Today we drive towards the Bartang Valley and begin an adventure that may prove to be your favorite part of the trip. The 4x4s will drop us off at the trailhead to Jizeu Valley and we will commence a truly spectacular 2-hour hike to the remote Jizeu Village. The views we will discover on this hike are barren and wild, and this is known for being one of the real highlights of the Pamir Highway, that very few travelers visit. There are no roads to this village, so we will need to take our supplies with us for one night staying with local families. You do not need to bring much with you – just a change of clothes, medication, water for the hike, and your camera gear, and everything else will stay with our driver in the car. We will have lunch and dinner in the Jizeu Village. This is an isolated region, and we will only be able to organize our accommodation once we arrive in the village. Food, blankets, pillows, and water are provided at the homestay.

• Driving distance/hour: 205km/ 128 mi/ 6 hours

• Hike: 6km/ 3.7 mi/ 2 hours, elevation gain/loss 450m

• Altitude: Jizeu village 2,495m / 8,179 ft

• Internet: No mobile coverage

• Electricity: Available, Limited

• Facilities: outdoor squat toilets at the homestays. Shared rooms for up to 6 people.

We will wake up for sunrise in the remote Jizeu Valley before having breakfast. Once we collect our belongings, we say goodbye to our wonderful hosts and hike back towards the main road. Our driver will meet us there and we will continue our journey towards Khorog, one of the main towns along the Pamir Highway, with plenty of photo stops along the way. In Khorog you can stay in a comfortable homestay or hotel and explore the city afternoon, including a visit to the Khorog Botanical Garden, one of the highest in the world.

• Driving distance/hour: 83km/ 52 mi/ 3 hours

• Hike: 6km/ 3.7 mi/ 2 hours

• Altitude: 2,200 m / 7,218 ft

• Internet: Tcell (4G), Megafon (4G), Wi-Fi

• Electricity: Available

• Facilities: Shared indoor shower and western toilets at the homestays. Shared rooms for up to 4 people.

While the traditional Pamir Highway traverses through the interior mountains of Tajikistan, we will choose to follow the Panj River and enter the famous Wakhan Corridor! We leave the town of Khorog and continue to gain altitude as we make our way towards Langar. Be amazed as the imposing Afghan mountains rise on our right-hand side and local farmers across the river go about their daily lives. We’ll stop off at the Ishkashim Fortress along the way then climb up towards to the village of Yamchun. Here we will find the 12th-century Yamchun Fortress, with one of the most sensational views in the entire region. Next to the fortress is the Bibi Fatima Hot Springs, a natural bathing spot renowned for its healing properties. For those interested in a relaxing dip, the springs provide a rejuvenating experience, note that bathing is separated by gender, and clothing is not permitted inside the baths. After these highlights, we’ll drive back down towards the popular village of Langar. 

• Driving distance/hour: 289 km / 179 mi, 4–5 hours

• Altitude: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft

• Internet: Limited coverage (Tcell and Megafon)

• Electricity: Available, but power outages are possible (carry a power bank)

• Facilities: Shared indoor shower, outdoor western, and squat toilets at the homestays. Shared rooms for up to 4 people.  

Early breakfast and departure. Once we arrive at the security checkpoint at Kargush, we say goodbye to the Pamir River and the nomadic Afghan farmers across the way and drive a short distance further to start the 4-hour hike up Panorama Ridge, which reaches 4800m above sea level, and has insane views of the Wakhan Range of Afghanistan and remote lakes. It’s a moderate hike, but worth the views at the top. Once you descend, enjoy your picnic lunch and continue to the tiny village of Bulunkul and have the chance to see a high alpine lake of Bulunkul. We will drive to the nearby Maljuran camp for our stay tonight. Dinner and overnight at the yurt camp.

• Driving distance/hour: 125 km/ 77 mi/ 5-6 hours

• Hike: 5km / 3.1 mi/ 4 hours reaching 4,800 m / 15,748 ft, elevation gain/loss 300m

• Altitude: Maljuran camp -3,750 m / 12,303 ft

• Internet: Limited mobile coverage (Tcell and Megafon)

• Electricity: Solar Panels 12V, only for charging phones 

• Facilities: Hot spring with shower and outdoor toilets at the camp. Shared yurts for up to 4 people.

 Wake up early in the morning, immerse yourself in local life as herders milk their yaks and make dairy products, offering a glimpse into traditional Pamiri culture. Watch or take part as locals separate cream to make butter using a traditional hand-cranked separator. After breakfast, begin your hike – today’s route covers approximately 11 km and takes about 5–6 hours. The trail begins near the yurt camp and ascends gently at first, with a short steep section before flattening out for the next couple of kilometers. As you continue, the path alternates between moderate and steeper climbs, leading to the first panoramic viewpoint. Here, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. Those preferring a shorter hike may return from this point or wait for the group, while avid trekkers can continue to Mahan Peak 4400m. From the summit, enjoy a truly magnificent view of Yashilkul Lake, Bulunkol Lake, and the vast Alichur Valley shimmering in the distance — a breathtaking scene that captures the essence of the Pamirs.
After a well-deserved break and some snacks, descend along the same trail back to the yurt camp, enjoy a hearty homemade meal, and unwind in the natural hot spring — the ideal way to relax after a challenging yet rewarding day in the mountains. Then drive for about an hour to Alichur village and settle into a cozy, family-run homestay. Dinner. 

• Driving distance/hour: 35 km/ 21 mi/ 1 hour

• Hike: 5-6 hours, reaching 4,400 m / 14,435 ft

• Internet: No internet

• Electricity: Solar panel is available

• Facilities: The guesthouse has a traditional Russian-style sauna, where water is heated and you can wash yourself by mixing hot and cold water in a bucket, outdoor western squat toilets. Shared rooms for up to 4 people. 

We’ll have breakfast cooked by the family, and soon will head east along the Pamir Highway toward Murgab village, located 130 kilometers from Alichur. Along the way, those interested can enjoy a short yak-riding experience (10–15 minutes, cost 5-6 USD per person) and visit a local nomadic family. You’ll be welcomed into their yurt (please note that the yurt camp season last from June to early Sep, early spring or late autumn you visit to their village houses), where you can taste traditional yak yogurt and fresh bread while learning about their mountain lifestyle. Head to Murgab town. We shall have lunch in a local cafe, then continue onwards to Karakul Lake. Today we cross over the 4655m high Akbaital Pass and then drive down to Karakul Lake at 4000 meters above sea level. Arrival at the lake with numerous households on the shore. Enjoy walking around this remotest village. The vistas, as you can appreciate, are phenomenal. Tonight’s accommodation will be in a local homestay near the shores of Karakul Lake.

• Driving distance/hour: 352 km / 219 mi – 6 hours

• Yak Riding: up to 10-15 minutes 

• Altitude: 4,000 m / 13,123 ft (Karakul Lake)

• Internet: No internet coverage after Murgab. Megafon 2G in Karakul. 

• Electricity:  Solar Panels 12V, only for charging phones 

• Facilities: The guesthouse has a traditional Russian-style sauna, where water is heated and you can wash yourself by mixing hot and cold water in a bucket, outdoor western squat toilets. Shared rooms for up to 4 people. 

We begin the day with an early departure from Karakul Lake, heading toward the Kyrgyz border. After completing the formalities at the Tajik border post, we enter an 18-kilometer neutral zone, surrounded by stunning glaciated slopes, offering breathtaking mountain views. Once we cross the Kyrgyz border at Kyzyl Art Pass, the journey continues into the scenic Alay Valley.
Our first stop is the village of Sary Tash, where you can have lunch. Afterward, a short one-hour drive brings us to Tulparkul Lake, situated at 3,500 meters (11,482 ft) above sea level. The lake is near the base of Peak Lenin, which towers at 7,134 meters (23,406 ft). At Tulparkul, you will stay in a traditional yurt camp, often regarded as one of the most beautiful in the region. 

• Driving distance/hour: 150 km / 94mi – 4 hours

• Altitude: Tulparkul Lake -3,500 m / 11,482 ft

• Internet: MegaCom

• Electricity: Available only after dinner (bring a power bank just in case)

• Facilities: Traditional yurts with outside shared showers and toilets

Begin the day with breakfast at the yurt camp, followed by a hike to Traveler’s Pass, located at 4,130 meters (13,550 ft). The 3-hour ascent starts just outside the yurt camp, crossing streams and winding alongside the Achyk-Tash River before reaching the pass. From this vantage point, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of glaciers cascading from Lenin Peak, which towers at 7,134 meters (23,406 ft). After a break to take in the views, we’ll make the 2-hour descent back to the yurt camp. Following lunch, you drive to Osh 5 hours, one of Kyrgyzstan’s oldest cities with over 3,000 years of history. The driver will drop you off at your hotel.
End of the trip.

• Driving distance/hour: 250 km/ 155mi / 5 hours

• Hike: 18km, 4-5 hours, reaching 4,130m / 13,550 ft, elevation gain/loss 650m

• Altitude: Osh -900m / 2,953 ft

• Internet: Available, Wi-Fi

• Electricity: Available