The Wakhan Corridor

Experience the life of the Wakhi and the Kyrgyz nomads of Central Asia.
Explore the Wakhan a region where many travelers do not go.
View ancient tombs and Buddhist carvings on the old Silk Road.

 Come join us and explore Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor; the narrow strip of land that sits between the Pamir Mountains and the Karakoram Mountain range a section of the earth so remotely traveled, it was once a trading route in ancient times and it is said Marco Polo also traveled this route.

The tour will begin Dushanbe, Tajikistan and we will travel into Afghanistan via the border town of  Panj-e Payon (Tajik) Shir Khan Bandar (Afghan), then to Kunduz, Fayzabad, and finally the gateway if the Wakhan, Ishkashim. From there we will continue our journey through the Wakhan Corridor and the Afghan Pamir seeing its villages on the way. The last part of this expedition will be on foot, to Chaqmaqtin lake.

Start Point: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
End Point: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Maximum number of people: 10

Days 1: Dushanbe – Panj-e Payon – Shir Khan.

You will be collected from the airport by our guides and we will drive to the town of Panj-e Payon to cross into Afghanistan. Depending on the time we arrive here and cross after making sure everyone has the correct visa to get into Afghanistan we will stay the night in Shir Khan on the Afghan side.

Total driving: 3  hours
Altitude Dushanbe: 800m

Day 2: Shir Khan to Ishkishim.

Shir Khan is a border town on the Afghan side.  We will continue to drive further into Afghanistan to Kundz, Fayzabad, and then onto Ishkishim. One whole day will be spent with our local guide and we will make final preparations and collect our permits for the Wakhan region. Once we leave Ishkishim we will have no chance to get supplies for 14 days – we must be able to survive by ourselves.  Everything will need to be arranged and while this is happening, guests will have time to explore the local environment and understand some of the Wakhi culture.

Driving: 10 hours
Altitude: 2600m

Day 4: Ishkishim – Qala e Panja

The journey from Ishkishim to Sarhad e Broghil is 250 km and traverses the narrowest section of the Wakhan corridor.  We pass the highest peak in the Hindu Kush Range – Noshak at 7492m. We follow the footsteps of Marco Polo and Hsuan Tsang on this ancient silk route.  The road is poor as it can often be washed out, but with good fortune, we hope to make it in two days. The scenery is breathtaking. We will stop in the village of Khandud to organise further paperwork and then will stay overnight in the village of Qala e Panja .

Driving: 6-8 hours
Altitude: 2800m

Day 5: Qala e Panja – Sarhad e Broghil

Our next stop is where the road ends. We must leave our vehicle and any further journey must be made either on foot or on horseback. Our afternoon will be spent making final preparations for the journey into the Afghan Pamir.

Driving: 4 hours
Altitude: 3250m

Day 6: Sarhad – Daliz Pass – Boharak

Our biggest challenge comes on our first day. The Wakhan corridor becomes too steep to follow the river. We move away from the Panj River and cross three passes, the first of which is the Daliz Pass (4260m).  This will involve a vertical altitude increase of 1000m in this short time. Our night will be spent in the village of Boharak.

Trekking: 7 hours
Altitude: 3450m

Day 7: Boharak – Langar

We will trek for 5 more days along the banks of the Wakhan river. There may be Wakhan shepherds bringing their flocks back to the bigger villages for the winter. We spend the night in Langar.  This name means “free buffet” and is the traditional spot for the Wakhi to graze their sheep and yaks.

Trekking: 6-7 hours
Altitude: 3600m

Day 8: Langar – Khach Goz

Our trek continues as the scenery changes from the steep-sided walls of the Wakhan Valley to the wide plains of the Afghan Pamir. We camp at the lowest point of the Kyrgyz settlements of Khach Goz.  Here we may have to swap our pack animals from Wahki animals to Kyrgyz animals.

Trekking: 5-6 hours
Altitude: 3800m

Day 9: Khach Goz – Bozai Gombaz

The next day is a short day trek to the largest Kyrgyz settlement of Bozai Gombaz.  Here we will have a chance to visit the nearby Kyrgyz tombs, rest or simply watch the people as they go about their lives.

Trekking: 2-3 hours
Altitude: 3900m

Day 10: Bozai Gombaz – Chaqmaqtin Lake

Another easy day of trekking will take us to the 9 km long Chaqmaqtin Lake where the Kyrgyz nomads graze their sheep and yaks in the summer. We may also see a train of Bactrian or two humped camels which are native to the steppes of central Asia.

Trekking: 4-5 hours
Altitude: 4050m

Day 11: Arrive at Chaqmaqtin Lake

Our local guide is friendly with the Kyrgyz so we will have time to meet and talk with them. We hope to get an insight into their lives, their culture and their daily life in the yurts of the remote area high in the Pamir Mountains.

Day 12: Chaqmaqtin Lake – Kurchin

Depending on the weather, we hope to take the tough but spectacular high route back from Chaqmaqtin to Sarhad viewing more of the fabulous views of the Pamir Mountains.  We will return across the high plains after camping at the small Kyrgyz village of Kurchin high above the Bozai Gombaz.

Trekking: 5-6 hours
Altitude: 4100m

Day 13: Kurchin – Aqbelis Pass – Ghughumdeh

Once we have trekked 2 – 3 hours we will arrive at the top of the Aqbelis Pass (4600m). Here we will see great views and an alpine lake. Another hour of trekking brings us to the perfect lunch place and in the early afternoon, we arrive in Ghughumdeh for the night.

Trekking: 5-6 hours
Altitude: 4300m

Day 14: Ghughumdeh – Uween Sar Pass – Nauabad:

We cross the Uween Sar Pass (4850m) today and it will be tough. This is the highest point of the trip. If we start early we should all cross the pass around midday and then continue down to the small camp of Nauabad.

Trekking: 6-8 hours
Altitude: 4200m

Day 15: Nauabad – Sang e Nauishdah:

A short day of trekking will allow us to gently recover from the previous day’s trek over the Uween Sar Pass.  We stay overnight in Sang e Nauishdah.

Trekking: 2-3 hours
Altitude: 4100m

Day 16: Sang e Nauishdah – Shawr:

On this day if the river is low, and it often is at this time, we can choose to make this day an hour or so shorter, by crossing the river to reach our overnight camp at Shawr. If the river is not low enough we will cross the river near Boharak.

Trekking: 5-7 hours
Altitude: 3450m

Day 17: Shawr – Daliz Pass – Sarhad e Broghil – Qala e Panja:

A final crossing of the Daliz Pass (4250 metres) before the descent back into Sarhad e Broghil. Our vehicles will be waiting to take us back to Tajikistan. We will say goodbye to our horsemen here. We should reach Qala e Panja that day.

Trekking: 4-5 hours
Driving: 3-4 hours
Altitude: 2800m

Day 18: Qala e Panja – Ishkishim:

The drive back to Ishkishim should be quite smooth at this time of the year as river levels are low after the summer snow melt.  Once we are back in Ishkishim, there will be plenty of time to rest and thank our Wakhi guides for all their help before we say goodbye.

Driving: 4-5 hours
Altitude: 2600m

Day 19: Ishkishim – Shir Khan:

We will stay the night here ready for departure into Tajikistan the following morning. 

Driving: 10 hours
Altitude: 2100m

Day 20: Panj-e Payon – Dushanbe:

We will make our way back to the capital and have one last night together.

Driving: 3-5 hours
Altitude: 1250m

Day 21: Fly Home:

We will ensure that you are taken to the airport to catch your flight.

All accommodation.
All food in Afghanistan.
Breakfast in Tajikistan.
Transport/transfers.
International guides.
Local guides.
Local cook.
Pack animals.
Permits to visit the Wakhan region

Any necessary visas.
Insurance.
International Flights.
Entrance fees.
Personal Tents and camping equipment.
Drinks.
Tips.
Lunch and dinner in Tajikistan.

Cancellation Fee in % to trip cost:  59 to 31 days  50%  30 days or less 100%