Pamir Highway
The Soviet-era M41 highland road from Dushanbe through the Wakhan Valley, Khorog and Lake Karakul to Osh in Kyrgyzstan, the world's second-highest international highway.
The Pamir Highway (M41) is a Soviet-era road across the Pamir Plateau. Most of it runs through Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), connecting the capital, Dushanbe, with Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan. It is about 1,200 km long, and its highest point, Ak-Baital Pass, sits at 4,655 m above sea level. It is often planned together with the high-altitude routes from Kashgar in China and along the China–Tajikistan and China–Kyrgyzstan borders. Highlights include Afghan villages across the Panj River, the botanical garden in Khorog, the ancient fortresses, Buddhist sites and Hindu Kush snow peaks of the Wakhan Valley, the high-plateau wilderness around Murghab, and Lake Karakul at 3,900 m. The classic trip is a hired vehicle (usually a Toyota four-wheel drive), motorcycle or bicycle from Dushanbe to Osh, taking 6 to 10 days; a detour through the Wakhan Valley adds 2 to 3 days. Homestays are the main accommodation along the way; they are simple, and you should carry cash (somoni). To enter GBAO, you need a GBAO permit, applied for alongside your visa. High-altitude sickness, road washouts and temporary closures are common, so check current road and safety conditions before you go and avoid driving alone.