Tajikistan · August 1 - 5 2025

10 Day Shokhdara & Wakhan Valley Pamir Expedition

4 Nights

SOLD OUT

Description

Overview

If you’ve been craving a rugged adventure that blends high-altitude trekking with ancient Silk Road routes, this 10-day Dushanbe to Osh expedition through the Shokhdara and Wakhan Valleys is your calling. This journey is a raw, unfiltered dive into Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains, where river canyons, glacier-draped peaks, hot springs, and windswept plateaus become your daily companions.
One moment you’ll be soaking in Jelondy’s natural hot springs under a crisp night sky, the next you’ll be trekking to Turumtaikul, a hidden alpine lake where the silence is broken only by marmot whistles. You’ll stand among the petroglyphs of Langar, hike into the meadows beneath Pik Engels, and cross the lunar landscapes of the Pamir Plateau before finishing at the emerald jewel of Tulparkul under Lenin Peak’s shadow.
This isn’t the kind of trip where you count countries. This is a journey where you count mountain passes, rivers crossed, stars seen, and chai cups shared in mud-brick homes. It’s for travelers ready to feel small in the best way and open themselves to the quiet lessons the mountains offer with each step.

Highlights

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The Road Trip of a Lifetime

Taking in some of the best sceneries of Tajikistan, this itinerary will take us from Tajikistan's capital of Dushanbe to the nation's extreme east on an exhilarating road trip.

Hike to Turumtaikul

From the hot spring village of Jelondy, trek to the beautoful Pamiri lake of Turumtaikul

Explore Shokhdara Valley

Get off the beaten path in the Pamir and see why the Shokhdara Valley is not to be missed.

Itinerary

Dushanbe | Qala i Khumb

Day 1: Dushanbe to Qala i Khumb

Leave the lively chaos of Dushanbe’s streets, heading east along the Vakhsh and Panj Rivers. The road clings to cliffs as the river roars below, twisting past small settlements and walnut groves. You’ll pass bustling roadside stalls selling apricots and fresh bread before arriving in Qala i Khumb, a border village surrounded by green hills and the dusty ridges of Afghanistan just across the river. The evening is quiet, with the Panj’s steady rush lulling you to sleep.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What's included


  • All meals as indicated on the itinerary
  • English speaking guide
  • 4WD transportation
  • Shared room accommodations in homestays and guesthouses

  • Tajikistan visa fee (if applicable)
  • GBAO permit
  • Personal kit and equipment
  • Sleeping bag (rental available)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips to local staff

Extras & Options

GBAO Permit

GBAO Permit

Need us to obtain your GBAO entry permission for you?

FROM $25.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Hotel in Dushanbe on night before trip start - Double occupancy

Hotel in Dushanbe on night before trip start - Double occupancy

Let us handle the logistics

FROM $130.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Hotel in Dushanbe on night before trip start - single occupancy

Hotel in Dushanbe on night before trip start - single occupancy

Let us handle the logistics

FROM $100.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Simple Guesthouse in Dushanbe on night before trip start - Single or Double occupancy

Simple Guesthouse in Dushanbe on night before trip start - Single or Double occupancy

Let us handle the logistics

FROM $40.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Simple Guesthouse in Osh on final night - Double occupancy

Simple Guesthouse in Osh on final night - Double occupancy

Let us handle the logistics

FROM $60.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Simple Guesthouse in Osh on final night - Single occupancy

Simple Guesthouse in Osh on final night - Single occupancy

Let us handle the logistics

FROM $60.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Single Supplement

Single Supplement

Opt for a private room when it's available. Subject to availability.

FROM $360.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates

FAQs

Both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are generally safe countries to visit. The main concerns while traveling in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are the risk of injury during outdoor activities and altitude sickness.
This Pamir Highway Expedition will begin in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and end in Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
This Tajikistan expedition is rated as moderate, yet rugged. We will be staying in simple homestays and guesthouses along the Pamir Highway. This itinerary also includes a 16 km roundtrip trek in the Wakhan Valley, and another 16 km trek in the Bartang Valley, both of which are of moderate difficulty due to distance and elevation gain. Those who do not wish to take part in the trek in the Wakhan can spend the day exploring beautiful Langar village. While those prefer not to trek in the Bartang Valley can explore and spend the night in nearby Rushon.

Some nationalities need a Tajik visa issued by an embassy or consulate to enter the country, while others may only need an e-visa, visa on arrival, or may enter visa-free. If you are eligible for an e-visa, we recommend getting it to ease the process of obtaining a GBAO permit (read more about GBAO in the next section of the FAQ).

You can read an overview of Tajikistan’s visa policy here but it would still be wise to check with your nearest Tajik consulate or embassy as visa schemes are always subject to change.

Note that if you will be entering Tajikistan visa-free and you will be staying in the country for more than 10 business days, you must register with OVIR. We will handle this process for you after you’ve checked into the hotel on the first day.

In Kyrgyzstan, most nationalities are eligible to enter the country visa-free for up to 60 days.

To enter the Pamir region of Tajikistan, foreign travelers are required to obtain a GBAO (Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast) permit. Those who are eligible for a Tajik e-visa can obtain a GBAO permit for an additional $20 USD when applying for the e-visa. The GBAO permit will be issued on the e-visa document.

If you will be visiting visa-free we can obtain the GBAO permit for you for a $25 additional fee.

Those visitors that will be arriving earlier and staying a bit longer in Tajikistan will need to register with OVIR if staying in-country more than 10 business days. If this is the case, please let us know and we will assist with the registration.

To join any Safar Expeditions departure you will need to carry an active travel insurance plan. Be aware that Tajikistan’s generally remote nature poses very real challenges in the event of medical emergencies and serious illness. Because of this, it is recommended to select an insurance plan that covers both medical care and evacuation.

We recommend using IATI travel insurance for medical coverage and an evacuation plan from Global Rescue.

Prescriptions and over-the-counter meds are usually possible to find in Dushanbe, but we still recommend to make sure to bring any meds you need or may need with you.

The Tajik Somoni (TJS) is the official currency of Tajikistan. The value of the Somoni fluctuates a little but seems to have steadily stayed around 10-12 TJS to $1 USD for the past couple of years. In Kyrgyzstan (KGS), the Kyrgyz Som is the official currency and has been steadily staying around 80-90 KGS to $1 USD.

The Tajik Somoni (TJS) is the official currency of Tajikistan. The value of the Somoni fluctuates a little but seems to have steadily stayed around 10-12 TJS to $1 USD for the past couple of years. In Kyrgyzstan (KGS), the Kyrgyz Som is the official currency and has been steadily staying around 80-90 KGS to $1 USD.
Yes, we do provide a suggested packing list and preparation guide for our Tajikistan expedition that can be viewed here.

The food you’ll encounter during your time in Tajikistan will be simple and traditional. In the cities and towns, we will have the chance to try different Tajik and Central Asian dishes in local restaurants. On the Pamir Highway portion of the trip, we’ll mostly be eating homecooked meals provided by the homestays we’ll staying in. You can expect flavorful soups and salads, plov (a traditional Central Asian take on fried rice), noodle dishes, and meat dishes. Of course, almost any meal in Tajikistan is accompanied by a hot glass of chai.

Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that we can accommodate your needs.

SIM cards are available for purchase in Dushanbe, with T-Cell and Megafon having the best service. Internet can be intermittent in the Pamir, as we will have some nights where we won’t have access to mobile internet or Wi-Fi.

You can expect to have electricity most nights of the expedition.

Yes, a minimum of 2 passengers will need to be on this expedition in order to run. If the minimum isn’t reached, we will contact you about the potential to still operate the trip but at an additional charge or you will be given the option to cancel and your deposit/payment can either be returned to you or applied toward a different expedition of your choosing.