Pamir Highway Expedition, Bishkek to the Roof of the World
Seventeen days from Bishkek across Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the Pamir Highway, with the Ak-Baital pass at 4,655 metres and 3,580 kilometres between the two.
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The route
The Pamir Highway is one of the handful of roads that genuinely deserves the word legendary. It runs from the Fergana valley across the roof of Central Asia at altitudes where engines lose a third of their power, and Moto Yak ride it over seventeen days from Bishkek, through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and back.
The first week is Kyrgyzstan at its best. East to the Chon-Kemin gorge, up onto the Song Kul plateau at three thousand metres where the yurts outnumber the buildings, then down to Kazarman and across to Osh. The border comes on day six, and the road south through Khujand and over the Anzob pass to Dushanbe is the last stretch of anything resembling ordinary riding.
What follows is the reason people come. The route picks up the Panj river at Khalaikum and follows the Afghan border for three days, close enough to see villages on the far bank, through Khorog and up the Wakhan corridor to Langar. Then the plateau proper, Murgab, and the Ak-Baital pass at 4,655 metres, the highest point on the whole highway. The return runs north through the Alay valley and back to Bishkek on a final day of 345 kilometres.
Fourteen riding days, 3,580 kilometres, and the operator rates it demanding without qualification. Fuel, accommodation, all meals, a guide, a mechanic, a support vehicle and the GBAO permits are included. The motorcycle is not. Riders either bring their own or hire from the fleet, which runs from a Honda CRF 250L at nineteen euros a day to a KTM 890 Adventure R at a hundred and nineteen.
Photography and film: the operator
Pamir Highway Expedition, Bishkek to the Roof of the World
Arrive in Bishkek
Arrival, briefing and motorcycle collection.
Bishkek to Chon-Kemin
185 km east into the Chon-Kemin gorge.
Chon-Kemin to Song Kul
230 km up onto the Song Kul plateau at about 3,000 metres.
Song Kul to Kazarman
205 km over the passes and down into Kazarman.
Kazarman to Osh
230 km south west to Osh, the last large Kyrgyz city before the border.
Osh to Khujand
370 km across the Tajik border and into the Fergana valley.
Khujand to Dushanbe
302 km south over the Shahriston and Anzob passes to the capital.
Dushanbe
Rest day. No riding.
Dushanbe to Khalaikum
348 km east, picking up the Panj river and the Afghan border.
Khalaikum to Khorog
228 km along the Panj, with Afghanistan a stone’s throw across the water.
Khorog to Langar
216 km up the Wakhan corridor.
Langar to Murgab
226 km onto the high Pamir plateau.
Murgab to the Alay valley
225 km over the Ak-Baital pass at 4,655 metres and back into Kyrgyzstan.
Alay valley to Manas
245 km north through the Alay.
Manas to Toktogul
225 km towards the Toktogul reservoir.
Toktogul to Bishkek
345 km and the longest day of the trip, back over the Too-Ashuu pass.
Departure
Check out and onward travel.
What's included
- Fuel for the whole route
- Parking charges and road tolls
- Third party motorcycle insurance
- Accommodation along the route
- English speaking guide
- Experienced mechanic
- Support vehicle
- Visa support
- Luggage carried in the support vehicle, one 80 litre soft bag per person
- All meals on route
- GBAO and border zone permits
Not included
- International flights
- Motorcycle rental, from EUR 19 per riding day
- Travel insurance, which riders must arrange themselves
- Personal expenses
- Visas where required
Ready to drive it?
17 days, from £3,376pp