Pamir Highway: the World's Highest Road
Twelve extreme days along the M41 highway of the Tajik Pamirs at up to 4,655 m elevation: from Dushanbe to remote Murghab, Lake Iskanderkul among the mountains, the Pamir valleys and Karakul Lake at 3,900 m on the Kyrgyz border.
Description
The Pamir Highway — the M41 — is one of the planet's most legendary and extreme routes. Built partly by Soviet engineers over the old Silk Road alignment, it snakes 1,200 km through the Pamir range of Tajikistan among 7,000-meter peaks, connecting Dushanbe to Osh in Kyrgyzstan over passes above 4,600 m. This 12-day itinerary runs the Tajik section of the M41. It starts in Dushanbe, Central Asia's most peaceful capital, and climbs to Lake Iskanderkul — a turquoise jewel wedged between snowy peaks where, legend says, Alexander the Great lost his horse Bucephalus. The route follows the Panj River valley, the natural border with Afghanistan, where Afghan villages can be seen just meters away. You cross the Ak-Baital pass (4,655 m), the highest point of the old USSR reachable by road. Murghab, at 3,650 m, is the highest town of the former Soviet Union. The journey culminates at Karakul Lake — a meteorite crater turned salt lake at 3,900 m that mirrors the peaks of the Pamirs. Lodging in family homestays and basic guesthouses. Transport by 4x4 Mitsubishi Pajero or similar. Only for travelers with experience at extreme altitudes and tolerance of very basic conditions.
Health & safety
- Altitude sickness is a real risk above 3,500 m: carry acetazolamide
- There are no hospitals between Khorog and Osh: air-evacuation insurance is mandatory
- Unpaved roads are dangerous: always wear your seatbelt
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrival in Dushanbe
Dushanbe
Arrival in Dushanbe
Arrival in the Tajik capital. Preparation of gear, GBAO permits and shopping for the expedition.
GBAO permit paperwork
Sports2hVisit to the National Museum of Antiquities
Culture2hSupply shopping at the Dushanbe bazaar
gastronomy1hLake Iskanderkul
Iskanderkul
Lake Iskanderkul
Climb into the Fann Mountains. Arrival at Lake Iskanderkul — the turquoise jewel of the Tajik mountains.
Scenic route to Iskanderkul
Nature3hWalk along the lake's shore
Nature2hTrekking in the Fann Mountains
Iskanderkul
Trekking in the Fann Mountains
Alpine trekking day in the Fann Mountains. The 38 m Iskanderkul waterfall and ascent to the Pamir viewpoints.
Ascent to the Iskanderkul waterfall
Sports4hPanoramic lookout over the Fann peaks
Sports3hPanj river valley: the Afghan border
Kalaikhum
Panj river valley: the Afghan border
Entry to the proper Pamirs. Road beside the Panj river — the border with Afghanistan. Wakhi and Pamiri villages.
Drive along the Panj valley
Sports6hNight in a Pamiri homestay
Culture1hKhorog: capital of the Pamirs
Khorog
Khorog: capital of the Pamirs
Arrival in Khorog, capital of the GBAO. Visit to the world's highest botanical garden and the Afghan-Tajik bazaar.
Khorog Botanical Garden
Nature2hCross-border Afghan-Tajik bazaar
Culture2hClimb toward Murghab
Murghab
Climb toward Murghab
Day of extreme ascent. Crossing 4,000-meter passes toward Murghab, the highest town of the old USSR.
Crossing the Khargush pass (4,344 m)
Sports4hArrival in Murghab (3,650 m)
Rest1hAk-Baital pass: 4,655 m
Ak-Baital Pass
Ak-Baital pass: 4,655 m
Ascent to the Ak-Baital pass, the M41's highest point at 4,655 m. Descent into the eastern Pamir valleys.
Crossing the roof of the Pamirs
Sports6hMarco Polo sheep spotting
Nature2hEastern Pamir valley
Murghab
Eastern Pamir valley
Exploration of the high valleys of the eastern Pamirs. Kyrgyz villages, Bactrian camels and salt lakes.
Meeting the Kyrgyz nomads of the Pamirs
Culture3hVisit to the Pamir salt lakes
Nature3hKarakul Lake: a meteorite crater
Karakul Lake
Karakul Lake: a meteorite crater
Route to Karakul Lake at 3,900 m — a site formed by a meteorite 25 million years ago, mirroring Peak Lenin.
Arrival at Karakul lake
Nature3hWalk along the crater's shore
Sports2hNight in a Kyrgyz yurt at 3,900 m
Rest1hKyrgyz border and return
Karakul
Kyrgyz border and return
Visit to the Kyzyl-Art border pass (4,280 m) toward Kyrgyzstan. The M41's last stretch.
Ascent of the Kyzyl-Art pass
Sports3hExploring the Pamir petroglyphs
Culture2hDescent to Osh (Kyrgyzstan)
Osh
Descent to Osh (Kyrgyzstan)
Long descent down the Kyrgyz flank of the Pamirs. Arrival in Osh — Central Asia's oldest city.
Descent from the Pamirs to the Kyrgyz valleys
Nature6hVisit to Sulayman Mount in Osh
Culture2hFarewell in Osh
Osh
Farewell in Osh
Morning at Osh's Jayma Bazaar — Central Asia's oldest market. Flight home.
Osh Jayma Bazaar
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