 | Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan contd. |
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PAMIR JEEP ADVENTURE
18 DAYS HOTELS/GUESTHOUSES/HOMESTAY/YURT ALONG THE PAMIR HIGHWAY This adventurous journey travels in the footsteps of Silk Road merchants, Alexander's soldiers, Buddhist pilgrims and explorers such as Marco Polo, from the Central Asian plains to the high passes of the Pamir. Along the way we encounter the hardy yet hospitable inhabitants of this remote wilderness region and marvel at awe-inspiring landscapes; deep valleys, sheer peaks, vast arid plateaux and glassy blue lakes. Khorog & the Wakhan From Tashkent's Chorsu Square, a crossroads on ancient silk routes, we head south to cross the Tajik border and on to fascinating Istarafshan, famous for its traditional crafts bazaar, and the tree-lined streets of the capital, Dushanbe. At Khorog, gateway to Badakshan, we join the Pamir Highway. Established in the 1930s by the Soviets to secure this outpost of their empire, the road follows ancient trade and pilgrimage trails along river valleys and over high passes. The ochre mud buildings of Afghanistan can be seen just across the river from here. At Ishkashim, we enter the lush Wakhan valley to amazing views; Pamir to the left, Hindu Kush to the right. Karl Marx peak (6,723m) lies straight ahead. Nomads, Lakes & High Passes Leaving the fertile Wakhan behind, the road begins to climb and the barren rocky terrain has a stark beauty. Yurtdwelling Kyrgyz nomads roam the high plateaux with their herds of yaks, sheep and goats and we hope to spend a night in one these traditional dwellings. Created by a meteor, deep blue Karakul is the largest of 800 lakes in the Pamir and devoid of aquatic life. Turquoise-green Yashikkul has sandy beaches and nearby hot springs. At 4655m, Ak-Baital is the highest pass in the former USSR. From here we journey across to the Kizyl-Art Pass (4280m) and cross the border into Kyrgyzstan. Osh & the Fergana Valley Descending from the pass the scenery changes, becoming lush and green as
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BPH
FACTFILE
Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/ Tashkent. 2 Arrive Tashkent; city tour. 3 Bus to Tajik border, 4WD to Istarafshan via Khojand. 4 Explore Istarafshan old quarter. 5 Drive Dushanbe via Shariston Pass and Varzob Gorge. 6 Visit Hissor fort, antiquities museum and bazaars. 7 Drive towards Pamir via Kalaikhum. 8 Dive along River Pani and Afghan border to Khorog. 9 Visit Khorog bazaar, museum and botanical gardens; drive Ishkashim via Garamchashma hot springs. 10 Drive Wakhan valley to Vrang via Zoroastrian fortress. 11 Visit Vrang Buddhist complex; drive Langur via museum at Yamg, visit Petroglyphs. 12 Drive Rangkul via Murghab and Yashikkul lake. 13 Drive over Ak-Baital Pass (4566m) to lake Karakul and on over Kizyl-Art Pass ( 4280m) to cross Kyrgyz border to Sary Tash. 14 Drive to Osh. 15 Exploring Osh. 16 Drive across Uzbek border; bus to Fergana. 17 Drive Tashkent via Kokand. 18 Fly London. Accommodation & Meals: 4nts hotel, 9nts guesthouse, 2nts homestay, 1nt Yurt camp; 16 breakfasts, 10 lunches & 7 dinners included. See p41. Mode of Travel: Jeep/Bus. Comment: An adventurous expedition to some of the most remote parts of Central Asia. Accommodation outside of the main cities is basic but the welcome is warm. Expect some long days on the road, bumpy journeys and awesome scenery. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader, drivers and local guides. Group Size: Approx. 11 to 15.
we arrive in Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second city. Dating back to ancient times, the city has a lively multi-ethnic bazaar and we aim to climb Takht-I-Suleiman hill, a pilgrimage place for Muslims, with superb views over the city. Returning to Uzbekistan we journey through the Fergana Valley. This most densely settled area in Central Asia is a fertile oasis bordered by the Tien Shan mountain range in the north and Pamir in the south. We explore the madrassahs and palaces of Kokand before our amazing journey completes full circle back to Tashkent.
DATES AND PRICES Flight Inc 18 days Sun to Tue REF:BPH
2008 deps flight land Price in £s inc only 09 Aug-26 Aug 2799 2399 13 Sep-30 Sep 2799 2399 2009 Price in £s 08 Aug-25 Aug 2899 2475 12 Sep-29 Sep 2899 2475 Land Only tour: 17 days - start day 2 (Sun), end day 18 (Tue) These are guide prices, see p45 for details.
Pamir Jeep Adventure Ref BPH
KAZAKHSTAN
from/to
KYRGYZSTAN
AN
Syrdar'ya OSH
SARY TASH
CHINA Kizyl-Art
TASHKENT
Lake Ajdarkul
EK UZB
IST
Kokand
ISTARAFSHAN
FERGANA
DUSHANBE
Ak-Baital RANGKUL Pass 4655m Hissor KALAIKHUM Murghab Fort Karl Lake Panj KHOROG Marx Yashikkul
P ami r Mo un ta in s Pass 4280m TAJIKISTAN Lake Karakul
Nomads' yurts
LANGAR
AFGHANISTAN
km
ISHKASHIM u Kush Wakhan Hind
Valley
300
VRANG
Petroglyphs
Karakor
PAKISTAN
um
0
Having a gossip!/Craig Venes
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