Karamyk - Daroot Korgan crossing (KG- TAJ) updates

[mazeno]

> can we cross Karamyk - Daroot Korgan from direction Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan without problems?
no, you cannot.
with or without problems.

even if it is ocasionally open (very rare) you can have problems. tajiks can open their border because of keeping badakhshan closed, kyrgyzs can keep it closed - so if you don't have one more visa for returning back to tjk, you are to stay on the no man's land for looong time (if your embassy can act) or forever (if it cannot).

[Albager]

Seems quite impossible to cross that border point. Sneaking into KG across the mountains (not in the valley, that's for sure!) still seems possible (sattelite imagery reveals some small footpaths up and down the mountain on both sides), but risky regarding the problems we could get afterwards (at the latest at the airport in bishkek). That's bad, because it could have been a perfect round trip around the Pamirs and riding through Gharm valley would have been really nice as well

edit:
Just to share recent information - Karamyk - Daroot Korgan crossing station is definitely closed for foreigners. We contacted the Tajik embassy in Germany, see their answer:
"Unfortunately, said border crossing is only bilaterally and only open during the day, Europeans are not allowed to enter there.
The problem is known and has already destroyed many travel plans. Most Pamir travelers select as an alternative the long route via Osh or the adventurous route through the valley Bartang if they are planning a trip."

[steven]

April 2016: 3 Polish travelers got arrested, deported and their car seized when approaching this border from Osh. Moral of the story, don't even come close to it!

[steven]

A question by e-mail:

I have read the caranistan site and looks very good filled with important information. I am going to cycle Tadjikistan this summer and have one question for you. My plan is to do a circle anticlock wise as here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=e ... XkgJFnWyxU

I have read on this site
http://caravanistan.com/border-crossings/tajikistan/

That Karamyk border is closed for foreigners, is this true? Does it mean, I cannot do the trip I planned?

Answer: Yes, it's closed. Go through Murghab and Wakhan Valley like everyone else, or for adventure, try Bartang valley: http://caravanistan.com/trip-reports/cy ... ng-valley/

[mazeno]

> April 2016: 3 Polish travelers got arrested, deported and their car seized when approaching this border from Osh. Moral of the story, don't even come close to it!

any details?
'cos i suppose it's a fake, based on another story (from 2014) - they were "arrested" (not really, just were hosted at the police station for some time and then escorted to the border) beacause of lack of "registrovka". but in media "deported" looks more exciting ;) anyway - they have embargo for next 5 years to enter uzb.

[steven]

Hi Mazeno,

I heard it from the man who rented them their car. He had lots of trouble to get his car back from the SMB but managed in the end (if you know what I mean) and he did not heard from the Polish guys in days. That is why we think they got deported.

[mazeno]

ok.

huh - i just noticed that i didn't write clearly (what is important for the essence of the matter: karamik border) - the story i described above had taken place in uzbekistan.

[culebro]

I in fact read that news about the Polish citizens.

http://news.tj/en/news/three-polish-nat ... gyz-border

But I don't know exactly if it refers to this crossing.

[bwv812]

That news report says they were detained near the Bordobo border, which is the one on the Pamir highway between Sary Tash and Karakol.

[steven]

I heard they went south from Daroot Korgon. Putting 2 and 2 together, I think they were picked up somewhere here: https://www.google.be/maps/search/bor+d ... ,13z?hl=en

On the Kyrgyz side, but a little too close to the Tajik border for comfort.