Echo Trails

Chaqmaqtin Lake

Echo Trails

We are delighted to begin accepting applications for our 2021 tour. In the renowned Wakhan Corridor, our team is ready to make your tour adventuresome.

Regardless of the fact that travel in Afghanistan can be difficult, the country’s snow-capped Pamir mountains and lush valleys have long enticed inquisitive explorers. On this 18-days epic excursion in 2021, follow us to uncover the enriched traditions of the Wakhis and Shugnis, as well as the flourishing Wakhan National Park.

Objective

A dramatic landscape. A sheer scale of the mountains and the vastness of the valleys are exotic. You will feel tiny in the enormous scale of it all.

We will head into the farthest regions of Afghanistan, into a region fabled for centuries. The Wakhan has been virtually untouched by the wars that have torn the country for decades.

The Wakhan is a narrow strip of land, separating Pakistan from Tajikistan, and nudging China’s western border: wedged in between the giants of the Hindu Kush and the Pamir Mountains. We aim to drive from Faizabad all the way to the end of the road in the Wakhan Corridor and back through Shughnan.

It is worth noting that driving in one of the most secure areas of Afghanistan, the Wakhan National Park, is not achieved comfortably and it is not merely a leisure. Arduous days, steep and rocky routes and altitudes approaching 5000+m all collide to create a challenging tour in one of the most isolated yet culturally rewarding places on earth.

Highlights

Why Visit?

Explore Wakhan Corridor

The Wakhan Corridor, located in Afghanistan’s north-eastern corner, is a highly remote location. River valleys that connect the Pamir, Tien Shan, Karakorum, and Hindu Kush are crisscrossed by rugged, harsh mountains. Kyrgyz and Wakhi nomad herds also exist in the corridor’s deepest valleys, living very primitive lives. Because of its remoteness, the region has remained untouched by high-tech technologies and urbanization, making trekking both daunting and satisfying.

Know the Geology

The U-formed mountains that provide plentiful munching grass during summer, however, are secured by snow for as long as six months. In the Wakhan, two such enormous zones of meadow, the Big Pamir (Pamir-e- Kalan or Pamir-e-Buzurg) and the Little Pamir (Pamir Khurd or Pamir-e-Kochak) exist. These valleys are utilized by the semi-nomad Wakhi for the summer, who come back to their villages in winter. The Kyrgyz are the permanent residents of the highest altitudes of the Pamirs. Although the Little Pamir is bigger in territory, the Big Pamir, is what makes the corridor popular for visitors and trekkers.

Meet the People of Wakhan

Despite the fact that Afghanistan is one of the most diverse countries in the world, the Wakhan corridor hosts mainly Wakhi and Kyrgyz people. The Wakhan corridor is mainly home to Wakhi and Kyrgyz people. The Wakhi people also known as the Pamiries at the Tajik side of the river are Shia Ismaili Muslim – a subbranch of the Shia Muslims. They speak mainly the Wakhi language, but most of them are able to converse in Persian language. Poverty still remain prominent in the corridor because of its remoteness.

Originally of Turkic decedents, the Kyrgyz people are the second most prominent ethnic group in the corridor. They live on the highest altitudes and grass rich spots of the valley. They fled the Central Asian conflict in the early 1900s and settled in Wakhan where they live nomadic lives with very limited access to the outer world. The corridor remains alien to technological and urban development which contributes significantly to poverty of the Wakhi and Kyrgyz communities alike.

Echo trails in Afghanistan

Echo trails was established in 2011 by Adab Shah Gouhari to help growth of tourism not only in Wakhan area but also all over Afghanistan. The contribution of the management team and the professional tour guides for the establishment of the company stretches back to years of efforts and dedication. Headquartered in Wakhan/Ishkashim area, Echo trails is a pioneer company which is fully staffed by locals. Their rich local knowledge and experience enables the company to offer the most authentic and rewarding tourism experience to our adventurous tourists.

The plan

Rather than guided tours with set daily plans, Echo trails offers expeditions with framework itineraries.
The following is an outline plan for this epic trekking expedition – it’s more about the “substance” than the “details.”

Teammates arrive

Your arrival to Dushanbe, Tajikistan should be 0900 on 05 July 2020. You will be received by the expedition guide at the airport and have an introductory session. The first few days in Tajikistan will take us along the famous Oxus river to GBAO and the crossing point to Afghanistan. The road hit is a long road trip (approximately 20 hours) via the astonishing Pamir Highway to Badakhshan. On the fourth day you will cross the border to Ishkashim, Afghanistan. Within the next couple of days after some red tape for obtaining Wakhan Permits, you will drive to Wuzud where your expedition begins.

The Wakhan Corridor and Ishkashim

There will still be some paper work to clear even after clearing immigration and customs in Kabul, so diligence will be needed.

The Wakhan Corridor is reached through a rough road constructed by the Soviets. This path is not for the faint of heart, as the valley is just 20 kilometers deep in some areas, and there might be some river crossings to navigate. The landscape, on the other hand, is absolutely breathtaking, and with their neon red scarves and beaded necklaces, the ladies stand out ever more.

Our two-day journey through the Wakhan Corridor brings us to the wildly wide valleys of Sarhad. The valley narrows at Sarhad, the mountains close in, and until just last year any further advance must had been made on foot, horseback, or by yak!

On expedition

The Villages and Trekking night camps:

Ishkashim

Qala e Panja

Sarhad

Chapdara

Wardif

Beneath Ghurumdee

Aqbilis

Khaich Goz

Chaqmaqtin

On day eight we will officially begin our trek into Chapdara through the Little Pamir. Our crew will join you with pack animals. Your luggage will be carried by the animal while you will be trekking with your bag packs.

It is worth noting that the Wakhan corridor in general lacks infrastructure, especially toilet and washing facilities. Long hours of walks will lead us to streams.

We will ensure to have enough food supplies throughout the excursion. You will receive enough calories to keep you going, however, food options are limited since it is bought locally.

You will have your first wonderful camping experience starting at the height of 3800m. The summer settlement of the Wakhi people is a place to enjoy hospitality of the locals and curiosity of the children. You will be astonished by the beauty and simplicity of life in on the top of the mountains.

More adventure will begin as we move to the Little Pamir. Snow-furnished mountain peaks will welcome you, and you could have a glance at Ibex and Marco Polo sheep from a distance. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to see the beauty of lake Chaqmaqtin in the Kyrgyz territory. The Kyrgyz live very primitive and nomadic lifestyle. You will be surprised to be exposed to them somewhere during your trek.

Weather conditions throughout the trek could be unexpected. We could experience snowy days probably but temperature drops significantly at night. After trekking as high as 5000 m, we will head back to Sarhad where our trek will officially end.

On the return from the corridor, our final full day in Afghanistan sees us return to the border town of Shughnan and Khorog. There should be time for some final shopping opportunities before our final hours in Afghanistan.

Alternate Route:

Arriving in Kabul at 0900 on July 03 2021, you will be met by your local Afghan Tour Guide and have an introductory session. You will spend the first two days in Kabul by visiting the many monuments and museums of Afghanistan as well as the famous gardens of King Babur of the Mughal Empire. In the following day you will fly to Faizabad, where a rough road will take us through stunning valleys into Ishkashim.

Returning from the infamous corridor we will drive back to Faizabad and fly to Kabul. Our final day in Kabul provides the chance to get souvenirs and Afghan crafts before departing back home

Goal achieve

Upon completion of the excursion you will certainly have rich memories and experience to share with other. It will be a life changing experience for you. You will not only experience different living conditions, but you will also witness how people live in one of the most impoverished yet naturally astonishing part of Afghanistan. You will have the change to interact with locals and you might end making some friend(s). We will strive to make your experience rewarding and unforgettable.

Closing Session

There will be a closing session where all the team members will share briefly about their experience. This will be an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our teamwork and our individual experience. Also, this session will be useful for us to gather your feedback to improve our future service.

Fitness

Anyone in a good state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour. However please note that although this trip is not necessarily physically demanding by way of exertion, the remoteness and roughness of the journey can take its toll and should not be undertaken lightly.

Minimum fitness requirements

Included/ Not included

Included

Not included

frequently asked questions 

Will we ride horses?

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I’m a vegetarian. Can I join?

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Can I charge all my electricals?

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Is it safe?

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Mitigating Risk

In order to mitigate your travel risk in Afghanistan, I’m including the following suggestions. Of course you’re free to take them or leave them, but I highly recommend following these basic safety guidelines.
Will there be telephone signal?

Not during most of the excursion. However, we will carry a phone with us in case you need to make emergency calls.

Do I need a visa?

Yes, most nationalities need visa. Since this trip will take place through Tajikistan, you will need a visa for both countries. For Tajikistan you also need a GBAO permit (Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast) to enter southern Tajikistan. For the Afghan Visa we will send you letters of invitation upon request. Visas are teammates’ responsibility.

Do I need to cover?

Yes, for the most part. It is recommended on the Afghan side. It is recommended that men wear long trousers and long sleeves. Women should cover legs and arms and wear a headscarf while visiting the villages. When trekking on the mountains you could remove your scarf.

How can I find out more?

Apply for this expedition team using the button below. Contact us to find more about the joining process, advice on kit, fitness, visas, flights and travel insurance. Adventure Wakhan is then on hand to help with your unanswered questions or to firm up your place on the team.

Why travel with us?

Eco-cultural tours are critical tool to accelerate the preservation of nature. When you travel with us, your tourism dollars flow to local communities who live with and steward nature – creating jobs and improving livelihoods. Your trip then becomes a powerful incentive for local communities to protect their natural resources, making wildlife worth more alive than dead, and wild lands worth more intact than degraded.