Cycling On The Roof Of The World: The Pamir Highway

If you close your eyes and try to picture what the moon looks like, your imagination might conjure up something similar in nature to the Pamirs. Most of the land is wide expanses of barren tundra, with jagged peaks erupting through the crust – reaching over 7500m (24,600Ft) high in places.

Not much survives in this high plateau in the far Eastern reaches of Tajikistan, but that is in part what makes the scenery like no other. Sandy deserts meet snowy mountainsides, vast lunar grey planes surround lakes with almost every shade of blue imaginable, and for the most part, it is completely untouched by anyone but mother nature.

With such an inhospitable landscape and turbulent climate, it’s not surprising that settlements are few and far between. Trees don’t tend to grow above 3000m (9800Ft) and so for the 3% or so of the Tajik population that live in the high Pamirs, there is no sustainable fuel source upon which to survive.

For cyclists, this somehow appealing combination of no safety net and surreal beauty, make the Pamir Highway one of the world’s ultimate routes.

Stretching 730 km from Osh, in Kyrgyzstan, to Khorog, in Tajikistan, the Pamir Highway rises to heights of 4655m (15200Ft, almost as high as Europe’s Mt Blanc), winding through unpaved mountain passes. Despite having some of the largest water reserves in the world, fresh water sources are far from abundant and cyclists are lucky to come across clean water once a day in places. The conditions add to the challenge – unprecedented blankets of snow can quickly white out an entire valley in summer and the winds are so strong at times that cycling is not much faster than an average walking pace.

It doesn’t sound like a holiday, and most Pamiri people probably think it strange that at least once a day during summer a few wind-burnt and exhausted Europeans pass by their homesteads. Nevertheless, almost anyone that passes through will receive an invitation inside for tea, food or a place stay. The Pamiri people are unconditionally some of the warmest folks on the planet.

The land dictates the sort of food that accompanies any welcome. Typical Pamiri households live on a diet of red meat, naan (bread) and occasionally a few root vegetables. Fruit is plentiful in the lower more fertile valleys close to Khorog, but finding an apple that isn’t old and soft is difficult in the higher plains.

The region struggles for support from a government that spends most of its budget defending its vast border with Afghanistan. This has stunted development and the reality is that, asides from herding and some seasonal tourism, most of the native population rely on hunting endangered species (such as the Marco Polo sheep) or the support of the Aga Khan Foundation (a religious charity).

Despite these geographical and political adversities, the beauty of both the people and scenery is infinite. These are what make it so enticing for cyclists, with every moment fit for a postcard. The landscape is like a chameleon, continually changing colours between deep reds, yellows, browns and blacks at different points. Now and again crystal clear streams meander through the valley into lakes so immense they can be seen clearly from outer space. Even when night falls, the sky erupts into bursts of colour and light as galaxies radiate amidst thousands of stars.

It’s been said before, and by almost everyone that visits, but the Pamirs is without doubt one of our planet’s most spectacular frontiers.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.