24 Day Afghan Wakhan Expedition
Welcome to the remote Wakhan Corridor
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Overview
Highlights

Reaching the Remote Chaqmaqtin Lake
Located in the far reaches of the Wakhan Corridor, experience life around Chaqmaqtin and meet some of the remaining nomadic families that live in this area.

A Unique & Challenging Itinerary
This is one of the only itineraries in the Afghan Wakhan to combine trekking both the Great Pamir, Little Pamir, and to both Zorkul and Chaqmaqtin.

Experience Wakhi Culture & Hospitality
The Wakhi people have been separated by the corridor drawn many years ago, scattering them in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Their culture is incredibly welcoming and features a unique language related to Persian.
Itinerary
Dushanbe to Qala i Khumb
Day 1: Hit the Pamir Highway
Driving: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 2,200m
Overnight: Guesthouse in Qala i Khumb
Included
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2: Into the Tajik Wakhan
Driving: 10-12 hours
Altitude: 2,600m
Overnight: Guesthouse in Ishkashim
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3: Cross into Afghanistan
Driving: 1 hour
Altitude: 2,600 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Eshkashim
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4: Journey to the Great Pamir
Altitude: 2,900 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Gaz Khan
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5: The Afghan Wakhan Trek Begins
Trekking: 8-9 hrs
Altitude: 3,250 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Jangle
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 3,900 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Shukarga Valley
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Day 7: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 8-10 hours
Altitude: 4,400 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Munjlaq
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 8: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 4,450 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Julmasert
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 9: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 5-7 hours
Altitude: 4,300 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Erghnaq
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 10: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 4,500 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Moolah
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 11: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 5-6 hours
Altitude: 4,300m
Overnight: Tent camping at Zorkul
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 12: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 4,500 meters
Overnight: Tent camping at the foot of Showr Pass
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 13: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 8-10 hours
Altitude: 4,890 meters
Overnight: Tent camping on the other side of Showr Pass
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 14: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 4-5 hours
Altitude: 4,200 meters
Overnight: Tent camping at the foot of Qarabel Pass
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 15: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 4,800 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Nauabad
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 16: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Altitude: 4,895 meters
Overnight: Tent camping at the foot of Aqbilis Pass
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 18: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Driving: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 4,100 meters
Overnight: Tent camping at Chaqmaqtin
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 19: Wakhan Corridor Trek
Trekking: Rest day
Altitude: 4,050m
Overnight: Tent camping at Chaqmaqtin
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 20: Drive to Qala e Panja
Driving: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 2,800 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Qala e Panja
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 21: Back on the Wakhan Corridor Road
Altitude: 2,800 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Eshkashim
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 22: Rest Day
Altitude: 2,600 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Eshkashim
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 23: Back to the Tajik Wakhan
Altitude: 2,600 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Khorog
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 24: The Final Day
Driving: 12-14 hours
Altitude: 2,200m
Overnight: Hotel or guesthouse in Dushanbe
Included
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What's included
What's Included
- Meals as noted on itinerary
- Guesthouses as noted on itinerary
- English speaking guide
- Visa support documents
- Pack animal support
What's Not Included
- International airfare to and from the endpoints of the expedition
- Tajikistan visa & permit fees (if applicable)
- Afghanistan visa fee ($90-220 depending on nationality)
- Travel insurance
- Gear
- Tips to local staff
- Personal spending
Extras & Options
Sleeping Bag Rental
Don't want to carry yours? Save space in your luggage and rent ours.
FAQs
With a low crime rate and welcoming population Tajikistan is generally a safe country to visit. Visitors should exercise regular precautions they would anywhere in the world while traveling in Tajikistan.
The most common problems a traveler may face include corruption, altitude sickness, and stomach upset.
In terms of natural disasters, Tajikistan is prone to earthquakes.
This 5 Day Fann Mountains Expedition will begin at the border coming from Uzbekistan at the Samarkand-Panjakent Crossing and end in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
This 7 Day Fann Mountains expedition is rated as challenging and rugged. This means that we will be tent camping each night of the expedition, sleeping in primitive camps, and will be trekking for long hours at higher altitudes. We will have several nights without access to showers, so it can be a bit uncomfortable for some.
You can expect long days of trekking, up to 18 kilometers | 11 miles (7-10 hours) at the longest. As mentioned in the itinerary, we will trek over high mountain passes, the highest just over 3800 meters. We will have pack animal support for the trek to carry food and tents, but you should still expect to carry a pack with roughly 5-10 kg of weight each day.
Most visitors from western countries can enter Tajikistan with either the Tajik e-visa, visa on arrival, or may enter visa-free.
Some nationalities will need to apply for a Tajik visa issued by an embassy or consulate to enter the country.
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.
To join any Safar Expeditions departure you will need to carry an active travel insurance plan. Be aware that the remote nature of the Fann Mountains poses very real challenges in the event of medical emergencies and serious illnesses and injuries. 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 9-12 TJS to $1 USD for the past few years.
Yes, we do provide a suggested packing list and preparation guide for our Fann Mountains expedition that can be viewed here.
The food you’ll encounter during your time in Tajikistan will be simple and tasty.
Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that we can accommodate your needs.
Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that we can accommodate your needs.
It is possible to purchase a Tajik SIM card in Dushanbe, with T-Cell and Megafon being the best local carriers.
Once we begin our trek in the Fanns, we won’t have access to the internet from Sarytag to Artuch, where we’ll have Wi-Fi (for a fee) for the evening at the base camp. Again we won’t have any internet access until we depart Lake Alovaddin back toward Dushanbe.
Once we begin the trek we will not have access to electricity. I highly recommend purchasing a solar charger and external batteries to bring with you to keep your electronics charged out here.
Reviews
“We went to Socotra with Nicole in Jan 2023 – starting in Cairo and finishing in Adan. Nicole handled all the details and was wonderfully responsive pre-trip as what are ordinarily simple things like buying airplane tickets are not easy for this itinerary. She handled every detail. This is an incredible trip – we felt very safe traveling as single women. Her relationships with the locals made it an authentic experience. The beauty and magic of Socotra is beyond compare. We have travelled all over the world and this was a highlight.”
Leslie
Will
