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Pamir Highway Tajikistan, September 2019
September
2019
Pamir Highway in Five Days (Tajikistan)
I would never recommend tackling the Pamir Highway in just five days. Its breathtaking beauty deserves weeks, and for the sake of your health, you should not risk ascending from 1,000 to over 4,200 meters in altitude in a single day. Especially not when, at altitudes above 4,000 meters, there’s no chance of a rescue helicopter reaching you, let alone a hospital nearby. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of time, and so my first night in the Pamirs was spent struggling to breathe and feeling clammy.
Under no circumstances should you take such a risk alone. That said, for me, a reliable 4x4 or motorbike, a solid camera, and a sense of solitude are the perfect ingredients for a good road trip.
Under no circumstances should you take such a risk alone. That said, for me, a reliable 4x4 or motorbike, a solid camera, and a sense of solitude are the perfect ingredients for a good road trip.
For more details on the Pamir Highway (also known as the M41 Highway), I’d recommend checking out Wikipedia. You’ll spend days driving on unpaved roads, and a 4x4 vehicle is non-negotiable (although I have seen locals dealing with these roads in sedans). A significant part of the route runs alongside a border river, with Afghanistan just a stone’s throw away on the opposite river bank. Some of the photos in this selection capture a tiny glimpse of life and nature on the other side of the river.
In addition to the gallery below, here comes a 10 min video on this journey:
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Images are published only with consent or in contexts where public interest justifies their use. However, it is possible that rights or standards in certain countries could inadvertently be violated, as I may not be fully aware of all laws and standards applicable worldwide.
The photographed individuals were asked for permission if they were at the center of the shot. If they were members of the military or police, they were blurred. For recordings of public events, the right to photograph in public spaces applies. This also applies to military parades or parades involving the military or security forces. Military facilities or critical infrastructure were blurred. Objects or areas marked with a prohibition on photography or video recording were not captured.
If you believe any content violates ethical standards or personal rights or any other right, please contact me with a detailed description of your concern. I take such matters seriously and will address them promptly.
© 2025 Eastern Blog / Stefan Schandera. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.