Zavkhan Trekking

Status Update

As at March 2013 this trip is fully booked. We look forward to trekking with Maria, Bob, Barbara, Gabor, Julianna, Randall, Rhiannon, Lars, Esther and Janine, from Canada, New Zealand, Hungary, Australia, Germany, Sweden, the US and the UK. Another 'United Nations' team! Please get in touch if you would like to join us in 2014.

Introduction

In the summer of 2013 we will be running perhaps our most adventurous trip yet. A 22-day horse-back odessy to meet and live with one of the world's last and least visited nomadic cultures: The Kyrgyz of the Afghan Pamir. We will begin and end in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe travelling along the dramatic Pamir highway before crossing over into Afghanistan, passing through the Wakhan Corridor into the Afghan Pamir. From here we will meet our horses and explore Chaqmaqtin Lake and the surrounding area.

We will have the opportunity to meet Kyrgyz nomads who graze their livestock here during the summer months as well as seeing ancient tombs and Buddhist engravings which live as a reminder of this once great section of the silk route.

One of our guides in Mongolia, Ian Robinson, rode through this area in 2008 (see his book Tea With The Taliban). Listening to him recount his adventures whilst sitting around the campfire out on the Mongolian steppe was all the encouragement we needed.

It will be fascinating to compare the nomadic cultures of Mongolia and Afghanistan.

Highlights

• Discover the culture of the Wakhi and the Kyrgyz nomads of this rarely visited corner of Central Asia

• Explore by horse-back deep into territory where few outsiders have ever been

• Travel along the great Pamir highway, one of the world's highest roads

We know what you are thinking - this sounds fantastic but isn't it dangerous? Actually this forgotten corner of Afghanistan has no Taliban and the Russians never got here, so it is considered to be a safe area to travel in. We are working with Afghan adventure travel specialists Untamed Borders. With their experience in this region, and Zavkhan Trekking's ability to run amazing horse treks, this is one trip not to be missed.

So, if you think you have what it takes to be part of our first ever foray in to Afghanistan, request a detailed trip plan now! (we expect this trip to fill up fast so don't miss out).