Trek The Wakhan

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$4,850

In September 2024 we will be heading back to one of world’s most remote corners. A 21-day journey to visit the land of one of the world’s last and least visited nomadic cultures: the Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir.

The journey begin in Kabul before crossing by vehicle into the heart of the Hindu Kush mountains and later pass through the Wakhan Corridor to the Afghan Pamir. Encounter Kyrgyz and Wakhi nomads as you make your way through this once great section of the Silk Road by foot.

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  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
      Trekking
    • Activity Level Tough
      6/8
    • Group Size Medium Group
      10
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    All about the Trek The Wakhan.

    A 21-day journey to visit the land of one of the world’s last and least visited nomadic cultures: the Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir. We will begin in Kabul before crossing by vehicle into the heart of the Hindu Kush mountains and later pass through the Wakhan Corridor to the Afghan Pamir where we will meet our guides and pack animals to continue our journey.

    The middle section of this journey will be made by foot as we make our way to the summer grazing grounds of Chaqmaqtin. We will have the opportunity to encounter Kyrgyz and Wakhi nomads who graze their livestock here during the summer months, as well as seeing ancient tombs and Buddhist engravings and ancient Rock Petroglyphs, which live as a reminder of this one great section of the Silk Road. The journey will end in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul.

    Highlights:

    • Arrive in Afghanistan and travel through the remote North of the country.
    • Discover the culture of the Wakhi and the Kyrgyz nomads of this rarely visited corner of Central Asia
    • Explore deep into territory where few outsiders have ever been

     

    Start Point: Kabul, Afghanistan
    End Point: Kabul, Afghanistan
    Maximum number of people: 10

    The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
    What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
    • All accommodation
    • Breakfast
    • All food outside the major cities
    • Transport/transfers
    • International guide
    • Local guides
    • Local cook
    • Tents and camping equipment
    • Pack animals
    • Permits to visit the Wakhan region
    What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
    • Any necessary visas
    • International flights
    • Insurance
    • Entrance fees
    • Drinks
    • Tips
    • Lunch and dinner (unless specified)
    1. Day 1 Kabul

      Arrive in Kabul.
      Transfer to hotel for briefing.

      Overnight in Kabul at hotel.

      Altitude: 1800m

    2. Day 2 Kabul – Faizabad

      Drive Kabul to Faizabad.
      This is a very long day’s drive.

      Overnight in Faizabad at local guesthouse/hotel.

      Driving: 12 hours
      Altitude: 1200m

    3. Day 3 Faizabad - Ishkishim

      Drive from Faizabad to Ishkishim.
      Once in Ishkishim we will have to process some documentation.

      Overnight in Ishkishim at local guesthouse.

      Driving: 4-5 hours
      Altitude: 2600m

    4. Day 4 Ishkishim - Qala e Panja

      Make the final preparations and collecting our permits for the Wakhan region. Once we leave Ishkishim we will have to be self-sufficient for the next 13-14 days.
      The two-hundred-and-fifty-kilometer drive from Ishkishim to Sarhad-e Broghil takes us along the narrowest section of the Wakhan Corridor. Passing the 7492m high Noshaq, Afghanistan’s highest peak, and the 6513m high Holy peak of Baba Tungi (Jade Peak), we will follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo and Hsuan Tsang on this ancient silk route.
      The road is poor and can be washed out in places, but we hope to make it in two long but scenic days. We will have to stop in the village of Khandud to process some further paperwork.

      Overnight in guesthouse in the village of Qala-e Panja,

      Driving: 6-8 hours
      Altitude: 2800m

    5. Day 5 Qala e Panja - Sarhad e Broghil

      We make our way to the trail head for our trek. We spend the afternoon making the final preparations for our trek into the Afghan Pamir.
      Hire Yak and Horsemen to help carry all our equipment and the local women will cook bread for us to help us through the first few days on our journey.

      Overnight in Sarhad-e Broghil guesthouse.

      Trekking: 4 hours
      Altitude: 3250m

    6. Day 6 Sarhad e Broghil - Shawr

      The geography of the region means that one of the toughest days trekking comes on the first day.
      We move away from the Panj River and must cross three passes. The first is the Daliz Pass (4260 meters), which will involve a vertical altitude gain of a thousand meters. The views from the top of the Daliz pass is spectacular.

      Overnight in tents next to the river at Shawr camp.

      Trekking: 7 hours
      Altitude: 3450m

    7. Day 7 Shawr - Sang e Nauishdah

      We continue our trek along the valley to Barrac.
      After crossing a side by a wooden bridge, we head left and up onto this valley on a short steep assent. We are then gifted with a spectacular high traverse following the valley visiting some local Wakhi nomads looking after their animals.

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: 6-7 hours
      Altitude: 4100m

    8. Day 8 Sang e Nauishdah - Nauabad

      A short day’s trekking between Sang e Nauishdah and Nauabad.
      We cross over to the west side of the river, before following the valley slowly gaining height.

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: 4-5 hours
      Altitude: 4200m

    9. Day 9 Nauabad - Ghughumdeh

      Possibly the toughest day of the trip. Certainly, the crossing of the Uween Sar Pass (4850 meters) is the highest point reached on the trip.
      An early start should see the group cross the pass around noon. From then on it is downhill to the small camp of Ghughumdeh.
      The local Wakhi people in Ghughumdeh are welcoming and we will enjoy their hospitality.

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: 8 hours
      Altitude: 4300m

    10. Day 10 Ghughumdeh

      Rest Day.
      A full day of rest and relaxation, or even a short day-hike in Ghughumdeh. Maybe help the local Wakhi settlement with looking after their goats and sheep.

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: —-
      Altitude: 4300m

    11. Day 11 Ghughumdeh - Agbelis Pass – Kurchin

      Continue the trek. After 2-3 hours the group will be at the top of the Agbelis Pass (4600 meters) with great views of a small alpine lake. Another hour brings the group to a delightful lunch spot.
      In the early afternoon the group will arrive in Kurchin, our first Kyrgz settlement for the night.

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: 6-7 hours
      Altitude: 4100m

    12. Day 12 Kurchin - Bozai Gombaz

      Our trek today will see us drop down from the big Pamir and across the high plains, camping at the small Kyrgyz camp of Bozai Gombaz.
      Hopefully visit the school in Bozai Gombaz made famous in the book, “Stones into Schools”

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: 4-5 hours
      Altitude: 3900m

    13. Day 13 Bozai Gombaz - Chagmagtin Lake

      An easy day trekking up one of the sources of the Amu Darya, the 9km long Chagmagtin Lake where the Kyrgyz nomads graze their sheep and yaks in the summer. We may see a Bactrian camel train too.

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: 4-5 hours
      Altitude: 4050m

    14. Day 14 Chagmagtin Lake

      Rest Day.
      A full day of rest and relaxation, or even a short-day hike in the area.
      Today we will have a fascinating insight into Kygrz nomadic lifestyle.

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: ——
      Altitude: 4050m

    15. Day 15 Chagmagtin Lake - Bozai Gombaz

      We start our long return journey home with an easy day trekking down one of the sources of the Amu Darya to Bozai Gombaz, our last Kyrgyz settlement.

      Overnight in tents.

      Trekking: 2-3 hours
      Altitude: 3900m

    16. Day 16 Bozai Gombaz - Qala e Panja

      Leaving the Kyrgz settlement on the new Jeep road, we drive down the spectacular valley following Oxus river.
      Lunch in Sarhad e Broghil, before our journey continues to Qala-e Panja.

      Overnight in tents or guesthouse.

      Driving: 4-6 hours
      Altitude: 2800m

    17. Day 17 Qala e Panja – Ishkishim

      We drive back to Ishkishim. The drive should be relatively smooth at this time of year as the river levels are low after the summer snow melt.
      Once back in Ishkishim there will be time to rest and say goodbye to our Wakhi guides.

      Overnight in guesthouse.

      Driving: 4-6 hours
      Altitude: 2600m

    18. Day 18 Ishkishim - Faizabad/Kunduz

      Drive out of the mountains to the city of Faizabad.

      Overnight in Faizabad or Kunduz at local guesthouse.

      Driving: 10 hours
      Altitude: 300m

    19. Day 19 Faizabad/Kunduz - Kabul

      A long day’s drive over the spine of the Hindu Kush to Kabul.
      En route drive through the Salang Pass and the Salang Tunnel.

      Overnight in hotel in Kabul

      Driving: 10-12 hours
      Altitude: 1800m

    20. Day 20 Kabul

      A full day in Kabul for the guests to see some of the city’s sights including Babur’s Gardens, Sakhi shrine and a walk in the old city.

      Overnight in hotel in Kabul.

    21. Day 21 Kabul - End

      Transfer to airport.
      End of trip.

    Accommodation

    We do not and cannot offer a uniform accommodation standard on our itineraries. We consider comfort, location, design, character, historical interest and whether the money we spend will go into the pockets of the local community when we make our choices of where to stay.

    The accommodation will be based on two people sharing a room when it is available.

    When we are in the Wakhan area we will be staying in single tents and in local guesthouses that sometimes only offer central communal areas to sleep in. Pamiri style communal homes generally open-plan sleeping areas, though there are occasionally individual rooms for one or two people. At the end of the trip, we will stay in a hotel in Kabul.

    The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance.
    Included in the price
    • All accommodation
    • Breakfast
    • All food outside the major cities
    • Transport/transfers
    • International guide
    • Local guides
    • Local cook
    • Tents and camping equipment
    • Pack animals
    • Permits to visit the Wakhan region
    Not included in the price:
    • Any necessary visas
    • International flights
    • Insurance
    • Entrance fees
    • Drinks
    • Tips
    • Lunch and dinner (unless specified)

    Our trekking trips are designed to be physically engaging and do provide a level of challenge for most people. As a general guideline, we recommend that you have some prior experience walking with a 10-15kg day pack for up to 8 hours per day, over 5 or more days through uneven & varied terrain (and weather); ranging from hard-packed earth, tussock grass, boulder fields, scree slopes, soft snow patches, and knee-deep rivers.

    We do not directly arrange international flights to Afghanistan. There are daily flights from Dubai to Kabul with Kam Air.

    We do not arrange Afghanistan visas directly. Many embassies around the world do not issue Afghan visas. We suggest you apply in Dubai en route.

    The Wakhan and Afghan Pamir regions are extremely remote and in one of the least developed countries in the world. Please ensure that your insurance covers you both for visiting Afghanistan and for rescue in the Wakhan region of Afghanistan.
    If you have any questions about which insurance company to select, please contact us.

    All breakfast, lunch and dinner food for the trek will be purchased in Kunduz, Faizabad or Ishkishim. Once we are on the trek, we will only be able to eat what we bring with us, or barter from people along the way. Any specific allergies or dietary requirements can be accommodated if we are given prior warning. Please feel free to bring your own energy bars/trekking snacks from home, if you want to supplement it with what we provide you.

    In cities we will provide breakfast only.

    We always check the vehicles we use thoroughly before each trip. In the Wakhan corridor and Afghan Pamir region of Afghanistan we aim to use four-wheel drive vehicles.

    When we choose our vehicles and drivers we take into consideration the road conditions, the length of journey and the competence of the man behind the wheel. Your comfort, enjoyment and safety of the journey is the top priority.

    For this trip we use team leaders from Untamed Borders who have experience guiding in the Wakhan. One of these guides will be international. In addition to these experienced leaders, we will be working with local Wakhi guides and porters who know the routes and region well.

    Trips to Afghanistan do create dangers all of their own and whilst we want you to have as much freedom as possible, we must state that the tour leader has the final word with regards to changes in the itinerary for safety reasons. Whilst the route we have chosen passes through areas that we consider to be relatively stable things can change and we may have to alter the route or cancel sections of the trip at short notice.

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