Highway to the Lenin mountains.

Previously toiled here only merchants and soldiers in the height, now the road is an insider tip for adventurous tourists on the Pamir Highway in Central Asia can Bergfreunde Yak milk and salt lakes in beautiful solitude enjoy - as long as the car durchhält.

 

Chorog - The air tastes of dust, the width seems endless. From the loudspeakers of the rusty Ladas Tajik folk sounds. With Tempo 30 passengers and seven holpert the small car on the Pamir Highway in Central Asia. At the height enthrone Massive huge glacier. Some are yurts in the desert speckled stone, herds of yaks pass. The track is under a mountain friends still an insider tip: While in the neighboring Himalayan visitors romp, the Pamir Highway masses of tourists yet little noticed.

The Pamir is the second highest mountain in the world - the Himalayas. On average, its mountains are 4000 meters high. The central part is located in the former Soviet Republic of Tajikistan, to the foothills of China, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. Many peaks are higher than 7000 meters. The Pamir Highway runs through the heart of the massif and connects at a dizzying height Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. In the thirties and forties of Soviet soldiers in the rock beat, the asphalt and dirt road the only access to the "Roof of the World."

Many traders and missionaries traveled for centuries with their pack animals by the high mountain landscape, which is a part of the legendary Silk Road was. Later battled the Soviet military by the thin mountain air, to the Union's borders to guard. Still persuade dilapidated army bases, forts and caravanserais from the turbulent past. Even Marco Polo passed through in the 13th Century, the Pamir and described the Rugged and remoteness of the region in his diaries.

In the SUV to sheep

Today it is easier to travel in the Pamir. Although the plateau is still sparsely populated: around 220,000 inhabitants live in the Tajik part. But now regularly drive trucks and public transport. As an alternative to the main route from Osh in Kyrgyzstan according to Dushanbe in Tajikistan offers a tour to.

TMN
In the second-highest mountain in the world: the Pamir Highway connects Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and is also the borders with China and close to Afghanistan

The approximately 1500-kilometer route begins and ends in Osh, but can also be undertaken from Dushanbe. It runs through the remote eastern part of the Pamir and crosses the historic Wachan valley on the border of Afghanistan. Depending on the transportation of visitors have different travel schedule - but a week is the minimum.

From Osh is first by jeep at high lush green pastures, yurts and herds of sheep over. Shortly before the border opens up the views of the glaciated massif of more than 7100 meter high summit Lenin. Then the SUV bolted higher and higher up the mountain passes. The air is dry, breathing is harder. All two kilometers cooling water must be refilled. Steep cliffs, glacial peaks and bottoms versalzte oust the lush green, and along the highways is a mile-long wooden fence the border to the west of China deserted.

One of the targets is the Karakul Lake, the highest salt lake in Central Asia. Curious locals here ever stop the wagon and invite tourists to a glass of fresh yak milk and bread one. On the "roof of the world" is friendly hospitality.

Hot water with a surcharge

Overnight in 3,600 meters altitude in Murgab, a former Soviet military items. Today, the village population largely dependent on international aid. Farmland is scarce in the stony desert. For several years, gives a local organization also overnight stays in traditional yurts and Pamir-houses and it gives the residents a little extra income. Eaten and slept on the floor, the toilet is outside. For a small price, almost all accommodations offer a bucket of hot water for showering on.

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From Murgab leads the Pamir Highway continues to Chorog, capital of the autonomous province of Gorno-Badakhshan. Through this province is a major part of the trail. Tajik women in colorful robes inhabit the streets of the small town. Chorog is a green oasis with mulberry and poplar pastures.

Nearby lies the round trip from the Pamir Highway and follow the Afghan border into Wachan Valley. For centuries the valley was a hub of cultures and peoples. Famous are the ancient rock carvings and cave paintings from the Stone Age.

Even today the valley is full of ancient forts and castles, caravanserais and sacred religious sites. Over a more than 4000 meter high pass to go from here Return to the main route of the Pamir and on highways after him or after Kyrgyzstan Dushanbe.