Stretching all the way to China, and separating Pakistan from Tajikistan, the Wakhan Corridor is a narrow strip of land in eastern Afghanistan, considered one of the remotest regions in all of Central Asia, and certainly one of the most jaw-dropping.
Created in 1893 to serve as a buffer between the Russian Empire (today’s Tajikistan) and British India (today’s Pakistan), the Wakhan Corridor had long been crossed by travelers moving along ancient Silk Road routes, a history still visible in the old forts and caravanserais scattered along the Panj River.
Then came modern borders. China, Pakistan and the Soviet Union became virtually inaccessible from the Afghan side, cutting off communities that had historically interacted and traded across these mountains and valleys. The Wakhan became increasingly isolated from the outside world, eventually turning into one of the remotest inhabited regions on the planet.
There’s something difficult to describe about trekking at 4,000 meters above sea level and suddenly coming across a group of nomads and shepherds in the middle of nowhere. For us, it’s one of the best feelings in the world.
On this expedition, we will travel deep into the Wakhan Corridor, first driving for four days along the Panj and Wakhan rivers before continuing on foot into the Little Pamir, trekking all the way to Chaqmaqtin Lake.
For more than two weeks, we will be almost entirely self-sufficient, sleeping in local homestays and tents while surrounded by some of the wildest and most spectacular mountain scenery in Central Asia.
This isn’t an expedition for everyone. It’s for those looking for genuine adventure in one of the most isolated corners of the world.
August 17th to 31st, 2027
$3690 US dollars
15 days
Tour leader to be confirmed
Note that we always keep the itinerary flexible, and it may be subject to change, depending on the political situation.
Day 1 – Dushanbe to Shirkhan border, Kunduz and Fayzabad
Day 2 – Fayzabad to Ishkashim
Day 3 – Ishkashim to Qala-e-Panja
Day 4 – Qala-e-Panja to Sarhad-e Broghil
Day 5 – Hiking in the Wakhan
Day 6 – Hiking in the Wakhan
Day 7 – Hiking in the Wakhan
Day 8 – Hiking in the Wakhan
Day 9 – Hiking in the Wakhan
Day 10 – Resting day in Chaqmaqtin
Day 11 – Chaqmaqtin to Sarhad-e Broghil
Day 12 – Sarhad-e Broghil to Qala-e-Panja
Day 13 – Qala-e-Panja to Ishkashim
Day 14 – Ishkashim to Fayzabad
Day 15 – Departure
The meeting point will be a hotel in Dushanbe early in the morning, from where we’ll drive to the Shir Khan border.
After completing all border formalities, we’ll cross into Afghanistan and continue our journey to Faizabad. This will be a very long travel day.
Overnight in Faizabad.
We’ll spend the morning sorting out the necessary permits for traveling across Badakhshan province before hitting the road to Ishkashim, the gateway to the Wakhan Valley.
Ishkashim is a small town sitting right across the border from Tajikistan, home to a lively local market where we’ll also stock up on supplies for the upcoming hike.
Overnight in Ishkashim.
Today, we’ll enjoy a scenic drive along the Wakhan Valley, following the Panj River and the border with Tajikistan.
If you’ve driven along the Pamir Highway (M41) in Tajikistan, you’ll probably be familiar with the landscapes on the other side of the river. Afghanistan’s side is pretty similar, just far less busy and with an even greater sense of remoteness.
We’ll make plenty of stops along the way before reaching the village of Qala-e-Panja.
Overnight in Qala-e-Panja.
On Day 4, we’ll start getting deeper into the Wakhan Corridor, saying goodbye to Tajikistan as we leave the Panj River behind and take the road following the Wakhan River instead.
This is the most spectacular drive of the trip, taking us through unspoiled, timeless villages surrounded by absolutely jaw-dropping scenery.
Sarhad-e Broghil is the last proper village before entering Wakhan National Park and the starting point of our hike.
Overnight in Sarhad-e Broghil.
We’ll have a very early start, driving for around 90 minutes to the actual starting point of our hike.
From here, we’ll spend five full days trekking through the Little Pamir, following a spectacular high-altitude route towards the remote Chaqmaqtin Lake, averaging around 8 hours of hiking per day and crossing mountain passes reaching up to 4,895 meters above sea level.
This is one of the wildest and most isolated sections of the Wakhan Corridor, with virtually no infrastructure and only a handful of remote settlements scattered across the mountains.
All nights during the trek will be spent camping in tents.
After five full days of trekking across the Little Pamir, we’ll enjoy a well-deserved rest day at Chaqmaqtin Lake, one of the most remote and spectacular places in the entire Wakhan Corridor.
Sitting at around 4,000 meters above sea level and surrounded by the vast mountains of the Pamirs, Chaqmaqtin is also home to several small settlements inhabited by the Kyrgyz, a semi-nomadic community that has lived in this extremely isolated, high-altitude region for generations.
We’ll spend the day resting, exploring the surroundings, visiting some of these remote Kyrgyz settlements, and learning about everyday life in one of the most isolated inhabited regions of Central Asia.
Overnight in tents by Chaqmaqtin Lake.
Today, we’ll leave Chaqmaqtin Lake behind and drive all the way back to Sarhad-e Broghil, retracing our journey across the spectacular landscapes of the Little Pamir.
Overnight in Sarhad-e Broghil.
We’ll continue our journey back through the Wakhan Valley, driving from Sarhad-e Broghil to Qala-e-Panja.
Overnight in Qala-e-Panja.
Continuing our journey back through the Wakhan Valley, following the Panj River all the way to Ishkashim.
Overnight in Ishkashim.
On Day 14, we’ll finally leave the mountains behind, making our way back to Fayzabad, the capital of Badakhshan province.
After several days in the remote Wakhan, we’ll enjoy a proper dinner at a local restaurant that evening.
Overnight in Fayzabad.
Early morning drive from Fayzabad to the border with Tajikistan, where our journey through Afghanistan comes to an end.
End of the tour.
14 nights of accommodation (guest house, homestay, tents)
Permits for driving around Taliban-Afghanistan
Letter of Invitation (LOI) for your visa
Private transportation across the Wakhan Corridor
All meals
For the hike: donkeys or yaks, porters and a cook will also join the team
English-speaking local guide
International tour leader (see FAQ)
International flights to Dushanbe
Round-trip transportation from Dushanbe to the Shirkhan border
Visa fees (100 USD)
Entrance fee to Wakhan National Park (around 50 USD)
Tips for porters, cook and guides
Extra drinks
August 17th to 31st, 2027
$3690 US dollars
15 days
Tour leader to be confirmed
Against the Compass was created with a simple idea in mind: to challenge stereotypes and help travelers better understand parts of the world that are too often misunderstood.
Wherever we travel, we are guests in someone else’s home. We believe that curiosity, humility, and respect go a long way, and we encourage our travelers to embrace different cultures, religions, and ways of life with an open mind.
Just as responsible travel means respecting the environment and supporting local communities, it also means approaching people and their beliefs with empathy and understanding. Racism, prejudice, and dismissive attitudes toward the cultures and communities that welcome us run contrary to everything ATC stands for.
At the end of the day, travel should broaden our horizons, challenge our assumptions, and build bridges between people. After all, that’s what Against the Compass is all about.
Yes, we have a specific discount policy for those who have already traveled with us.
For first-time travelers, we offer up to a 10% discount when booking more than one expedition at the same time.
There are no hotels in the Wakhan Corridor. Except for the two nights in Fayzabad, we’ll be staying in a combination of local homestays and tents.
Infrastructure in the Wakhan is virtually non-existent, so accommodation will be extremely basic, with limited facilities. This is one of the most remote regions in the world, and travelers should be prepared for simple living conditions throughout the expedition.
No, we can’t offer or guarantee a single supplement on this expedition due to the very limited accommodation available in the Wakhan.
Fayzabad is the only place where we stay in a proper hotel. However, rooms are limited, so we can’t guarantee a private room even for those two nights.
At the homestays along the Wakhan Valley, rooms usually have 3–4 beds, depending on the property, and private rooms are generally not available.
When camping, our local team has around 8–9 large tents. If you want to guarantee having your own tent, we recommend bringing one yourself. Depending on how many travelers bring their own tents, we may also be able to provide individual tents for the rest of the group.
Yes. All participants must be reasonably fit for this expedition, as we’ll be hiking for 5 consecutive days, crossing mountain passes above 4,500 meters, while camping in a very remote area with extremely limited facilities.
You don’t need to be an experienced mountaineer, but you should be comfortable with several consecutive days of hiking at high altitude and in basic conditions.
Yes. Detailed hiking information, including daily distances, elevation gain, and estimated hiking times, will be shared upon booking your spot.
The trip will start in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
We’ll meet at the reception of the hotel, from where we’ll drive to the Shirkhan border.
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival in Tajikistan, both at the airport and land borders.
Exception: Only British citizens need to apply for a multiple-entry visa online through this portal.
With the help of our Letter of Invitation and the necessary paperwork arranged in advance by our local team, the Afghan visa can be obtained on arrival at the Shir Khan border crossing.
The visa fee may vary, but it typically costs around USD 100.
Yes, you can. Private transportation can be easily arranged from Kunduz; it’s a full-day drive.
Yes, of course, all women are always welcome on our Afghanistan tours.
Furthermore, Wakhi people are surprisingly open compared to Pashtuns and other ethnicities in Afghanistan. They predominantly adhere to Ismaili Shia Islam, which is perhaps the most liberal branch of Islam. You are likely to see many women unveiled and given its isolation and remoteness, in some places not a lot has changed since the Taliban came back to power.
A detailed packing list will be shared upon booking your spot.
We limit our tours to a maximum of 12 people.
All nationalities can join this expedition except US citizens. Unfortunately, US passport holders are currently unable to obtain permission to enter Wakhan National Park.
US citizens can travel to other parts of Afghanistan, but at the moment, they are not permitted to enter this particular area.
To secure your spot on the tour, we require a deposit.
We accept payments in both Euros and US dollars. All details will be shared upon booking your spot.
Information about the risks and dangers of traveling to Afghanistan:
The traveler is expressly informed that the activities included in the travel itinerary are adventurous and/or take place in conflict zones, which entail dangers and imply the risk of physical, and psychological injuries, and/or death for the traveler.
Due to the characteristics of the destination and/or activities, the specific risks and dangers of the trip are, by way of example but not limited to, those listed below:
War; terrorism; political instability; arbitrary detentions, gunfire in the activity area; and/or violent crime.
Regarding the potential dangers of the destination, travelers are advised to consult the travel recommendations for the destination country provided by their country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, in the case of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), these recommendations can be accessed on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/afghanistan
FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan, due to risk of terrorism, unpredictable security conditions and lack of consular assistance.
Yes. If you want to join any of our expeditions, you must purchase travel insurance.
We recommend IATI Insurance.
Why do we recommend IATI?
Against the Compass has been a partner of IATI for a very long time. We personally know their CEO and marketing team, and we collaborate regularly, so in the unlikely event that something happens, we know exactly what to do.
Moreover, IATI Insurance covers all the countries where the FCDO advises against all travel, something that most insurance companies don’t.
You can also benefit from a 5% discount by purchasing it through the link below.
Get a quote here to claim your discount
Can I use a different company?
Yes, you can, as long as your insurance covers the destination you’re travelling to.
An international tour leader is an Against the Compass representative and a beloved member of our family who accompanies the group throughout the trip. You can learn more about our team here.
The role of the international tour leader is to support the local guide, help coordinate logistics, and ensure that everything runs smoothly throughout the tour. They also act as a bridge between travelers and the local team, assisting with communication, group management, and any issues that may arise during the trip.
Please note that an international tour leader will only join the tour if a minimum number of participants is reached. The exact number required depends on the destination and will be specified in the contract we share with you before confirming the trip.
Please check our General Conditions.
However, specific conditions might apply depending on the destination. Example: when the trip includes airfare.
Full details will be shared upon booking your spot.
