Your Central Asian adventure unfortunately comes to an end here in Kyrgyzstan's capital.
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© SAIGA Tours
Start
Aug 17, 2027
Dushanbe
Dushanbe
2027-08-17
End
Sep 1, 2027
Bishkek
Bishkek
2027-09-01
Duration
16 days
Price
US$3995.00
TOUR OVERVIEW
Dushanbe to Bishkek, spending several days on Central Asia's most iconic drive - the Pamir Highway. We will take you through all the classics such as Khorog, Ishkashim and Murghab, making our way through the Tajik side of the Wakhan Corridor, skirting the Afghan border, at one point just a few metres away, and you’ll be able to see across the narrow river that forms the border straight into everday life in rural Afghanistan.
Needless to say, the drives are epic, the lakes, mountains and rivers are spectacular, and the views unbelievable. But we can't help and add in a few little SAIGA specials along the way too, so we'll also be making stops at the infamous Soviet sanatorium in Khoja Obi Garm, the behemoth Nurek Dam, and a few other little things along the way that separate our tours from the pack.
The Kyrgyz part of the trip will follow along the same lines, with days spent driving through rural mountainous areas, overnights in small towns and yurt camps, interspersed with stories of the country's recent history and modern culture.
And the timing of this tour is by no means an accident. Incorporating both the best time of year to travel in these high altitude areas, along with ending in Bishkek for Kyrgyzstan's independence day, it's an absolute no-brainer that this is the time to do this trip.
If you like the look of this tour but the dates don't work for you, or you'd like to do part of the tour, please get in touch and let us know. All our tours are able to be split into smaller sections, we're always scheduling new tours and your dates might work for one of them, or we can always organise an independent tour.
This tour can also be done in sections, if you want to do the first part, have a look at the Pamir Highway Tour: Dushanbe to Osh , or if the second part takes your fancy, check out the Kyrgyzstan Independence Day Tour .
INCLUSIONS:
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Accommodation in twin share at roughly 3 star hotels/guesthouses, breakfast included |
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Where itinerary mentions yurt or homestay accomodation, single supplement and twin share may be affected |
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Transport as per itinerary |
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Entrance fees to most sites (as per itinerary) |
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Western and local guides |
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $750
EXCLUSIONS:
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Visa fees if necessary |
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Visa support if necessary |
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Some activities, eg. treatments at sanatorium (as per itinerary) |
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Meals other than breakfast |
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Transport to and from the start and end of tour |
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or any optional activities |
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Get a peak across the Panj River at the mysterious country of Afghanistan
Relax at the at the Garam Chashma hot springs
Spend a night at the epic Soviet Sanatorium of Khoja Obi Garm
Celebrate Kyrgyzstan's Independence Day like a local in Bishkek
Itinerary
Day 1Tue Aug 17
Dushanbe
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We’ll take a tour of Dushanbe's city centre, including Rudaki Street, the Somoni Monument,
and the Building of National Spirit (unfortunately it’s not possible to go inside, but it’s still
impressive from the outside).
- We'll also walk through Ce ntral Park, where you can gawk at the huge flagpole which was the largest in the world from 2011 to 2014.
- We’ll visit the largest teahouse in the world, which is actually a series of insanely impressive funtion rooms, all adorned with incredibly ornate, but very varied, decorations. From the room that is lined in entirely mahogony, to the mirror room, or the pastel detail of traditional Tajik decor, they all share one thing - the resplendence.
- Then we'll visit the Museum of National Antiquities, where we'll see one of the biggest (literally and figuratively) objects of Tajik pride - the "Buddha in Nirvana" (Reclining Buddha), an impressive 13 metre long clay statue.
- Overnight in Dushanbe.
Day 2Wed Aug 18
Dushanbe, Khoja Obi Garm
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Leaving Dushanbe, we’re going to spend the afternoon and evening at an amazing building which really encapsulates what we're all about.
- Khoja Obi Garm is a Brutalist behemoth Soviet-era sanatorium that is still in operation. The drive there is like the opening scene from the film The Shining. It's run by the Tajikistan Trade Union organisation to provide workers with rest and relaxation. The treatments are a little unorthodox as they include radon baths, electric shock therapy, pulsating circulation treatment as well as mud baths and acupuncture (treatments not included in tour price). It’s an absolute dream for any lovers of weird Soviet stuff.
- We'll spend the afternoon and evening soaking in everything that is Khoja Obi Garm, getting treatments, exploring the unimaginably insane buildings, and just generally enjoying the Soviet
Day 3Thu Aug 19
Khoja Obi Garm, Dushanbe, Nurek
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This morning you'll have a chance to get some more treatments, take some photos in different light, or just explore the buidlings and grounds some more, before we leave the Soviet splendour of the previous night behind us.
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We'll drive back through Dushanbe because it's en-route, so we'll probably stop somewhere in the city for a quick lunch, before continuing on to Nurek.
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Nurek is a city that's rarely seen on tour itineraries, which is of course part of its charm as far as we're concerned. This is a great place to see how most people in Central Asia live their life, not in picturesque riverside villages, but in Soviet-built industrial cities, and Nurek is Tajikistan's best-kept Soviet city.
- We'll arrive in the afternoon and after checking into our hotel, we'll stop at the Nurek Hydro Electric Station , usually known simply as Nurek Dam. Completed in 1980, this was one of the Soviet Union's successful infrastructure projects. Standing a proud 300m tall, it was the tallest man-made dam at the time, and was only out done in 2013 by Jinping-I Dam in China. Its sheer size and the volume of water flowing through it is quite incredible.
- Depending on who's on duty at the time, we may be able to get up onto the top of the dam, which of course gives amazing 360 views.
- There will plenty of time to explore the streets of Nurek as well, and for any Soviet enthusiasts on the tour there are some great mosaics, murals, buildings and monuments around the city.
- Overnight in Nurek.
Day 4Fri Aug 20
Nurek, Hulbuk Fortress, Kulob, Kalaikhum
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In the morning we'll leave behind Nurek and start heading towards the Pamir Highway.
- We'll drive through Kulob, which with a population of 100,000, will feel like a huge city compared to where we're about to go.
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On the way into town we'll visit Hulbuk Fortress.
- We'll arrive in Kalaikhum in the early evening, a cute little town of 1,600 people, nestled into the valley. From here you can easily see across the river Panj into Afghanistan.
- I'm sure it's not just us that finds something really strange and exhilirating about looking across a border. It's just a few metres, you could throw a rock there, and yet it's like a whole different world. Especially when the other country is one that is so special and unique.
Day 5Sat Aug 21
Kalaikhum, Khorog
- Leaving Kalaikhum, we will be driving along the River Panj, which forms Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan, and this is a fascinating drive. On the Tajik side of the river, the road is made, there is electricity and buildings are constructed using metal and glass. On the Afghan side however, just a few metres away across the narrow river, the roads are unmade, and the houses are small mud structures. It's not like this part of Tajikistan is cosmpolitan and well-developed, but there's still a stark contrast.
- We'll arrive in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), which we require special permits for, after about 5-6 hours, covering 260km. Although it was once of strategic importance to the Soviet Union, this is now a really poor area of Tajikistan.
- We'll visit the Khorog bazaar, the museum and the pretty incredible Botanical Gardens, which has been newly renovated and is the highest botanical gardens in the world! And all the while, Afghanistan is just over there.
Day 6Sun Aug 22
Khorog, Ishkashim, Wakhan Valley, Zong village
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Just outside Khorog, we’ll stop at the Garam Chashma hot springs to get
ourselves off to a relaxing start, before another day driving the Pamir. There are also cafes here for those who would rather relax with a beverage and bite to eat.
- Today we'll travel about 160km, over the course of 5-6 hours.
- We’ll check out the ruins of Kah-Kakha Fortress, left over from the Kushan era of the 4th Century AD.
- Arriving in Yamg we'll see the tomb and reconstructed house museum of Sufi mystic Mubarak Kadam, along with the stone that was used as a solar calendar 700 years ago.
- Overnight in nearby Zong village.
Day 7Mon Aug 23
Zong village, Khargush Pass, Yashikul Lake, Bulunkul Village
- Today, the road gets serious and the scenery gets even better. Departing Zong, we say goodbye to the green, apricot-scented Wakhan Valley and turn our vehicles uphill. The road climbs steadily away from the villages and into a wilder, emptier landscape, following the Pamir River along the border with Afghanistan. The Hindu Kush is just across the water, close enough that you'll find yourself waving, though you might not get a wave back.
- Then comes the day's big moment: the Khargush Pass, at around 4,344 metres above sea level. No doubt everyone will have their altitude measurers out (an app on a phone for most) and we'll compare the exact numbers we get to.
- Beyond the pass, we'll enter the Tajik National Park (the Mountains of the Pamirs), where the landscape opens into wide, high-altitude desert, big skies and glittering lakes.
- We'll arrive at Bulunkul, a tiny, remote village that's famous across Tajikistan for having some of the coldest winters in the country. Even in summer, it's fresh once the sun goes down. We settle into our homestay for the night, then head to nearby Yashilkul Lake (Green Lake), a beautiful body of water set against a backdrop of stark mountains.
- We'll have dinner and spend the night at a homestay, under some of the clearest, most star-filled skies you're ever likely to see.
Day 8Tue Aug 24
Bulunkul and Alichur Lakes, Shorbuloq Soviet Observatory, Murghab
- Having briefly left the Pamir Highway, we'll get back onto it today, and will head across the high, wide Alichur Plateau. This is proper big-sky country: huge open valleys, distant snowy ridgelines and hardly a tree in sight. What it lacks in greenery it more than makes up for in space, and you'll probably find yourself just staring out the window for long stretches of the drive.
- Our first stop is Alichur, a small, windswept settlement that's home to Kyrgyz herders and their livestock. It's a good spot to stretch your legs, say hello to the locals and see how people get by at altitude. Keep an eye out for yaks, sheep and possibly a yurt or two, depending on the season.
- Then comes the day's real curveball, the Shorbuloq Soviet Observatory. Perched out on the plateau, this abandoned Soviet-era research station is one of those places that feels like a film set for a post-apocalyptic movie - crumbling buildings, silent instruments, and nothing but wind for company. It's a fascinating reminder of the days when the USSR built scientific outposts in some of the most remote corners of its territory, and of how quickly the landscape reclaims them when the regime collapsed. We will of course wander around (carefully, as these buildings are not exactly maintained), take some moody photos, and enjoy having the whole place to ourselves.
- From here, we continue east over the Neizatash Pass, at an altitude of a bit over 4,100m, before descending to Murghab, the main town of the eastern Pamirs and the highest town in Tajikistan at around 3,650 metres. It's a proper frontier settlement, with a bazaar built out of shipping containers, a mostly Kyrgyz population, and a distinct end-of-the-world charm.
- We'll check into our accommodation for the evevening, and if there's time and energy left, you can stroll through town or have a look around the market before dinner.
Day 9Wed Aug 25
Murghab, Ak-Baital Pass, Karakul Lake
- Today comes with a special highlight - the highest point on the Pamir Highway.
- Leaving Murghab in the morning, we'll head north on the Pamir Highway across a wide, treeless landscape of high plateau, distant snowy ridges and not much else. Nobody comes here for the shade. Keep your eyes peeled for marmots, yaks and the odd herder on horseback.
- Then we climb to the Ak-Baital Pass, at around 4,655 metres above sea level, the highest pass on the whole Pamir Highway. The name means "white horse", and the views from the top go on forever. It's also a fine spot for a photo, though be warned, the air is thin, so you might find that even climbing out of the car feels like a workout. Take it slow, drink plenty of water and enjoy having a little bit of the roof of the world all to yourself.
- Dropping down from the pass, we reach Karakul Lake, at about 3,900 metres. It sits in a bowl surrounded by bare, colourful mountains, and apparently the lake is believed to fill a giant crater left by a meteorite impact millions of years ago. The water is salty and an unreal shade of blue, and on a clear day the whole scene looks like it belongs on another planet. We'll stop for photos of course, and a wander along the shore.
- We'll spend the night at Karakul. If you're feeling energetic, this afternoon we can go on a short, optional hike up South Aral Peak, with great views back over the lake and the surrounding plateau. And for anyone who doesn't feel inclined to join for that, we'll just relax, go for a stroll, and take in our unreal surroundings.
Day 10Thu Aug 26
Karakul, Kyzyl Art/Bordobo border crossing, Sary Tash, Osh
- Today we say goodbye to Tajikistan and hello to Kyrgyzstan, with a border crossing at over 4,000 metres, just to make it interesting.
- After breakfast we head north through the empty high plateau towards the Kyzyl Art Pass, at around 4,280 metres above sea level. It's a bleak, beautiful stretch of road, and the pass itself sits right on the border, so it's about as remote a border crossing as you'll ever see.
- Once we're through, we drop down into Kyrgyzstan and the Alay Valley, and it's one of the best views of the whole trip. The valley is a huge, green, flat-bottomed basin, dotted with yurts, horses and grazing herds, and along its southern edge runs the Trans Alay Range, a wall of snow-capped peaks, topped by Lenin Peak at 7,134 metres. On a clear day, it looks unreal, and it's a fine spot for a few last photos of the Pamirs.
- We'll stop for lunch in Sary Tash, a small, dusty crossroads town where the road to China branches off. It's a friendly place to stretch the legs, try some local food and meet a few of the drivers, herders and travellers who pass through.
- Continuing north, we'll cross the Taldyk Pass before descending through the foothills, watching the landscape turn from bare mountain to green pasture and, eventually, to farmland. It's a long day on the road, but the scenery never really lets up.
- In the evening, we arrive in Osh, one of Central Asia's oldest cities, and the traditional end point of the Pamir Highway. After days of high passes, empty roads and homestay dinners, the noise, warmth and bustle of the city come as a bit of a shock in the best possible way. There's nothing like arriving in Osh at the end of the Pamir Highway to make you realise that what feels like the "big smoke" is all a matter of perspective!
- Congratulations on completing one of the world's great road trips!
Day 11Fri Aug 27
Osh
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Today we'll explore our last stop in Kyrgyzstan, Osh.
- We’ll visit the sacred Sulaiman Too Mountain, the main attraction in Osh.
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We’ll walk to the top of the rocky outcrop, no doubt meeting lots of local pilgrims happy to have a chat on the way.
- Not only is the scraggy hill a site in itself, with amazing views out over the whole city, and also peppered with ancient petroglyphs, but it’s also home to Sulaiman Too Museum, one of those famous crazy Soviet buildings that appear on all the lists of weird Soviet structures.
- We’ll also go to the Osh bazaar, one of Central Asia’s largest open-air markets. This is a great opportunity to find some cool souvenirs – hats, coats, rugs, fabrics, ornaments, loads of the cool stuff you’ve been admiring on locals and in their houses since being in Central Asia.
- During the day we'll take a walk through the city centre, soaking in the vibe and hearing the stories of how the city has changed over the years, especially in recent times. One noteable change is the lack of the Lenin statue which stood proud in the city centre until June 2025.
- Overnight in Osh.
Day 12Sat Aug 28
Osh, Toktogul
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Leaving Osh today we'll start our road trip through rural Kyrgyzstan. The next few days, until arriving in Bishkek, will be full of naturally beautiful waterfalls, lakes, mountains, yurts, horses, small villages, plains covered in flowers, and roadside fruit and honey stalls.
- Our first stop will be at the Uzgen Minaret, an 11th Century, 27.5m tall tower, alongside three mausoleums.
- We'll be driving along the extremely picturesque Naryn River for most of the day, as we wind our way through western Kyrgyzstan.
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We might stop and buy a watermelon or a box of strawberries, so we can kick it local style and have a lake-side picnic at Toktogul Reservoir.
A very popular place for locals to set up for an entire day, with makeshift tents, camp seats and trestle tables everywhere, we'll stop here for a refreshing swim and just to relax and hang out for a while.
- We'll arrive at our destination for the day in the late afternoon. The town of Toktogul, 1000 metres above sea level, was originally named after Toktogul Satylganov, a well-known Kyrygz poet and musician. His contributions and talent were so extensive that he is featured on the 100 Som note.
- You can go for a wander around the town if you want to, before we have dinner at our homestay for the night.
Day 13Sun Aug 29
Toktogul, Manas, Kojomkul, Song Kol
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Leaving Toktogul, we’ll drive through the Suusamyr Valley towards Song Kol. On the way though we'll take a slight detour to follow the It Agar River and make a stop at Ozero Sazka - Reflection Lake. Named for good reason!
- After a short walk past a yurt camp, a bunch of horses, and across a small stream, we'll come out at the edge of the picturesque lake.
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Continuing on our way we'll stop in the very small village of Manas, where there's a wonderful, you guessed it - statue of Manas.
- Our next small detour will be to the even smaller village of Kojomkul, where you'll never guess what there is - a monument to Kojomkul! Kyrgyzstan's most famous strong man, who you'll a lot about during our trip.
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After the epic drive, we’ll arrive at Song Kol. Set high in the mountains, the lake itself is in the middle of a fertile plateau, dotted with horses, sheep and yurts.
- Even though it’s summer and we’ll have been hot up until now, we’ll now be very glad to have stoves on in each yurt for warmth, and you might even pull out a jumper in the evening.
- Depending on how early we arrive, you'll have the opportunity to go horse riding, or just take a walk around the area or if you’re really brave, a dip in the lake. Either way it’ll be a relaxing and peaceful evening under the stars.
- Dinner will be in the main yurt at our camp, cooked by the family we’re staying with.
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Day 14Mon Aug 30
Song Kol, Kochkor, Bishkek
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Leaving Song Kol this morning, we'll gradually head back to civilisation today.
- Other than some spectacular photo ops, our first stop on the four-hour drive to Bishkek, will be in the town of Kochkor.
- Although most of the time this would be considered a small, rural town, compared to where we've just spent the last few days, this will feel like the big smoke!
- We'll stop at the Soviet WWII memorial and the Lenin statue, both in the centre of town. We'll also take you to our favourite souvenir shop in Kyrgyzstan - run by local women, it's a great spot to find most things you might be looking for, from handicrafts, to antiques, and everything in between.
- We'll take a short walk through the market, and have lunch.
- This afternoon we'll visit Burana Tower, one of Kyrgyzstan's most famous sites. A 25 metre brick tower, this was once a 45 metre tall minaret, which was once the minaret of a mosque in Balassagyn city. Now you can climb to the top of it for some great views over the nearby landscape.
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With a couple more quick stops, such as the mounted MiG aircrafts in the nearby town of Tokmok, we'll arrive in Bishkek in the evening.
- And now we're really back to civilisation!
- Now in Bishkek, we might want to take the opportunity to eat something other than Central Asian food - there's an excellent Japanese restaurant that we love, we could get burgers or pizzas, Chinese or Korean, or of course there are plenty of options if we want to stick with Kyrgyz food.
- Then afterwards we can go out and experience some of Bishkek's rapidly gentrifying nightlife, maybe at Save the Ales or some of the many other cool ever-emerging options.
Day 15Tue Aug 31
Bishkek, Independence Day
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Happy Independence Day!
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Today there will be a buzz of excitement around the city, with lots of people making their way to the capital to celebrate Independence Day. We'll join the hub of the activity in Ala-Too Square, where we'll see whatever this year's show includes. There's usually a military parade, with an impressive array of tanks, armoured vehicles, machinery and weapons, current units and veterans, and fingers crossed, an air show.
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There will also be concerts of both traditional and modern songs and dances, and of course a reading of the Manas Epic.
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We will work around the timing of the celebrations and will play it by ear exactly how today works, but most likely in the afternoon we will have a chance to do some sight-seeing in Bishkek.
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Bishkek is a quintessential Soviet city with an amazing mix of Stalinist and Brezhnev era architecture. The wide boulevards and Brutalist apartment blocks, in stark contrast to the snow-capped mountain backdrop, and the whole centre of the city is basically a living museum, so we'll mainly walk around nearby areas.
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In the evening we'll be returning to Ala-Too Square for the evening concert for Independence Day.
Other Tours
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Afghanistan August Summer Grand Tour
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