On this Day

Driving time: approximately 7 hrs
Elevation: +1000 m/-200 m
Final altitude: roughly 1,800 m

We have a long drive today, so we need to get started early. Following breakfast, the drive begins along the famed Pamir Highway. A majestic path across the "roof of the world" features deep gorges, huge plateaus, and stunning mountains. The route passes through gorgeous scenery and lonely communities. A unique region, practically undisturbed by tourism. You tackle the first segment of the Pamir Highway with the Shurabad Pass (about 2,300 meters). After ten hours, we arrive in Rushan, a little district with lush green villages. Dinner and stay in the guesthouse.

On this Day

Driving time: approximately 6 hrs
Elevation: + 1130 m/- 200 m
Final altitude: around 3,030 m

To reach the last point accessible by automobile, we must travel via the Bartang Valley, which is well-known in the High Pamirs for its treacherous roads, floods, and the raging Bartang River. Our journey takes us through small, lush villages that resemble oases amid stone plains. During the winter, they are completely blocked off from the outside world. At 3000 meters, the mountain's slopes are covered in snow, and the roads are closed. After almost 6 hours of unstable driving, we arrive at Pasor, the final settlement from which the journey begins. We complete the final preparations and spend the night at a guesthouse.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 5 hrs
Elevation: +450 m/-70 m
Final altitude: around 3,435 m

We leave Pasor village via a little trail that follows a torrent and leads into the mountains. The objective is to start the rise gradually. First, to adjust to the altitude, but also since it is the beginning of the excursion and the group is the most heavily burdened. Porters will accompany the group to transport food and camping gear, but for the first several days, we will rely on pack animals to relieve the porters. We pass a tiny hydroelectric plant that operates at full capacity and provides electricity to the village's 200 residents year-round. Locals can subsist in these remote areas by growing wheat and vegetables in greenhouses and raising cows and goats. After 5 hours of hiking and 450 meters of elevation gain, we pitched up tent along the torrent. Overnight in tents.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 8 hrs
Elevation: +585 m/-85 m
Final altitude: around 4,020 m

It will take approximately 8 hours of hiking to reach Khafraz Lake, which is located at 4000 meters. The lake is located in a crater surrounded by jagged rocks, and its emerald green tint is stunning. The temperature is unique to this location; during the day, the sun is so intense that you must wear long sleeves and protect your face (unless while posing for a photo). At nightfall, the temperature is roughly 5°C, and it drops dramatically as soon as the sun departs. The presence of a person is so subtle in these settings that it appears they will remain unchanged for generations. Overnight in tents.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 8 hrs
Elevation: + 650 m, - 0 m
Final altitude: around 4,520 m

Today, the pack animals complete their mission. We arrive at Kholodnaya Stena (Cold Wall) glacier around lunchtime, and from there, porters will deliver all of our food and camping gear. We climb the 4665-meter-high Kholodniy (Cold) pass to reach Glacier Lake. Overnight in tents.

On this Day

Hiking time: around 6-8 hrs
Elevation: +0 m/-470 m
Final altitude: about 4,200 m

We begin the day with a 60-meter abseil down a steep, icy slope. The descent is perilous enough, with the chance of rock falls, so the group will descend one at a time with top belays. The guide and his assistant will oversee the procedure. The glacier tongue is massive, flowing between two ocher-colored mountainsides. We descend to an altitude of 4200 meters and set up camp early to avoid being surprised by the night, which normally falls rapidly and with temperatures below 0°C. It's difficult to locate flat ground to pitch the tent, so we have to terrace a bit, removing the largest stones and cutting the ice with our ice axes. Overnight in tents.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 7 hrs
Elevation: +0 m/-480 m
Final altitude: around 3,720 m

Today we continue our journey to the valley. The ground is soft, and the possibility of rockfall necessitates using a rope for belaying. We shall descend one by one, clutching the rope firmly in our hands. The ground is soft, so our passing may release large stones; we must use extreme caution. Following this technical passage, we reached the Grum Grzhimailo glacier. If you think it's wonderful, wait until you see the Fedchenko! To go to the green Tanimas valley, we must cross the glacier's left bank and follow it to the Fedchenko glacier. However, it is a complete mess of ice, cracks, and rivers of meltwater. It's a true labyrinth! After traveling by the scree and dropping to 4000m, we discovered some greenery and were able to walk more comfortably in the lower area. Overnight in tents.

On this Day

Final altitude: around 3,720 m

Reserve days are required to prepare the group for technically difficult stretches of the route, rest, and in the event of inclement weather.
Accommodation: overnight in tents.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 6 hrs
Elevation: +50 m/-0 m
Final altitude: about 3,750 m

Tanima's valley is bordered by multiple glaciers, which feed a river with a tremendous flow. We carefully follow the guide's instructions and begin crossing the river one at a time, supported by ropes from both sides of the harnesses. The river flows swiftly and comes up to our waists. We need to cross this river again later, but if the water level is too high, we'll do it in the morning while the glaciers are still frozen and less exposed to the light. Tents are used for overnight stays.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 8 hrs
Elevation: +200 m/-30 m
Final altitude: about 4,500 m

Today is a river crossing day! We start very early, while the water level is low. We have to cross with a harness around our waists, barefoot and in underwear. The water can reach our thighs and is biting cold. There will be multiple river crossings today. This is the primary reason why we run this trip in September when the water level is at its lowest point after summer has passed and all of the spring snow has melted. We spent a big portion of the afternoon crossing a new glacier, Tanimas 3. It blocks the entire valley. We cautiously cross it and go through it, stepping over the narrow crevices that fracture it, until we reach the top of the valley at 4500 meters above sea level, which opens onto a glacial lake and a small portion of the Fedchenko glacier. Tents are used for overnight stays.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 8 hrs
Elevation: + 580 m, - 545 m.
Final altitude: around 4,520 m

Finally, we'll set foot on the Fedchenko Glacier! It is the world's longest mountain glacier, measuring 77 kilometers in length. It is bordered by mountains that rise to more than 7000 meters in elevation, and its thickness can approach 1500 meters. The Fedchenko Glacier, together with all of the Pamir glaciers, serves as Central Asia's freshwater reservoir. We spent the entire day descending the glacier's surface. Although it is often flat and allows us to move rapidly, we are frequently slowed down by crevasses and rivers of meltwater. Overnight in tents.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 7 hrs
Elevation: +70 m/ -450 m
Final altitude: around 4,230 m

The Soviet Union established the Gorbunov Meteo Station in 1933 at an elevation of 4230 meters. It was active until 1991, with roughly four people staying for a year (November to November) to take meteorological readings such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, etc. The station was abandoned in 1991, following the dissolution of the USSR. Inside the steel building, time has stopped in 1991; everything remains as if the people had left yesterday. There are several measuring machines, a radio, a room with generators, a library, coal furnaces, and walls covered in Madonna posters. Now that a sophisticated autonomous weather station has been constructed, the data it generates is critical for monitoring the status of the Pamir glaciers. These glaciers serve as a freshwater reserve for Central Asia, bringing life to this part of the earth. Surprisingly, these glaciers do not retreat and appear unaffected by global warming. This is the Pamirian exception, and it is wonderful news. They guarantee the region's stability, prosperity, and peace.
We own the property and can eat our meals seated around a table, which is a minor occasion after 10 days of sitting on the floor. Tonight, we sleep there, overnight in tents.

On this Day

Final Altitude: around 4,230 m

Reserve days are required to prepare the group for technically difficult stretches of the route, rest, and in the event of inclement weather.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 6 hrs
Elevation: +300 m/-300 m
Final altitude: about 4,200 m

We depart from the Gorbunov station at sunrise. When we arrived at the glacier, we divided the party into two teams. At the end of summer, the glacier is free of snow, and we can see the various snow bridges and crevasses through which we must cross, but we must go with caution. We gently scale the glacier with an ice axe in one hand and a cane in the other. We walk over tightrope gaps without pausing. We ascend Kashalayakh pass higher than the usual route at 4500m and enjoy a spectacular panorama from the top. Then we begin the drop to the beginning of the rock belt at 4200. Overnight in tents.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 7 hrs
Elevation: +0 m/-1,400 m
Final altitude: roughly 2,800 m

Today we must descend the entire mountain to reach a fresh glacier in the valley known as RGS (Russian Geographic Society). The fall into the stones is gradual and technically challenging. We remind you of a technical passage. The landscape transforms as we descend below 4000 meters, with plants and flowers accompanying us. Be cautious of the rockfalls and slippery ground. After a long descent, we pitched our tents closer to the water for dinner and spent the night there.

On this Day

Hiking time: approximately 3 hrs
Cable crossing the river takes 2 hrs
Elevation range of +/- 200 m
Final altitude: roughly 2,600 m

Today we proceed across the RGS glacier, which moved a massive amount of sediments and generated hills of stones, earth, and dust that we must pass through. The terrain becomes very unstable in some spots; the stones might roll beneath your feet and knock you off balance, so we walk carefully. We arrived at the river at lunchtime, but our efforts were far from over. The bridge connecting us to Poimazor collapsed a few years ago due to a landslide. Fragments of concrete, steel, and cables remained. The river is far too high and the current too strong to cross by foot. We shall reach the other side by a cable. Bag by bag, one by one, we cross the rope. After two hours, we arrive on the other side, where our driver awaits us with a large Soviet truck. The truck is the only means of transportation, with enough power to cross the rivers and muddy roads to Poymazor. But this is also part of the adventure! After a lengthy trip across glaciers, we finally have access to home meals, beds, and a shower tonight. Overnight at a guesthouse in Poymazor.

On this Day

Driving time: approximately 8 hrs
Elevation: +200 m/-1400 m
Final altitude: about 800 m

Following breakfast, we meet our drivers, load our stuff, and continue our journey to Dushanbe. If the road is available at the time, we use the southern route via the Khaburrabot Pass. After arriving in Dushanbe, transfer to the hotel. Farewell meal with the guide and drivers. Overnight at the hotel.

On this Day

Explore Dushanbe, and discover parks, museums, Soviet-era architecture, and thriving markets in a city that combines history and progress. Overnight stay at hotel

On this Day

Our staff will transfer all our guests to the airport on their respective departure timings.