WAKHAN PAMIR ADVENTURE, AFGHANISTAN
20 Days

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In Afghanistan’s distant north-eastern corner lies the Wakhan corridor. This narrow strip of land once formed the buffer zone between the British and Russian Empires and was of immense strategic importance during the 19th century Great Game. Today the area is inhabited predominantly by Wakhi herdsmen and is not only remote and peaceful, but is also blessed with some of the finest mountain scenery the world has to offer. From Dushanbe in Tajikistan, we will first travel into the Tajik Pamir before heading to the Afghan border and into the Wakhan Valley. We will make our way slowly up the valley, visiting villages, taking some day walks and enjoying traditional Afghan hospitality. We will stay in basic guesthouses throughout our time in Afghanistan as we discover the delights of this famed region. This is a trip right out there on the edge of civilisation: we will find no mobile reception, internet access or even electricity for the most part. What we will experience here though takes us back to another century when people lived in a very different way…unlike so many you hear about, this trip is a true adventure of a life time

Our Tour 20 Days Package Itineraries

Top Tips for Visiting Afghanistan

· Being one of the few to have visited Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor

· Staying in local homestays

· Enjoying the hospitality of the Wakhi people 

·Exploring a beautiful and remote area without needing to camp 

· Driving along the famous Pamir highway 

· Phenomenal views of both the Hindu Kush and the Pamir mountain ranges 

• • Start Point: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
• End Point: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
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Day 1
Join the Tour in Dushanbe (Tajikistan): Due to the arrival times of our suggested flights, accommodation for this night is included in the tour cost. Those on the suggested group flight will arrive in the early hours of day 2. Hotel (no meals)

Day 2 

In Dushanbe: After some time to settle in this morning, we will take a look around the Tajik capital, admiring some of the impressive architecture and stocking up on some supplies at the local bazaar. At an altitude of 800m and with its mountain backdrop, this is the perfect place to get ourselves ready for the journey ahead. Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 3 

 Dushanbe – Kalaikhum: After breakfast we will head out on the famous Pamir Highway. This road is of vital importance for the country and ultimately it skirts the southern edge of the Tajik Pamir to finish in Osh. Today we follow the road as far as Kalaikhum where we plan to spend the night. Local Guesthouse (B,L,D) 

Day 4 

Kalaikhum – Bartang Valley: Kalaikhum sits on the Panj River, a major tributary of the famous Amu Darya (Oxus) River. This morning we’ll follow the river upstream passing the Vanch Valley before coming to the meeting point of the Bartang and Panj Rivers. From here we turn off the main road and follow the Bartang River upstream. We’ll pass traditional Pamiri villages and stay in a small private guesthouse. Local Guesthouse (B,L,D)

Day 5 

To Ishkashim: After a morning walk visiting local villages and some time to relax, we’ll make our way to Ishkashim in Tajikistan, which lies opposite the town of Ishkashim in Afghanistan and which will be our base for the next two nights. Local Guesthouse (B,L,D) 

Day 6 

In & around Ishkashim – exploring the Tajik Wakhan: A full day here allows us to explore the Wakhan area, which contains a multitude of varied sites, visiting forts, hot springs & shrines. Tonight, while sipping on our last beers for some days to come, we can look out over the river towards the country that will be our home for the next 10 days. Local Guesthouse (B,L,D)

Day 7 

Ishkashim (Tajikistan) – Ishkashim (Afghanistan): Leaving Tajikistan this morning we cross into Afghanistan via a bridge over the Panj River. Even after having cleared immigration & customs there will be still be some further red tape to deal with, so patience will be needed, but we will at least have the help of our Afghan guide, who will meet us here and the feeling of being in an almost forbidden land is very special. Local Guesthouse (B,L,D) 

Day 8 

Ishkashim – Keshnikhan: A rough road built by the Soviets takes us into the Wakhan Corridor. With the valley barely 20km wide in places, this road is not for the fainthearted and there may be some river crossings to negotiate. The scenery however, is truly magnificent and we will undoubtedly meet many of the local Wakhi people. The women are especially noticeable with their bright red scarves and beaded necklaces. The valley has several basic guesthouses, which will serve as our accommodation over the coming nights. The itinerary has been designed to allow for ample time for walks, village visits, photography and meeting the friendly inhabitants of the valley. While we have a planned itinerary, it should be noted that day to day changes can and most likely will occur – this is Afghanistan after all! Maximum flexibility may be called upon. Daily driving distances are generally not far, but can take time to the basic nature of the roads. Homestay/Guesthouse (B,L,D)

Day 9 

Keshnikhan – Khandud: Continuing east, we follow the southern bank of the river and are treated to views of both Tajik and Afghan mountains throughout the day. We plan to spend our third night in Afghanistan in the regional centre of Khandud. This town divides the lower Wakhan from upper Wakhan and has the largest market in the valley after Ishkashim. Despite this, it is still a very quiet town with limited supplies. It is also home to one of several development projects run by local women. One project encourages women to make traditional clothing for souvenirs – so this is a good place for Afghan hats or thick woolly socks! These projects are still in their infancy, so it will be interesting to see year on year how they are developing. Homestay/Guesthouse (B,L,D)

Day 10

: Khandud – Goz Khan: As we head today into the Upper Wakhan, we cross the Wakhan River just upstream of where it meets the Pamir River to become the Panj. This confluence of rivers also mirrors the interweaving of Pamiri & Wakhi cultures. This afternoon we’ll take a walk and hope to have tea with a local family. Local Guesthouse (B,L,D) 

Day 11 

: Goz Khan – Sarhad e Broghil: As we head along the northern bank of the river, deeper and higher up the Wakhan, we pass several small villages, all of which are inhabited by families who eke a subsistence living off the land. While the waters of the rivers are typically glacial melt, there are a few hot springs that dot the valley. Today we intend to get clean at the Sargaz hot springs. Finally, we come to the end of the road (literally) in Sarhade Broghil. From here the mountains close in and anyone wanting to proceed further east needs to be prepared for a major expedition on foot, horse or yak! This will be our base for the next two nights. Homestay (B,L,D)

Day 12

In Sarhad: Depending on local conditions, today we hope to cross a river on horseback to take a picnic on a grassy meadow below the Daliz pass, which leads into the Little Pamirs. Here we hope to encounter some local families on the summer pastures. Alternatively, the day is free to explore this tranquil village with its friendly locals. We may also be able to arrange a traditional game of buzkashi, a game described as American Football on horseback; it involves several men, their horses, a headless goat and almost no rules! Homestay (B,L,D)

Day 13 

In Sarhad; to Kret: This morning,

for those up for some exploration, we’ll set off in search of some ancient petroglyphs which have been found nearby overlooking the village. After lunch in Sarhad, we’ll cross back over the glacial melt waters of the Panj River, making for the small and stunningly located village of Kret, which sits in the foothills of Baba Tangi (6,513m). Homestay (B,L,D)

Day 14 

In & around Baba Tangi; to Goz Khan: We hope to visit a local school this morning where surprisingly boys and girls can, at times, be seen studying together. This is a quintessentially Wakhi village and the locals are incredibly friendly. At the women’s cooperative we plan to learn about the skills required in the making of traditional clothing. There will also be a chance to explore this stunning area on foot before we head west to Goz Khan for the night. Homestay (B,L,D)

Day 15 

Goz Khan - Qala e Panj: Qala e Panj was the the home of Pir Shah Ismail, the spiritual leader of Wakhan Ismailis. Here we will find the atmospheric ruins of two forts, overlooking the river from a strategic vantage point. It is also home to the regional office of the Wildlife Conservation Society, and if we are lucky we may be able to find someone to talk to us about their efforts to protect the wildlife of the area, especially the endangered snow leopard. There will also be the chance to go for a walk in the Sarkand Valley. Homestay (B,L,D) 

Day 16 

Drive to Ishkashim: Our final full day in Afghanistan sees us return to the border town of Ishkashim. There should be time for some final shopping opportunities before our final dinner in Afghanistan. Local Guesthouse (B,L,D)

Day 17 

Drive to Khorog (Tajikistan): Crossing back into Tajikistan we bid farewell to our Afghan guide and drivers and head for our first hotel night in over two weeks! Being the regional capital of the GBAO (Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast), Khorog is a very relaxed and quite cosmopolitan place, being home to a university and a wonderful city park. After the stresses and strains (and bumpy roads!) of Afghanistan, it should come as a very welcome relief. Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 18 

Drive to Kulyab: Today we’ll leave the Pamirs behind us as we make our way westwards, aiming to reach Kulyab in time for dinner, this allows us to get the bulk of our drive out of the way today. Local Guesthouse (B,L,D)  

Day 19 

Drive to Dushanbe: Our final day’s drive takes us back to the Tajik capital by lunchtime and gives us a chance to spend a relaxed afternoon. Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 20 

Tour finishes in Dushanbe: Those on the suggested group flights will transfer to Dushanbe airport in the small hours of the morning for their early return flight. (B)

Overnight in Kabul

The trip includes:

· All accommodation

· All food in Afghanistan

· Breakfast in Tajikistan

· Transport/transfers

· International guide

· Local guides

· Local cook

· Tents and camping equipment

· Pack animals

· Permits to visit the Wakhan region

The trip does not include:

· Any necessary visas

· Insurance

· Flights to Afghanistan

· Entrance fees

· Lunch

· Dinner

· Drinks

· Tips

· Any additional flights needed in Afghanistan that may be necessary due to security concerns.

Cost – US$4450
A deposit of US$400 is required to reserve your place on this trip.

Flights:
We do not directly arrange international flights to Afghanistan. We can suggest routes and operators.
You can also contact the KabulKar Group & Tours dedicated team at Flight Centre for suggested routes.
Mail: info@akl-logisticstours.com
Phone: +93(0) 793507031

Visas:
We do not arrange Afghanistan visas directly. We will provide visa support in the form of letters of invitation to assist in your Afghanistan visa application.

Food:
With the exception of breakfast, meals are not included as part of the trip. In our experience people sometimes want to eat different things in different places at different times. We know some great places and will also happily show you some of our favourite restaurants and tea houses. Some are luxurious, some are earthier, but all have character. However, we do not pretend to be the arbiters of good taste and are equally happy for you to go off and find your own favourites.

Accommodation:
We do not and cannot offer a uniform accommodation standard on our itineraries. We consider comfort, location, design, character, historical interest and whether the money we spend will go into the pockets of the local community when we make our choices of where to stay.
The accommodation will be based on 2 people sharing.

Transport:
In Afghanistan, we take at least 2 vehicles when driving between towns if there is a big group, for safety reasons. If there is a breakdown we will not be left stranded. When we choose our vehicles and drivers we take into consideration the road conditions, the length of journey and the competence of the man behind the wheel (not a laughing matter in a country that should be the setting for a live action version of the Wacky races). Your comfort and enjoyment of the journey is the first priority.

Guides:
On this trip, you will be accompanied by 2 team leaders from Untamed Borders. This allows for greater security and means that there will always be someone on hand to help or assist you even if the other team leader is busy arranging something.
Sometimes we also hire local guides. If we are a large group, we may wish to split into smaller groups for city tours to allow greater flexibility and keep a lower profile. An extra local guide allows us to do that.

Security:
Trips to Afghanistan do create dangers all of their own and whilst we want you to have as much freedom as possible we must state that the tour leader has the final word with regards to changes in the itinerary for safety reasons. Whilst the route we have chosen passes through areas that we consider to be stable things can change and we may have to alter the route or cancel sections of the trip at short notice.
If there is an extra expense incurred due to the change of itinerary then you may be asked to bear part of that cost. For example, if we have to fly between cities rather than drive.

How to Book:

In order to confirm your booking we need to have a completed signed booking form for each client together with a $400 deposit per person*. You can either return your booking form to us by post or by booking online at www.akl-logisticstours.com

You can contact the office by email to info@akl-logisticstours.com or we are very happy to take your call on + 93 (0) 793507031.