Tajikistan Expedition: Pamir Highway & beyond

This was a trip, full of WOW moments with a good dose of awe and wonder. If you don't travel well in the back of a hot, very bumpy car for hours on end, this is definitely not the trip for you. If you can't do without home comforts, or don't like early mornings or sleep disturbances, this is not the trip for you. If you need your own space, this is not the trip for you. If you are in any way, a picky eater, this is not the trip for you.(having said that, our vegetarian and vegan group members ate as well as any of us) If, however, you have an open mind, and a 'come what may' attitude, this is a trip of a lifetime. The itinerary of this trip is such that we saw more of this amazing country and immersed ourselves in the culture of these amazing, resilient people more than any other trips that we encountered along the way. Some of the journeys were tough, with real abject dangers from their remoteness and altitude but the rewards in terms of scenery and experiences were more than worth it. The homestay hosts were, on the whole, welcoming and generous and they managed to provide well cooked food and little treats, even though they appeared to have so little. We engaged with the local children where possible, and took great joy in teaching them UNO and playing with them. They were inquisitive and always open to any new experiences we could provide. Rubik's cube was a hit too, as were the kites provided by Safina, our group leader. Because of the extent of the itinerary, we gradually learned so much about this relatively unknown country, both about the richness of its physical geography and the historical, cultural and social, regional traditions and differences. It had its tough moments but they only added to the lasting impression of an amazingly beautiful country of strong, proud and content people who thrive against the odds.

This was an excellent trip through the high Pamir region of Tajikistan. Expect fabulous scenery, warm hospitality from the local people, and a certain amount of roughing it. If you are not prepared for dormitory accommodation sharing one long drop toilet with up to 20 people this is not the trip for you. Much of the journey is at high altitude over 4000 metres with little time to acclimatise.

If you want a truly off the beaten track adventure then this is the one for you. Magnificent scenery, friendly hosts, culture and flora and fauna.

This was truly an adventurous trip, in fact an intrepid 4x4 adventure into one of the least travelled parts of the world. The constantly changing scenery, geography and geology was often mind-blowing due to its vastness and beauty, especially with the spring flowers in bloom. Photographs do not do any justice. There are also stunning views looking into Afghanistan, Pakistan and China. The trip gave a brief insight into the culture and lives of the people. This was a well designed trip exploring as much of the Pamirs as possible in the short time period!!

This was the first trip Exodus have done to this area.. There is spectacular and varied scenery on route, wonderful people and definitely a journey to remember. I loved every minute of it. If you like an adventure, travelling to relatively unexplored areas, enjoy Mountains, like an insight into the lives and culture of the local people and their history and don’t mind roughing it a bit, this is a trip for you.