Hi there

Following on from a 6 month trip of Eastern Europe last year I have been struck down with the wanderlust bug. Unable to settle I am know planning a RTW trip starting next year with the first part being to get out from the UK to Japan by early sept.

I plan to go down to Iran then up through the Stans to Mongolia, visas and border crossings permitted.

At the moment I am roughing out approx timescales for various countries.

There is not too much written about Turmenistan and what there is does focus on the negatives especially the Police etc. Providing I can get a visa and the border with Iran is open can those who have travelled there add any hints and tips on what to see in Turkmenistan and if the bad press it gets is justified.

I was thinking of about 1 week there before moving onto Tajiksatn which brings me on to the Pamir Highway.

Has anybody out there ridden it over the past few years in particular since the troubles in Afghanistan. Looking at the road it does get quite close to the Afghan border especially around Rushan and Khorog and I wondered if anybody had encountered any problems. Adventure travel is one thing but I dont fancy lunch with BL, probably watching to much TV news!!

I aim to hit Tajikstan late May or Early/mid June. Is the road passable at that time of the year or are rivers too high to cross . The other point is can anyone recommend the Pamir Highway or would it be better to head staright for the Fan Mountains .

Many thanks
Kev