Ismaili Oriented Tours
The vast majority of the population in Tajikistan belong to the Hanafi brunch of the Sunni Islam. However, in the Pamirs-The Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, the majority of its inhabitants profess the Ismaili faith of Islam. The spread of the Ismaili faith in Central Asia was part of the Ismaili Da’wa in the 9-10th centuries. Number of prominent Da’is and Hujjahs who was active in the region at that time led the Da’wa. As a result many great figures such as Emir Nasr 2 bin Ahmad Samani (who ruled the Samanid State from 914-943CE) became an Ismaili. In addition, several scholars such as Abuabdulohi Rudaki, Abuali Ibn Sino (Avicenna), Al Beruni, Firdausi and later Nasir Khusraw who either became Ismaili or were influenced by the ““Ismaili tradition of learning and interpretation of Islam”. See more on the history of the Ismaili Tradition in Central Asia on this web-site.
During the Special Ismaili Oriented Tour, you will be able to visit the Ismaili Centres in Dushanbe and Khorog and learn more about the various activities and cultural events take place in these centers. You can also see the Ostons(“Holly” Shrines) which helped the people in the Pamirs to preserve their faith and religious identity during the Soviet ruling period during which practicing faith were discouraged and forbidden. Other places of interest to visit and see during this tour are:
- Chashmai Nasir Khusraw (Nasir Khusraw Spring) in Porshinev village
- Chashmai Bibi Fatimai Zahra (Bibi Fatimai Zahra hot spring) in the Vakhan valley, Ishkashim.
- Museum of Sufi Muborakqadam in the Yamg valley of Vakhan valley.
- Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre in Khorog town.
- Ostons and Shrines in the Bartang valley (the nearest one is to visit is Mushkilkusho Oston in Ems village)
- Cultural performance such as Madhiyakhoni (Devotional poetry)
- Attend local ceremonies and events such as marriage and other special seasonal festive
- Visit to the AKDN projects sites implemented in various places in the Pamirs
Tours on Demand (tailored tours)
At Bartang & Sarez Tour, we welcome you to create your own tailored tour. Our experts will help you to create your own tour based on your interest. We are absolutely flexible to accommodate our client’s requests and help you to discover the Pamirs with us. Just contact us at bartangsareztour@gmail.com
Bartang-Sarez-Kyrgyzstan Jeep Tour and Trek
Rout in short: Dushanbe-Darvaz-Jizeu-Roshorv-Barchidiv-Sarez-Kudara-Karakul-Kizilart pass (Kyrgizstan border)
Duration of the tour: 11 days (can be extended or shortened if required)
Total distance: 941 км.
Season: July, 15th–Sep.30th
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Dushanbe & transfer to hotel. Relax & City tour.
Day 2: Drive to Darvaz via Kulob along with the river Panj river. Overnight in guesthouse.
Day 3: Drive & Trek to Jizeu valley. Overnight in tents or homestay.
Day 4: Drive to Roshorv and explore the village (interaction with the villagers, visit the old fortress and cascade of water mills)
Day 5: Drive to Barchidiv village and get prepare for the next day trekking to the Sarez lake
Day 6: Trekking to the Sarez Lake (luggage will be carried by donkeys, during 8-9 hours).
Day 7: Strolling around the Sarez lake. Relax and engage in various activities such as fishing, riding boat, trekking up further and exploring around the lake. Accommodation-tents. (3.250m)
Day 8: Trekking back to Barchidiv and exploring the beautiful village. Accommodation-homestay.
Day 9: Drive to Kudara & Relax. Overnight in guest house.
Day 10: Drive to Karakul with a short stop in Kukjar Pass. (3.900m)
Day 11: Drive to the Kyzilart Pass 4300m and Osh-Kyrgyzstan.
Dushanbe-Bartang Sarez Tour & Trek
Route in short: Dushanbe-Qalai-Khumb-Jizeu-Bardara – Sarez — Barchidiv-Roshorv-Khorog Dushanbe
Duration of the tour: 14 days
Total distance: 1418 км.
Season: July, 15th -Sep. 15th.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Dushanbe, transfer to a hotel. City Tour.
Day 2: Drive to Qalai Khumb. Overnight in guest house.
Day 3: Drive to Rushon along the Afghanistan border and a short trek to Jizeu valley. Overnight in tent/homestay in Jizeu valley.
Day 4: Drive to Bardara with a lunch stop in Basid village. Overnight in homestay.
Day 5-7: Trekking to the Sarez Lake (luggage will be carried by donkeys). Stops: Ukhinj, Irkht & Usoy Dam.
Day 8: Strolling around the Sarez lake. Relax and engage various activities such as fishing, riding boat, trekking up further and exploring around the lake. Accommodation-tents. (3.250m)
Day 9: Trekking down to Barchidiv village and exploring the beautiful village, interacting with the villagers.
Day 10: Drive to Sawnob and Roshorv village to explore around. Visit the old fortress and caves in Sawnob. Overnight in Roshor. Accommodation guest house.
Day 11: Drive to Khorog. Visit the 2nd highest Botanical garden and Khorog town park.
Day 12: Drive to Qalai Khumb. Accommodation – guest house
Day 13: Drive to Dushanbe via Khobu Robot Pass (3,300m) and Tawildara valley. Accommodation-hotel.
Day 14: Transfer to the airport and seeing off.
Remark: This itinerary is quite flexible and can be further shortened or extended by leaving out and adding other destinations.
Dushanbe-Vakhan valley-Murgab Jeep Tour
Route in short: Dushanbe– Khorog–Bulunkul-Murgab-Zorkul-Vakhan valley-Ishkashim -Khorog-Dushanbe
Tour duration: 13 days
Total distance: 2090 км.
Season: June 1st – Sep. 30th .
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Dushanbe, transfer to a hotel. City Tour.
Day 2: Drive to Qalai Khumb. Overnight in guest house.
Day 3: Drive to Khorog along the Afghanistan border. Overnight in hotel/guesthouse.
Day 4: Drive to Bulunkul with a lunch stop in Jelondi hot spring. Overnight in guest house
Day 5: Strolling around the Bulunkul lake, visiting yurts, mineral springs and geysers. Overnight in guest house.
Day 6: Drive to Murghab with an overnight stop in Modiyon. Accommodation in Kyrgyz yurts.
Day 7: Drive to Charti-Gumbaz. Arrival, laying tents and accommodation. Walk around the area, visit hot springs. Stay overnight in tents and hotels.
Day 8: Drive to Vakhan valley via Zorkul natural reserve with an overnight stop in Langar. Visit petroglyphs in Langar. Accommodation in guest houses.
Day 9: Drive to the Bibi-Fotima hot spring with a short stop at the Buddhist temple and the «Museum of Muboraki Vakhoni in Yamshun village. Accommodation in the guest houses.
Day 10: Drive to Khorog with a short stop in the well-known Garmchashma hot spring. Accommodation – hotel.
Day 11: Drive to Qalai Khumb. Accommodation – guest house.
Day 12: Drive to Dushanbe via Khobu Robot Pass (3,300m) and Tawildara valley. Accommodation-hotel.
Day 13: Transfer to the airport and seeing off.
Remark: This itinerary is quite flexible and can be further shortened or extended by leaving out and adding other destinations.
Dushanbe- Bartang Jeep Tour & Trek
Route in short: Dushanbe –Qalai Khumb- Jizeu valley – Roshorv Pasor- Khafrazdara Valley – Pasor -Roshorv-Khorog – Qalai Khumb-Dushanbe
Duration of the Tour: 15 days.
Total distance: 1595 км.
Season: July, 1st – Sep. 15th.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Dushanbe transfer to hotel. Sightseeing in the capital city
Day 2: Drive to Qalai-Khumb via Sagridasht Pass (3300 m). Overnight in guesthouse
Day 3: Drive to Jizeu valley along the Panj river bordering with Afghanistan
Day 4: Strolling around in Jizeu valley. Walking further up the valley to see the other lakes and the pastures of the village. (Overnight in homestay or Tent)
Day 5: Drive to Roshorv further up along the Bartang river (overnight in homestay)
Day 6: Drive to Pasor visiting the local shrine & a traditional blacksmith (Overnight in homestay)
Day 7-10: Trekking Pasor- Khafrazdara -Pasor. Walking up the scenic Khafrazdara Valley and see the lakes, glaciers, great rock formation & viewpoint of Grum Grjimailo Glacier (Overnight in tents)
Day 11: Drive to Khorog (overnight in hotel/hostel/gueshouse)
Day 12: Sightseeing around Khorog visit the UCA campus, Botanical garden & Jamatkhana (an Ismaili religious place) (stay in hotel)
Day 13: Drive to Qalai-Khumb (Overnight in guesthouse)
Day 14: Drive to Dushanbe via Kulob
Day 15: Transfer to the airport and seeing off
Remark: This itinerary is quite flexible and can be further shortened or extended by leaving out and adding other destinations.
Dushanbe-Vakhan Valley Jeep Tour
Route in short: Dushanbe-Qalai Khumb- Khorog- Vakhan Valley-Yashilkul-Sarez-Bartang-Jizeu valley-Qalai Khumb -Dushanbe
Duration of the Tour: 18 days
Total distance: 1650 км.
Seasonality: (Starting from July, 15th to Sep, 15th)
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Dushanbe. Transfer to the hotel. Relax & city tour. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: Drive to Qal’ai-Khum via Kulob with short stop Khulbul fortress.Overnight in guesthouse.
Day 3: Drive to Khorog along the Afghanistan border. Overnight in hotel/guesthouse.
Day 4: Strolling around Khorog, acclimatization. Overnight in hotel.
Day 5-6: Trip to Vakhan Valley. Explore some of the trace of the ancient Silk Road
Day 7: Drive to Yashilkul crossing the Khargushi Pass. Overnight in tents.
Day 8-12: Trekking to the Sarez Lake (luggage will be carried on donkeys. Overnight Stops: Chapdarkul, Uchkul, Zaroshkul & Irkht) (4,600m).
Day 13: Strolling around the Sarez lake. Relax and engage various activities such as fishing, riding boat, trekking up further and exploring around the lake. Accommodation-tents. (3.250m)
Day 14: Trekking to Barchidiv village of Bartang valley. Overnight in homestay.
Day 15: Drive with shorts Trek to the Jizeu valley of Bartang. Overnight in tents or homestay.
Day 16: Drive to Qalai Khumb. Overnight in guesthouse.
Day 17: Drive back to Dushanbe. Overnight in hotel.
Day 18: Transfer to airport & seeing off.
Remark: This itinerary is quite flexible and can be further shortened or extended by leaving out and adding other destinations
Dushanbe-Bartang-Sarez lake Jeep Tour & Trek
Route in short: Dushanbe-Qalai Khumb-Rushon-Jizeu- Barchidiv-Sarez-Khorog-Dushanbe
Duration of the tour: 13 days
Total distance: 1470 км.
Season: July, 1st Sep. 30th
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Dushanbe & transfer to hotel. Relax & City tour.
Day 2: Drive to Kalai-Khumb via Kulob. Overnight in guesthouse.
Day 3: Drive & Trek to Jizeu valley. Overnight in tents or homestay.
Day 4: Drive to Barchidiv village and get prepare for the next day trekking to the Sarez lake
Day 5: Trekking to the Sarez Lake (luggage will be carried by donkeys, during 8-9 hours).
Day 6-7: Strolling around the Sarez lake. Relax and engage various activities such as fishing, riding boat, trekking up further and exploring around the lake. Accommodation-tents.
Day 8: Trekking back to Barchidiv and exploring the beautiful village.
Day 9: Drive to Khorog & Relax. Overnight in hotel.
Day 10: Khorog town Tour (visit the 2nd highest Botanical Garden in the world, Khorog Park and the Ismaili Jamatkhana – prayer hall & cultural center).
Day 11: Drive to Qalai Khumb along the Panj River which divides Tajikistan & Afghanistan border. Overnight in guesthouse.
Day 12: Drive to Dushanbe via Sagirdasht and Khobu Robot Pass (3,300m).
Day 13: Transfer to the airport & seeing off.
Remark: This itinerary is quite flexible and can be further shortened or extended by leaving out and adding other destinations