24 Day Afghan Wakhan Expedition

We hit the ground running on day 1, having an early breakfast before hitting the road and making way for the famed Pamir Highway. 

Today begins early with a long drive along Tajikistan’s famed Pamir Highway. The route will first take us eastward from the city toward Nurek Reservoir before heading toward the south into the arid Khatlon Province, passing through the cities of Danghara and Kulob where we will make a quick visit to Hulbuk Fortress before heading back east again en route to Shurubod Pass.

On the descent from Shurubod, you’ll get your first glimpses into the wild Badakhshan Province just across the narrow Panj River that forms the natural border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. From here the highway follows the course of the Panj River to our destination for the night, Qala i Khumb.

After reaching Qala i Khumb in the late afternoon we’ll grab dinner at a nice restaurant that overhangs a small river.

Driving: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 2,200m
Overnight: Guesthouse in Qala i Khumb

Getting yet another early start, we will continue our journey along the Pamir Highway en route to the Tajik Wakhan. Continuing along the Panj River we will eventually arrive in Khorog, the largest city in the Pamir where we’ll take a quick break for lunch and stretch our legs before carrying on to the south to enter the Tajik Wakhan at the city of Ishkashim. 

Driving: 10-12 hours
Altitude: 2,600m
Overnight: Guesthouse in Ishkashim

In the morning we will make the short drive to the Ishkashim Border Crossing. Once we arrive at the bridge we will begin the process of exiting Tajikistan and then will walk across with our luggage to enter Afghanistan.

Once we’ve cleared border formalities we will jump into our new vehicles and continue the short 20-minute ride into Afghan Eshkashim.

Once we arrive in Eshkashim, we will have time to explore the small bazaar area and wander around the village while our organizers collect our permits for our journey into the Wakhan National Park.

Driving: 1 hour
Altitude: 2,600 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Eshkashim

After breakfast in Eshkashim, we will begin our drive along the Afghan Wakhan Corridor toward the village of Gaz Khan in the Great Pamir near where the Pamir and Wakhan Rivers meet to form the Panj. This route sits along one of the major thoroughfares of the ancient Silk Road with the likes of Marco Polo and Hsuan Tsang passing through this area in the past.

We will eventually break in the village of Khandood to process more paperwork. We plan to arrive in Gaz Khan in the late afternoon or early evening and spend our last night indoors here before beginning the trek.

Driving time: 8-9 hrs
Altitude: 2,900 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Gaz Khan

After a big breakfast, we’ll load up supplies onto yaks and donkeys and begin our Wakhan Corridor trek toward Zorkul Lake and the Little Pamir. The journey today will take us from the village of Gaz Khan to the shepherd settlement of Jangle.

Trekking: 8-9 hrs
Altitude: 3,250 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Jangle

On the second day of our Wakhan Corridor trek, we will continue further into the Great Pamir, gaining nearly 700 meters in elevation by the time we arrive at the summer pasture in the Valley of Shukarga where we will camp for the night. 

Trekking: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 3,900 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Shukarga Valley

Today is our first of many strenuous days along this Wakhan Corridor Trek. Continuing along the Shukarga Valley we will make our way to 4400 meter Shukarga Pass. If the wind allows we will have lunch at the top of the pass before descending to Munjlaq where we will set up camp for the night. 

Trekking: 8-10 hours
Altitude: 4,400 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Munjlaq

On the 4th day of the Wakhan Corridor Trek, we will have a gradual uphill walk to the summer pasture of Julmasert.

Trekking: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 4,450 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Julmasert

The trek today in the Great Pamir inches us closer to Zorkul Lake, bringing us from Julmasert to Erghnaq. The hike is fairly straightforward with a few rolling hills to cross on the way.

Trekking: 5-7 hours
Altitude: 4,300 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Erghnaq

Today’s goal is to arrive at the settlement of Moolah from Erghnaq, located not too far from Lake Zorkul.

Trekking: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 4,500 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Moolah

After an early start, we will plan to arrive at the shores of Zorkul in the early afternoon to give us ample time to explore around the lake. Zorkul straddles the Tajik and Afghan border so we’ll have impressive views back into Tajikistan. 

After a sunset dinner on Zorkul’s shores, enjoy epic stargazing before calling it a night.

Trekking: 5-6 hours
Altitude: 4,300m
Overnight: Tent camping at Zorkul

After a sunrise breakfast at Zorkul, we’ll pack up camp and make our way toward Showr Pass that we will be crossing the next day. The trek gains gradual elevation today before we reach our camp between the 4,400 and 4,500 meter mark.

Trekking: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 4,500 meters
Overnight: Tent camping at the foot of Showr Pass

With an early start, we’ll make our final push to the top of 4,890 meter Showr Pass, gaining approximately 400 meters in elevation on the way up. After lunch at the top, we will make our descent to camp just on the other side of Showr Pass for the night. 

Trekking: 8-10 hours
Altitude: 4,890 meters
Overnight: Tent camping on the other side of Showr Pass

Today is a short day bringing us first down and then back up again to camp at the foot of 4,800 meter Qarabel Pass. 

Trekking: 4-5 hours
Altitude: 4,200 meters
Overnight: Tent camping at the foot of Qarabel Pass

On this 11th day of the Wakhan Corridor Trek, we’ll make our way up to cross Qarabel Pass, gaining nearly 600 meters in elevation on the way to the top. After taking in the panorama from the top, we’ll continue down to the shepherd camp of Nauabad for the night.

Trekking: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 4,800 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Nauabad

Today we cross our highest pass of the trek at 4,895 meters. After an early breakfast, we’ll depart Nauabad bound for Ghurumdee Pass to arrive at the top by the early afternoon. 

We’ll descend into a valley from here and continue toward our camp at the foot of Aqbilis Pass.

Trekking: 9-11 hours
Altitude: 4,895 meters
Overnight: Tent camping at the foot of Aqbilis Pass

Today we cross our final pass of the trek, taking us up and over 4,600 meter Aqbilis Pass. We’ll plan to have lunch at the shores of a beautiful alpine lake up in the pass before descending to the Kyrgyz settlement of Kurchin for the night.

Trekking: 9-10 hours
Altitude: 4,600 meters
Overnight: Tent camping in Kurchin

From Kurchin we will continue to the gem of the Little Pamir of Chaqmaqtin Lake. The trek will take us past the village of Bozai Gumbez and onto the shores of Chaqmaqtin.

Driving: 8-9 hours
Altitude: 4,100 meters
Overnight: Tent camping at Chaqmaqtin

Today we will have the chance to explore the Chaqmaqtin area, meet local Kyrgyz families, and learn about their culture in what feels like one of the most secluded places in the world.

Trekking: Rest day
Altitude: 4,050m
Overnight: Tent camping at Chaqmaqtin

After breakfast, we’ll say goodbye to the Little Pamir and depart Chaqmaqtin Lake where our vehicles will be waiting for us. From Chaqmaqtin we’ll make our way to Qala e Panja, the once capital of the Mirdom of Wakhan, which dates back to the Sassanid era. 

Driving: 7-8 hours
Altitude: 2,800 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Qala e Panja

We will take today to make the road journey along the Afghan Wakhan back to Eshkashim from Qala e Panja, making scenic stops in villages along the way.

Driving time: 6 hrs
Altitude: 2,800 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Eshkashim

Take today to rest and explore the bustling bazaar town of Eshkashim. Today may be used as an extra day in the event of delays on the trek. 

Altitude: 2,600 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Eshkashim

In the morning we’ll say goodbye to our local guide in Afghanistan and make the short drive to the border, crossing back to Tajik Ishkashim before continuing to Khorog.

We will have the afternoon to explore Khorog’s Bazaar, Central Park, and maybe the Botanical Gardens that overlook the Tajik Pamir’s largest city. 

Driving: 4 hours
Altitude: 2,600 meters
Overnight: Guesthouse in Khorog

Today begins early with a long drive from Khorog to Dushanbe along the Pamir Highway. 

Driving: 12-14 hours
Altitude: 2,200m
Overnight: Hotel or guesthouse in Dushanbe