INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
OF PAMIR ENDURO MOTORCYCLE TOUR
Duration: 12 DAYS
Country: Tajikistan
Start/Finish: Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
Total distance: approx. 2500 kм.
Roads: 60%on road - 40% dirt roads
Accommodation: hotels, guesthouses,
Support: : Toyota Land Cruiser
Available bikes: Suzuki DR650
REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS:
-Readiness to have unbelievable adventure with lots of surprises on the way
-Physical strength and pure optimism
-Good riding skills*
-Respect laws and culture of local people
Advanced skills:
*can ride for 6-8 hours
*extensive riding experience
*comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
How to get Tajikisatan visa and GBAO permit.
For Pamir enduro motorbike tour you need:
-One entry tourist visa to Tajikistan and GBAO permit ( GBAO means Pamir area).
Tajikistan Visa
Tajikistan Visa Requirements
Visa exemption
The passport holders of the following nationalities (countries) are eligible to enter Tajikistan without visa.
Afghanistan - with Diplomatic passports up to 30 days
-Armenia
-Azerbaijan - for diplomatic, official and the ordinary passports up to 90 days
-Belarus
-Georgia
-Kazakhstan
-Kyrgyzstan
-Moldova
-Russian Federation
-North of Korea - for diplomatic, service passports
-South of Korea - for diplomatic, service passports up to 90 days
-China - for diplomatic, official and service passports of common mission up to 30 days
-Brunei - Darussalam - for diplomatic, service passports up to 14 days
-Hungary - for diplomatic and service passports up to 90 days
-Romania - for diplomatic and service passports up to 90 days
-Pakistan - for diplomatic passports up to 90 days
-India - for diplomatic and service passports up to 30 days
-The Islamic Republic of Iran - for diplomatic and service passports up to 30 days
-Turkmenistan - for diplomatic passports up to 30 days
-Ukraine - for diplomatic, official and the ordinary passports up to 90 days
-Uzbekistan - for diplomatic, official and the ordinary passports up to 30 days
Visa at the airport
Tajikistan has simplified visa obtaining for the citizens of 81 countries to promote tourism and create favorable conditions for investors. The rules differ if there is a Tajik embassy in the applicant’s home-country.
Citizens of the following countries with no Embassy or the Consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan will be able to obtain tourist visa upon arrival. For this, it is required to fill out online application on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan and make the payment of 5 USD for consideration of your application. MFA of the Republic of Tajikistan will review the application during 1-5 days and send back confirmation to the electronic address of the applicant. Based on this confirmation, one can get the tourist visa at the airports of Dushanbe and Khujand. Picking a visa at the airport will cost 35 USD. But for entering the country through border crossing points e-visa (www.evisa.tj) will be needed; it will cost 52 USD. List of countries eligible to collect visa at the airport include:
-Australia
-Algeria
-Andorra
-Argentina
-Bahrain
-Bulgaria
-Brazil
-Brunei
-Canada
-Chile
-Croatia
-Cuba
-Cyprus
-Czech Republic
-Denmark
-Estonia
-Finland
-Hungary
-Greece
-Iceland
-Indonesia
-Ireland
-Israel
-Italy
-Jordan
-Latvia
-Lebanon
-Libya
-Lithuania
-Liechtenstein
-Luxembourg
-Morocco
-Malta
-Mexico
-Monaco
-Mongolia
-Netherlands
-New Zealand
-Norway
-Oman
-Philippines
-Poland
-Portugal
-Romania
-Senegal
-Singapore
-South Africa
-Spain
-Slovakia
-Slovenia
-Sweden
-Syria
-Thailand
-Tunisia
-Vatican
-Venezuela
-Vietnam
-Yemen
-Stateless persons who were citizens of the Republic of Tajikistan
E-visa or simplified visa
Citizens of the following countries are not eligible for visa upon arrival, as there is an embassy or consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan in their home country. Still, the visa application procedure is simplified; they only need to fill out the application on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan. After, MFA of Tajikistan will review the application during 1-5 days and send a confirmation to the electronic address of the applicant inviting to the interview, where they will photograph and take fingerprints.
They also can obtain electronic visa on the website www.evisa.tj that will free from the hassle of visiting the embassy. E-visa will cost 52 USD.
Simplified visa procedures or e-visa are applicable to the following nationalities:
-Austria
-Belgium
-China
-Great Britain and Northern Ireland
-Germany
-Egypt
-France
-India (in terms of categories of visas "Diplomatic” and "Service’)
-Iran
-Japan
-The Republic of Korea
-Kuwait
-Malaysia
-United Arab Emirates
-Pakistan ( in the categories of visas "Diplomatic” and "Service’)
-Qatar
-Saudi Arabia
-Switzerland
-Turkey
-Turkmenistan
-USA
-Uzbekistan ( in the categories of visas "Diplomatic” , "service”, "investor”, "free Economic Zone”, "driver " and " athletes and creative groups”)
Standard visa to Tajikistan
If your country of residence is not included in any of the above mentioned lists, you can obtain visa to Tajikistan in any country where there is an embassy or the consulate of the Republic of Tajikistan. (Look at below) The list of documents, as well as amount of consular fees may differ depending on the citizenship of the applicant and the point of visa issue. Application fee starts from 25 USD. Standard documents package for Tajik visa include:
Visa support (invitation);
Valid passport with 2 clear pages for visa and entry/exit stamps. Six months validity rule is imposed.
Visa application* in 2 copies;
Colorful photo (3,5 x 4,5);
Receipt on payment of state duty and consular fee;
(!) If you plan to visit Gorno-Badakhsan Autonomous region a.k.a Pamir region, you should submit a letter requesting a permit.
Tajikistan Embassies Abroad
Tajikistan Embassies and Consulates
Tajikistan Embassies and Consulates in foreign countries
Tajikistan Embassy in Afghanistan
Address: Vazir Akbarkhon Saraki 15, 121, Kabul
Telephone: (+93) 784-098-355
Tajikistan Embassy in Austria
Address: Hutweidengasse 47, 1190, Vienna
Telephone: (+431) 409-82-66
Website: www.tajikembassy.at
Tajikistan Embassy in Azerbaijan
Address: Baglar 2 street, B-20, Badamdar district, Baku
Telephone: (+994 12) 502-14-32
Website: www.tajembaz.tj
Tajikistan Embassy in Belarus
Address: ul. Zelenaya, 42, Zhdanovichi, Minsk
Telephone: (+375 17) 549-01-83
Website: www.tajembassy.by
Tajikistan Embassy in Belgium
Address: Boulevard General Jacques 16, 1050 Brussels
Telephone: (+32) 2-640-69-33
Website: www.tajikembassy.be
Tajikistan Embassy in China
Address: No. 1-4, Section A, Liangmaqiao Diplomatic Compound, Beijing
Telephone: (+8610) 65-322-598-314
Website: www.tajikembassychina.com
Tajikistan Embassy in Egypt
Address: 2251 Street, Villa 15, Digla Al-Maadi, Cairo
Telephone: (+202) 2519-9665, 2521-4120
Website: www.tajemb-eg.org
Tajikistan Embassy in France
Address: 14 avenue d'Eylau, 75016, Paris
Telephone: (+331) 7092-9342
Website: www.tajembfrance.fr
Tajikistan Embassy in Germany
Address: Perleberger Str. 43, 10559, Berlin
Telephone: (+4930) 347-93-00
Website: botschaft-tadschikistan.de
Tajikistan Consulate in Hamburg, Germany
Address: An der Alster 25, 20099, Hamburg
Telephone: (+4940) 280-069-64
Tajikistan Embassy in India
Address: A-2/6, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi
Telephone: (+9111) 2615-4282
Website: www.tajikembassy.in
Tajikistan Embassy in Iran
Address: № 10, 3-rd Alley, Shahid Zain’ali Street, Niyavaran, Tehran
Telephone: (+9821) 2229-9584
Website: www.tajembiran.tj
Tajikistan Embassy Branch Office in Mashhad, Iran
Address: NO,74 Building, Street between Dastgheyb 4 & 6, Rahnamaee Sq. to Felestin, Mashhad
Telephone: (+98511) 847-04-60
Website: www.tajik-em-mashhad.ir
Tajikistan Embassy in Japan
Address: Shinagawa-ku, Kamioosaki 1-5-42, 141-0021, Tokyo
Telephone: (+813) 6721-7455
Website: www.tajikistan.jp
Tajikistan Embassy in Kazakhstan
Address: 15, Karasakal Yerimbet str., Chubary dist., Astana
Telephone: (+7172) 24-09-29
Website: www.tajembkaz.tj
Tajikistan Consulate in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Address: 16, Sanatornaya str., Almaty
Telephone: (+727) 269-70-59
Tajikistan Embassy in the Republic of Korea
Address: 19-9, Daesagwanro, 31-gil, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Telephone: (+8210) 6884-5625
Tajikistan Embassy in Kuwait
Address: Salwa, Blok 2, Street 101, St 9, House No. 72, Kuwait City
Telephone: (+965) 2561-51-52
Website: www.tajemb-kwt.org
Tajikistan Embassy in Kyrgyzstan
Address: 36, Karadarinskaya, Bishkek
Telephone: (+996312) 51-16-37
Website: www.tajikemb.kg
Tajikistan Embassy in Malaysia
Address: No.524 Jalan 6, Ampang Utama 68000, Ampang Selangor D.E., Kuala Lumpur
Telephone: (+603) 4265-4969
Tajikistan Embassy in Pakistan
Address: House# 295, Street# 35 F 11/3, Islamabad
Telephone: (+9251) 229-34-62
Website: www.tajikembassy.pk
Tajikistan Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Address: Tabani House 308, Street 18, Bahadurabad, Karachi
Telephone: (+9221) 3453-1921
Tajikistan Embassy in Qatar
Address: P.O. Box 25556, Doha
Telephone: (+974) 44-12-39-06
Tajikistan Embassy in Russia
Address: 13 Granatniy Avenue, Moscow
Telephone: (+7495) 690-41-86
Website: www.tajembassy.ru
Tajikistan Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia
Address: «A» 10, Tambovskaya Street, St. Petersburg
Telephone: (+7812) 490-47-46
Tajikistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia
Address: Al Worood Quarter, St. of Al-Mar'a Yusuf bin Al-Hanbali, Aloroba Road, 365945 Riyadh
Telephone: (+9661) 1205-4709
Website: www.tajemb-ksa.org
Tajikistan Embassy in Switzerland
Address: Chemin William Barbey 37, 1292 Chambesy, Geneva
Telephone: (+4122) 734-11-40
Website: www.tajikistanmission.ch
Tajikistan Embassy in Turkey
Address: Diplomatik Site, Ferit Recai Ertugrul Cad., No: 20, Oran 25009, Ankara
Telephone: (+90312) 491-16-07, 491-17-08
Website: www.tajikembassytr.org
Tajikistan Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey
Address: Halkalı Cd. No:14, Yeşilköy Mh., Bakırköy-İstanbul
Telephone: (+90212) 426-50-54
Website: www.tajconsist.org
Tajikistan Embassy in Turkmenistan
Address: Kurungan 19, Ashgabat
Telephone: (+99312) 48-18-18
Tajikistan Embassy in UAE
Address: Villa #2, Al Mushrif Street, Abu Dhabi
Telephone: (+9712) 441-79-50
Tajikistan Consulate in Dubai, UAE
Address: Al Safa 2, street 4c, villa 7, Dubai
Telephone: (+9714) 394-58-14
Website: www.dubaitajcons.org
Tajikistan Embassy in UK
Address: 3 Shortlands, Hammersmith, W6 8DA, London
Telephone: (+44) 20-36-09-87-88
Website: www.tajembassy.org.uk
Tajikistan Embassy in Ukraine
Address: 3, Zverinetsky Avenue, Kiev
Telephone: (+38044) 390-89-98
Website: www.tajemb.kiev.ua
Tajikistan Embassy in USA
Address: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: (+1202) 223-60-90
Website: www.tajemb.us
Tajikistan Embassy in Uzbekistan
Address: 6th passage, A.Qahhor Street, 61, Tashkent
Telephone: (+99871) 215-67-57 / 75
Website: www.tajembuz.tj
HOW TO GET HERE
Here is the list of air companies, providing flights to Dushanbe. You may also contact us specifying your country of departure. Since we have a wide client base from all over the world, we will contact them in order to receive recommendations or advise concerning flight details.
Turkishairlines
Utair
S7
Fly Dubai
Ural Airlines
NordStar
Somon Air
China Southern
Aerflot
Air Astana
WHAT TO BRING?
The baggage of participants which will be in the car support is limited. The weight of your bags that you take the tour should not exceed 10 kg (without motorcycle gear). And that means you have to take only the essentials.
1. Passport, driving licence , money.
2. Motorcycle gear:
- helmet with visor. It's better to have an integral, flip-up or touring style helmet, but do not MX or open-face type, because in the mountains you can feel freezing rain, snow, wind and dust, which may make your face vulnerable.
- jacket and pant with knee, elbow and back protection. Jacket: If you use the jacket as a major shalt for a trip on a motorcycle, then it should have built-in protection - elbows, back, shoulders. Would be nice if jacket has a double layer, which can detach during a hot period of the day, and fasten upon the occurrence of cold. Pants:You can use the enduro pants with built knees protection. If you don't have such pants with built knees protection you can use just jeans or MX pants but have to use knees protection
- motorcycle boots. You can use different shoes - touring boots or motocross boots. The main thing that they would protect your feet and comfortable for switch gear.
- pair of gloves (one light for hot days other warm waterproof)
- motorbike neck warmer tube scarf windproof
- motorcycle thermal underwear for hot and cold weather
- 100% waterproof rain suit
3. Off-line GPS navigator in your mobile with local road maps
4. Necessary medications if you need them.
5. Shoes: sandals for resorts. Sneakers for the prom;
6. Clothes: a few T-shirts, a few spare socks, jeans, shorts, swimming trunks, a warm sweater, light jacket;
7. Towel and toiletries.
8. Sunglasses.
9. Sunscreen.
10. Mosquito Cream
11. Headdress: a cap or hat for the warm days and knit cap for cool;
12. Flashlight
13. Photo or video camera.
14. Own sleeping bag for one night tent camp in Funn Mountains. We provide tent and mattress.
Please use soft, compact bag for tour. Do not use bulky suitcases.
P.S. You can also bring a variety of inexpensive gifts for local children.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Central Asia is the region with sharply continental climate. Day temperature during summer period is +25 to +40 degrees. After the sunset, temperature drops to +20 degrees, and to + 15 in the mountain areas.It is hard to predict weather conditions in mountain regions of Pamir and Kyrgyzstan. Sometimes it can be cold wind or rain and it might be snowing in Pamir. So you have to be ready for any weather conditions.
ROADS CONDITION
Most of the roads of this tour are asphalt roads. But Pamir highway section as Kalaikhumb - Khorog -Yamchun - Murgab are very tough. Frequently there are old asphalt with potholes, or a corrugation in road. Due to harsh natural conditions, remoteness and lack of financing, these roads are not sealed and have never been repaired.The quality of asphalt roads in the mountain area is also inconsistent, as there might be construction works going or the road may be washed out due to heavy rains. In this case we will change the route. Please, be ready for that.
Pamirs passes.
Anzob pass (3372 m)
Hargush pass (4 344 m)
Nazaitash pass (4137 m)
Ak Baital pass (4655 m)
Kyzyl-Art pass (4280 m)
Coy Tezek pass (4271 m)
Haburabot pass (3252 m)
DISTANCE
There are some very long distances as well as very short ones. In any case daily runs range from 7 to 9 hours of riding. So you have to be ready for early wake up and arrive late.
ACCOMMODATION
We are trying to provide the most comfortable accommodation in our tours. But conditions and serviсe may vary from good to very low in Tajikistan.
For instance, in such areas as the Fann Mountains,Kalaikhum, Khorog, Yanchun, Murgab there might be no electricity or water supply. It is due to remoteness of these places. Despite the fact that we try to book rooms in advance there is no guarantee that our places will be available for us upon arrival. Be prepared for this, too.
We will have a camp in the Fann Mountains and our company provides tents, mattresses. You should bring own sleeping bag. If you dont have own sleeping bag please let us know. We will provide it.
FOOD
Dinner and breakfast we have in accommodation places. Lunch in roadside cafe.
Central Asian's food is not very diverse. Usually it's meat and dough. But for you will be usfull to know names some of most common dishes that are offered in road cafes and hotels.
Lagman - is made from meat (mainly lamb), vegetables and long noodles.
Shurpa is soup. Typically, this is a beef or mutton broth with large chunks of carrots, onions, tomatoes and potatoes. Good dishes for lunch.
Pilaf is rice, meat, carrots, onions.
Manty is stuffing beef with onions wrapped in dough.
Kebab or kuyrdak is fried or braised beef or lamb with onions.
Borsch is Russian soup. Meat broth with pieces of meat and with the addition of beets, cabbage, potatoes.
HEALTH.
The most common problem of guests is an upset stomach.
It comes from the local uncommon food. Acclimatization of food takes several days. Some people have 2-3 days. Others can not get rid of this this until the end of the tour.
Unfortunately, we are powerless here.
If your stomach does not absorb foreign food, then you need to follow a diet on a tour. (rice, potatoes, bread, maracons, tea)
Or take the necessary medications.
Mountain sickness.
Pamir Highway passes at an average height of 3000 m. We will have a place for acclimatization in Yamchun. Sometimes people feel very tired or have a headache.
So you can bring the necessary medications.
ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR
People in Central Asia are very friendly and hospitable. But you should be aware of some rules of behavior.
Prohibited:
- take pictures of border posts, police, military people .
- appear in underwear in hotels and guest houses. Especially if there are local women there.
- go to the toilet in the wrong place
Concerning relationship between participants and organizing company during the tours we don’t support "I am the client, and you are an executive” or "the client is always right” attitude, since we believe that during the tour we are all one big team, where everyone respects, understands and helps each other.
Arrival: Airport transfers to your hotel accommodation. We will join you for lunch in a national restaurant. A city tour will take in Dusty square and Tajikistan National Museum. You will meet our support team and become familiar with your motorcycles. A group dinner will complete the day then you return to your hotel.
Today we will ride our motorcycle back along the legendary Pamir Highway taking care to ride this challenging section with loose surface. In the evening arrival in Qal'ai Khumb staying at the riverside location that you enjoyed on day 4. Guesthouse accommodation.
In the end of the 1st millennium B.C. because of the threat of military attacks from neighbors as well as for the purpose of controlling the traffic of people and cargos from Pamir to Bactria, India, Iran and back the construction of powerful fortifications began. The first of them was Yuachmun Fortress (also known as Kafyr Kala). The fortress was constructed in the 3rd century B.C. on the slope of the rock which was favorably during its construction. If seen from above the fortress has a triangular form divided into three parts. The first is the citadel with a bastion and barracks. They were walled and reinforced by towers. Two other parts are extensive platforms for conducting military actions. Each platform is surrounded with powerful walls reinforced by 36 towers with loopholes.The fortress walls are double, made from carefully processed tiled stones delivered by builders from different remote places. The outer 2 m-thick wall was made entirely from stones. The inner wall is also from stones which are only 50-60 cm thick.The entire fortress "is connected" by means of towers with embrasures cut in chessboard order and inclined downwards under a small angle so that the warriors could cover with their fire the entire valley. Some loopholes are directed both outside, and inside of the fortress which considerably increased its defensibility. The fortress amazes with its size. This powerful military structure had an exclusive significance for the local territory.
