10. July 2026

Day 65: Tajikistan

Overview

Driving duration: 5:13 h
Distance: 151 km
Avg Speed: 29 km/h
Start: Hissar Mountains
End: End of second lake
Night Location: 39°12'28" N 67°48'25" E

Uzbekistan

Time for another border. So we got up early, but nowhere near as early as for the last border, this one was supposed to be easy. We left around 08:00 with the goal to be at the border between 10:00 and 10:30. And we managed to do it, arriving more or less at 10:30. The border was really easy, we first had to wait a little bit until the gate opened. Then in, and a quick search on the Uzbek side. Nothing too crazy, but took a bit. Then passport control and out we were. On the Tajikistan side it was first passport, then car import, then pay and then a super quick glance into the car and we heard the obligatory “Welcome to Tajikistan”.

Now we had to get insurance in Panjakent, the first large city after the border. It was a bit of a crazy story, we found the place on iOverlander, it’s an office building which looked quite old. With many small offices, but the people were super helpful and we got our insurance in the end. Also a quick stop for vegetables at one of the stands along the road and a quick supermarket stop to stock up on pasta and other essentials.

Shortly after Panjakent the track towards the seven lakes started, this is our first goal for Tajikistan. It started as a paved road, then turned into gravel and got worse and smaller over time. We are sure this was a good first glimpse of what the Pamir Highway will hold for us. But nothing was too bad and we made it around 15:00 to the spot between lake two and three. This is our spot for the night. Tomorrow we want to drive a bit further and then hike from there all the way to the last lake.