This expedition is a physically demanding adventure tailored for people with high levels of fitness, ideally those accustomed to carrying a 20-30 pound pack for up to 8 hours a day over varied types of terrain including scree (masses of small loose stones commonly found near mountains), snow, and river fjords. Beginning and ending in Dushanbe, the journey crosses over the legendary Pamir Highway in 4x4s, ascends high-altitude passes (such as the 15,879 foot Shtik Lazar), and leads participants to spectacular alpine lakes–Yashikul, Chapdarkul, Uchkul, Zarojkul–all sparkling under towering 19,685–22,965 meter peaks. Travelers will camp beside centuries-old caravanserais, stay with welcoming Pamiri families, traverse the world’s largest non-polar glacier, called Fedchenko, and summit a pass higher than Mont Blanc. This route reveals the heart of the “Roof of the World” combining cultural immersion, glacial grandeur, and pristine mountain wilderness in one epic trek.
This 16-day trip costs $3,150. Untamed Borders is an adventure travel company specialized in some of the world’s most interesting and inaccessible places. They run cultural tours as well as adventure sports including skiing, trekking, marathons and more. Whenever possible, proceeds from the trip are directed back to the communities visited and the trips are always led by local guides.