Pamir Highway

About this place

The Pamir Highway, also known as the M41, crosses the Pamir Mountains through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan for over 1,200 km. It is the only continuous route through this hard terrain and the main supply line of the Gorno-Badakhshan region. At 4,655 metres it is known as the second-highest international highway in the world, and it is the goal of many travellers. This passage has been used for millennia, as routes through the high Pamirs are few, and it formed one link of the ancient Silk Road. The road was built partly in the late 19th century and mostly in the 1930s. In the 2000s it was connected with China and the Karakoram Highway. From Khorog it runs about 310 km east to Murghab. In its western part the road follows the Panj river through a deep valley, with Afghanistan on the far bank. It then climbs to a bare, almost empty plateau in brown and pink, with snow on the distant peaks. After Murghab it crosses the Ak-Baital Pass, its highest point, passes blue Lake Karakul and ends near the Kyrgyz border before huge white peaks. You need at least a week and a four-wheel drive with an experienced driver. The UK Foreign Office notes that many roads are open but not fully repaired, and that floods close them in spring and winter. Height can cause illness, so climb in stages. The season runs from June to September. A separate travel permit is required for the Gorno-Badakhshan region on top of a visa. The UK Foreign Office warns of security risks in the region and along the Afghan border, so read the current advice before you plan.