redspokes’ Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan cycling tour begins in Dushanbe. On arrival, you will be met at Dushanbe airport and taken to your guesthouse. If you have arrived on an early morning flight you can arrange to check in early (for an additional charge) and catch up on your sleep (flights arrive at 4am). You are free today to explore the relaxed, leafy capital of Tajikistan. We will have a group meeting and trip briefing this evening.

Accommodation: Hotel (D)

Today we transfer by vehicle heading towards the Pamir over the Shurabad mountain pass. As our journey progresses the road becomes very rough. Along the way we may see men and women toiling in the fields using scythes and other traditional farming methods. Over the pass the road meets with the Pianj River which marks the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. From here onwards we will enjoy views of the Pamir Mountains.

Accommodation: Guest House (B,L,D)

Today we continue with a short transfer before our cycling begins. As we reach the Pamir region (GBAO province) the landscape changes from lowlands to huge mountains. From Rushan we set off on our bikes, heading along the deep Pyanj valley towards Khorog. Afghanistan is just a short distance away across the river. The road rises and falls along this steep rocky valley as we cycle through small villages and apricot orchards. It will take most of the day to cover the distance to Khorog as we acclimatise to cycling at 2,000m above sea level.

Cycling Distance: 62km (39 miles)
Total Climb: 557m (1,827ft)
Total Descent: 376m (1,233ft)
Sleeping Altitude: 2,050m (6,726ft)
Accommodation: Guest House (B,L,D)

Khorog is the capital of (GBAO) Gorno-Badakhshan region; you have time today to visit the bazaar, the museum and 100 year old botanical gardens (Just outside the town on the road towards Roshtkala). You can sample some traditional Pamiri food. Typical dishes include laghman, manti, plov and other Central Asian classics, served with bread.

Khorog is situated in a beautiful mountain valley along the Gunt River there are many NGO’s working here, with the Aga Khan Foundation taking the lead. Near Khorog there is a weekly market where Afghans and Tajiks can meet, talk and trade.

Accommodation: Guest House (B)
Sleeping Altitude: 2,050m (6,726ft)

Today we continue our Pamir Highway cycling tour, riding along the valley. Our cycling route follows the Panj River upstream to Andarob for 44 km, we then ride a further 7km to Garam Chashma. This area is known for its hot springs which are popular with local communities. We can partake in a hot soak, a welcome reward for tired legs. The springs are characterised by distinctive calcium deposits and they are believed to have healing powers.

Cycling Distance: 45km (28 miles)
Total Climb: 822m (2,696ft)
Total Descent: 384m (1,260ft)
Sleeping Altitude: 2,575m (8,448ft)
Accommodation: Homestay (B,L,D)

Our ride continues today as we cycle through an historic area, known for its gemstone mines. It is even referred to by Marco Polo in his writings. As we cycle south of Anderob we will see the Koh-i-lah ruby mine set back from the road. You have clear mountain views of the Afghan side of the Wakhan Valley from here. Tonight we stay in Ishkashim, the Wakhan’s regional centre and largest village. We will be welcomed by friendly and curious local children. Ishkahsim is home to a lively bazaar.

Cycling Distance: 75km (47 miles)
Total Climb: 572m (1,877ft)
Total Descent: 646m (2,119ft)
Sleeping Altitude: 2,465m (8,087ft)
Accommodation: Guesthouse (B,L,D)

We ride today on the northern side of the Panj, following the river upstream. There are fantastic views of Afghanistan and the snow-capped Hindu Kush Mountains which rise up to the skyline on the far side of the water. Whilst on our side of the river we follow a well beaten track, over on the Afghan side there is only a dirt trail for people and donkeys to journey on. 15km beyond Ishkashim along the road to Namdguti, we pass the Khakha Fortress.

This impressive landmark dates back to the third century BC and rises out of a natural rock platform. It is currently used by Tajik Border guards, so it is best to check before taking any photos. 300m further from along the road from here is the Ismaili mazar (tomb) of Shah-i-Mardan Hazrati Ali, one of many places in Central Asia that claim to be the final resting place of the Prophet’s son-in-law.

We end the day in village of Yamchun.

Cycling Distance: 73km (45 miles)
Total Climb: 915m (3,002ft)
Total Descent: 690m (2,264ft)
Sleeping Altitude: 2,782m (9,127ft)
Accommodation: Guest House (B,L,D)

Today is a short cycling day as we continue to follow the Panj River upstream. After 7km we arrive for our first stop in the village of Vrang, where we will find a ruined fortress and some interesting 4th C Buddhist Stupas. There are sulphurous traces of geothermic activity and many caves around the area. Around 16km from Vrang we pass hot springs that are popular with the local community. Cycling a further 4km along our way, across the river we will see the ruined Afghan fort of Qala-i-Panja. This was once the largest settlement in the Wakhan.

We continue cycling for a further 29km coming to Abrashim Qala (Vishim Qala in Wakhi), the ‘Silk Fortress’ of Zong. The fortress was built to guard this stretch of the Silk Road from Chinese and Afghan invaders. There are wonderful scenic views of the valley from here. Our destination for this evening is Langar. Langar marks the start of Afghanistan’s Upper Wakhan, or Sarkhad region, located at the point where the Pamir and Wakhan Rivers join to form the Pyanj.

Cycling Distance: 42km (26 miles)
Total Climb: 310m (1,017ft)
Total Descent: 250m (820ft)
Sleeping Altitude: 2,824m (9,265ft)
Accommodation: Homestay (B,L,D)

We start the day cycling off road around the eastern part of lake where the waters have an emerald hue. Yashilkul means ‘the green lake’. The lake’s deepest point is 50m from the surface and is 19km long. The water is clean and clear; trout and marinka fish are visible from the surface. We cycle on re-joining the Pamir Highway at Alichur where we will stop for lunch. This afternoon we ride a further 26km along a route that passes nomding dwellings, yak and moonscape terrain to reach our Yurt camp.

Cycling Distance: 82km (51 miles)
Total Climb: 620m (2,034ft)
Total Descent: 395m (1,296ft)
Sleeping Altitude: 3,938m (12,919ft)
Accommodation: Yurt (B,L,D)

Murghab is the highest town in Tajikistan at an altitude of 3,650m. It was built at the meeting point of the Pamir Highway and the Murghab River and is the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. In the Persain language Murghab means ‘river of the birds’.

Sleeping altitude: 3,618m (11,870ft)
Accommodation: Guest House (B)

Cycling distance won’t be a problem today; the challenge is the thin air as we cycle through increasingly sparse but beautiful scenery all the way towoard the Ak Baytal Pass and our camp/lodgings at over 4,400m.

Everyone will want a good night’s rest before our final mountain pass tomorrow which can be difficult at this altitude. It is usual to experience fragmented sleep at these heights.

Cycling Distance: 49km (30 miles)
Total Climb: 857m (2,812ft)
Total Descent: 49m (161ft)
Sleeping Altitude: 4,429m (1,4531ft)
Accommodation: Camping/lodging (B,L,D)

We continue biking around the lake for a flat 20km before cycling the first of two climbs to the Kyzl-Art Pass, the border point between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

After a thorough security check at the border, a very rough descent takes us into the wide Alay valley. We have spectacular views of the 7,000m summits of Koh-I-Samani and Koh-I-Garmo. The valley is a favourite spot for Kyrgyz nomads and the grasslands are studded with their traditional yurts. Tonight, we stop in Sary-Tash, a tiny remote village surrounded by picturesque mountains.

Cycling Distance: 94km (58 miles)
Total Climb: 756m (2,480ft)
Total Descent: 1,307m (4,288ft)
Sleeping Altitude: 3,169m (10,397ft)
Accommodation: Yurt/homestay (B,L,D)

redspokes Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan: Pamir Highway tour ends this morning. You will be transferred to the airport this morning for your flight home.

• Each tour requires a minimum number of participants to run
• Tour status updates automatically as bookings are received
• Do not book flights until the tour status is marked Guaranteed

Tour Status Definitions

• Guaranteed – Tour is confirmed and open for booking
• Guaranteed – Limited – Confirmed, with limited spaces remaining
• Available – 2 More to Guarantee – Needs two more bookings to confirm
• Available – Open for booking but not yet confirmed
• Contact – Please get in touch to discuss availability
• Fully Booked – No places remaining

Booking & Payments

• A £350 deposit confirms your place on the tour
• Deposits are refundable until the tour becomes Guaranteed
• Final balance is due 56 days before the tour start date
• By booking, you agree to our booking conditions (please read in full)

Small Group Note

For groups of fewer than four participants, the guide may lead from the support vehicle rather than cycling with the group, ensuring full logistical and guiding support.

• Fully supported cycling holiday
  • Support vehicle for luggage transport and rider assistance
  • Accommodation throughout the tour (twin share unless stated)
  • Most meals (see itinerary using the BLD key below)
  • Snacks and mineral water on cycling days
  • Airport transfers on the first and last day of the tour
  • English-speaking local guide(s)
  • Mechanical assistance for minor bike repairs

  Meal Key (used in the itinerary)

  • B = Breakfast
  • L = Lunch
  • D = Dinner
  • Example: B, L means breakfast and lunch are included that day.
  • Special dietary requirements can usually be catered for with advance notice. Please advise us at the time of booking.

• International flights
• Travel insurance (mandatory)
• Visa fees (if applicable)
• Alcoholic drinks
• Meals not specified in the itinerary
• Tips for guides and support staff
• Bike hire
• Single room supplements

Tour Start

• Start location: Dushanbe
• Airport transfers included on the tour start date, regardless of arrival time
• Early arrivals may need to wait for hotel check-in (subject to availability)

Tour End

• End location: Bishkek
• Airport transfers included if departing on the final tour day
• Extra nights and transfers can be arranged at additional cost

Flights

• International flights are not included
• We are happy to advise on suitable arrival and departure airports

We choose accommodation on the basis of comfort rather than luxury. Our prices are based on sharing a twin room. Should you wish to have a room all to yourself there is a single supplement option on the majority of our tours. For more information on the additional costs please see dates and prices.

The accommodation for this trip is split between either Camping, Yurts, Homestays, Guest House & Hotel.

Some hotels will have en-suite facilities and air conditioning.

Meals on Tour
Most meals are included in your tour price, except on rest days and a few other occasions.
Please check the itinerary for all meals provided.

Dietary Requirements
If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know at the time of booking.
We can cater for most diets, but advance notice is essential to ensure the best experience.

Food in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is hearty, simple and full of Central Asian flavour. Meals are usually based around bread, rice, noodles, vegetables and meat, with tea served throughout the day.

Breakfast is often straightforward: tea, bread, butter, jam and sometimes eggs or porridge. Flat bread is served with most meals and is an important part of local hospitality. It is treated with respect and should not be placed upside down.

Typical dishes include plov, a rice dish cooked with vegetables and small pieces of meat, and laghman, a noodle soup usually made with mutton. Fresh salads are commonly made with tomato and cucumber, and local yoghurt is often very good. Pork is not eaten.

Outside the main towns, Western food is limited. Restaurants in larger settlements may offer Russian or Western-style dishes, while traditional teahouses, known as choihonas, serve local meals. In some places, guests sit on raised platforms around low tables with thin mats.

Vegetarians can be catered for, but choices may be limited, particularly in remote areas where meat-based dishes are common and fresh produce can be scarce. Fruit is seasonal, with apricots and watermelon among the most common when available.

The staple drink is tea, usually black or green. Soft drinks can be found in towns and occasional roadside shops. Safe drinking water is not always widely available, so bottled or treated water will be provided during the tour.

In Kyrgyzstan, you may also come across kymyz, a traditional, slightly alcoholic drink made from fermented mare’s milk.

Support Vehicle

• A support vehicle accompanies the group throughout the tour
• Transports main luggage between overnight stops
• Available for rest breaks or if you need a lift
• Typically stops every 20 km / 12 miles

On-Ride Support

• Guides carry tools for minor repairs
• You only need a small daypack while riding

Helmet Policy

• Helmets are mandatory while cycling
• Helmet hire cannot be guaranteed locally
• You must bring your own helmet

For this tour we are unable to offer bike hire. Please see details in Bringing your own bike section for advise on what kind of bike is suitable for this trip.

For this tour we recommend a good, tough mountain bike. The route includes a mix of poorly maintained tarmac, rough gravel tracks, washboard surfaces and potholes, so a strong, reliable bike is important.

Front suspension is recommended and will make the rougher sections more comfortable, although it is not essential. A full-suspension bike is also suitable, but may feel harder work on the longer tarmac sections. If you ride with flat bars, bar ends can be useful, giving you an alternative hand position on the climbs and longer days.

The tour can be ridden on a traditional touring bike, but only if it is robust and well prepared. You will need strong wheels, low gearing and sufficiently wide tyres. We would suggest 37mm tyres as an absolute minimum, with wider tyres preferable. Strong 36-spoke wheels with good quality rims are recommended.

Low gearing is important, as there are long climbs and some demanding rough-road sections. A 22-tooth granny ring on the front, with an 11–32 or 11–34 cassette on the back, should be suitable for most riders.

Comfort is also essential. There are some long days in the saddle, so please make sure your saddle, riding position and bike set-up are all tried and tested before the tour.

The best tyre choice is a tough, hardwearing touring or expedition tyre with enough tread for gravel, but not so much that it feels slow on tarmac. Schwalbe Marathon XR, or a similar robust tyre, would be a good option.

We strongly recommend that your bike is fully serviced before departure. Please check the wheels, spokes, bearings, gear and brake cables, chain, quick releases, tyres and wheel rims. All nuts and bolts should be tightened, and we recommend fitting new inner tubes before travel.

We recommend bringing the following spares and tools:

• Multi-tool
• Tyre levers
• Pump
• Spare inner tubes
• Spare spokes
• Brake pads or disc pads
• A few spare chain links
• Any specialist spares specific to your bike, such as brake fluid or a bleed kit

Your bike must be carried as part of your airline luggage allowance. A bike packed in a cardboard box usually weighs around 15–20kg, so please bear this in mind when packing. You may need to pay excess baggage charges depending on your airline.

Currency

The local currency in Tajikistan is the Tajikistani Somoni (TJS). In Kyrgyzstan, the local currency is the Kyrgyz Som (KGS). You will need local currency for most small purchases, drinks, snacks and personal expenses.

Foreign currencies are not usually accepted for day-to-day purchases, especially outside the main towns. USD is generally the easiest currency to exchange, followed by Euros. GBP may be harder to exchange once outside larger cities.

ATMs are available in Dushanbe and Bishkek, and in some larger towns, but they should not be relied upon in remote areas. Card payments are limited outside the main cities, so cash is essential for this tour.

We recommend bringing:

• Around £250 / $300 in cash for exchange
• A Visa or Mastercard debit/credit card for ATM withdrawals and backup
  USD or Euros in clean, undamaged notes for easier exchange

Where to Exchange

• ATMs and exchange desks are available in Dushanbe and Bishkek
  Exchange some money on arrival for drinks, snacks and personal expenses
  Your guide will advise when to exchange money before leaving the larger towns.
• It is best to carry enough local cash before heading into remote areas
• Damaged, torn or heavily marked foreign notes may not be accepted

Spending Money

How much you spend depends on personal preferences, but £250 / $300 is usually enough for drinks, snacks, small souvenirs and extras during the tour.

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are generally affordable, but opportunities to spend money are limited in remote mountain areas. In the larger towns, you may wish to budget extra for additional drinks, souvenirs or meals not included in the tour.

Tipping

• Tipping is customary and appreciated for good service
• Suggested guideline: £80-£100 / $100-$125 per customer
• Tips are pooled and distributed by your guide at the end of the tour

• Single room supplement
• Extra nights before or after the tour
• Additional airport transfers
• Optional excursions or rest-day activities

• A valid passport is required
• Passport must usually be valid for at least 6 months after travel
• Visa requirements vary by nationality and can change at short notice
• You are responsible for checking current entry requirements before travel
• Government travel advice websites and official visa portals are the most reliable sources
• For this tour, you will need to check entry requirements for both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Tajikistan

• A visa is required for Tajikistan. Travel on the Pamir Highway also requires a GBAO permit for the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast.
• You should allow plenty of time to arrange your Tajikistan visa and GBAO permit. We recommend allowing 4–6 weeks to be safe.
• When applying for the GBAO permit, please ensure it covers all areas required for the route, including Khorog, Darvoz, Vanj, Rushon, Ishkashim, Jelandy, Alichur, Murgab and Karakul.
• Tourist e-visas and GBAO permits can usually be applied for online via the official Tajikistan e-visa portal.

Kyrgyzstan

• Many nationalities can enter Kyrgyzstan for tourism without a visa, but this depends on your passport nationality and the length of stay.
• Please check the latest requirements with the relevant embassy or official government travel advice before departure.

Important

• Visa and entry rules can change without notice. redspokes will do its best to provide helpful guidance, but we cannot be held responsible for changes to visa, passport or entry requirements.

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Travel Insurance

Mandatory for all participants and must cover:

• Medical expenses and emergency evacuation
• Cycling and adventure activities
• Loss or damage to luggage and hired equipment
• Trip cancellation or curtailment
• Insurance should be taken out at the time of booking

Health & Vaccinations

• Consult your GP or travel clinic at least 8 weeks before departure
• Follow advice from official travel health authorities

In terms of clothing this is clearly up to you and we can only supply a rough guide as to what to take. This guide is entirely flexible and should be tailored to your specific needs.

• Cycle Helmet
• Sunglasses
• Water bottles or camelbak
• Base layer tops
• Fleece jacket/ pullover
• Waterproof cycling jacket (breathable fabric)
• Down Jacket
• Padded cycling shorts
• Cycling shoes Over Shoes – extra warmth
• Lightweight socks & heavyweight socks
• Trekking Shorts
• Trousers
• T-shirts– lightweight
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Fingerless cycling gloves
• Warm gloves
• Warm fleece hat
• Buff
• Towel
• Lipbalm/ sunscreen

Our guides carry first aid supplies, however we recommend you bring your own first aid kit which should contain the following item; 

• Paracetamol/ Ibuprofen (or whatever you prefer for headache)
• Lomotil or Diacalm
• Rehydration salts (Dioralite)
• Antiseptic cream
• Throat lozenges
• Plasters (band aids)
• Nasal spray
• Eye drops
• Ear plugs
• Anti bacterial hand wash
• Antiseptic wet wipes
• Insect Repellent

Miscellaneous

• Energy Bars (gels, power bars)
• Energy/recovery drinks
• Camera

Electricity in both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan usually runs at 220 volts with a frequency of 50Hz.

Both countries use plug and socket types C and F.

Type C has two round pins.
Type F has two round pins with earth clips on the side.

Travellers from the UK will need a travel adaptor. We recommend bringing a universal adaptor and a power bank, as electricity may be limited in remote areas.