Trekking Tajikistan: Pamir Mountain Lakes

After flying into the capital of Tajikistan Dushanbe we will be heading straight to one of the most spectacular mountain roads in the world: the Pamir Highway.
Our four-wheel drive vehicles will scale the first pass over 3000 metres and descend to the valley of the mighty Panj river.

Overnight in Kalaikhum at local Guesthouse.

Driving: 9 hours
Altitude: 1600m

Today we will follow the Panj river, also known as the Oxus in ancient times. The other side of the river is Afghanistan. During the drive, you can see daily life in the mud-brick Afghan villages. At times the Pamir Highway squeezes through dazzling gorges and crosses rickety suspension bridges.

We will stay in the capital of the Pamirs, Khorogh.
Overnight in Khorogh at local Guesthouse.

Driving: 6 hours
Altitude: 2150m

Our drivers will take us up what the Pamiri people call Bam-y-Dunya, or the Roof of the World. As a part of our acclimatisation schedule for the trekking we will ascend 1300 vertical metres and stay in a Pamiri home stay at an altitude of 3470m. The skyline is filled with peaks over 6000m, of which the distinct Pik Karl Marx (6723m) is the tallest.

Explore Rebot Village with its surrounding area and spend the evening with a local family.
Overnight in Shakhdara Valley at Homestay.

Driving: 3 hours
Altitude: 3470m

On our way to the trailhead of the trek from Bulunkul we return to the Pamir Highway, that now crosses one of the highest sections. We will drive through an icy, high altitude landscape with jagged peaks as far as the eyes can see. The highlight of the day is the crossing of the 4271m Koitezek Pass. After a bone rattling day we will arrive in Bulunkul, officially the coldest inhabited place in Central Asia where the temperature once plummeted to a whopping -63 °C.

Overnight in Bulunkul at Homestay.

Driving: 5 hours
Altitude 3750m

After four days on the “road” it’s time to stretch the legs and hit the trail. Following a short drive in the morning we reach a small river which feeds into Lake Yashilkul, and we cross on a small tin boat. A 14km walk will lead us to our first camp on a peninsula west of Sumantash, on the shores of Yashilkul and at the mouth of the Marjanay River. Along the way you’ll pass next to the remains of an ancient caravanserai, the Mahjura hot springs, and pre-historic stone circles near the mouth of the Marjanay River. The view from your tent is the beautiful mountain lake of Yashilkul.

Overnight in tents.

Trekking: 5-6 hours
Distance: 14 km
Altitude: 3750m

Today we head in westerly direction along the north shore of Yashilkul. We have a small river crossing before our lunch stop. We continue our trek to the end of the lake and set up camp with the junction of the Langar valley.

After 18km walk we will pitch our tents at the North West end of Yashilkul, near some homes of the local nomads.
Overnight in tents.

Trekking: 7 hours
Distance: 18 km
Altitude: 3750m

Today we follow the spectacular Langar valley which is a classic Pamir broad, U-shaped valley carved out by a glacier or icefield. These types of valleys are ideal grazing grounds also known as aylaqs. The shepherds go up to the aylaqs in summer time with their often massive herds of fat-tailed sheep and goats.

We will set up camp at the top of the valley, sharing a camp site with the local shepherds.
Overnight in tents.

Trekking: 5-6 hours
Distance: 15 km
Altitude: 3890m

Today we climb up to the Chapdarkal Valley and up to the shores of the dramatic lake of Chapdarkul which takes us above the 4000m mark. Enjoy a scenic lunch spot on the lake shore before continuing our journey to reach the 3-in-a-row Uchkul Lakes.

Depending on the speed of the group the aim is to make camp at the end of the second lake.
Overnight in tents.

Trekking: 6 hours
Distance: 18 km
Altitude: 4530m

Walking pass the beautiful turquoise lakes surrounded by pastures grazed by yaks and sheep. We leave the Uchkul area and make our way to the Zaurbek Lake area which sits at 4500m, making it our highest and coolest campsite.

The landscape is again very different from the previous days, with Mount Kulin dominating the skyline in the distance.
Overnight in tents.

Trekking: 4-5 hours
Distance: 15 km
Altitude: 4530m

We take a short morning walk from our camp to Zarojkul Lake.
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon exploring what is arguably the most beautiful mountain lake in the Pamirs, fringed by snow-capped mountain giants.

Overnight in tents.

Trekking: 4 hours
Distance: 6km
Altitude: 4510m

Early start for a challenging but visually spectacular day as we cross the highest point of the trek, the 4840m high Shtik Lazar Pass. Although it’s just over 300 vertical meters of climbing to the top of the pass, it will be a tough day climbing up to the glaciated pass and walking on the rocky moraine.

From the top you can see one of the biggest mountains in the Tajik Pamirs, Peak Revolution (6940m). The 1100m descent takes us to our camping spot at 3720m, by the junction with the Bardara Valley.

Overnight in camps.

Trekking: 7 hours
Distance: 13 km
Altitude: 3720m

The final day is a long one but all downhill. For 20km we will follow the crystal-clear Bardara River. The geography changes from board upland valley through upland pasture, river gorges before we arrive in one of the remotest settlements in the Pamirs, Bardara Village.

Here we will sleep inside underneath a Pamiri roof again.
Overnight in local Homestay.

Trekking: 8 hours
Distance: 22 km
Altitude: 2830m

A rest day. This day it will be all about eating, sleeping and exploring village life in the Pamirs at a very slow pace.

Overnight in local Homestay.

Altitude: 2830m

Our drivers will pick us up and drive us through the wonderful Bartang Valley, back to the Panj river where we make a right turn towards Kalaikhum.

Overnight in Kalaikhum at local Guesthouse.

This is the last full day drive back to Dushanbe. We will leave early which will enable us to explore the capital of Dushanbe a little bit.

Overnight in Dushanbe at hotel.

Transfer to airport.
End of trip.