Murghab Town
A high-altitude town on the eastern Pamir Highway, a "Roof of the World" waystation surrounded by Kyrgyz yurts, Lake Rangkul and the Alichur Plateau.
Murghab lies in the east of Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region at about 3,600 m, making it the highest town in Tajikistan and the largest supply stop on the eastern stretch of the Pamir Highway (M41). It sits in the dry, frigid high desert of the eastern Pamirs; most residents are Kyrgyz who lead a semi-nomadic life herding yaks and sheep, and the town grew out of the Tsarist-era "Pamirsky Post."
Where to go: in town there is a bazaar built from shipping containers and the community tourism association META, which can arrange vehicle hire and yurt stays on the pastures. About 45 km northeast are the high lakes of Rangkul and Shorkul; to the south are the Madiyan Valley hot springs, the Shakhty cave paintings and the Jarty Gumbez hot springs on the way to Lake Zorkul; to the west, the Pamir Highway passes Bash Gumbez to the Alichur Plateau and the Ak-Balyk spring. The Ak-Baital Pass and Lake Karakul to the north belong to the Karakul route.
Getting there: about 7–8 hours from Khorog along the M41, or around 12 hours north to Osh (via Karakul and the Kyrgyz border); the Kulma Pass to China in the east is generally not open to third-country travelers. There is no public transport in town, so travel is mainly by hired vehicle or self-drive. Fuel and cash are hard to come by, so carry plenty of both (somoni or US dollars).
Tips: entering Gorno-Badakhshan requires a GBAO permit added to your e-visa. Altitude sickness is common, so ascend gradually from Khorog or Osh. Power and internet are unreliable, guesthouses in town are basic, and you'll need a down jacket even in summer.
Top sights
- Rangkul Lake – A highland lake region near the China–Tajikistan border, with snowy mountain reflections, sand dunes, and wetlands where migratory birds ga…
- Murghab Town & META Yurt Stays – The highest town in Tajikistan, where the community tourism association can arrange hired vehicles and yurt stays on pastures.
- Murghab Container Bazaar – A highland market built from old shipping containers, where you can stock up on food, fuel, and Chinese goods and get a feel for life on th…
- Shakhty Cave Paintings – A cave at roughly 4,200 meters preserving Stone Age ochre rock paintings depicting hunters and wild animals.
- Madiyan Valley Hot Springs – A pastoral valley south of Murghab, dotted with simple hot spring pools and Kyrgyz herders' yurts.
- Alichur – A small Kyrgyz village on a wide highland beside the Pamir Highway, where travelers often stop to stay in homestays.
- Ak-Balyk Spring – A clear sacred spring just east of Alichur, named “White Fish” after the fish swimming in its pool, and a roadside stop on the Pamir Highwa…
- Bash Gumbez – An ancient domed tomb and herding village in a valley south of the Pamir Highway, with trekking routes into snow-capped valleys.
- Jarty Gumbez Hot Spring – A remote hot spring camp on the way to Lake Zorkul, with Marco Polo sheep visible on the surrounding plateau.
- Pshart Valley – A red canyon northwest of Murghab and a classic multi-day trekking route over Gumbezkul Pass.
- Bulunkul & Yashilkul Lake – A high-altitude blue-green lake at about 3,700 m and a border village beside the Pamir Highway, a classic stop on the Murghab–Khorog stretc…
Where to eat
- Pamir Hotel Restaurant – The most popular hotel restaurant for travelers in town, mainly offering simple set meals, with mixed reviews on taste.
Itineraries
- Eastern Pamir & Karakul Lake Round-Trip from Osh – A round-trip journey from Osh to the Eastern Pamirs, featuring Peak Lenin, Karakul Lake, and the Ak-Baital Pass, avoidi…