Fann Mountains or Alay mountains (or other)

[hb1292859]

What is in your eyes the best area for trekking in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan?

I am planning a trip that starts in Uzbekistan (Samarkand) and then goes on to Tajikistan (passing the Fann mountains) and Kyrgyzstan (via the Pamir Highway), to end the trip in Almaty (not sure if I'll take a detour to Karakol).

Both the Fann and Alay mountain range seem to have the same recipe: high altitudes, remote location, lakes and spectacular scenery.
I am an experienced hiker and would like a moderate to challenging trek.

By the looks of it, I can't go wrong with either. But is there anything that makes the one stand out? For example, is practicality better in one region than the other?

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Julia]

Hi.
Do you mean Alay mountain range specifically?

Asking because many people call Alay range, Zaalay range and Alay valey the same common name Alay range.

The actual Alay range is hardly explored. Trekking there would be a risky adventure.

Trekking in Alay valley and other mountains in Alay region look comparable to Fann mountains.
Chimtarga pass in Fann mountains is almost 5000 m high, it is hardly accessible off-season, and there are rock falls there.
The rest of Fann mountains are quite easy for an experienced hiker.
Done trekking through Chimtarga pass and reccomend it.
Haven't been to Alay mountains yet but from the description below it seems more challenging than Fann mountains.

[bwv812]

Hikes around the Alay Valley are much higher in altitude than the Fanns, though towards Osh they will be lower and more similar to the Fanns.

In the Fanns there are a lot more known routes and documentation/information available online, as well as higher population (which makes for easier transport and support). In the Alays there will be fewer people (both locals and tourists), and more difficulty doing things on your own unless you are completely self-sufficient.

This is the best information I've seen about hiking in the Alays.
https://uncorneredmarket.com/alay-mount ... -trekking/

[hb1292859]

Thanks for the info! I was referring to the Alay valley. The Sary Mogul pass caught my eye, it looks quite spectacular. The added difficulty makes it quite interesting, actually. Guess I've got more research to do.

[steven]

I also wrote some things about trekking in Alay after I visited last year. The Sary Mogul trek is really good, in combination with a visit to Tulpar Kol and Traveller's Pass, really a highlight of Kyrgyzstan imo: https://caravanistan.com/kyrgyzstan/thi ... king/alay/

[Julia]

Thanks for the info! I was referring to the Alay valley. The Sary Mogul pass caught my eye, it looks quite spectacular. The added difficulty makes it quite interesting, actually. Guess I've got more research to do.

If you consider Sary Mogul pass than why not research about Chimtarga pass in Fann mountains too))
Actually, Chimtarga pass is 1B and Mogul pass is 1A. So Chimtarga is a bit more difficult.
But arranging transport to the trek, collecting info about water sources, spots suitable for a tent, etc. maybe more complicated for Alay mountains. There is less info about it.
Anyway, total difficulty of your trek depends on what other passes, peaks, destinations you'll include in it.

[hb1292859]

I've decided to do both.. couldn't resist it.

I've been in contact with ZTDA for a while but they're achingly slow. Lately there has been total radio silence, which is why I am considering going with another agency. Do you have any recommendations?

[Julia]

Hi.
Sorry can't help with it.
I do trekking independently and don't have any guides contacts.
Hopefully somebody will share some contacts.
And did you check the page with tours on Caravanistan?
There were some guides there.

[hb1292859]

I've contacted half a dozen companies and only got a response from Fan Mountain Travel (https://www.facebook.com/Fanmountaintravel). Replies quickly but I can't seem to find much about them. Hope somebody knows more about them.

[steven]

Did you contact us? We should have replied, I imagine.

I know Fan Mountain Travel. All I can say is that we don't work with him.