier
but if you keep on the main routes you have listed above it is ok even for a big camper

[jpman]

Thanks, @mazeno!

That’s a bit of a relief—it’s a long trip, after all, so we won’t be rushing. We’re happy to take it slow and even stop for a day or two if needed.
• It does seem like we might have to skip some of the more exciting spots though, like the Kok-Kiya Valley and Kol-Suu Lake. Do you think other areas in Kyrgyzstan, such as the Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve or Ala-Kul Lake, would still be accessible in a motorhome?
• Worst case scenario, I guess there are 4x4 rental options near these areas? Ideally, we wouldn’t have to rent a vehicle all the way from Bishkek but instead park our RV nearby for a few days and explore off-road with a rental or an organized tour.
• Just to clarify, are the main challenges for a large camper related to height, length (e.g., tight turns), or both?

Thanks again for your help! I just want to avoid driving thousands of kilometers only to miss the best parts when we get there

[mazeno]

i just tried to imagine how to get to ala kul by car
let's say - it would be
huh
a challenge


but seriously
i see you are expecting asia very different way than it is
and maybe you should learn some more than you did until now
not only by asking for some places if it is accesible or not
/especially when you intend to seize such long trip/
but e.g. by reading some books
watching some documentary movies
even exploring google earth 3d view helps a lot

yes
there are many places accesible by a campervan
but as i wrote in my previous post
it depends on your skills and experience and local conds
and don't be afraid
even driving main roads you shall be satisfied with the views a lot


ala kul
it is high mountain lake
not accesible in other way than on foot
it is long and steep way up

sary chelek
for me there is only one obstacle on the way
i mean the gate to the park
but consider - i passed tosor col in a passenger car which kyrgyz people had called impossible