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  #1  
Old 16 Apr 2020
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PAMIR highway in July
Hi all.

We will do again Barcelona - Ulaanbaatar but this time we want to include the Pamir highway.
Although our idea is to enjoy the trip, we are used to driving in harsh conditions and long distances if necessary.
We'll do the north route because we don't have many days.

- What state is the road in?
- How many stages could the Dusambe - Osh route be divided into?
- What accommodation options are there for a group of 8-10 riders?

Thanks in advance!!
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  #2  
Old 16 Apr 2020
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With northern Route you mean the northern part from Dushanbe to Khaleikumb?

This is much more offroad than the southern part.

I think the northern route is slower than the southern route.

I did both routes.
Southern part from Dushanbe to Khaleikumb is easy doable in 1 day, northern route only if you start very early, and don't take to much rest. And you should not have an problem.
We did not make it in one day.

with 8 people, it is definitely harder to find accommodation, but should be possible.
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Old 16 Apr 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klausmong1 View Post
With northern Route you mean the northern part from Dushanbe to Khaleikumb?

This is much more offroad than the southern part.

I think the northern route is slower than the southern route.

I did both routes.
Southern part from Dushanbe to Khaleikumb is easy doable in 1 day, northern route only if you start very early, and don't take to much rest. And you should not have an problem.
We did not make it in one day.

with 8 people, it is definitely harder to find accommodation, but should be possible.
I mean northern route Dushanbe-Alichur-Murghab by M41 road, not by the Wakhan Corridor.
So one stage maybe Dushanbe-Kalaikhum and Kalaikhum-Khorugh for next day?
And is doable Khorugh-Alichur in 1 day?
No problem for accomodation, we can stay in different homestay.
Thank you Klausmong
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Old 17 Apr 2020
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With northern route i mean Dushanbe to Khalaikumb

here in the picture red:
This route is 270km and mostly offroad, and small and narrow and has some tricky parts.
You should use a light weight bike.

The southern route ( green ) is much longer, But mostly asphalt and easy.
Only the road along the Panj river is bad asphalt, but still good to drive

From Dushanbe to Khaleikumb on the northern route with 8 people, I do not think you do it in 1 day.
Southern route is doable in 1 day


Khalaikumb to Khorog 1 day, and bad asphalt. Sometimes no asphalt

Khorog to Murghab on M41 1 day, and bad asphalt, sometimes gravel.




Pictures of the northern part:




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Old 17 Apr 2020
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Ok thank you very much Klausmong.
And which one is more beautiful? Northen or southern route? Last year we did Altai - Uliastai with heavy bikes and we arrived around 14:00 stopping to take photos and with some section under construction
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Old 17 Apr 2020
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Altai - Uliastay is a very easy offroad stretch. In my opinion. done that 2 times already.

Northern part in Tajikistan is much harder.

Both routes are beautiful.
Northern is more mountains and valley.

Southern you drive longer along the Panj river.

If you will do the northern part because you think you are faster, than this is maybe wrong.
I think southern part is much faster.

I like the way from Altai to Uliastay.

2018:



And 2013:



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Old 17 Apr 2020
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Don't forget you will be going up to 4,655m altitude if you ride Ak-Baital, you should give yourself some time to acclimatise.
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Old 17 Apr 2020
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I'm not saying that the north option is faster because it's shorter. I mean we would like the north option more because many of us do off road often.

But as you well say, going in a group is not the same as in a solo trip or with a small group, so we'll choose the southern option, which is the most logical for this trip.

Thanks Klausmong!!

And good bike to travel, I rode this one in 2019:
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PAMIR highway in July-23.jpg  

PAMIR highway in July-26.jpg  

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Old 17 Apr 2020
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I thought you want the northern route because it is faster.


Quote:
Originally Posted by lawan View Post
We'll do the north route because we don't have many days.
Have Fun.
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Old 17 Apr 2020
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Originally Posted by Tomkat View Post
Don't forget you will be going up to 4,655m altitude if you ride Ak-Baital, you should give yourself some time to acclimatise.
Yes Tomkat, but we enter Tajikistan by Samarcanda and we'll be going up from Dushanbe at 700m, Kalaikhum 1,200m, Khorugh 2,123m, Murghab 3,612m, Ak-Baital 4,655m, Sary-Tash 3,170m and then Osh.

Also we'll cross some mountain passes with more than 2,500m in Georgia or Turkey.

Do you think it's good acclimatization having end of stages in Kalaikhum, Khorugh, Murghab and Sary-Tash/Osh?

Thanks!!
Last edited by lawan; 18 Apr 2020 at 00:15.
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Old 17 Apr 2020
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I think that are good points to end a daytrip and continue.
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Old 18 Apr 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by klausmong1 View Post
I think that are good points to end a daytrip and continue.
Perfect, so these will be our 5 stages in Tajikistan.
Thank you very much Klausmong
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Old 18 Apr 2020
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I did it in 5 days from Denav/Usbekistan via Dushanbe to Osh but including the Wakan Valley

Day 1: Denav/Usb to Dushanbe to Khaleikum , northern route

Day 2: Khaleikum to Khorog

Day 3: Khorog to Langar, Wakan valley

Day 4: Langar to Murghab

Day 5: Murghab to Osh, bad weather, snow at the boarder and heavy rain until Osh

Motorcycle was an old Yamaha XT 600 Tenere, modelyear 1985.
It has been one of the most impressing trips ever done.
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Old 18 Apr 2020
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To do it in this time, specially day 1, you have to ride very long days.

I also do ride long days, but I would not want to do that in this time, not day 1.

The rest is doable, even when the last day is not fun.
Over 400km including a border in bad weather, respect.
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Old 19 Apr 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lawan View Post
Do you think it's good acclimatization having end of stages in Kalaikhum, Khorugh, Murghab and Sary-Tash/Osh?

Thanks!!
I thought I wrote a reply to this yesterday but it seems to have gone. Anyhoo...

The normal advice is not to sleep more than 500m higher than the previous night. If you are young and fit you may be able to push that limit, but with a group of 8 you may have to be willing to travel at a rate everyone can accept. Don't underestimate altitude sickness, it can kill.
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