Golden Tajikistan

Itinerary name: Golden Tajikistan

Day-by-day program:

Day 1: Dushanbe
At the airport, your guide will meet you. Today is devoted to explore Dushanbe and its cultural and historical sites. City tour will represent Rudake Park, National library, White House, National State Seal, and House of Parliament. Then you will see the largest National Flag of the world- Tajik Flag pole, reaching 165 meters height, 60 meters width and 30 meters length. Following the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there will be detailed museum excursion at Central Museum.  After having lunch, go to the world of traditional musical instruments in Gurminj Museum. In order to see and feel the real life of Tajik people, visit oriental bazaar. Here you can find different kind of things. After enjoyable time in the city, have a rest in a hotel.

Day 2: Dushanbe – Khoburubot – Kalai Khum
Today you will continue your tour to Kalai Khum village. It takes you through Khoburubot Pass, reaching 3 252 m. It also known as Western Pamir Tract. On the way, you will see magnificent beauty of mountain rivers and long valleys. You will definitely capture charming nature on your camera. En route, there will be an opportunity to see local people at small villages, and even talk with them. Tajik people are very warm-hearted, hardworking and friendly by the nature. They always respect the traditions and customs of their ancestors. This tour is for the people who like combination of beautiful nature and experience the local culture and history. Overnight in homestay in Kalai Khum.

Day 3: Kalai Khum – Khorog
Today we will have another wonderful drive to small town Khorog It is surrounded by tree rivers and massive mountains all around. Khorog is on the crossroads of three river, where Shokhdara river and Ghund river join to Pyanj River. En route, you will meet Pamir people, who have physical and cultural characteristic different from Tajik people. Most of the Pamir people are with light skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. The most interesting fact is that Pamir is the second populated mountainous area after Himalayas in Tibet. Perhaps mountain lifestyle of Pamiriis make them different from Tajiks in culture and traditions. Dinner at the local restaurant and overnight in a guesthouse.

Day 4: Khorog – Yashil Kul Lake – Bulunkul Lake
Tajikistan proud of beautiful alpine lakes in Pamir: Yashil Kul and Bulunkul (Blue lakes), which located at the altitude of 3 700 m in Murghab region. The Bulunkul Lake magically change its color depending on the sunlight: from violet to dark-blue. Surprisingly there some kind of fish found in the lake. Moreover, you will see half-wild animals like yak. It is one kind of animal, which has characteristics of cow and sheep. Local people use yaks for milk and meat, because they do not need much care as far as they live in the mountain terrain. In order to reach the lake, we overcome the Koitezak pass, which reach 4 271 m. Dinner and night in a homestay.

Day 5: Bulunkul – Khorog
After having breakfast, drive back to the Khorog. The road will take Pamir Highway, which is famous as M41 Pamir Tract. According to information, the road is the second highest mountain road, the first is in Tibet. The way goes over 4000 meter high mountains and passes. This peaceful area of the outstanding Pamir Mountains home to many endemic species of animals. They are Turkestan rat, tiger-cat, grizzly bear, badger, stoat, fox, grey and red wolves. Furthermore, the area host big amount of Marco Polo sheep, which is well known as the biggest wild sheep in the world. There are also endangered representative of big cat – snow leopard. Enjoy dinner at the local restaurant and night in a guesthouse.

Day 6: Khorog – Kalai Khum
After breakfast, drive Kalai Khum over 6000 meters mountains. Because of the high rocky mountains around, there is only one road is available from Khorog to Kalai Khum. In addition to the glorious beauty of the Pamir, travelling to these areas offers to find out more about the developing of history, culture and life style of the mountain habitants. Observing them, gives an idea of how the history of the human beings advanced to the modern world. En route, possible to take a break at small village to meet local people and communicate with them. Most of the settlements are on the two sides of the river, just on the other side you will be able to see Afghan villages. You will spend a night in a homestay.

Day 7: Kalai Khum – Norak – Dushanbe
Today tour goes back to Dushanbe via Norak water reservoir. Today will be the last day driving along the Afghanistan border. You will enjoy the legendary Pamir Mountains. Today you will reach 2,267m at highest point, which is Shuraba Pass.  The world’s most famous travelers like Marco Polo, Hsuan Tsang, Mirza Muhammad Haidar were impressed by these majestic mountains. The natural define of the Afghan-Tajik border is River Pyanj. Most of the explorers and travelers associated Pamir Mountain with the ocean of blue and white mountains.  En route, stop at the Norak reservoir and have a rest. Arrive to Dushanbe and check into a hotel.

Day 8: Dushanbe – Airport
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to airport according to flight schedule.