upcoming_trips

upcoming_trips

Afghanistan - A ride along the Wakhan Corridor (21 days)

Price : $4975NZD

(This is an exploratory trip)

In the summer of 2012 we will be running perhaps our most adventurous trip yet. A 21-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.

This is an initial call for interest. So, if you think you have what it takes to be part of our first ever foray in to Afghanistan, please get in touch to discuss it further.

Thanks again John - you and your crew helped all of us fulfill our dream of the nomad life and create an incredibly unique experience.

Stephanie, from the US