![Kyzyl-Art Pass (4290m/14,042 ft) start of the Pamir Highway on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561466.C5gVK2Pv.TajikistanSep140001.jpg) Kyzyl-Art Pass (4290m/14,042 ft) start of the Pamir Highway on the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border |
![Snow covered mountains of the Trans-Alay Range rising to 21,000 ft west of the Kyzyl-Art Pass](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561467.DRIsX6GW.TajikistanSep140003.jpg) Snow covered mountains of the Trans-Alay Range rising to 21,000 ft west of the Kyzyl-Art Pass |
![Monument on the Kyzyl-Art Pass](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561468.X8fF5rTa.TajikistanSep140004.jpg) Monument on the Kyzyl-Art Pass |
![Kyzyl-Art Pass, Tajikistan](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561469.BpXSIhDr.TajikistanSep140005.jpg) Kyzyl-Art Pass, Tajikistan |
![Marco Polo sheep on a pedestal at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561470.gjFkp1zG.TajikistanSep140007.jpg) Marco Polo sheep on a pedestal at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border |
![Kyzyl-Art Pass, the start of the Pamir Highway on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561471.cqMPotdm.TajikistanSep140009.jpg) Kyzyl-Art Pass, the start of the Pamir Highway on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan |
![Kyzyl-Art Pass, Tajikistan](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561472.pyAEorto.TajikistanSep140010.jpg) Kyzyl-Art Pass, Tajikistan |
![Welcome to GBAO, the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561473.Q29dxuKh.TajikistanSep140011.jpg) Welcome to GBAO, the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast |
![Entry into the GBAO requires an additional permit in addition to the Tajikistan Visa](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561474.ioOVT8HG.TajikistanSep140012.jpg) Entry into the GBAO requires an additional permit in addition to the Tajikistan Visa |
![Entering the Murgab District, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561475.8m5kyHbc.TajikistanSep140013.jpg) Entering the Murgab District, GBAO |
![A fence keeps travelers from straying into the military area along the Chinese border 12km away](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561476.IcE4IUcT.TajikistanSep140018.jpg) A fence keeps travelers from straying into the military area along the Chinese border 12km away |
![Trans-Alay Range, Tajikistan](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561477.sN60ut6W.TajikistanSep140019.jpg) Trans-Alay Range, Tajikistan |
![Karakul Lake, 12,800ft - GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561478.AyNd5Bxw.TajikistanSep140026.jpg) Karakul Lake, 12,800ft - GBAO |
![High plains north of Karakul Lake, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561479.WXH2ylw9.TajikistanSep140027.jpg) High plains north of Karakul Lake, GBAO |
![Village of Karakul, 3914m](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561480.hLQKWfZZ.TajikistanSep140029.jpg) Village of Karakul, 3914m |
![Much of the village of Karakul is rubble](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561481.QIE9IYWq.TajikistanSep140031.jpg) Much of the village of Karakul is rubble |
![Neglect or the 1994-1997 Civil War, I don't now](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561482.FORAaFmk.TajikistanSep140032.jpg) Neglect or the 1994-1997 Civil War, I don't now |
![If you get stuck, there are a few places to stay in Karakul](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561485.tvnHbepv.TajikistanSep140036.jpg) If you get stuck, there are a few places to stay in Karakul |
![Late lunch in a Karakul guesthouse](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561484.i9U4UumP.TajikistanSep140035.jpg) Late lunch in a Karakul guesthouse |
![A 3-holer, Karakul](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561483.aqE5gK9T.TajikistanSep140033.jpg) A 3-holer, Karakul |
![Pamir Highway headed towards Pik Severnyi Muzkol (6132m/20,118ft)](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561486.qlMHK3ei.TajikistanSep140042.jpg) Pamir Highway headed towards Pik Severnyi Muzkol (6132m/20,118ft) |
![It's a decent road...thank god since the driver had Get-to-Murgab-itis](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561487.KFU1A19H.TajikistanSep140047.jpg) It's a decent road...thank god since the driver had Get-to-Murgab-itis |
![Tajikistan Sep14 0048.jpg](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561488.6iREHJNu.TajikistanSep140048.jpg) Tajikistan Sep14 0048.jpg |
![The Pamir Highway M41 enters a high-altitude Tibetan-style landscape](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561489.wysBQDtm.TajikistanSep140053.jpg) The Pamir Highway M41 enters a high-altitude Tibetan-style landscape |
![Roadside ruins along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561490.vQ8GMyv2.TajikistanSep140057.jpg) Roadside ruins along the Pamir Highway |
![Graffiti covered ruin along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561491.zCwW2uSd.TajikistanSep140058.jpg) Graffiti covered ruin along the Pamir Highway |
![Some of the first semi-habitable looking buildings since Karakul](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561492.buV40aNC.TajikistanSep140060.jpg) Some of the first semi-habitable looking buildings since Karakul |
![Ugh...the Pamir Highway becomes a washboard dirt road](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561493.1wVmB63S.TajikistanSep140062.jpg) Ugh...the Pamir Highway becomes a washboard dirt road |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561494.QWuqYz8y.TajikistanSep140063.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561495.JlCXI4Ko.TajikistanSep140064.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561496.PGSSe7eR.TajikistanSep140067.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Ak-Baytal Pass (4655m/15,272 ft), the highest point on the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561497.ZeXlAzYZ.TajikistanSep140071.jpg) Ak-Baytal Pass (4655m/15,272 ft), the highest point on the Pamir Highway |
![Ak-Baytal Pass (4655m/15,272 ft) - also the highest road in the former Soviet Union](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561498.LAtzgPCp.TajikistanSep140072.jpg) Ak-Baytal Pass (4655m/15,272 ft) - also the highest road in the former Soviet Union |
![I wasn't impressed that my driver was in such a rush he was going to blow right over the pass without stopping](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561499.dDMmC85o.TajikistanSep140073.jpg) I wasn't impressed that my driver was in such a rush he was going to blow right over the pass without stopping |
![the back side of the Ak-Baytal Pass](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561500.tmjGNKoV.TajikistanSep140074.jpg) the back side of the Ak-Baytal Pass |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561501.6YQ1ikrD.TajikistanSep140076.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![I love the clean, crystal clear high altitude air and total lack of crowds](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561502.rpWzC7PH.TajikistanSep140077.jpg) I love the clean, crystal clear high altitude air and total lack of crowds |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561503.dn6a7hJE.TajikistanSep140080.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561504.yloqaHhz.TajikistanSep140081.jpg) Along the Pamir Highway |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561505.l6VR1ngO.TajikistanSep140082.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![The Pamir Highway here is around 12,500 ft above sea level](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561506.FbNBO8od.TajikistanSep140084.jpg) The Pamir Highway here is around 12,500 ft above sea level |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561507.Knyk3uza.TajikistanSep140087.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561508.f6nM4sH4.TajikistanSep140090.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561509.jaZ6dzqf.TajikistanSep140091.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561510.961oLf1i.TajikistanSep140092.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561511.8WgpSoOy.TajikistanSep140093.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561512.x9IQrDqA.TajikistanSep140094.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561513.jfWg2WD6.TajikistanSep140096.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![A few houses on the side of the Pamir Highway north of Murgab](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561514.5ooTIzlV.TajikistanSep140097.jpg) A few houses on the side of the Pamir Highway north of Murgab |
![Remote living along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561515.z22NmJjC.TajikistanSep140098.jpg) Remote living along the Pamir Highway |
![Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561516.gR4KvQm9.TajikistanSep140099.jpg) Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast |
![Crystal clear and beautiful light of the highlands](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561517.dORtQI8m.TajikistanSep140102.jpg) Crystal clear and beautiful light of the highlands |
![Along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561518.bum2VPKA.TajikistanSep140105.jpg) Along the Pamir Highway |
![Pamir Highway headed to Murgab](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561519.E8ytp0xC.TajikistanSep140106.jpg) Pamir Highway headed to Murgab |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561520.ukDHJPEt.TajikistanSep140108.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Decent pavement on this section of the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561521.bS4uXslg.TajikistanSep140110.jpg) Decent pavement on this section of the Pamir Highway |
![Utility lines along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561522.6BxbiDDj.TajikistanSep140112.jpg) Utility lines along the Pamir Highway |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561523.4z5mtrE2.TajikistanSep140113.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561524.OFuVKONj.TajikistanSep140114.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561525.VyXGl13m.TajikistanSep140115.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Wet patch along the roadside](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561526.c5uFsnPq.TajikistanSep140120.jpg) Wet patch along the roadside |
![Stream with Yaks and the Chinese border zone fence in the distance](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561527.2FS30Rd0.TajikistanSep140121.jpg) Stream with Yaks and the Chinese border zone fence in the distance |
![Stream in rocky terrain along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561528.5tn5dgNN.TajikistanSep140123.jpg) Stream in rocky terrain along the Pamir Highway |
![Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561529.2XEDtCdC.TajikistanSep140124.jpg) Pamir Highway |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561530.QR95QEew.TajikistanSep140127.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Roadside village of ruins along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561531.8mPju3Vf.TajikistanSep140128.jpg) Roadside village of ruins along the Pamir Highway |
![Pamir Highway, GBAO](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561532.XymrLZ8b.TajikistanSep140132.jpg) Pamir Highway, GBAO |
![Mountains along the Pamir Highway just north of Murgeb](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561533.PChAbynb.TajikistanSep140133.jpg) Mountains along the Pamir Highway just north of Murgeb |
![Along the Pamir Highway](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561534.QPkGbmHf.TajikistanSep140137.jpg) Along the Pamir Highway |
![Getting late...hope we get to Murgab soon](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561535.KB2PD95N.TajikistanSep140142.jpg) Getting late...hope we get to Murgab soon |
![Late afternoon light in the Pamirs](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561536.PVTBBq2H.TajikistanSep140143.jpg) Late afternoon light in the Pamirs |
![Pamir colors](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561537.82rFIeGe.TajikistanSep140144.jpg) Pamir colors |
![A red mountain in the late afternoon just north of Murgab](https://a4.pbase.com/o9/93/329493/1/162561538.BkYtWcfb.TajikistanSep140145.jpg) A red mountain in the late afternoon just north of Murgab |