Pamir-Highway, Tajikistan in December?
 

Hey overlanders

Has anybody experience in crossing the Pamir-Highway (Tajikistan) from Kyrgyzstan to Dushanbe in December?

I may wanna cross it with a 4x4 vehicle if somehow possible. I drove the Pamir already in September, there was no snow at all but already quite cold.

Would be nice if you have some useful informations.

Thanks a lot
Roman

www.nicolumbus.ch - Weltenbummler unterwegs!

It may be officially closed then from what I remember

is it? I just read in the HUBB that the road is open all the year...?

have u been there in "winter time?"

Greetz
Roman

I haven't been there in winter but when I was arranging my TJK visa I was told the road had 'only just opened'. I think that was late May.

We traveled through the Pamirs (Kyrg to Tajik) a few years ago in our 4x4 around the beginning of November. The first snow of winter was already there. The roads were ok then, but it could have changed very quickly. The hardest was crossing the high passes. Once we were on 'top' of the Highway, the snow was very little.

It was cold, around -25 degrees outside at night, and about -4 degrees in the car at night. It was beautiful in the winter, but definitely limited us in what we did and the time we spent there. We also chose to stay(camp) in the villages at night just in case of mechanical issues with the cold. This also meant that we couldn't go to all the places we wanted to go.

We once had to wait a bit for the sun to 'heat up' the car/engine before we could set off. The fuel started gelling (I don't think we had winter fuel at that time).

I think it may be possible early December, but all obviously depends on when the first snow starts to fall.

Oh yes, we didn't use snow chains, but if you do intend to use snow chains, don't expect to get the right sizes it in the area (Osh). I think the biggest size we could find was for a 235 tyre and we had 265 tyres.

Good luck

Hey Pumbaa

Thanks a lot for your informations... It seems to be possible, also according to the swiss developement office it should be ok to cross in december (they say it also depend on the road conditions in Kyrgyzstan) and as I remember they were quite bad in October already but not because of the snow :o)

You said the landscape was nice during the winter? Would you think it is worth a visit or better go directly to the warmer Uzbekistan? (Just your opinion...)

Snow chains are already on board... thanks for the hint!

Cheers
Roman

November
 

Hey Pumbaa team,

we're planning to do the same route (starting from Dushanbe towards Murghab) early Nov... reading your post I think we do need to pack lots of warm clothes.
Did you have any problems with Diesel? I mean first of all finding enough diesel (guess most cars run on petrol) and also starting the car in the cold?
Anything else we should really be prepared for?

Thanks,


g.