Afghanistan & Tajikistan: Wakhan Corridor Trek

As many of you will be aware, Wild Frontiers is a company that has been set up by travellers for travellers and the company ethos has always been to help adventurous souls get to incredible places that would otherwise remain inaccessible. We are therefore truly proud to be able to offer this real adventure into Afghanistan’s famous Wakhan Corridor. This will be our 5th continuous year operating trips in this narrow strip of land that once formed the buffer zone between the British & Russian Empires. It was of immense strategic importance during the 19th century Great Game, though today the area, inhabited predominantly by Wakhi herdsmen is remote, peaceful and blessed with some of the finest mountain scenery the world has to offer. From Dushanbe in Tajikistan we will travel first to the Afghan border at Ishkashim, cross over and make our way to the start of our trek, deep in the Afghan Pamir. Taking a circular route, our trek will take us up into the Little Pamir to Cheqmaqtin Lake, home to a band of isolated Kyrgyz pastoralists before returning via a higher and more demanding route (including a 4887m pass) to our base at Sarhad-e Broghil.

Afghanistan & Tajikistan: Wakhan Corridor Trek

Day 1: Tour starts in Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

Hotel for tonight is included although the suggested flights arrive in the early hours of Day 2.

Day 2: Dushanbe

Settle in then take a wander around the bazaar in this impressive city with its mountain backdrop.

Day 3: Dushanbe - Kalaikhum

Drive the famous Pamir Highway, a road vital to the country. Break the journey for lunch and photos.

Day 4: Kalaikhum - Ishkashim

Travel to the city of Ishkashim, opposite the Afghan version and sup our last beers for a while.

Day 5: To Ishkashim (Afghanistan)

Cross over the Panj River Bridge into Afghanistan, customs and immigration will require patience!

Day 6: Ishkashim - Qala e Panj

Enter the Wakhan Corridor on a rough soviet-built road crossing rivers and seeing locals as we go.

Day 7: Qala e Panj - Sarhad

We hit the end of the narrow valley road; from here on we will need the help of animals to continue.

Day 8: In Sarhad e Broghil

Spend a day acclimatising in this stunning village while loading pack animals and getting ready.

Day 9: Trek Daliz Pass to Shauer

A tough first day crossing a pass at 4277m which takes around 7hrs but our first camp is incredible.

Day 10: Trek to Zankuk

Follow the river to the small settlement of Borak (3453m) and continue to Zanuk, 7hrs walking total.

Day 11: Trek to Warrum Gash

A 6hr day starts with an easy climb to Langar then to Warrum Gash where we briefly leave the river.

Day 12: Trek to Kachin

An 8hr trek to 2 Kyrgyz villages populated with descendants of folk who fled 1917 Bolshevik Russia.

Day 13: Day trip to Bozai Gombaz

A relaxed day to visit an old military base and Kyrgyz burial ground under towering mountain peaks.

Day 14: Trek to Lake Cheqmaqtin

The final 7hr push to this remote lake at 4015m which is the summer home of many Kyrgyz families.

Day 15: Around Lake Cheqmaqtin

Relax with the local people and take in the magnificent surroundings in a place you won't forget.

Day 16: Trek towards Aqbelis

Today we trek for 8hrs into the heart of the mountains taking the high route away from the river.

Day 17: Trek to Garumdee

Tackle the high Aqbelis pass at 4595m and camp with the valley to ourselves after another 8hr walk.

Day 18: Trek to Ralom Eidar Kotan

We reach Warrum Valley's highest pass at 4887m and our reward is fresh kebabs after our 6hr day.

Day 19: Trek to Sarokreo

Today we begin to descend taking in the magnificent 6000m peaks around us on a slow 6hr trek.

Day 20: Trek to Khundor

Travel 7hrs downstream, crossing the river at a suitable point, seeing many pertoglyphs as we go.

Day 21: Trek to Shauer

We have a steep descent out of the high valley and rejoin the river at Borak during a 6hr trek.

Day 22: Trek Daliz Pass to Sarhad

Some tough descents but amazing views on a 7hr walk to our first permanent settlement in 2 weeks.

Day 23: Contingency Day

If we are on schedule then today we can just relax in wonderful Sarhad village before continuing on.

Day 24: Sarhad - Goz Khan

Drive back through the Corridor and tonight we stay gazing our over the Pamir River to Tajikistan.

Day 25: Goz Khan - Ishkashim

Return to the town of Ishkashim in Afghanistan with time for shopping and dinner and exploring.

Day 26: Contingency Day

Another contingency day in this friendly border town which is our final night in Afghanistan.

Day 27: Ishkashim - Khorog (Tajikistan)

A real change of scenery as we enter the university town of Khorog and our first hotel in 2 weeks.

Day 28: Khorog - Kalaikhum

Leaving the Pamir Mountains behind us we make our way slowly westwards and appreciate the scenery.

Day 29: Kalaikhum - Dushanbe

Our final drive takes us back to the capital of Tajikistan for a hard-earned celebratory dinner.

Day 30: Tour ends in Dushanbe

Tour finishes this morning.

Afghanistan & Tajikistan: Wakhan Corridor Trek

Start DateTour NameDurationStatusLand Only Price

Afghanistan & Tajikistan: Wakhan Corridor Trek

Afghanistan & Tajikistan: Wakhan Corridor Trek

Amanda Drake

Born in London, Amanda’s joy in travelling was first awoken at age 4 when her family relocated back to Sydney, Australia (her first memory is of... Read More

Richard Dunwoody

Richard Dunwoody was 12 when he started riding racehorses and rode in his first race as an amateur in 1982. He turned professional two years later and won... Read More

Simon Watson

Simon was born and raised the hard way in the remote wilderness of the Oxfordshire Chilterns where the seeds of a passion for adventure travel were first... Read More

Mette Steen

Our most experienced Ethiopia, Yemen and Wakhan guide, Mette has spent the past 18 years traversing the African continent with side trips to Middle East and... Read More

Marc Leaderman

Narrowly escaping the "lawyer, doctor or accountant" stereotype career that is the fate of many London sons, Marc taught English in Romania & Japan... Read More

Max Wood

Max was born in Yorkshire and brought up in Lancashire. After studying at university in Coventry  he realised that there was much more in this world to... Read More

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More useful information when travelling to:
Tajikistan

Flight Information

There are no direct flights to Dushanbe from London. The best options are Air Baltic via Riga which takes around 10:25hrs, or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, taking 12hrs.

Useful Tips

• If visiting Khodjent take your trunks - a swim in the Amu Darya at sunset is lovely

• In fact take your trunks wherever you're going - in the mountains there are plenty of natural spas

• Roads can be dusty so a bandanna is a good idea

• The sun can be harsh at high altitudes in the Pamirs so ensure you bring a good sun hat and lots of sun cream

• Learn the Cyrillic alphabet " it will only take you a few minutes but it will help you immensely

When To Go

The weather conditions can be extremely varied. In the Pamir Mountains you will often be travelling at heights in excess of 4000 metres, and even in the middle of summer it can turn bitter with snow falling; at the same time mercury in the thermometers of Dushanbe can be nudging 40 degrees. All in all, British summertime is considered the best time to visit in terms of favourable conditions.

Packing List

Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to Tajikistan. With your booking confirmation you will receive a packing list specific to your tour, so please treat this as a general guideline only.

Luggage:
It is best to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.
On all our trips a small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with. However, the main thing to bear in mind while packing for a trip to Central Asia is that the weather conditions can be extremely varied. In the mountains, you will often be travelling at heights in access of 4,000 metres, and even in the middle of summer it can turn bitter with snow falling. You should therefore pack things for cold conditions as well as for warm.

You should also keep in mind that while there is a much more relaxed approach to Islam than in many of the neighbouring countries, in certain areas shoulders and legs would need to be covered.

Therefore as a guide we suggest a packing list like this:
• 4 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts, short sleeved and long.
• 2/3 pairs of cotton trousers. If preferred, women can wear dresses and skirts
• 2 x pairs of shorts
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts
• Good quality fleece or warm jumper
• Warm jacket
• Lightweight waterproof jacket
• Set of thermal underwear
• Change of clothing for the evenings
• An extra “outfit” if you’d like to dress up a bit on occasion
• Warm hat and gloves
• Sun hat or cap
• Women should have a headscarf
• Swim suit or trunks
• Pair of walking shoes/boots (walking)
• Pair of recreational shoes, adventure sandals, trainers or pumps
• Flip flops/sandals for bathrooms

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for your trip:
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Sleeping bag liner (cotton or silk)
• Torch (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• A bandanna or large handkerchief is useful for dusty tracks
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Water bottle
• Plug adapter (see ‘Electricity’ section)

Personal First Aid Kit:
While we do carry a large medical kit on all our group tours, we would advise that you take some of the basics with you. This should include:
• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Laxatives
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
• Tweezers
(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras:
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife
• Trekking poles

NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Practical Information

Time:
Tajikistan is 5hrs ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol:
The food in Central Asia very varied. As you travel through, you will experience the delicacies of each region, which often overlap with the cultures that have lived and moved around over the centuries.

With regard to alcohol, the choice is limited to vodka, beer or rather filthy local brandy, so anyone wanting something different - Scotch or Gin for example - should buy it duty free and bring it out.

Electricity:
Those bringing video & digital cameras that require battery chargers should also bring a two-pin, continental style adapter. In most hotels you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug.

Money:
In Tajikistan the official unit of currency is the Somoni.

To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

A few points to help you plan:
• It is strongly recommended you travel with US dollars in cash. Sterling or travellers cheques are very difficult to change.
• Credit cards and Travellers Cheques are basically useless.
• Payments are mainly made in cash.
• Try not to withdraw more than you think you will need as currency can be hard to change back.
• It is useful to bring lots of small denomination notes.

Language & Religion:
Tajikistan’s official language is Tajik. Russian is still routinely used for business and communication. The majority of the population follow Sunni Islam, with the small minority being followers of Russian Orthodox, Catholicism, Buddhism and Judaism.

Cultural Sensitivity:
On our tours we frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour leader will be able to advise you accordingly.

At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking a group of tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result we ask that you refer to your trip dossier for information on the Wild Frontiers Foundation which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.

Photography:
Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Also many countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated.

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