The Panj plains
Green beneath the mountains.
Benoît Vicart — CC0 · Benoît Vicart — CC0 · Benoît Vicart — CC0 · Kondephy — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Benoît Vicart — CC0
Wakhan National Park lies in north-eastern Afghanistan, established in 2014 and covering the whole of Wakhan District in Badakhshan Province, stretching between the Pamirs and the Hindu Kush. It borders Tajikistan, Pakistan and China. It is among the most isolated parts of the country, and its broad green valleys under snow peaks give the feeling of being at the end of the world. The park holds some 600 plant species and is home to snow leopard, lynx, wolf, brown bear, red fox, Pallas's cat, ibex and Marco Polo sheep. Most of it lies above the tree line. Poaching and overgrazing threaten it more than mining or logging. Around 15,000 people live in the corridor, mostly Wakhi and Kyrgyz. You see grassy plains along the Panj River, horses grazing before high mountains and rows of poplars near Ishkashim. The villages have simple stone houses and wooden roofs with a distinctive skylight. Keep away from wild animals, ask before photographing residents, and bring everything you need, as services are rare. Its middle lies about 200 km in a straight line east of Ishkashim. Getting there takes a four-wheel drive, long days and local permits, and at this height you should watch for altitude sickness. The best time is June to September. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Afghanistan, and access may not be possible, so check official guidance before making any plans.
Green beneath the mountains.
Rows near Ishkashim.
Stone and wooden roofs.
Wakhan District, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Services are very rare, and visitors usually stay in village homes or tents.
Do not count on it, and check official guidance first, as the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Afghanistan.