Aug’23 : 14-day trip Wakhan

Suggested 14-day trip Wakhan

Trip assumed to originate from Tajik-Afghanistan Border at Shirkhan Bandar

No. Of people: 2+

Date: Aug. 01st, 2023 – Aug. 14th, 2023

Day 1 Saturday, Khorog to Ishkashim-Qazida village (Arrival and Permits)
Date: Aug. 1st, 2023

Arrival at the border town of Ishkishim. Usually the border opens at 8:00 AM. It usually takes half a day to process the permit. Once done with the process, we will have time for the final preparation and make sure we have everything well arranged. Have lunch at the Marco Polo Hotel, named after the famous Italian world traveler as one day he has walked through this region. In the afternoon we continue to explore towards Qazida village. Usually it takes an hour to reach Qazida, but we can often stop to see or picture more on the road. Have a day tour around Qazida to see the Qaqa fort close by and you will have time to explore the local environment and understand some of the Wakhi culture through the people in the area.

Overnight: At Qazida village, Amrudin G.H.
Altitude: 2600m

Day 2 Sunday, Qazida village-Khandud – Qala-e-Panja
Date: Aug. 2nd, 2023

Journey continues for a four hours drive from Qazida village towards Khandud district. We will have lunch at a local restaurant in Khandud and do some more paper work, passport and visa check at the district office out there, have some site seeing around the bazaar and visit the Ras Mulk, an ancient fort in Khandud. Then you continue towards Qala-e-Panja for another hour drive being able to see the Afghanistan’s highest peak 7492m Nushakh on the way.

Overnight: At Qala-e-Panja, Ehsamudin G.H.
Altitude: 2800m

Day 3 Monday,  Qala-e-Panja – Sargaz Village – Kurat village
Date: Aug. 3rd, 2023

The journey will continue for another 2 hours drive through a narrow road to Sargaz village. The Journey’s highlight is a beautiful natural waterfall called Shah Yopak in Wakhiwar language. On the way we will also visit a natural warm mineral spring where people wash their hands and face as a holy water. Lunch at Sayed Ebrahim local restaurant in Sargaz. Then the road will continue to Kurat village where we can visit Kohe Safid (the White Mountain) the second highest mountain of Afghanistan 6000m.

Overnight: At Kurat, Khyal Beg G.H.
Altitude: 3100m

Day 4 Tuesday,  Kurat to Sarhad-e-Brughel
Date: Aug. 4th, 2023

We make our way to the furthest point that we can by vehicle from Kurat to Sarhad-e-Brughel through a three hours drive. Have lunch at Zarik or Quchbig G.H. and have an afternoon full visit of Sarhad-e-Brughel as it is a huge area consisting many villages. At Sarhad e Broghil the road ends, the Paamirs begin and any further journey must be made on foot or by horse. We will have further preparation to make ourselves ready for a long trek.

Overnight: At Sarhad-e-Brughel, Zarik G.H.
Altitude: 3200m

Day 5 Wednesday, Sarhad-e-Broghil to Baharak
Date: Aug. 5th, 2023

We are ready to hit the narrow road by foot. The first day would be a bit difficult to trek since we are still not used to walk up the passes and differ our way from the Panj river. We will continues up the Daliz Pass like 4200 meters aiming to reach Baharak after almost a seven hours of trek.

Overnight: At Baharak (Camping)

Altitude: 3400

Day 6 Thursday, Baharak – Shawar - Langar
Date: Aug. 6th, 2023

The journey continues up to Wakhan trough small Pamirs for another almost seven hours. We and horses pull ourselves up. Hope to see cattle and livestock on the way to borrow some milk for lunch in Shawar. Serious Qazaqs and their watching dogs care about the animals to keep strangers away from them. We may have the chance to ask a Wakhi guy play a love flute for us.

Overnight: At Langar (Camping)

Altitude: 3550

Day 7 Friday, Langar towards Palas Parshich-Buzai Gunbad
Date: Aug. 7th, 2023

Hoping to reach the first Kirghiz camp at Buzai Gunbad in the evening after like eight hours trek, we will be up earlier today to reach to Palas Parshich after four hours for lunch. The scenery changes during this day of walking from the steep sided valley of the Wakhan to the wide-open plains of the Afghan Pamir. The trekking continues to the largest of the Kirghiz settlements at Buzai Gunbad. There is a chance to see the Kyrgyz way of life.

Overnight: At Buzai Gunbad (camping)
Altitude: 3850m

Day 8 Saturday, Buzai Gunbad – Chaqmaqtin Lake
Date: Aug. 8th, 2023

The last and the shortest trek will be from Buzai Gunbad to Chaqmaqtin lake where nomads graze their livestock and an important water sours for Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and even Turkmenistan that produce the electricity and sells back to Afghanistan. It will be our stop for the journey. Will have lunch, rest in the afternoon, mix with Kirghiz people and dig deeper about their way of life.

Overnight: At Chaqmaqtin lake
Altitude: 4000m

Day 9 Sunday, Chaqmaqtin Lake – Kurchin
Date: Aug. 9th, 2023

We will have a high six hour rout hike from the Lake to Kurchin. You will appreciate your strong legs for the god job today. But you will have a great time seeing the excellent panoramas of Pamir on the way to Kurchin.

Overnight: At Kurchin (Camping)
Altitude: 4150m

Day 10 Monday, Kurchin – Aqbelis Pass – Ghurumde
Date: Aug. 10th, 2023

You don’t have to rush today. After two and half hours hiking you will be able reach the peak of the Aqbelis Pass with an amazing view from the lake. Hope to get to Ghurumde in the early afternoon.

Overnight: Ghurumde (Camping)
Altitude: 4280m

Day 11 Tuesday, Ghurumde – Uween Sar Pass – Nawabad
Date: Aug. 11th, 2023

Certainly the crossing of the Uween Sar Pass is the highest point reached on the trip. An early start should see you cross the pass around noon. From then on it is downhill to the small camp of Nawabad.

Overnight: Nawabad (Camping)
Altitude: 4300m

Day 12 Wednesday, Nawabad to Shawar
Date: Aug. 12th, 2023

Possibly the toughest day of the trip. Certainly the crossing of the Uween Sar Pass (4850 metres) is the highest point reached on the trip. An early start should see the group cross the pass around noon. From then on it is downhill to the small camp of Nauabad.

Overnight: Shawar (Camping)
Altitude: 4200m

Day 13 Thursday, Shawr – Daliz Pass – Sarhad e Broghil – Qala e Panja
Date: Aug. 13th, 2023

Another four hours hike and visit with Daliz pass before we reach to Sarhad-e-Brughil. Your vehicles will be waiting to take you back to Eshkashim. And you will continue the road to Qala-e-Panja for another four hours.

Overnight: Qala-e-Panja, Ehsamudin G.H.
Altitude: 2800m

Day 14 Friday,  Qala-e-Panja – Ishkashim (goodbye)
Date: Aug. 14th, 2023

Will try to drop you on time to cross the Ishkashim back to Tajikistan. The last point we will say goodbye to you.

Security/Do and Don’ts:

-      Local clothing: (Hijab for women) will be very helpful as it doesn’t only blend you in, respect to culture and our traditional outfit etc. but it creates a happy friendly atmosphere while locals see you wearing Afghanistan like attire. 

-      Locations safe: Normally the locations you will be visiting are safe and pre security assessed. Although you always cooperate with your guide in case of any emergency cases while the guide asks you to leave or jump in the car and s/he can always explain later.

-      People praying at the mosque: you will visit mosques during your visit and you might find people praying. Please never cross from the front of the person praying as it ruins the prayer. Sides and behind the person praying is fine.

-      Some students and young people ask questions: At the sites you will find some people trying to approach intending to talk to you. They normally ask questions like who you are, why you are in Afghanistan. It’s always OK to talk to them, tell them what your name is, you are a tourist and you coming from any country you are but please always keep your address, hotel, and itinerary secrete with you. Sometime they will ask for Facebook, WhatsApp etc. You can share just to keep the conversation smooth or friendly but it’s up to you reject them later.

-      Drink bottled water: Please always feel free to ask your guide for bottled water. The water from the tub in your hotel room is OK to take a shower, rinse your mouth, etc.

-      No photos of women, big military walls with barbed wires, security cameras etc. Women don’t like cameras in Afghanistan. You can always ask for permission if you wanted to photograph people and ask your guide if you are at the right place for photography.

-      No money for beggars: You will see beggars coming to you. You might want to help them and try to be kind to them but soon you will see loads of them trying to mob you. Please never offer anything to beggars and not promote beggism anymore in Afghanistan.

-      Change local money: You can always ask your guide to change local currency for you. Any time needed. 

-      Local time: Make sure you have the local time.

-      Question: Feel free to ask any questions any time from your guide, as much as you want.

Visas:

We can send you a Letter of Invitation (LoI) from our company to help with your visa application. Though not strictly speaking a requirement for a tourist visa, most Afghan Embassies and Consulates will ask for this when you you make your application. We will also send you a copy of our Registered Licence as an Afghan Governement approved Tour Operator.

Insurance:

Clements Travel Insurance 

https://www.clements.com/?fbclid=IwAR2ve4K72ecohJE2tOno7xQ6tweVHTDz1HMUJRw3u8oKHM7BINvQ-XpuWDM

New York International Group http://www.nyig.com/ 

Global Underwriters Travel Insurance https://www.globalunderwriters.com/

Global Rescue https://www.globalrescue.com/ 

Included in the trip: (All inclusive)

-   All accommodations.

-   English speaking local guide.

-   Transportations.

-   Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

-   Drinks (water and soft drinks).

-   All pick-ups and drops.

Not included:

- Permits at the border.

- Visas and tips.

Accommodation:

Comfort, location, character and historical interest is considered and it will be based on you having a private room.

Transportation:

As your comfort and enjoyment of the journey is the first priority, we choose our vehicles and drivers based on local acceptance, road conditions and the length of journey.