Starting: 4 Jul 2012 for 30 days
Tour Status: Closed
Land Only Price: £4,495 (Was: 4,985)
Single Supp: £125
Please note that a Wild Frontiers price means NO hidden extras, NO local payment or kitty, NO compulsory single supplement.
Download DossierAs 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.
Hotel for tonight is included although the suggested flights arrive in the early hours of Day 2.
Settle in then take a wander around the bazaar in this impressive city with its mountain backdrop.
Drive the famous Pamir Highway, a road vital to the country. Break the journey for lunch and photos.
Travel to the city of Ishkashim, opposite the Afghan version and sup our last beers for a while.
Cross over the Panj River Bridge into Afghanistan, customs and immigration will require patience!
Enter the Wakhan Corridor on a rough soviet-built road crossing rivers and seeing locals as we go.
We hit the end of the narrow valley road; from here on we will need the help of animals to continue.
Spend a day acclimatising in this stunning village while loading pack animals and getting ready.
A tough first day crossing a pass at 4277m which takes around 7hrs but our first camp is incredible.
Follow the river to the small settlement of Borak (3453m) and continue to Zanuk, 7hrs walking total.
A 6hr day starts with an easy climb to Langar then to Warrum Gash where we briefly leave the river.
An 8hr trek to 2 Kyrgyz villages populated with descendants of folk who fled 1917 Bolshevik Russia.
A relaxed day to visit an old military base and Kyrgyz burial ground under towering mountain peaks.
The final 7hr push to this remote lake at 4015m which is the summer home of many Kyrgyz families.
Relax with the local people and take in the magnificent surroundings in a place you won't forget.
Today we trek for 8hrs into the heart of the mountains taking the high route away from the river.
Tackle the high Aqbelis pass at 4595m and camp with the valley to ourselves after another 8hr walk.
We reach Warrum Valley's highest pass at 4887m and our reward is fresh kebabs after our 6hr day.
Today we begin to descend taking in the magnificent 6000m peaks around us on a slow 6hr trek.
Travel 7hrs downstream, crossing the river at a suitable point, seeing many pertoglyphs as we go.
We have a steep descent out of the high valley and rejoin the river at Borak during a 6hr trek.
Some tough descents but amazing views on a 7hr walk to our first permanent settlement in 2 weeks.
If we are on schedule then today we can just relax in wonderful Sarhad village before continuing on.
Drive back through the Corridor and tonight we stay gazing our over the Pamir River to Tajikistan.
Return to the town of Ishkashim in Afghanistan with time for shopping and dinner and exploring.
Another contingency day in this friendly border town which is our final night in Afghanistan.
A real change of scenery as we enter the university town of Khorog and our first hotel in 2 weeks.
Leaving the Pamir Mountains behind us we make our way slowly westwards and appreciate the scenery.
Our final drive takes us back to the capital of Tajikistan for a hard-earned celebratory dinner.
Tour finishes this morning.
| Start Date | Tour Name | Duration | Status | Land Only Price |
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