Itinerary

1. Day 1: Journey Commencement

   • Day 1 (Option 1): The Start of the Journey | Kabul to Faizabad

     • Starting from the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul International Airport
     • Make our way up north towards Gulbahar
     • Drive up to the notorious Hindukush Salang Tunnel into Baghlan Province
     • Head towards Faizabad, provincial capital of Badakhshan province.

   Driving: 12 hours

   Altitude: 3,200 meters

   Overnight: Proper hotel Bam-e Dunya in Faizabad (3-star Hotel)

   • Day 1 (Option 2): The Start of the Journey | Dushanbe to Faizabad

     • Starting from Dushanbe, the capital of neighbouring Tajikistan
     • Make your way south toward the Khatlon region
     • Cross the Shirkhan Bandar land border crossing into Afghanistan's Kunduz Province
     • Have Kite Travel Boutique’s letter of invitation for Afghan visas at the border crossing.
     • Local guide with car will meet & greet, brief on itinerary.
     • Head to Kunduz City to get travel permits approved
     • Continue eastward across Kunduz and Takhar provinces to finally reach Faizabad, provincial capital of Badakhshan.

   Driving: 12 hours

   Altitude: 2,200 meters

   Overnight: Proper hotel Bam-e Dunya in Faizabad (3-star Hotel)

2. Day 2: Faizabad to Ishkashim Trek

   • Getting yet another early start, we will continue our journey toward the small town of  Ishkashim.

   Driving: 10 hours

   Altitude: 2,600 meters

   Overnight: Guesthouse in Ishkashim

3. Day 3: Exploration Day in Ishkashim

   • Today, the plan is to explore Ishkashim, while Kite Travel Boutique’s organizers will collect travel permits for your journey onward to the Wakhan National Park.

   Altitude: 2,600 meters

   Overnight: Guesthouse in Ishkashim (Modest Guesthouse)

4. Day 4: Ishkashim to Qala-e Panja Journey

   • After breakfast in Ishkashim, we will begin our drive along the Afghan Wakhan Corridor toward the Qala-e Panja in Pamir near where the Pamir and Wakhan Rivers meet to form the Panj. This route sits along one of the major thoroughfares of the ancient Silk Road with the likes of Marco Polo and Hsuan Tsang passing through this area in the time past.

   Driving time: 6-7 hours

   Altitude: 2,800 meters

   Overnight: Guesthouse in Qala-e Panja (Modest Guesthouse)

5. Day 5: Qala-e Panja to Wakhan Corridor Trek

   • After breakfast, from Qala-e Panja, the once capital of the Mirdom of Wakhan which dates back to the Sassanid era, we'll make our way to Wakhan National Park.

   Driving: 5-6 hours

   Altitude: 3,800 meters

   Overnight: Tent camp in Wakhan National Park

6. Day 6: Trekking in Wakhan Corridor

   • After a sunrise breakfast at Wakhan, we'll camp and the trek gains gradual elevation today before we reach our camp between the 4,400 and 4,500 meter mark.

   Trekking: 5-6 hours

   Altitude: 4,500 meters

   Overnight: Tent camping at the foot of Wakhan

7. Day 7: Drive from Wakhan to Chaqmaqtin

   • We will take today to continue to make the road journey along the Afghan Wakhan to the surreal Chaqmaqtin Lake, making scenic stops in villages along the way.

   Driving time: 5 hours

   Altitude: 4,100 meters

   Overnight: Tent camp

8. Day 8: Rest Day in Chaqmaqtin

   • Today we will have the chance to explore the Chaqmaqtin area meet local Afghan Kyrgyz families, and learn about their culture in what feels like one of the most secluded places in the world.

   Trekking: Rest day

   Altitude: 4,050 meters

   Overnight: Tent camping at Chaqmaqtin

9. Day 9: Drive from Chaqmaqtin to Qala-e Panja

   • After breakfast, we'll say goodbye to the Little Pamir and depart Chaqmaqtin Lake where our vehicles will be continue to waiting for us. From Chaqmaqtin we'll make our way to Qala-e Panja, the once capital of the Mirdom of Wakhan which dates back to the Sassanid era.

   Driving: 7-8 hours

   Altitude: 2,800 meters

   Overnight: Guesthouse in Qala-e Panja (Modest Guesthouse)

10. Day 10: Return Journey to Ishkashim

    • We will take today to make the road journey along the Afghan Wakhan back to Ishkashim from Qala-e Panja, making scenic stops in villages along the way.

    Driving time: 6 hours

    Altitude: 2,800 meters

    Overnight: Guesthouse in Ishkashim (Modest Guesthouse)

11. Day 11: Rest Day or Contingency

    • Given the remote nature of this trip, we always budget on an extra day in the event of delays in order to have plenty of time to get across the border and to Dushanbe or back to Kabul International Airport so that guests don't miss any flights out.

    Altitude: 2,600 meters

    Overnight: Guesthouse in Ishkashim (Modest Guesthouse)

12. Day 12: Return Options

    • Day 12: Say Goodbye to the Wakhan | Ishkashim to Kabul (Exit option 1)

      • In the morning we'll say goodbye to Wakhan in Afghanistan and make the journey, as Option 1, straight to Kabul via Hinduksh range and the ‘Salang Tunnels’.

    Driving: 17 hours +/-

    Altitude: 3,200 meters

    Overnight: UN Security Approved 4-star Park Star Hotel in Kabul

    • Day 12: Say Goodbye to the Wakhan | Ishkashim to Kunduz (Exit option 2)

      • In the morning we'll say goodbye to Wakhan in Afghanistan and make the journey back to Kunduz City and head for Shirkhan Border Crossing (as Option 2).

    Driving: 16 hours +/-

    Altitude: 2,600 meters

    Overnight: Guesthouse in Kunduz City (Modest Guesthouse)

13. Day 13: Departure

    • Day 13: The Final Day | Kabul International Airport (Exit option 1)

      • Today begins early or late, as per your return ticket timing, with a short drive to reach the Kabul International Airport. You will be accompanied by tour representative’s airport transfer guy to catch your flight to Dubai or elsewhere out and YOUR TRIP ENDS!

    Driving: 30 minutes to Kabul International Airport

    • Day 13: The Final Day | Kunduz to Dushanbe (Exit option 2)

      • Today begins early with a short drive of a little over an hour to reach the Shirkhan Border Crossing. Once across you'll continue the 3 hours drive to Dushanbe where YOUR TRIP ENDS!

    Driving: 4-5 hours to Dushanbe

    Altitude: 2,200 meters