The Great Game Adventure

Day 01: Istanbul/Dushanbe (Tajikistan) Flt
Meeting on arrival at Dushanbe International Airport – proceed to visa counter for
arrival visa procedure. Afterwards we shall transfer to hotel.
morning free at leisure
afternoon sightseeing tour of Dushanbe – we shall visit
visit the Antiquities Museum – with its longest reclining Buddha now the biggest in the
region.
There is an excellent collection of artifacts from lost cities of the Kushan Empire
once flourishing along the Pamir on Silk Road artery.

Day 02: Dushanbe
Morning sightseeing tour of Dushanbe – Today we shall visit the Ethnological and
Applied Arts Museum. Later visit Gurminj musical museum and the local Bazaar of
Dushanbe
Afternoon excursion to Hissar Fortress – see old walls once occupies by many invaders
and later see the local madrassahs dating 17th/18th AD
Meals and overnight

Day 03: Dushanbe/Kala-i-Khum – 292 kms
We shall start early in the morning for our Pamir adventure – we shall drive through
beautiful Tavildara – an exciting place to see flowers in July/August with panoramic
views of Pamir mountain region. We shall make several stops enroute
continue driving through interesting jeep route through the narrow ledges of rocks
arriving in the late afternoon at Kala-i-Khum with the first sight of Oxus river and Afghan
border line. On arrival transfer to hotel.
meals and overnight

Day 04: Kala-i-Khum/Khorog – 239 kms
We depart for Khorog following the river with Afghanistan across – the road is pretty
rough and dusty
We shall have occasional photographic stops or a visit of local houses
Enroute lunch stops at the local houses
We shall arrive in the late afternoon to the main town of Gorno Badakshan mountain
region. Transfer to Serena Inn by the river with beautiful gardens
Meals and overnight

Day 05: Khorog/Ishkashim/Yamg – 180 kms
Morning depart for our adventure when we enter The Great Game Zone – our first stop
will be at Ishkashim through which Marco Polo travelled to the court of Badakshan – he
mentions about Ruby mines in this area which are still there
we continue with short stop at Yamg for our overnight stop at Guest House
we shall then walk to the village visit the house famous Sufi poet Mobarak
meals and overnight

Day 06: Yamg/Yamchun/Vrang/Murghab – 232 kms
Our first stop will be the visit of the ancient fortress – local called the fire worshippers
Fortress was infact a guarding station for scouting at the movement of caravans
through the Wakhan corridor. We shall be looking at the beautiful sights of Hindudkush
ranges across the river, Later we shall visit a hot spring of Bibi Fatima
continue afterwards into the high Pamir we are skirting along the Wakhan corridor with
Wakhandarya following us as it changes its name to Panjdarya, the Oxus of the
classical writers. Here in the mountains this mighty river rises and disappears with its
continuous water fallout ending in the dying Aral Sea. Through this region passed one
of the artery of the Great Silk Road – the route through the Pamir knot
Here were the boundaries of the Great Game, players. The Czarist Russia and the
British Indian Empire coincided and collided in these high Pamirs and finally decided to
co-exist with these high regions as their boundaries in 1890’s
on arrival transfer to hotel.
meals and overnight

Day 07: Murghab/Achiktash – 265 kms (Kyrgyzstan)
After a nice breakfast we proceed to the Kyrgyzstan border point at Kizil Art
pass(4280m)
The day will be slow and very interesting as we see gradual introduction of the Pamirs.
We continue downwards into Kyrgyzstan after crossing the pass we make as short stop
at Karakol with distant mountain view of Pik Lenin
depart Murghab the road gradually rises to Akbautal pass(4655m) we descend
into Karakol Lake view with its high road
after the border formalities we shall proceed on the Kyrgyz side meeting new transport
and the guide to continue to Achiktash camp
Camp for Pik Lenin – this is a nice camp (July-Aug)
Short walks to view points for Pik Lenin(7134m)
dinner and overnight

Day 08: Achiktash/Osh – 255 kms
Morning depart for Sary Tash we gradually drive into lower altitudes with short stops
Picnic lunch enroute
We gradually attain descend through the winding road crossing beautiful views of the
mountains. We cross Taldyk pass(3615m) and arrive Osh
transfer to hotel.
Dinner and overnight

Day 09: Osh/Bishkek – Flt (pm)
Morning flight to Bishkek and on arrival transfer to Hotel Plaza
Afternoon excursion to Alarcha Canyon – the beautiful mountain scenery
Meals and overnight

Day 10: Bishkek/Istanbul – Flt
Wed morning transfer to airport for flight to your destination
Assistance on departure