General
Big Pamir High Route Trek (Zorkol High Route) 20 Days (2026-27)
The Big Pamir High Route Trek is a thrilling trek across the Afghan Pamirs’ most isolated and magnificent areas. This challenging path connects the Wakhan Valley to the sparkling expanse of Zorkol Lake over high-altitude passes ranging from 4,350 m to 4,500 m. Along the trip, hikers will come across Wakhi and Kyrgyz herders, immense alpine meadows, and pristine environment that has been rarely visited by modern travelers. It is a true expedition across the “Roof of the World,” with an ideal balance of adventure, culture, and breathtaking alpine beauty.
In addition to this trek, we offer the following adventure options in Afghanistan, as listed in the table below.
Dates & Cost – Big Pamir High Route Trek
Summers are ideal for the trek. The start and end dates in the table below are your arrival and departure dates from Afghanistan. The months mentioned below are the ideal months for trekking in the Pamir region of Afghanistan. We have guaranteed departures every year. Our dates and costs for the trek are given below.
Holiday Information
- Licensed professional guide (government requirement)
- Airport transfers on the first and last day
- All road transport in Afghanistan
- Hotel accommodation in Afghanistan (twin sharing rooms)
- Trekking accommodation in Afghanistan (twin sharing tents)
- Hotel meals in Afghanistan (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Trekking meals in Afghanistan (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Trekking logistics (tents, non-personal equipments and tools)
- Support staff (cook, assistant(s) etc)
- Porters for trekking equipments, kitchen (supplies, tools, equipments, crockery, gas) and personal luggage
- Travel Insurance (recommendations only)
- Visa to Afghanistan (supporting documents offered)
- International airfare
- Personal equipments (list provided on registration or request)
- Tips for guides, porters, staff etc
- Miscellaneous (drinks, phone calls, laundry, souvenir etc)
Highlights
The Big Pamir High Route Trek has a lot to offer. Below are the main highlights:
- Cross three high passes between 4,350 m and 4,500 m.
- Visit remote Wakhi and Kyrgyz camps in hidden valleys.
- Camp beside the stunning Zorkol Lake at high altitude.
- Follow ancient Silk Road paths through the Wakhan region.
- Witness lively Buzkashi games in Elghonok Valley.
- Traverse the glaciated Sareaz basin on the Sargaz route.
- Spot Marco Polo sheep and ibex on wild ridgelines.
- Walk through colorful valleys of Taly Bay and Jilmasert.
- Experience genuine Wakhi hospitality in mountain villages.
- Enjoy sweeping views of the Pamir and Hindu Kush ranges.
Itinerary – Big Pamir High Route Trek
The itinerary for the Big Pamir High Route Trek is given below.
Day 02: Travel to Faizabad
On this Day
Travel north on a long but gorgeous drive to Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province. Walk through Faizabad's bustling bazaar and feel the spirit of this historic Silk Road hub. Overnight at a local guesthouse.
Day 03: Travel to Ishkashim
On this Day
Continue your drive over the Hindu Kush mountains to Ishkashim, a small border hamlet on the Panj River that serves as the entry to the Wakhan Corridor. Before staying at a guesthouse, explore the neighborhood and its riverbank surroundings.
Day 04: Ishkashim to Qala-e-Panja
On this Day
Follow the legendary Silk Road path via Wakhan towns and river bends, stopping in Khandud for registration before continuing on to Qala-e-Panja, a peaceful settlement surrounded by Pamir mountains where local hospitality provides an intimate glimpse into valley life.
Day 05: Travel to Wuzed or Sargez
On this Day
Move up the Wakhan to either Wuzed or Sargez, where you can finalize mule or porter arrangements, and the high-route line. This staging day balances logistics with acclimatization, ensuring a smooth launch toward the Big Pamir Divide.
Day 06-07: Wuzed or Sargaz to Shikarga via mountain routes
On this Day
Begin in Wuzed: From the Wakhan side, depart Wuzed on the stock track that ascends into a chain of at least three high passes between 4,350 m and 4,500 m, which are crossed over two days. The route passes across wind-scoured saddles and large glacier basins with water in the bowls; plan a high camp between the second and third cols to manage altitude and daylight. Climb the final saddle and follow the Kund Thur spur as the path softens into meadows, arriving in Shikarga's pastures late in the day.
Begin in Sargez and head directly south into the Sareaz basin, where alpine meadow gives way to broken moraine and debris-covered glacier. Progress over two days necessitates cautious route-finding and, in early or snowy seasons, roped travel across crevassed portions; make a safe camp on stable moraine or dry glacier edges to position for an early, firm-surface crossing. As the gradients diminish on day 2, abandon the ice for herders' trails and proceed to Shikarga's vast grasslands to finish the approach.
Day 08: Shikarga - Manjalaq - Ali Su 2 - Jilmasert camp
On this Day
Maintain altitude as the trail exits Shikarga and heads west through summer pastures, crossing Manjalaq and the open benches of Ali su 2 before narrowing into the higher troughs of Jilmasert. Some side camps are inhabited during the season, with water readily available on valley bottoms and ridgeline trods providing expansive views back to the passes. Make camp near Jilmasert on level ground beside a spring, well positioned for the rolling terrain ahead.
Day 09: Jilmasert - Bitebet - Taly Bay - Elghonok
On this Day
Continue west via Jilmasert to the airy shelf of Bitebet, then to Taly Bay, where the landscape opens up to long, gentle meadows punctuated by clear streams. The trail then connects to the larger Elghonok Valley, a historic seasonal gathering place where Buzkashi sports are occasionally held, and where flat, grassy platforms and reliable water allow for a suitable high-route camp.
Day 10: Elghonok - Bechkonok - Mollah - Saremokor - Zorkol Lake
On this Day
Descend in stages from Elghonok to Bechkonok, then along the high shelf to the twin hamlets of Mollah, which are an hour apart, before taking the undulating trail to Saremokor. From here, the countryside opens up toward the watershed, and the sparkle of Zorkol appears ahead; arrive at the shoreline by late afternoon and set up a sheltered camp on firm ground near freshwater inlets.
Day 11: Zorkol Lake Exporation Day
On this Day
Spend the day exploring Zorkol's seashore and low ridges, keeping an eye out for wildlife and distant ibex movement on skylines, with optional short scrambles to modest trekking peaks if the weather and team energy allow. The broad basin and mirror-clear water make this a natural rest stop on the voyage, suitable for recovery, observation, and leisurely charting of the return route.
Day 12: Return trek to Elghonok
On this Day
Retrace your steps to Saremokor, then roll back across the high shelf past the two Mollah hamlets to Bechkonok before gently ascending into the expansive Elghonok Valley. Camp among summer corrals on level turf with easy water, preparing for a graceful return trip along the upper valleys.
Day 13: Trek back to Jilmasert
On this Day
Leave Elghonok and head east across Taly Bay to Bitebet 2, where you can enjoy new views of the Big Pamir plateau before narrowing into Jilmasert's higher basins. Choose a protected camping near a spring or side stream, staying away from livestock roads and maintaining altitude for an effective onward day.
Day 14: Trek to Shikarga
On this Day
Continue along the high shelf past Jilmasert and Ali Su, where summer ails reappeared intermittently, before crossing Manjalaq's pleasant lawns to Shikarga. Arrive early to arrange loads, replenish water at the main spring, and prepare for either the pass chain back to Wuzed or the glaciated Sareaz route down to Sargez.
Day 15–16: Shikarga to Wuzed or Sargez
On this Day
Via Wuzed: There are at least three passes between Wuzed and Shikarga, ranging in altitude from 4,350 to 4,500 meters. From Shikarga, climb into the pass chain and spend two days traversing the wind-scoured saddles, camping in a high basin between cols before descending the Kund Thur spur to the right-bank Wakhi village of Wuzed. Plan on taking roughly two days to walk between Shikarga and Wuzed.
Via Sargez: From Shikarga, head strictly south toward the Wakhan around Sargez, following the line that runs through the Sareaz Basin. Although used, satellite imagery shows that this path passes big glaciers with debris cover and potential crevassing, necessitating careful route-finding and glacier travel procedures. Thread moraine and snow bridges for two days until the angle eases and herders' pathways direct the final descent into Sargez.
Day 17: Wuzed or Sargaz – Qala-e-Panja – Ishkashim
On this Day
Return to the valley level and follow the Wakhan east to Qala-e-Panja for a brief regroup and resupply before continuing down-valley by road to Ishkashim, where guesthouses, stores, and the familiar bustle of a frontier town smooth the shift from high meadows to river country.
Day 18: Ishkashim to Faizabad/Kunduz
On this Day
Leave the mountains behind and travel along the corridor, staying in Faizabad for the night or continuing on to Kunduz if road conditions are good, with a guesthouse stop to rest and reflect on the high-route crossing.
Day 19: Back to Kabul
On this Day
Drive through the country's spine via the Salang Pass and tunnel system, then descend to Kabul's basin and spend the final night in the capital, capping off the Pamir journey.
Day 20: Departure from Kabul
On this Day
Take one last slow tour around Kabul's streets or pick up souvenirs before departing for the airport with lasting memories of high passes, open valleys, lakeshore calm, and the warmth of the Wakhan and Big Pamir.
Why Register Early?
1. Early Bird Discount: The given prices for the holiday are limited-time discount offers and are subject to change. Service providers including (but not limited) to airlines and hotels increase prices in peak-season. Early reservations cost less than peak-season.
2. Limited Flight Seats: Domestic flight seats to the Pamir and Himalayas are sold out way ahead of time because there are only two daily flights during peak season. Among other things, the deposit is used to book domestic flights for you in advance.
3. Pay Balance after arrival in Afghanistan: In these unusual times, we appreciate that paying the final balance for your trip may cause concern. Our policy is to only receive your final balance once you arrive in Afghanistan. The only payment before arrival is the deposit.
4. Deposit valid for 3 years: We understand the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic (Covid-19). As part of our relaxed booking conditions following Covid-19, deposits are valid for 2 years.
6. Pay Minimum Deposit: The deposits for the holiday are also early-bird discounts and automatically change accordingly:
- 1st October: USD 190
- 1st November: USD 290
- 1st January: USD 350
- 15th February: USD 400
- 1st March: USD 450
- 1st May: USD 490
Note: The same dates above apply to next season's deposits.
Refund Policy for All
Deposit: Once paid, the deposit is non-refundable (but valid for 2 years) as it will be spent on making in-country arrangements.
Balance: Pay the balance only after arrival in Afghanistan on the first day. Payment guidelines will be shared timely.
Currency
All international travelers can pay in US Dollars (USD) or equivalent in Euros (EUR) or Pound Sterling (GBP). Pakistani travelers are charged the equivalent in Pakistani Rupees (PKR).
Single Supplement
Separate hotel rooms (single supplement) will cost an additional USD 290. This includes all hotel nights. This payment should be made with the balance upon arrival.
Separate tents (single tent) will cost an additional USD 180. This includes the cost of additional porterage. This payment should also be made with the balance in Afghanistan.
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Overview – Big Pamir High Route Trek
The Big Pamir High Route hike (Zorkol High Route) is one of the most challenging and rewarding excursions through the Afghan Pamirs. The road starts in the Wakhan Valley and climbs over several high passes between 4,350 m and 4,500 m. It links remote Wakhi and Kyrgyz communities with the vast lake basin of Zorkol. Unlike the easier river path along the Amu Darya, the high road stays elevated through a chain of valleys, including Ali Su, Manjalaq, Jilmasert, and Taly Bay. In summer, herders graze their flocks in these valleys and organize traditional Buzkashi games. This trail includes breathtaking alpine scenery, cultural contacts, and the untamed solitude of the Pamirs.
Trekkers go through a physically challenging and culturally enriching region, from the vast pastures of Shikarga to the sparkling expanse of Zorkol. Wildlife like ibex and Marco Polo sheep often appear on the hills. The high camps offer sweeping views of untouched mountain landscapes. Depending on conditions and experience, hikers can choose between two routes: the established path to Wuzed or the wilder, glacier-bound Sareaz trail to Sargaz. The hike ends at Zorkol Lake, a peaceful high-altitude gem. This makes the High Route an unforgettable journey across one of Central Asia’s most remote borders.
Website Last Updated: January 15, 2026
