Tajikistan's Pamir Highway

• Accommodations as noted in itinerary. In the cities of Dushanbe, Bokhtar, Qal’ai Khumb, and Khorugh hotels are of the three to four star level (collectively 8 nights). In Murghob and Rushon (total 2 nights) the hotels are very simple and while rooms are private, restroom facilities may be shared. Very basic guesthouses are used for the other four nights (Yamg, Langar, Jarty Gumbez, and Ghudara) with shared sleeping accommodations and shared outhouse WCs. Shared accommodations may be mixed-sex.
• Most meals, as noted in the itinerary: 15 breakfasts, 12 lunches and 8 dinners.
• Restaurant tips for included meals.
• Services of experienced, English-speaking local guides, drivers and other staff, including a MIR Tour Manager.
• Arrival/departure airport transfers. MIR will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure whether we make your airfare arrangements or not, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates in the tour start/end cities.
• Ground transportation throughout itinerary by private mini-coach, jeep or van (size of vehicle depends on group size and terrain).
• Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in itinerary.
• Gratuities to local guides, drivers, porters and other service personnel.
• Complete pre-departure electronic document that includes detailed packing suggestions, reading list links, country-specific information, maps, travel tips and more.
• Customized visa application and instruction kit (please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).
• Electronic final update bulletin, with any late news, updates and important information.

• International airfare or taxes/fuel surcharges.
• Meals not specified as included in the itinerary.
• Single supplement charge, if requested or required.
• Items of a personal nature (phone calls, email, laundry, alcohol, excess baggage, etc).
• Visa/passport fees, airport departure fees.
• Expenses incurred as a result of delay, modification or extension of a tour due to causes beyond MIR’s control.
• Baggage handling.
• Gratuities to Tour Manager.
• Travel and trip cancellation insurance.

Level 4: Rigorous

This Explorer Series program, by nature, is designed to be comfortable for western travelers, but is a very adventurous program to a rustic part of the world. Accommodations will vary widely, and will include three and four-star hotels in Dushanbe, Bokhtar, Qal’ai Khumb, and Khorugh (collectively 8 nights). In Murghob and Rushon (total 2 nights) the hotels are very simple and while rooms are private, restroom facilities may be shared. Very basic guesthouses are used for the other four nights (Yamg, Langar, Jarty Gumbez, and Ghudara) with shared sleeping accommodations and shared outhouse WCs. Shared accommodations may be mixed-sex. Running water, electricity, internet, and cell service may not be available for several stretches along this itinerary, especially in Yamg, Langar, Jarty Gumbez, and Ghudara. Even if available, the service may be frustratingly weak (this includes electricity, which can at times be weak and unreliable in some of these areas).

Some drives will be more than eight hours and have significant segments along dirt roads, unpaved roads, or poorly maintained and therefore very bumpy asphalt. Expect rough, dusty roads, for long periods of time. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least two miles a day, keeping up with fellow travelers, and must enjoy the sense of adventure that comes with overland travel over dusty, rough roads.

A large part of the trip is at a high elevation, ranging from 7,000 to over 15,000 feet (the highest points on the itinerary are en route from Langar to Jarty Gumbez and Murghab and then on to Ghudara. This stretch includes the Ak-Baital Pass at 15,270 feet above sea level, the Khargush pass at 14,252 feet above sea level, an overnight in Jarty Gumbez at over 13,000 feet above sea level, and an overnight in Murghob at 11,869 feet above sea level.

If you rely on electricity for CPAP, or for any other reason, you must have your own battery or other back-up, or please reconsider participation.

Those with a history of medical problems, particularly cardiac or respiratory, must consult a doctor before considering this trip.

Services are improving in the region; however, you may encounter problems with plumbing, bureaucratic service, road conditions, unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces and steps, and availability and quality of public restrooms. In some places, established public restrooms will be Eastern-style. In other places where there are no restrooms, the group will make “bush stops.” Hot running water is not a constant in this part of the world, as municipal water systems are sometimes under repair in the warmer months and some guesthouses or yurt camps do not offer running hot water. We are traveling in some areas which, relatively speaking, have seen few travelers, and the infrastructure is not yet fully developed. Air conditioning is a luxury and often not available in facilities outside capital cities.

This program is rated as rigorous touring due to the daily walking involved (with some hiking), extended travel at high altitudes, several very long driving days and the overall shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure. This itinerary features a significant amount of touring on foot, and long days of driving – required to experience some of the spectacular scenery.

Flexibility, a sense of humor and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are essential components to the enjoyment of this trip.

Every effort has been made to make the information in this schedule accurate. However, trip itineraries are always subject to change. We will do our best to inform you in advance of any changes, but due to the nature of travel in Central Asia, this may not always be possible. This tour maintains a focus on cultural interaction and we will be visiting private homes and sharing meals with local residents. It is therefore important that tour members have a desire to involve themselves in the local culture in order to fully enjoy this trip. If you are looking for a less adventurous experience, MIR offers other scheduled small group tour options featuring more comfortable accommodation and which do not venture into the remote and undeveloped Pamir region. Please ask for details on these tours (Journey Through Central Asia) as well as a custom private journey which may be a better match for your interests and physical capabilities.