Roads at the Roof of the World

The Pamir Highway connects the world's most remote outposts. It was built by Soviet military engineers in the 1930s to facilitate troop movement. It’s here where the grip of politics gives way to pure, unconquerable landscape.

Trace the length of the unpaved, potholed, and often flooded road along the hem of Tajikistan. and Afghanistan. Continue on to Kyrgyzstan, passing through barren landscapes incised by deep river canyons with your guide who has spent his life in the region. Read more →

‘The wings of the Kyrgyz’, the sturdy Kyrgyz horse is core to the nomadic existence. Life in the mountains and on the steppes of central Asia would be impossible without them. In the rugged highlands of Kyrgyzstan, a small group of nomads preserve centuries-old traditions through horse games. Horse and yak games are a test of reaction, agility, and strength. The most famous of these games is kok boru, where two teams on horseback compete to throw a goat or calf carcass into their opponent’s goal.

Participate in local horseback games, and track wild animals like marmots, golden eagles, and Marco Polo sheep in some of the harshest conditions on earth. Enjoy talks from local conservationists and join their efforts to conserve and protect these ancient traditions.

Shockingly blue and backed by dramatic snow-capped mountains, Lake Sarez is one of the most breathtaking sights in the world. Created by a violent earthquake more than 100 years ago, its name comes from the village that was buried beneath it. Today, the lake is unstable and scientists fear another earthquake could see it flood the narrow valleys below.

Hike with your guide and supply donkeys across swing bridges and up the narrow rocky path to the lake’s edge. Far from city lights, spend a night under the stars with local meteorologists and geologists. Join them the following day on a boat tour of this remote lake and learn about their work to prevent another disaster.

The Wakhan Corridor was originally created as a barrier between the Soviet and British Empires. As their power faded, so did the significance of the Wakhan Corridor. It’s now largely forgotten, other than by the few who call it home. A remote stretch of rugged terrain with high passes and deep gorges, the Wakhan Corridor is inaccessible for more than half of the year. This narrow, cut-off strip of land is populated only by families of Kyrgyz nomads and Wakhi shepherds, who’ve lived a life unchanged for more than a millenium.

Join a family of Wakhi shepherds as they herd their sheep, and turn the milk from their yaks into cheese and butter. Dine on fresh goat cooked over an open fire, sleep in a traditional timber home, and learn about the ancient traditions of these isolated people.

Tajikistan’s deep valleys were once the arteries of the modern world. Caravans of traders bringing silk to Europe and Buddisim to China favoured its routes, which were framed by mountain ridges and offered protection from bandits. Some stayed, creating art and architecture which stretches back thousands of years.

Follow their footsteps to discover intricate cave paintings, crumbling forts and abandoned observatories. Learn about their significance in the spread of art, architecture and ideas between East and West.