We set off east towards the Pamirs and take Kulob rout to Zigar, driving through beautiful scenery and interesting village’s en route. This area is a little more conservative, and we see many men with beards, and women wearing traditional dress. More arrestingly, along the road we also see relics of Tajikistan’s bitter civil war of 1992-96, as tanks and armored vehicles lie decaying wherever they were left.

From Kalaikum we head along the deep Pyanj gorge towards Vanch valley. Afghanistan is just a short distance away across the river. The road rises and falls as it finds its way along this steep rocky valley and we pass thorough small villages and apricot orchards. Overnight near by Baravni Tag small village, Vanch district. The Vanch valley is much broader and more fertile than the other valleys feeding the Panj, and – if less dramatic – offers pleasant scenario , especially at the top.

Cycling distance: 80km      Accommodation: Tent camp     Meals: (B-L-D)

We continue our journey along the Pyanj valley passing through Vanch checkpoint and the Marble minefield. The gorge of Pyanj is narrower and steeper between Vanch and the Rushan valleys and passes within view of a number of Afghan villages and of the precipitous paths clinging to the cliff face on the Afghan side. From Vanch district we head along the deep Pyanj valley towards Rushan district, Besyad village (close to Dehrushan). Rushan, the district center (also known as Vomar), lies just below of the confluence of the Bartang with the Panj.

Cycling distance: 80km    Accommodation: Tent camp    Meals: (B-L-D)

Cycling through more superb scenery, alongside the river Panj which forms the border with Afghanistan. We stay in relative luxury tonight, having reached the capital of the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO). Khorog The capital of Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast, Khorog is a small town that at various times has been under the control of the Russia, the Emirate of Bukhara and Afghanistan. The Russians built a fort here in the Soviet era, with Khorog being in a highly strategic location on the border with Afghanistan, but today it languishes and is one of the least developed parts of the country, with the Aga Khan Foundation contributing to the bulk of the local economy. It holds the distinction of being home the second highest botanical garden in the world, at 3900m.

Cycling distance: 80km    Accommodation: Hotel Lal    Meals: (B-L-D)

We have a rest day, opportunity to relax in the cafes, and little time to explore Khorog including the bazaar and the lovely Botanical Gardens which are perched high above the town, affording some great panoramic views. Overnight in Hotel.

Cycling distance: 0km    Accommodation: Hotel Lal    Meals: (B-L-D)

We set out on the Pamir Highway. A steady, but not too strenuous climb up the pretty Gunt valley. From the east of Khorog , the Pamir Highway follows the Gunt valley upstream as far as Sardem , where it follows to the Koi Tezek Pass and crosses the high Pamir plateau to Murghab and Osh. The Gunt carries little glacial residue and is almost always a pure turquoise colour.

Cycling distance: 62km    Accommodation: Tent camp   Meals: (B-L-D

We continue up the Gunt valley to the sanatorium at the tiny settlement of Jelandy. Here there’s the chance to bathe in the geo-thermal pools and enjoy unlimited hot showers.

Cycling distance: 62km    Accommodation: Tent camp    Meals: (B-L-D)

Continuing our climb up through the valley, the landscape becomes ever wilder and more desolate. A long climb on gravel tracks takes us over the Koi Tezek pass (4,200m) and from the pass we descend onto the empty Pamir plateau, a Tibet-like region of snow-capped peaks and eerie turquoise lakes.

We cycle on across the Pamir plateau passing eerie turquoise lakes and ride through the tiny settlement of Alichur. Mostly on flat terrain, our journey continues through a wide-open landscape of dry rocky mountains. Twenty kilometers further from Alichur there is a huge rock in the middle of the Alichur plain – known as “Chatyr Tash” (‘Tent rock’) on top of which there are graves.

Threading our way through the mountains we reach the small town of Murgab, not far from the Chinese border. Here we are able to stay in friendly home stay and stock up on supplies in the small bazaar. Murghab (3670 m) itself has few attractions, but it will serve as our base for the night as we explore the area a little. The 7546 m – high Chinese peak of Mustag Ata is visible to the northeast of town. The Eastern Pamirs have been populated by nomadic ethnic Kyrgyz since the 17th century. The traditional architecture is beautifully represented buy yurts, mobile habitations made of felt on an ingenious wooden frame, with the interior decoration bearing witness to the wealth and skills of the owners. Felt and wool serve as the basis for handicrafts. Precise stones, including rubies and emeralds, are also found in the area, and these are sometimes used in local handicrafts.

Heading to the foot of Ak Baital pass from Murgab, we set out across a flat desert of dry mountains. At times the border zone between Tajikistan and China is only a few hundred meters away.

We start the day climbing to the summit of the 4,655m of the Ak Baital Pass, which is the highest section of road in the former Soviet Union. We descend to Karakul Lake, the highest lake in Central Asia, and at 3915 meters, too high to support any aquatic life. Although it’s a steep climb in the thin air, it is not desperately long as we are starting from around 4,000m. A very rough descent from the pass brings us out into the remote valley leading to the lake side settlement at Kara Kul. Formed by a meteorite some 10 million years ago the lake at Kara Kul is hauntingly beautiful place and one of the highlights of the trip.

We continue round the lake before summiting high pass is the Kyzyl Art Pass (4282 metres), which essentially forms the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Border formalities take place shortly after crossing the pass, wi th 20kms of ‘no man’s land’ to cross. A very rough descent takes us into the wide Alay valley, with spectacular views of the 7,000m summits of Koh-I-Samani and Koh-I-Garmo. Heading down the wide grassy Alay valley, studded with the traditional yurts of Kyrgyz nomads after crossing the check post on the Kyrgyz side at Bor dobo.. Across the valley are spectacular views of the 7,000m summits of Pik Lenin. The Alay valley is a favorite spot for Krygyz nomads and the grasslands are studded with their traditional yurts. We camp after passing the village of Sary Tash

From Sary Tash we have a strenuous climb up the double-headed Taldyk Pass (3,600m), before a spectacularly dusty descent leads us into the pretty Gulcho village.

We continue at a relaxed pace to the foot of pretty Chyrchyk pass. We climb the Chyrchyk pass (2,600m), the final pass of the trip and are rewarded with a 60km racing descent into Osh.

Meeting at the airport Manas transfer to Hotel.

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