Dushanbe to Osh, 7-days

pamir highway

VA
Visit Alay
  • Email address verified
91 reviews
Duration: 7 days
Group size: 1 - 1000
Dushanbe to Osh, 7-days
pamir highway

Visit Alay
  • Email address verified
91 reviews

Duration: 7 days
Group size: 1 - 1000

About this trip

Journey through the stunning Wakhan Valley, following the Panj River along the Afghan border, with breathtaking views of Afghan villages and towering peaks.

Stay in traditional Pamiri homestays and Kyrgyz yurts, experiencing warm hospitality and home-cooked meals.

Hike Panorama Ridge (4,800 m) and Traveler’s Pass (4,130 m), with spectacular views of Peak Lenin (7,134 m).

Explore ancient sites like the Ishkashim Fortress, Yamchun Fortress, and unwind at the Bibi Fatima Hot Springs.

Discover the Nurek Dam and Hulbuk Fortress, plus the peaceful Khorog Botanical Garden, one of the highest in the world.

Ride yaks in Bash-Gumboz and photograph high-altitude lakes like Karakul and Tulparkul.

Cross the Akbaital Pass (4,655 m) and scenic Alay Valley, concluding in Osh, one of Kyrgyzstan’s oldest cities.

What’s included

  • Transport
    4x4 Toyota
  • Proffessional driver
    Conversational-English speaking driver
  • Side trips
    Side trips mentioned in the itinerary
  • Driver's expenses
    Driver’s meals and accommodation, fuel, border fees for transport

What’s not included

  • GBAO permit
    The GBAO permit for Pamir region costs additional $35.
  • Accommodation and Meals
    Your meals and accommodation
  • Entrance Tickets
    Entrance fees to the museums, attractions (yak riding) and etc.

Available Packages

Dushanbe to Osh, 7-days
$475

Available Add-Ons

GBAO permit
$35

 The GBAO permit is required for the Pamir Region in Tajikistan,
You must obtain it through us if you're from a visa-free country.
The passport holders of the following nationalities (countries) are eligible to enter Tajikistan without a visa. 

Andorra,  Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,

Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall, Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro,
Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea (DPRK), Norway, Oman, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, UNITED STATES, Uzbekistan,
Vatican City

Also, visa-free travel to Tajikistan for up to 14 days is available for persons over 55 years of age from the following countries:

Albania, Algeria, Barbados, China, Commonwealth of Dominica, Fiji, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar,
Morocco, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Panama, Tunisia, Vanuatu, Vietnam

Itinerary

Day 1
Dushanbe to Kalaikhum – Into the Pamirs

 Welcome to the Pamir Highway!
Today we start our drive towards the gorgeous village of Khalaikhum. We will visit the 11th-century Hulbuk Palace along the way before finally entering the iconic Pamir Mountains. After driving through the spectacular valleys of the Shurobod Pass we will arrive in the village of Khalaikhum. Here we will join the Panj River, which we will be following for the next few days, and have our first views into mysterious Afghanistan, just over the border. We will have dinner and overnight in a homestay.

  • Driving distance/hour: 352km / 219 mi – 6 hours 
  • Altitude: 1200 m / 3,937 ft
  • Internet: Tcell (3G), Megafon (3G), Wi-Fi
  • Electricity: Available (bring a power bank just in case of outages)
  • Facilities: Shared indoor shower and western toilets at the homestays. Shared rooms for up to 4 people. 

Your Organizer


VA
Visit Alay
91 reviews
Welcome to Visit Alay. We are a tour operator specialized in adventure travel and cultural, trekking, horseback riding and Pamir Highway tours in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and throughout Central Asia.

Reviews

This was a very good experience and I am happy to have done it. Group size was optimal, and all needs were catered to adequately. The final itiniary is subject to dynamic adjustments which can put off some light-weight travellers, and I strongly suggest to familiarize yourself with the routes on offline maps since the guide will usually cater to the slowest pace hikers, meaning if you are fit and Go ahead, don’t get lost.
By Erik N for Final payment for Erik (Best of Kyrgyzstan Trek) - July 7-20 on Jul 30, 2025
What a fantastic anyway we made! 7 days of adventure through undiscovered landscapes. Beforehand, we didn't really know what to expect, but once you are on the road, you are taken in by everything there is to see along the way. Our driver Abdul what the best driver we could have wished for. He drove carefully and managed to get around all the big potholes. He also realised right away when we wanted to get out to take photos. He always took his time and was not in a hurry, which was very nice. At the end of the day, it was always a surprise where we ended up spending the night, but this was always a nice accommodation. The food was also simple but delicious! The two hikes during the trip are beautiful but challenging. There is not much about this in the trip description, but for these you need a reasonable level of fitness to complete. I would recommend it to anyone to do the Pamir Highway, it is a once in a lifetime experience.
By Saskia Z for Dushanbe to Osh, 7-days on Jul 30, 2025
This was a good experience overall. The driver was knowledgeable and flexible with us during the trip. Good experience for the price. We saw some beautiful sites and history. However, we had only two points that we thought were drawbacks: 1. We thought that the driver would be more of a tour guide than just a driver. Oftentimes, he didn't come with us to the various tourist sites, so we were on our own for those. It's not necessarily a problem for us, but we were under the impression that he would be able to provide more historical/tourist info at the various sites. It felt like, for the most part, this was a minimal amount, but he would give us whatever background he knew if we asked him. 2. The vehicle was the right type of vehicle for the trip, but it was not in the best condition for this type of trip. The tires appeared to be almost completely worn out (I was shocked when I saw them at the beginning of the trip), and we did indeed have three flat tires during the trip. The driver replaced the tires when we arrived in Osh, but by then, we had already finished all of the rougher roads in Tajikistan (the roughest part of the trip). There were also problems with seatbelts, windows, and the starter, and on the first day the AC had a very difficult time keeping up with the 53C temperatures in Kulob. We were lucky enough that the tire and starter problems all happened when we were in or extremely near a village/town, but because this trip includes long stretches on extremely rough roads, we would expect that any vehicle making this trip would have passed an inspection ahead of time. The driver did a basic inspection of the car each morning, but this isn't the same as having a professional look at the vehicle and make sure it is in good working condition before initial departure. These are just two suggestions for making the experience even better.
By Samuel K for Dushanbe to Bishkek on Pamir Highway on Jul 30, 2025
We had a really experienced and careful driver, Joomart, to helped us finish the trip. He would carefully drive through all the roads, and take care about the health of everyone. Thanks Joomart!
By Yung Horng C for Bishkek to Dushanbe on Pamir Highway on Jul 29, 2025
We had a wonderful trip! Very well organized, amazing accommodations, a very friendly and good guide, great contact previous to the trip: we’re very happy with Visit Alay!
By Stéphanie V for 24 days Kyrgyzstan Adventure Tour - remaining balance of Stephanie on Jul 27, 2025
Show More Reviews

References

A Truly Special Guide for the Pamir Highway, Travelling the Pamir Highway from Osh to Dushanbe with Kokon (through Visit Alay) was the highlight of our trip ( we were a group of 4). He’s a safe driver, speaks excellent English, and knows the entire country inside out—but what stood out most was his kindness, honesty, and warm spirit. Kokon made us feel completely at ease, even in the most remote places and brought the journey to life with his stories and humour. If you’re heading to the Pamirs, ask for Kokon. You won’t regret it, and don't forget to tip your guide! :)
By Kat P on 07 Jul, 2025