Tajikistan Pamir Highway

Motorcycle
During this trip, you will ride Yamaha XT 600 cc motorcycles.

Difficulty of the journey
The combination of three factors can make this trip quite arduous. First, there are the dirt roads in the high mountains of Tajikistan. And secondly, the altitude will make this journey tough for many participants. Without exception, everyone will experience discomfort from the heights. For some, it will remain shortness of breath and vague symptoms, others will get more annoying symptoms such as headaches and nausea. These are all normal reactions of the body and most symptoms will go away on their own after a few days. This process is called acclimatization and you will find extensive information about it in the handbook. To make this process as smooth as possible, it is important to ascend slowly. We have taken this into account in our schedule.

Off Road & Distances
About half of the route, we drive on unpaved roads. These are usually well-trodden gravel roads, but due to the effects of the rainy season, they can be quite difficult to walk on. Of course, you always have to be very careful in the sharp bends. The high passes in this area are only open in the summer months, in the other seasons there is too much snow. This also means that in the summer period, a lot of snow melts and flows over the roads. This can be a harmless stream but can also cause a significant landslide. So, keep in mind that in such cases a solution must be sought. This can be a short detour, but it can also be a motorbike ride through the river. Flexibility is therefore an important quality to take with you on this trip.

Overnight stays
This trip goes through very remote parts of Tajikistan. There are no hotels here. So, we will regularly stay at people's homes in so-called 'homestays'. These are of course fairly simple accommodations, but they do bring you into direct contact with the local population.

Climate
We drive through two different climate zones. In the relative lowlands of Kyrgyzstan, it is dry and warm. It is different in the high mountains of Tajikistan. Due to the altitude, the temperature here fluctuates extremely. During the day it is very hot but after sunset, it will cool down very quickly and become quite cold.

Clothing
Mandatories are a helmet, warm motorcycle jacket with protective gloves, good sturdy motorcycle pants with protection and sturdy high (mountain) shoes. Due to the large temperature differences, it can be useful to wear a motorcycle jacket with a removable lining. In colder parts of the mountains, you can also wear extra clothing under your jacket if necessary. Because you experience very hot, but also cold days, it is best to bring both summer gloves and winter gloves. Furthermore, a good pair of sunglasses is useful and a helmet with a visor that protects against the dust. If your motorcycle clothing is not waterproof, it is advisable to bring a separate rainsuit.

Pocket money and money matters
At the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border, you can't exchange money. In Osh, you have to exchange a minimum of money in Kyrgyz Som (of which you don't need much, i.e. for 3 days) and a minimum of Tajik Somini (for 1 day). In Dushanbe you have the best rate and you can exchange a maximum amount of money. There are not many souvenirs to buy anywhere.

Safety
There may be landmines along the border river with Afghanistan. During the 4 days that we drive along the river and thus along the border with Afghanistan, it is tempting but unwise to drive next to the road (off-road) or to go paddling or picnicking at the river.

Visa
A Visa is required, since it is no longer needed for Kyrgyzstan. You can apply for a visa online for Tajikistan. You can also have the application taken care of by Motor Trails. You will receive more information about this after registration.