Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan motorcycle trip

After our flight, we land in Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. We are picked up and can rest for a few hours in our hotel. After lunch, we set out on a short tour outside the city to familiarize ourselves with the motorcycles. We spend the night in Osh.

The today's day tour (approx. 150 km) first takes us to the Papansee, the water reservoir of Osch. On unpaved gravel roads, we drive through a green valley and then over one of the many passes south of the city. On a well-developed road, we return to Osch in the afternoon.

Our journey today is long and dusty. However, we are rewarded with many new, unknown impressions that make us forget all our efforts. The beer in the evening at our beautiful hotel tastes even better as a result.

We leave the agriculturally shaped Fergana Valley and cross the first major pass on a good road. This takes us further through a deep, wild gorge to the junction to Lake Iskander. On the natural road, we reduce our speed to safely navigate the hairpin turns to the lake. We spend the night right by the turquoise blue lake.

While our support vehicle drives through the dreaded Anzob Tunnel on the way to Duschanbe, we cross a pass that is over 3,000 meters high. Since all the traffic goes through the dark and wet tunnel, we have the impressive pass all to ourselves. We spend the night in Duschanbe.

There are two ways to get to Kalaikum: Either on the winter route in the south of Tajikistan or on the M41 across the mountains, over bumpy roads that are sometimes interrupted by watercourses. We choose, if possible, the second more challenging but all the more appealing route. We spend the night in a homestay. This gives us the opportunity to gain insight into the daily life of a Tajik family and to enjoy their generous hospitality.

The mighty river Pansch accompanies us to Khorog. The river and road wind through a fascinating rock gorge. On the other side of the river, almost every green spot is used as a site for an Afghan village. Khorog, a university town in the middle of the Pamir, offers us a cozy hotel and a good dinner.

Our onward journey takes us through the Wakhan Valley, along the border with Afghanistan to Bibi Fatima. The Wakhan Valley is inhabited by a distinct ethnic group. These people differ not only by their own language but also externally and culturally from the Tajiks. In Bibi Fatima, we have a magnificent view of the Wakhan Valley. We also make use of the hot spring, which is beautifully situated in a rock grotto and invites us to a wonderful bath with water warmer than 40 degrees. We spend the night in Bibi Fatima.

On the drive to the Pamir Plateau, the air becomes thinner, but the visibility is all the clearer. Apart from wild camels, yaks, and a few herders, we find ourselves alone in this solitude. We spend the night in a homestay by Lake Bulunkul and have time to visit hot springs and a "mini geyser."

We are now on the legendary Pamir Highway or M41. The road was built by the Soviets along the Afghan and Chinese border. Today, it is still partially used by Chinese transport vehicles. We cross four passes over 4,000 meters high. The Ak-Baital Pass, at 4,655 meters, is the highest of them all. In Murgab, a former coal mining town, we spend the night in a hotel and, apart from hot springs, can once again stand under a shower after days.

Our journey continues to the beautifully situated Karakul Lake. We spend the night in Karakul right by the lake. The next day we cross our last pass, the Kyzyl-Art at 4,200 meters above sea level. Here we reach the border to Kyrgyzstan.

Before heading back to Osch, we will make a detour to the base camp of Pik Lenin at over 3,500 meters altitude and enjoy a fantastic view of this mountain giant in good weather.

The last 250 km show us a completely different scenery compared to the impressive Pamir Mountains. Colorful rocks and changing vegetation merge in a wonderful way. In the evening we return...

The last day of our Pamir tour belongs to the city of Osch. We have plenty of time for a city tour or a visit to the bazaar.

Early in the morning we will be taken from the hotel to the airport, where we will already be starting our return flight home.