On the second day, after having breakfast we will hit the road towards southeast part of Tajikistan. We will be travelling roughly 8-9 hours with toilet and coffee break in between. Around noon we will reach Shurobod and will have lunch in one of our Markhor conservancy family. Having joined Panj river which is the natural border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan we will drive along the border to Rushan district. Along the road we will enjoys the views of Tajik and Afghan mountains as well as villages in Afghanistan.

After a hearty breakfast at our guesthouse in Khorog we will continue driving along the Panj river to Khorog. Khorog is administrative capital of Gorno-Badakhshan province of Tajikistan and the biggest city in the whole Pamir. On arrival in Khorog we will visit the Afghan market which takes place each Saturday in a special compound on the border. After doing some shopping we will drive to Khorog central park where we will have lunch followed by a trip to Khorog Botanical garden, one of the highest in the world. After we explore Khorog we resume our driving further south towards Ishkashim in Wakhan valley of Tajikistan. Historically Wakhan laid on the famous silk road from where caravans passed with their goods and the remnants of the ancient silk road can still be seen in the valley, like Kah-Kaha and Yamchun forts. The indigenous people of this area are called wakhi people whose language is different from the rest of the Pamirs and Ibex plays an important role in their culture. For centuries Ibex was the main source of meat in the area and local people developed a unique respect for the animal. Wakhi people decorate the shrines of holy people with Ibex horns and have preserved many Zoroastrian traditions which you can witness in their houses.

We will drive all the way to Darshai village where one of the 3 conservancies in Wakhan valley is located. We will be met by conservancy staff and sleep in a traditional Pamiri house.

The next 3 days we shall hike to valley of Darshaidara which leads up to the Peak Mayakovskiy (6096masl) Peak. We will walk on a trail which was used by local people for centuries and enjoy magnificent views of Hindukush mountain range across the border. Depending on the season our hiking distance will differ. In summertime we will hike longer and higher where young grass sprouts which is the main food of Ibex, grow and in colder season our hike will be shorter as the Ibex comes down in search of food. We will be sleeping in hunters campsite and spend evenings watching the Ibex. On the last day we will hike back to Darshai village and drive to the famous Bibi-Fatima hot-spring where we will enjoy bathing in the hot healing water. During your stay in Wakhan valley you will travel centuries back in your imagination and will have a better understanding of the silk road history.

Asiatic Ibex is the most common wildlife of Pamir mountains and are morphologically rather different from those in other countries, and also between the different areas of Tajikistan considerable variation in horns and coloration can be found. There are 6 community based conservancies in the region who protect this iconic animal. We will drive to Bartang valley today and visit the first community-based wildlife conservancy established in Pamir – Parcham. Bartang valley is famous for it’s untouched nature and exceptionally hospitable people who love music and dancing. We will be hosted by Parcham organization staff in the village of Khijez which sits on the bank of Bartang river and enjoy the dinner with local family.

Again, depending on the season we will have different itinerary in Parcham conservancy. During the colder season, we will be able to observe Ibex while driving along the road on Ravmeddara valley and in summertime we will walk further Ravmed village and set up tents to be able to see Ibex on mountain cliffs in the morning. Our program will include visiting the Ravmed village, one of the most remote villages in the region where people live in a very traditional way. Ravmeddara valley is also an interesting place for birds and we should be able to enjoy observing different species of vultures such as Bearded vulture, Himalayan vulture, eagles such as Saker Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Kestrel. Also Himalayan Snow cock, Doves, Chough, Alpine Chough, Desert Raven can be seen during warm season.
We will conclude our stay in Parcham conservancy with traditional music and dance performance in our homestay in Khijez village.

We will say goodbye to our host in Khijez and head back towards Dushanbe. On our way back we will visit yet another conservancy area in Shurobod region where we will hike to Markhor habitat area. A large Capra species native to Central Asia, Bukhara Markhor is a majestic animal with peculiar corkscrew-shaped horns that inhabits the mountains of Shurobod and Darvoz region of Tajikistan. Local community organizations have done an enormous job in preservation of Markhor in the last 10 years increasing the population of Markhor from 300 to almost 2000 animals. We will stay overnight in one of the conservancy families house.

After a traditional breakfast in the village we embark on hike along picturesque Kisht valley. The hike is relatively easy with only some steep hills. Rangers will lead the hike through red rock formations, canyons, pistachios forests on red hills, and multiple river crossings, until you reach the hunter’s hut on top of the mountain. From there, you have an opportunity to observe Markhor grazing on the cliffs of eroded mountain hills in the evening and in the morning. The rangers will have a set of binoculars and spotting scopes for you to enjoy the views.

We head back to the village early in the morning. Hike back will be much easier and faster as we will be descending all the way to the village. Once we reach the village we take of to Dushanbe. The drive to Dushanbe will be approximately 4 hours and we should reach Dushanbe during the noon. In Dushanbe you will have some time to rest at the hotel and then go for shopping to the souvenir shop or the bazaar. In the evening you will have a farewell dinner with ANCOT staff where you share your experience and possibly discuss your future trip to Tajikistan again.

Early morning you will be transferred to the airport where our staff will help you with the registration to your flight and leave Tajikistan.
End of tour!