Cycling the Pamir Highway: Crossing the Roof of the World
Pamir, the beautiful and still undiscovered mountains in Tajikistan. Our route consists of two parts. The first is a ride along the Bartang River Gorge through the Tajik National Park. We will arrive at the beautiful high mountain lake Kara Kol, iconic among travelers. There, on its banks we will meet the Pamir Kyrgyz people who for centuries have been able to survive at an altitude of about 4,000 meters even the harshest winters. They will treat us with specialties of Pamir cuisine, i.e. pilav or lagman. Will we be able to meet the symbol of Pamir - Marco Polo's mountain sheep - along the way?
We will then reach the Afghan-Tajik border and ride through the Panj River Valley. Surrounded by reddish-brown mountains, we will get to know Tajik villages with apple orchards and friendly locals. On the other side of the river, we will see wild and steep paths high in the mountains that lead to small green oases. These are isolated Afghan villages. We will stop and wave to overjoyed children and get a glimpse of slow and quiet life in northern Afghanistan from a safe distance.
We will also have the opportunity to visit Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe - an architectural mix of social realism and oriental influences. We will cover almost 500 km by bicycle, reaching almost 5,000 m above sea level. We invite you to a unique bicycle trip to Tajikistan!
Dates of tours
| Number | Difficulty | Date | Duration | Price | Remarks | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EN-693-24 | 3-4 | 17.08.2024 to 02.09.2024 | 17 |
2990 EUR |
CLOSE TO CONFIRM |
Book now! |
ITINERARY:
DAY 1-2
Meeting at the Berlin airport. Flight to Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe. After a rest, tour of this Central Asian city. Welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant.
DAY 3
From Dushanbe we head south along a spectacular road amid the mountains. We enter Gorno-Badakhshan, an autonomous region that covers almost half of the country in area, while being home to only 2% of the population. We will reach the small village of Rushan, from where we will begin our bicycle journey.
DAY 4-5
Mounting the bikes and the beginning of the mountain adventure. The first part of our route is a ride through the wild, almost cut-off Bartang River Gorge. For two days we will move almost exclusively uphill, and the only thing in our sight will be the extraordinary landscapes of the Tajik National Park.
Distance: 137 km
Uphill: 2423 m
Downhill: 1740 m
DAY 6-8
From the village of Savnob we embark on one of the most scenic sections of the entire trip. From the intersection of the mountain rivers - Bartang, Gudara and Murghob, we continue our climb, crossing the 3000m altitude on the first day. During these three days we move higher and higher, and - we will go deeper and deeper into the inaccessible natural backwoods of the Pamir range. After two nights of camping, we will reach the village of Karakul, located on the lake of the same name. We will spend the night at an altitude of over 4,000 meters above sea level.
Distance: 170 km
Uphill: 2276 m
Downhill: 1020 m
DAY 9
We take a break from bicycles. On this day we will visit the village of Murghob, one of the largest on the route of the famous Pamir Highway. Along the route, ranges of five- and six-thousand-meter peaks will stretch on both sides. We will advance a few hundred kilometers south to the small village of Alichur, from where the next stage of the bicycle journey will begin. .
DAY 10
We will start the day by passing the high mountain lake Sasyk Kul. Then we climb to the Khargush Pass (4344 meters above sea level). After conquering it, we descend to the Tajik-Afghan border itself, marked here by the Pamir River. We find ourselves at the gateway of the Wakhan Corridor, beyond which the Pamir passes into the Hindu Kush.
Distance: 57 km
Uphill: 712 m
Downhill: 687 m
DZIEŃ 11
Still riding along the Pamir River, and thus the Afghan border, amidst green valleys and hills, we reach one of the most beautiful parts of our route - the picturesque village of Zong. It is here that the Pamir River joins its waters with the Wakhan to form the rushing canyon of the Panj River.
Distance: 72 km
Ascent: 554 m
Down: 1629 m
DZIEŃ 12-13
Peaceful days at the very end of the cycling adventure. We will reach the beautiful village of Vrang. Those with a taste for further cycling adventures will spend the next day touring the area. For the rest, a peaceful walk to the waterfall and relaxing in silence.
Distance: 26 km
Ascent: 415 m
Downhill: 464 m
DZIEŃ 14-15
We need as many as two days to get through to Dushanbe. On the way, we will stop in Khorog - the capital of Gorno-Badakhshan.
DZIEŃ 16
Return flight to Berlin.
PRICE INCLUDES:
• return flight ticket with all fees
• care of an English-speaking guide
• local guide - driver
• accommodation (5 x guest accommodation, 2x hotel, 8x guesthouses)
• transport of backpacks in an assurance car (in case of indisposition possible transport of customers)
• meals prepared by the local chef during cycling (10 days)
• transport from/to the airport in Tajikistan
• information materials and maps
• permit to enter border areas
• NNW and KL + insurance of luggage up to 200 Euro
• a mandatory fee for the State Tourist Guarantee Fund (TFG) for each person
• mandatory payment to the state Tourist Guarantee Fund (TFG) for each person
• mandatory payment to the state Tourist Fund for Assistance (TFP) for each person
• insurance against contracting the virus (COVID-19) while abroad
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• charge for the air transport of the bike (c. 180 EUR)
• visas to Tajikistan and permit to Gorno-Badakhshan (c. 100 EUR)
• meals besides the catering during the cycling days
• Covid-19 test (if applicable)
LUGGAGE TRANSPORT:
We will be accompanied by support in the form of off-road vehicles (number depending on the size of the group), which each day will not only carry luggage from one overnight stay to another, but can also serve as transportation for weary cyclists.
ROUTE:
Average difficulty level. Passes through mountain trails with gravel surface or roads with damaged surface, numerous ascents and descents. Due to the necessity to ride on routes located high above sea level, good mental and physical condition of participants is required. We will spend several days at an altitude of about 4,000 meters above sea level. Estimated length of bicycle routes from 25 to 75 km per day.
FOOD:
During the bicycle tour (10 days), a chef will be with us to prepare delicacies of Tajik, as well as Afghan and Kyrgyz cuisine. Outside the bicycle route we will be fed individually, with prices in restaurants and stores lower than in Poland.
ACCOMODATION:
In guesthouses, as well as in own tents. The facilities in the accommodations are very simple, dormitory rooms.
FLIGHT:
The place of departure is BERLIN. In case you wish to travel from another destination or book flights on your own, please contact us for price quotation for this trip.
GROUP:
We travel in small groups. The minimum number of people on the trip is 6, maximum is 15/16.
WEATHER:
In August, the highest temperatures are recorded throughout the year, in September the weather is stable, but at night it may even drop to 0 degrees. However, you have to be prepared for the changing mountain weather - rain or snow at altitudes above 3000 m above sea level. During the day, the temperature is around 15-20 degrees, at a height of 4000 m. around 10 degrees.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• The itinerary may change depending on the date of departure, weather, group speed and other factors.
• Learn more about general conditions of participation and find out how to sign up for a trip.
• Attention! In case of the introduction of restrictions that prevent the implementation of the tour, we will refund 100% of the money paid up to 7 days from the date of cancellation of the tour.
• The organizer of the trip is Active Travel Agency Barents.pl
