Level 4: Rigorous
This intentionally adventuresome (due to the nature of the destination) small group tour features challenging overland travel on steep, rough, single-lane mountainous roads using 4WD vehicles; and rustic accommodations, some without reliable constant electricity and/or without hot water or indoor plumbing. There are long days walking and standing while touring, a border crossing on foot while carrying/rolling your own luggage, unpaved sidewalks and streets, uneven surfaces and steps, absent handrails, significant stair-climbing, and absence of elevators. Only those very fit to travel and who are willing to accept local standards of amenities and services, and the physical challenges, should consider joining this program.
Conditions are expected to be particularly challenging in the Wakhan Corridor region of Tajikistan. Those with a history of medical problems, particularly cardiac or respiratory, must consult a doctor before considering this trip. We strongly encourage you to speak with us about any questions you may have regarding the rigors of this trip or destination when considering this tour.
Travelers must be able to walk at least two miles a day (with some hiking), keeping up with fellow travelers on a variety of terrain including through villages, on dirt paths, and the like. Some drives in steep, mountainous conditions with poor-quality roads at high elevation and without guardrails may last as long as 8-10 hours driving time (with comfort stops). A large part of the trip is at high elevations ranging from 7,000 ft to over 15,000 ft (the highest points on the itinerary are: the Kyzyl-Art Pass at 14,050 ft en route from Sary Tash to Murghab; the Khargush Pass at 14,000+ ft on the way down to Langar; and the Ak-Baital Pass at 15,270 ft). Electricity is not a reliable constant throughout the itinerary. If you rely on electricity for CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), or for any other reason, you must have your own battery or other back-up, or please reconsider participation. In some places, established public restrooms will be Eastern-style. In other places where there are no restrooms, the group will make “bush stops.”
One night is spent in a yurt/tent camp in Son Kul, Kyrgyzstan with camp-like facilities and no indoor plumbing; yurts are shared among several group members. An additional six nights are spent in homestays/guesthouses/small private hotels where sleeping accommodations may be shared with other group members and WCs will be rustic outhouses. Yurts, and even guesthouses, can be cold at night, and hot water and/or showers are often unavailable.
The border crossing may require walking up to about a half-mile while managing baggage, and bags may need to be carried rather than rolled, as the road/sidewalk surface is not always paved or smooth. Some attractions are only accessible via steep staircases with tall uneven steps, and some of the sites may involve steep steps inside narrow passageways with limited light. Elevators are not available at touring sites, nor at a few of the hotels. Air conditioning is a luxury and not available in facilities outside the capitals.
Other challenges include overall shortcomings in the tourism infrastructure of these developing destinations, including some that can cause walking challenges such as unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces and steps, packed-dirt streets, broken pavement (streets or sidewalks), and a general absence of handrails or ramps. Accommodations will vary widely and will include three and four-star hotels in Bishkek, Khorog, Kalaikhumb, and Dushanbe (collectively 10 nights) with small hotels, homestays, yurts, and other rustic accommodations elsewhere. When using small properties with limited capacity, it is possible the group will be split between two different properties. Past travelers have also encountered challenges with plumbing, bureaucratic service, variety of locally available foods, and availability and quality of public restrooms.
1/9 Felt making traditions in Kyrgyzstan. Donovan Wong
