Tour dell’autostrada del Pamir e del corridoio di Wakhan da Osh a Dushanbe

Your driver picks you up in Osh and stops at a supermarket so you can buy snacks, water and toiletries for the trip. Over the Taldyk Pass (about 3,600 m) the green pastures of the Alai Valley open up, with yaks grazing by the road. Lunch in Sary-Tash, then drive to Tulpar-Kol Lake (about 3,500 m) below Lenin Peak, and take a walk around the lake to get used to the altitude. Dinner and overnight in a yurt camp at Tulpar-Kol Lake (paid locally).

Taldyk Pass, Sary-Tash, Valle di Alai, Lago Tulpar-Kol, Picco Lenin

• Osh → Lago Tulpar-Kol (250 km)

Durante la notte: Lago Tulpar-Kol (Yurt camp)

Hike from the yurt camp along the Achik-Tash River to the Traveller's Pass (4,130 m) for close views of the glaciers of Lenin Peak (7,134 m), and walk back down to the camp (about 18 km and 6 hours in total). After lunch, cross the border at the Kyzyl-Art Pass into Tajikistan and drive down to Karakul, the largest lake of the Pamirs, which has no outflow. Overnight in a homestay in Karakul. Altitude: about 3,900 m.

Travellers' Pass, Kyzyl-Art border control, Lago Karakul

• Lago Tulpar-Kol → Lago Tulpar-Kol (18 km)
• Lago Tulpar-Kol → Lago Karakul (150 km)

Durante la notte: Lago Karakul (Homestay)

Cross the Ak-Baital Pass (4,655 m), the highest point of the Pamir Highway, with a short side trip for a view over Karakul Lake and an hour's walk near the pass. Lunch in Murghab, the main town of the Eastern Pamirs, where you can buy snacks, exchange money or get a local SIM card. On the way to Alichur you can try a short yak ride (optional, about 5–6 USD) and visit a Kyrgyz herding family – in their yurts from June to early September, otherwise in their village house. Overnight in a guesthouse in Alichur. Altitude: about 3,850 m.

Ak-Baital Pass, Murghab, Bashgumbez, Alichur

• Lago Karakul → Alichur (250 km)

Durante la notte: Alichur (Guesthouse)

Side trip to the Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes, then drive up to the Khargush Pass (4,344 m) and hike to Panorama Ridge (about 4,800 m, 3–4 hours) with wide views of the Great Pamir on the Afghan border. Show your GBAO permit at the checkpoint and follow the Pamir River into the Wakhan Valley, with the Hindu Kush ahead. Overnight in a homestay in Langar.

Laghi Yashikul e Bulunkul, Khargush Pass, Valle del Wakhan, Langar

• Alichur → Langar (145 km)

Durante la notte: Langar (Homestay)

Visit the Yamchun Fortress on its rock platform high above the Wakhan Valley and the Bibi Fatima hot springs just above it, then stop at the Khakha Fortress near Namadgut on the way to Ishkashim. In Khorog, visit the regional museum and the central park, and in the evening the Botanical Garden. Overnight in a hotel or guesthouse in Khorog. Altitude: about 2,200 m.

Forte di Yamchun, Sorgenti termali di Bibi Fatima, Fortezza di Khakha, Iskashim, Khorog

• Langar → Khorog (225 km)

Durante la notte: Khorog (Guesthouse)

Follow the Panj River downstream past the Vanj valley to Kalai-Khumb in the Darvaz district. The road is rough in places, and roadworks can cause delays. Overnight in a guesthouse in Kalai-Khumb. Altitude: about 1,200 m.

Kalai Khum

• Khorog → Kalai Khum (240 km)

Durante la notte: Kalai Khum (Guesthouse)

The last day follows the Panj River past many villages and over the Shurobod Pass to Kulob, with lunch in a local teahouse. Visit the medieval Hulbuk Fortress and see the Nurek reservoir before your driver drops you at your hotel in Dushanbe.

Kulob, Fortezza di Hulbuk, Diga di Nurek, Dushanbe

• Kalai Khum → Dushanbe (350 km)