Almaty-Dushanbe-(Pamir Highway )-Almaty June 2013
 

Hi All,

I know the highway is covered in depth over this forum, however, this is usually as part of a RTW/long distance overland trip. June 2013 I am intent on doing just the Pamir highway and Kyrgyzstan over 14 days.

I have experience of KZ, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, having Land-Rovered there from the UK in 2009 but have a desperate desire to now complete the Pamir.

Amazingly, an opportunity has just presented itself having been granted 2 weeks off next June and I am now planning how best to achieve this and as such have a couple of questions.

Plan is Fly UK-Almaty-Dushanbe, Rent 4x4, complete Pamir highway and fly Almaty-UK over 14 days.

Clearly this is the ideal plan, open to change depending on where we are able to rent the vehicle. Which brings me to my first and most important question:

Does anyone have any experience of vehicle Renting in either Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan ( Almaty ) and if so would they consider a 'one way' trip like this, from Dushanbe-Almaty plausible?

I have contacted silkroad tours as I am aware they rent vehicles, but I am keen to keep this trip independent.

Any advice or contacts would be gratefully received.

Tom

I can offer you a bike or 4x4 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 2 weeks is enough to complete the loop but I advise to leave the car or a bike in Dushanbe and spend more time exploring Pamir.

Many thanks, will private message you, does it make a huge difference which way you do it, particularly in terms of altitude? The Highway is definitely the focal point of the trip though and so I am intent on maximising time there.

Kyrgyzstan is a country I long to return to however, so the more I think about it the better the prospect of a 'loop' from Bishkek sounds.

Rent or buy and length of visa?
 

Hi all

Keeping to the same thread but posting a diff question. Hope you don't mind.

Same route, 12 days. Better to buy in Almaty, sell in Dushanbe or rent? Is it even possible to rent 1 way?

And anyone knows how long Tajik visa application will take in Almaty?

Thanks

It took half an day from me summer 2012. It took more time to find there (took several hours and we drove with taxi driver few hours around looking for it). I went there in the afternoon just few hours before closing time so they said that come to pick it up tomorrow morning. I suppose if you go there morning you can get it same day.

The ascent from the Dushanbe end is a lot slower. I have heard of people hitting Murghab (3600m) coming from Osh getting quite sick, the only other place to stop before Murghab on the Tadjik side is KaraKul and that is even higher 3900m and I think Karakul is worth stopping at even if it is only 150ks from Murghab - one of most memorable nights spent their. If you go to Murghab wonder around the Markets and eat at the Cafe there (Rahut or something similar).

Coming from the other end you can be Khorog at only 2400m and take the time to acclimatise.

Do you still need help? Let me know. CHeers. Patrik