Ride the Roof of the World

Itinerary

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Dushanbe. No riding. Meet the crew, check documents, fit riding gear, allocate motorcycles and brief on roads, altitude and safety. Stay: Dushanbe hotel.

2. Day 2

   Dushanbe → Qala-i Husayn, ~205 km. Leave the city for the eastern foothills; rugged valleys and possibly a mountain lake stop. Stay: local guesthouse / homestay.

3. Day 3

   Qala-i Husayn → Qalai-Khumb, ~85–120 km. The Khaburabot crossing (when open): exposed mountain tracks into Gorno-Badakhshan and down to the Panj. If the pass is closed we take the longer southern road. Stay: Qalai-Khumb guesthouse.

4. Day 4

   Qalai-Khumb → Khorog, ~240–250 km. The twisting Panj canyon with Afghanistan across the river, villages and changing surfaces. Stay: Khorog hotel / guesthouse.

5. Day 5

   Khorog → Ishkashim → Yamchun, ~200–220 km. Into the Wakhan under the Hindu Kush; Yamchun Fortress and, time permitting, Bibi Fatima hot springs. Stay: Yamchun homestay.

6. Day 6

   Yamchun → Langar, ~40–80 km. A short stage for Wakhan villages, shrines, museums or petroglyphs. Stay: Langar homestay.

7. Day 7

   Langar → Khargush → Jartegumbaz, ~150 km. Lonely high-altitude tracks towards the Zorkul area, subject to reserve permissions and a passable route; remote hot springs. Stay: basic highland shelter / hunting camp.

8. Day 8

   Jartegumbaz → Murghab, ~100–165 km. Across the stark Aksu wilderness: sand, gravel, yak herds and Kyrgyz pastures. Stay: Murghab guesthouse.

9. Day 9

   Murghab → Ak-Baital Pass → Karakul, ~135 km. North on the M41 over Ak-Baital (~4,655 m) and down to Lake Karakul at a calm, measured pace. Stay: Karakul homestay.

10. Day 10

    Karakul → Jalang, ~80 km. Off the highway into open wilderness: loose gravel, rugged tracks and possible stream crossings. Stay: basic yurt / local shelter.

11. Day 11

    Jalang → Kök-Jar → Savnob, ~70–90 km. The technical Kök-Jar descent into the Bartang gorge, only if local reconnaissance confirms it is safe. Stay: Savnob homestay.

12. Day 12

    Savnob → Rushan, ~135–150 km. West along the Bartang: vertical rock walls, river crossings and small villages; slow and technical in places. Stay: Rushan guesthouse / homestay.

13. Day 13

    Rushan → Qalai-Khumb, ~175–190 km. Back along the Panj — a breather after the Bartang days, though roadworks and weather can slow progress. Stay: Qalai-Khumb homestay.

14. Day 14

    Qalai-Khumb → Dushanbe, ~320–370 km, normally via the southern Kulob road. Return the motorcycles, debrief and celebrate. Book departure flights after the tour.