Tour details
- Period
- July – August
- Trip length
- 15 days
- Tour specialist
- Sharaf – 19 reviews
- From
- 1485$
This two-week trekking adventure allows you the time to dig in and fully experience the magnificence of the alpine lakes of Central Pamir of Tajikistan. Head into the Valley of Kings you will trek over the highest pass of Tajikistan – Vrang pass 5070m and find yourself in mystic Wakhan valley with variety of ancient fortresses and hot springs. Explore the Pamir Mountain ranges, as you travel by jeep, horse, and foot through this marvelous and little-visited region. You can make a deeper glance in culture and lifestyle of locals, travelling and explore the landscapes, hiking the wild paths in 10 days self-sufficiency with nature. 15 days and 15 nights | 12 days trek with camping
Physical Rating: moderate to strenuous. Easier hikes are available in our Tajik tour section.
Safety: Excellent physical condition is very imperative for this trip. The altitude ranges from 800m to 5070m, but we will gain it day by day, so your body will have enough time to adapt to the temperatures and altitude changes. Experience of high altitudes hiking during the trek is essential. Some parts of the trek requires crossing the icy surfaces, although it does not require to use the crampons, but to be well prepared with good trekking shoes is highly recommended.
Highlights:
• Travelling along enchanting Pamir Highway with epic landscapes surrounded by snowcapped peaks
• Sightseeing of mystic Wakhan with ancient fortresses, solar calendars, shrines, ancient petroglyphs
• Trekking with camping among spectacular landscapes and alpine lakes of Central Pamir: shepherds, yaks and lakes.
• Trekking over Vrang pass 5070m with breathtaking view to Marks and Engels Peaks, famous tops of Pamirs over 6500 meters and picturesque Hindukush Range
The trek starts and ends in Khorog but pick-up can be organised from Dushanbe or Osh and the other way around.
Itinerary
Day 1. Khorog – Rubot
Collect the guests from their stay in Khorog and start driving to explore Shakhdara gorge (the Valley of Kings or the Valley of Cliffs). We drive among the villages and beautiful landscapes, so you can observe the lifestyle of locals and make a deeper glance in their culture. We reach Rubot the last village, where we spend night today. Short musical performance from the owner of the house. Meet the trekking team – animal drovers and their donkeys. Last preparation for next day trek. Overnight in homestay.
Driving: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 3.330m
Day 2: Rubot – Shepherds camp
Today starts our trek to Vrang pass. Early morning after breakfast, the donkey drover’s team load the luggage and we start hiking deep in the gorge passing the troops of yaks everywhere. For next four days, we spend overnight in tents
Altitude: 3.960 m↑
Time: 6 ½ hours.
Elevation gain: 630m up / 0m down
Day 3: Shepherds camp – Vrang Lake
Beautiful views to Marks and Engels peaks!
Altitude: 4.400 m↑
Time: 4 hours.
Elevation gain: 400 m up / 20 m down
Day 4: Vrang Lake – climb of Vrang pass 5070m – Vnukut River
Today we have special day, we climb the highest passes of Central Asia – Vrang pass 5070m! The pass is under the glacier, but to cross it is easy. From the top we have great view to peaks of Hindukush range. We keep one day in case of rest or unforeseen circumstances
Altitude: 3.500m↑
Time: 7-8 hours.
Elevation gain: 700 m up / 1500 m down
Day 5: Vnukut River – Vrang
We will reach the village of Vrang after more than 1,000 meters of descent across approximately 10km on a good path. We will pass by stupas, the 2,000-year-old heritage of Buddhist culture in Tajikistan. Overnight in homestay.
Altitude: 2.780 m↑
Time: 7 ½ hours.
Distance: 10 km.
Elevation gain: 0 m up / 1080 m down
Day 6. Vrang – Langar
Today we start exploration of Wakhan Corridor with the Buddhist Stupa IV century in Vrang, than we go to relax after long trekking days in sacred hot springs of Bibi Fatima Zahra. En route we visit the III century BC fortress of Yamchun. The whole road offers spectacular views and gives and real sense that this road was the gateway from Central Asia to China. The real Silk Road. You will overnight in guesthouse in Langar enjoying the evening music performance of Yodgor – the owner.
Driving: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 2800m
Day 7. Langar – Bulunkul
After breakfast we travel to the Yashil Kul Lake 3715m high and the small hamlet of Bulunkul. It is a rough but spectacular road crossing the 4300m high Khargush Pass with incredible views of the snowcapped Wakhan range. The road is sparkly populated and is a good place to catch a glimpse of wildlife. We pass two beautiful alpine lakes and crossing the Pamir Highway reach the coldest place of Tajikistan – Bulunkul hamlet. In winter, the temperature drops here down to 65 below zero by Celsius. Bulunkul is home to both Pamiri Tajiks and Kyrgyz shepherds; their yurts mark their presence on the bleakly beautiful landscape. We finnish last preparation for next day horse riding adventure and enjoy the tasty fish from the lakes in dinner. We will overnight in a homestay.
Driving: 6-8 hours
Altitude: 3740m
Day 8: Bulunkul – Zaval (Yashilkul dam)
Today we continue trekking part with overnights in tents. The drivers will drop you to end of Yashilkul Lake, to the dam, where you meet the trekking team from Batchor – animal drovers with donkeys. The team will load the luggage and you start the trekking. The drivers will pick you up from Batchor settlement after 8 days. During the trek, the group will stay self-sufficient. After loading the luggage and short instruction by the guide, start hiking towards the first camping in bottom of Langar pass.
Altitude: 3.650 m↑
Time: 6 hours.
Distance: 19.5 km.
Elevation gain: 560 m up / 670 m down
Day 9: Ghund River/Bottom Langar – Langar Valley/Bottom of Langar Pass
Altitude: 4.200 m↑
Time: 5 hours.
Distance: 17.5 km.
Elevation gain: 730 m up / 120 m down
Day 10: Langar – Langar Pass – Chapdar Lake
Altitude: 4.580 m↑
Time: 9 ½ hours.
Distance: 17.5 km.
Elevation gain: 1.180 m up / 800 m down
Day 11: Chapdar Lake – Uchkul Lakes (end of 1st lake)
Altitude: 4.300 m↑
Time: 4 hours,
Distance: 12 km.
Elevation gain: 210 m up / 460 m down
Day 12: Uchkul – Wikhinj valley
Altitude: 4.470 m↑
Time: 4 hours,
Distance: 14 km,
Elevation gain: 460 m up / 310 m down
Day 13: Wikhinj valley – Zarosh Lake
Altitude: 4.510 m↑
Time: 2 ½ hours,
Distance: 7.5 km,
Elevation gain: 250 m up / 170 m down
Day 14: Zaroshkul – Anadaravj Valley (near hot springs)
Altitude: 3.800 m↑
Time: 5 ½ hours,
Distance: 18 km,
Elevation gain: 250 m up / 970 m down
Day 15: Andaravj Valley – Batchor – Khorog
An early start on our final day of riding as we head to the home village of our horse guides – Bachor. There we will say goodbye to our horse guides and drive back to Khorog. End of the tour.
Altitude: 2.200 m
Time: 6 hours,
Distance: 17 km,
Elevation: 130 m up / 480 m down
Driving part: 1 ½ hours
Prices
Group of 2 people – $2100 per person
Group of 3 people – $1800 per person
Group of 4 people – $1560 per person
Group of 5 people – $1600 per person
Group of 6 people – $1485 per person
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- All transportation (4WD vehicles type of Toyota Land Cruiser)
- Accommodation
- English speaking guide service
- Cook service
- Animal drovers
- Pack animals (donkeys)
- Luggage transfers by donkeys
- Group camping equipment
- Camping kitchen stuff
- Natural Park entrance fees
- Ecological taxes
- Bottled water out of trek
- All meals during the trip, tea / coffee with meals.
NOT INCLUDED
- International flights, drinks (apart from tea with meals)
- Tajik visa and GBAO permission
- Items of a personal nature and tips.
- Sleeping bags
