Dushanbe Retreat
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
7 days, planned by The Carburettor Club
The Pamirs are in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region and need a GBAO permit on top of the visa. It is checked repeatedly.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Rudaki Avenue |
| National Museum |
| Bazaar |
From Kalaikhum the road runs along the Panj with Afghanistan on the far bank, close enough to see people walking on the other side.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Shurobod pass |
| Panj river |
| Afghan border |
The road is cut into the gorge wall with the river between two countries below it. Sections are unsurfaced and there is no barrier.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Panj gorge |
| Afghan villages |
| Khorog |
The Wakhan is the finger of Afghanistan that separates Tajikistan from Pakistan, and from Yamchun fort you look across it at the Hindu Kush.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Wakhan corridor |
| Yamchun fort |
| Bibi Fatima springs |
| Hindu Kush |
Bulunkul records the coldest temperatures in Central Asia. Murghab at 3,650 m is the highest town in the former Soviet Union.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Bulunkul |
| Yashilkul |
| Murghab |
| Pamir plateau |
Karakul sits in a meteorite impact crater at 3,900 m and freezes solid for much of the year.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Ak-Baital pass |
| Karakul lake |
| Meteorite crater |
The Kyzyl-Art border post at 4,280 m is one of the highest in the world and the formalities are slow on both sides.
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
6 breakfasts and 6 dinners across 7 days, at the lodges you sleep in. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 7.
12 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
“Motorcycle expeditions with a mechanic, spares and a luggage vehicle”
Founded by a workshop rather than a travel agency, which is why the mechanic is not an upsell. Every departure carries spares for the bikes it puts on the road.
Machines were well maintained and the daily briefings were short and useful. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it. Would book with them again.
7 days of proper riding. The support vehicle was never far when someone needed it. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. The cooking was a genuine surprise — better than most places we'd have picked ourselves.
Gorno-Badakhshan on two wheels is the way to see it. No complaints about the organisation. Would send friends their way.
Days were longer than advertised and we arrived after dark more than once. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down.
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
Gorno-Badakhshan on two wheels is the way to see it. No complaints about the organisation. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. No hesitation recommending them.
7 days of proper riding. The support vehicle was never far when someone needed it. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones. Would send friends their way.
Very. Between Khorog and Murghab there is no fuel, no phone signal for long stretches, no hospital and no hotels — you sleep in homestays. A breakdown without a backup vehicle is a serious situation, which is why both operators run one.
One other operator runs this ride. See all 2 side by side →