Murghab Travel Guide: Best Things to Do in Murghab

Updated October 2026, Murghab Travel Guide: Best Things to Do in Murghab, Tajikistan was originally written in March 2020

Welcome to the wild east. Murghab is a rugged frontier town in Tajikistan’s Eastern Pamir, sitting at around 3,650 meters above sea level on the Murghab Plateau. It’s remote, stark, dusty and utterly unlike anywhere else further west in Tajikistan.

For travelers, Murghab is an important stop on the Pamir Highway between Khorog and Osh. The town also serves as a base for exploring the Eastern Pamir, with side trips to Rangkul, Pshart Valley, Madiyan Valley, Shaimak, Jarty Gumbez and other remote corners of the Pamirs.

Murghab itself doesn’t have a huge list of traditional tourist attractions, but that’s not really the point. The town is a place to take it easy and adjust to the altitude, stock up on supplies and get a glimpse of life on one of Central Asia’s highest inhabited plateaus.

Murghab was little more than a stopping point used by Kyrgyz nomads until the Russian Empire established Pamirskiy Post here in the 1890s. Today, its location near the Kyrgyz border and Chinese border makes it one of the most strategically located towns in the Eastern Pamir.

If you’re traveling the Pamir Highway between Dushanbe and Osh, Murghab is impossible to miss and worth spending at least a night or two exploring.

Note that there is extensive construction still ongoing on the Pamir Highway in 2026. The roadwork is happening between Qala i Khumb and Khorog and is causing major delays, so it’s advisable to plan ahead and ask locally when transport should depart, so as to not get stuck in road closures.

Start here: The Ultimate Tajikistan Travel Guide
Plan your Tajikistan travels using the Bradt Tajikistan guidebook

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Things to Do in Murghab

Murghab Bazaar

The Murghab Bazaar is one of the most distinctive places to visit in town. Rather than a traditional market building, the bazaar is made up largely of shops housed inside old shipping containers. Locals have gotten creative with the containers, adding colorful facades and improvised storefronts.

Toward the center of the bazaar you’ll find two metal yurts, including one marked “мясо” (meat), where fat-tailed sheep and other meats are sold, this is also the best place to get fresh milk and yogurt too. Other stalls sell Pamiri handicrafts, including socks, purses and stuffed animals, while many shops stock Chinese goods and produce brought in from China and elsewhere in Tajikistan.

Prices in Murghab are noticeably higher than in Dushanbe, partly because almost everything has to make the long journey to this remote corner of the country. This is particularly the case owing to the lack of return of commerical goods over the border from Kyrgyzstan.

Lenin Statue

A large white Lenin statue stands at the southern end of Murghab in front of the police station (this is a landmark to know if you need to register with OVIR while in Murghab) and is one of the easiest landmarks to spot when arriving in town. It is a small reminder of Murghab’s Soviet-era history and an easy stop while walking around town.

Don’t expect a huge monument complex. It’s basically Lenin, standing dramatically in a middle of nowhere remote town, which feels pretty on-brand for the Murghab Plateau.

Joma Mosque

Joma Mosque sits down the hill from central Murghab and is one of the town’s main places of worship. Friday is the busiest time to visit, when the mosque and surrounding area become noticeably more active.

As always, dress respectfully and avoid photographing people during prayer without permission.

Try Some Yak Milk Ice Cream

One of the more unusual things to do in Murghab is try yak milk ice cream. You’ll find a small ice cream shop behind the shipping container housing the Megafone shop in the southwest corner of Murghab Bazaar. Look for the wicker fence.

A woman and her son sell bowls of homemade ice cream from the little shop. Pull up one of the chairs outside and give it a try. At least when I visited most recently, the largest bowl cost just 5 TJS.

And before you picture some aggressively funky yak-flavored dessert, don’t worry. Yak milk ice cream tastes surprisingly similar to cow milk ice cream.

In the last year more places have popped up selling the yak milk treat, one of which can be found near where the shared taxis congregate.

Figure out your own adventure in the Pamirs: The Ultimate Guide To The Pamir Highway
Need help narrowing down where to go? Check out this perfect 10 day Pamir Highway itinerary

Important Travel Info For Murghab

Registering with Murghab OVIR: If you need to register with OVIR in Tajikistan, you can do so in Murghab. Travelers entering Tajikistan visa-free who will stay in the country for more than 10 business days will need to register.

The Murghab OVIR office is located at 38.169314, 73.966448. The registration fee was 170 TJS when I was last there in 2026.

Getting a Tajik National Park Permit: The Tajik National Park office in Murghab can issue Tajik National Park permits for travelers heading into areas where one is required at a price of 112.50 TJS per day per person. The office is located at 38.180209, 73.97619.

The same office can also be useful for travelers planning trips toward Lake Zorkul. As they issue Zorkul permits for 112.50 TJS.

Places to Visit Around Murghab

North of Murghab

Pshart Valley

Pshart Valley lies north of Murghab and is known for its dramatically colored, mineral-rich mountains. The landscape becomes increasingly wild as you leave the M41 and follow the rough tracks into the valley.

The turnoff is just north of Murghab, and you’ll need to arrange a 4WD to explore the valley. Ask at the Murghab Bazaar about current transport options.

For hikers, a 1 to 2 day trek over Gumbezkul Pass to Madiyan Valley is also possible, although this is remote terrain where local knowledge and appropriate preparation are important.

Rangkul

Rangkul is one of the easiest Eastern Pamir side trips from Murghab if you have your own vehicle. The road branches north from the Pamir Highway and leads toward a landscape of high-altitude lakes, sand dunes and broad open valleys.

Yurt camps operate in the area, and camel trekking is possible. Shared transport from Murghab may be available from the bazaar, although there may not be a car everyday.

Rangkul is pretty empty these days, with many of the families having moved to greener pastures over the border in Kyrgyzstan.

Ak Baital Pass

At 4,655 meters, Ak Baital Pass is the highest point on the Pamir Highway and one of the most memorable sections of the drive between Murghab and Karakul.

The road climbs through an enormous, barren landscape where snow is possible even in summer. Keep your eyes on the surrounding mountains for Marco Polo sheep, although spotting them is far from guaranteed.

Karakul Lake

Karakul Lake is one of the major stops on the Pamir Highway between Murghab and the Kyrgyzstan border. Its intensely blue water contrasts sharply with the barren mountains and salt-covered shoreline surrounding it.

The lakeside village of Karakul makes a good overnight stop if you have time. Many travelers simply stop for lunch or photographs before continuing toward Murghab or Kyzyl-Art Pass.

The lake is generally considered to have formed from a meteor impact, although the exact geological history is more complicated than the simple version often repeated in travel guides.

Plan your stay: The Karakul Travel Guide

South of Murghab

At Chabysh Horse Festival

The At Chabysh horse festival is held near Murghab in August each year and celebrates Kyrgyz horse culture and traditions. One of the main events is a Kok Boru, the Central Asian horseback game also known as Buzkashi.

The festival is held around 5 kilometers south of Murghab. During the event, ask at Murghab Bazaar about shared taxis heading to the festival grounds.

Madiyan Valley

Madiyan Valley stretches south of Murghab and has a rougher, more isolated landscape than Pshart Valley. Tracks branch west from the M41 into the valley, eventually reaching the settlement of Ak Tal.

From Ak Tal, experienced hikers can trek toward Madiyan Hot Springs, though there is a rough set of jeep tracks leading out that way. This is remote terrain, so arrange local transport and check conditions before setting out.

Take a hike: The 10 best treks in Tajikistan
Get a copy of Trekking Tajikistan to pick out the treks you want on your itinerary

Ak Suu Valley

Kunye Kurgan Tombs

Kunye Kurgan is a small settlement about 7 kilometers east of Murghab along the Murghab-Tashkurgan Road. Nearby are distinctive beehive-shaped tombs that make for an interesting short stop while exploring the eastern side of the Murghab Plateau.

Ak Bura Meteor Crater

Ak Bura Crater lies off the Murghab-Tashkurgan Road south of Kunye Kurgan and Subashi. A rough track branches southwest from the road and leads toward the crater.

This is one of the more unusual places to visit around Murghab and is best visited with a local driver who knows the tracks.

Shor Bulog Observatory

Shor Bulog Observatory lies southwest of Ak Bura Crater along rough jeep tracks. The observatory itself has been locked shut for many years, though you can peak through a crack in the door to see inside to the telescope.

Qolma Pass and the Tajikistan-China Border

Qolma Pass is the main Tajikistan-China border crossing in the Eastern Pamir and lies east of Murghab along the road toward Tashkurgan, China.

Crossing here is considerably more complicated than crossing the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, and public transport is not generally available across the international border. Travelers should arrange the crossing and transport with a local operator and confirm current border procedures before traveling.

Read more about the Qolma Pass Border Crossing.

Tokhtymush and the Ak Suu Valley

Tokhtymush is a small settlement above the Ak Suu River Valley, reached via a turnoff toward Shaimak from the Murghab-Tashkurgan Road. The village offers a glimpse of life in one of the more isolated parts of the Eastern Pamir.

The surrounding Ak Suu Valley is particularly interesting for travelers looking to get farther off the main Pamir Highway route.

Shaimak

Shaimak lies in the remote southeastern Pamir near the borders of Tajikistan, China and Afghanistan. The area was strategically important during the Great Game, when the Russian and British empires competed for influence across Central and South Asia.

From Shaimak, you can reach viewpoints where the mountains of China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan can all be seen in the distance.

The journey here is a long detour from the main Pamir Highway. The occasional shared taxi will depart the Murghab Bazaar for Shaimak, so it’s much easier to reach if self-driving or hiring a local driver.

More Places to Visit in the Eastern Pamir

Jarty Gumbez

Jarty Gumbez is a remote hot spring and Marco Polo sheep hunting area south of the M41 between Naizatash Pass and Murghab. During the months of May-October, Jarty Gumbez is a popular detour for travelers on the Pamir Highway. From November to April, the camps are usually full with hunters.

Shakhty Petroglyphs

Shakhty Petroglyphs are Neolithic rock paintings located near Shakhty Tash in the Eastern Pamir, that date back to sometime between 7-12,000 years ago. The red ochre drawings depict animals and hunting scenes and are generally dated to several thousand years ago.

The site is reached by a short uphill hike from the jeep tracks toward Jarty Gumbez. Allow extra time if you’re interested in archaeology and prehistoric art rather than simply ticking off another roadside stop.

Bash Gumbez

Bash Gumbez is a small settlement about 7 kilometers off the Pamir Highway, accessible by a track leading off the highway at kilometer 858. Its main attractions are a historic caravanserai and the Chinese Tombs, located roughly 3 kilometers from the village.

Alichur

Alichur is a dusty high-altitude village along the Pamir Highway south of Murghab. Several homes operate as homestays, making it a practical overnight stop for travelers who don’t want to complete the entire journey to Murghab or Khorog in one day.

Several hikes can also be started from or around Alichur.

Ak Balyk

Ak Balyk (white fish) is a holy spring located roughly 12 kilometers east of Alichur. It’s an easy stop to add when traveling along this section of the Pamir Highway.

Where to Stay in Murghab

East Pamir Eco Tour Guesthouse is a great option for travelers and in my opinion, is one of the best places to stay in town. It’s just a short jaunt from Lenin Street and the bazaar so the location is central. The family here serves up the most delicious food I’ve had throughout the entire Murghab Plateau, they have an indoor (shared) toilet and shower, and Amina, the daughter of the owners speaks really good English. A bed, including dinner and breakfast, will set you back 200 TJS per night. They also operate a full-on tour company too, check out their tours and more here.

Another favorite is Erali Guesthouse, located a short walk uphill from Lenin Street offering sweeping views of Murghab below. You’ll feel more like family than a guest here which is a definite plus. You’ll pay 200 TJS/night for a dorm bed with dinner and breakfast. It’s best to call them at least a couple of hours in advance at +992563751421618.

Likely the cheapest place in town to stay is Tulfabek Homestay, offering dorms beds for a cool 75 TJS night, including dinner and breakfast. The homestay is tucked in off of Lenin Street, but almost every driver and Murghab local knows where it’s at. You can call to book at +992935389159, or try your luck just showing up and seeing if they have space.

Situated conveniently right on Lenin Street the Pamir Hotel is a well-known landmark. They have an array of room options from the cheap 100 TJS/night dorm beds with shared bathrooms to the more luxurious private rooms with ensuites for closer to 200-300 TJS per night. There is a restaurant on site.

How to Get to Murghab

Murghab to Khorog

Getting a shared taxi from Khorog is usually quite easy with a few shared taxis leave from a lot just beyond the University of Central Asia campus to the east of town. Shared taxis depart Murghab Bazaar bound for Khorog most mornings.

If you’re traveling from Murghab to Khorog, I recommend arranging a seat in a car the day prior and ask for them to pick you up from your homestay in Murghab. A seat in a shared taxi should cost about 250 TJS.

Getting to Alichur is quite easy as most shared taxis headed for Murghab from Khorog and vice versa will drop you there, getting out may take a little time. Ask around Alichur if any cars will be departing in the direction you need, or try to hitch along the main road.

Murghab to Shaimak

Most people visit Shaimak as a Pamir Highway detour, veering off from Khargush Pass after visiting the Tajik Wakhan from Khorog and continuing to Zorkul, Jarty Gumbez, Shaimak, and eventually up to Murghab, by hiring a 4WD and driver with a group of travelers. If you are planning to visit on a linear trip from Murghab you can expect a return 4WD hire to Shaimak and back to ring in around $200 USD.

On occasion shared taxis do depart Murghab Bazaar, plan for 200-250 TJS per seat depending on how many passengers turn up (thanks to Alex from Lost With Purpose that went to Shaimak this summer for the updated cost info!).

Murghab to Rangkul

A shared taxi typically leaves Murghab Bazaar each afternoon for Rangkul for about 40 TJS per seat (each way).  The shared taxi typically returns to Murghab in the morning.

Murghab to the Bartang Valley

The Bartang Highway is a wild detour from the Pamir Highway. From the north, the Bartang Valley is accessible by taking jeep tracks west of the M41 just south of Karakul Lake.

They bump west to pass Shurali geoglyphs, Jalang Crater, and Kök Jar. From here the track bends south along the Tanymas Valley (coming from Fedchenko Glacier) and swings southwest to the village of Ghudara and from there to Pasor and beyond into the Bartang Valley.

Note that at times the northern Bartang Valley is not possible due to landslides or flooded rivers.

Enquire with local agencies if you plan to do it with your own vehicle or on a bicycle. It’s possible to arrange this trip with a local operator as well. I recommend contacting Pamir Guides as Saidali and his team are Murghab natives and know this area quite well and have been guiding in the Eastern Pamir for many years.

Murghab to Osh

If you are completing your Pamir Highway adventure, your next step is to depart north toward the Kyrgyz Border at Kyzyl Art Pass. En route, you’ll pass through 4,655 meter Ak Baital Pass, and Karakul Lake & Village.

From Karakul, the road climbs up towards Kyzyl Art to cross into Kyrgyzstan and enter the country at Bördöbo. From there you’ll continue to Sary Tash, from which you can head west toward Peak Lenin or continue north to Osh.

Regular shared taxis over the border haven’t quite returned but most says you can expect one. They will typically depart Murghab Bazaar in the morning bound for Osh, but I recommend arranging transport the day before and having them pick you up from your guesthouse in Murghab, just to help avoid getting stuck an extra day.

From Osh, it is best advised to have your guesthouse call around to drivers to find someone who will be heading over the border as regular transport hasn’t returned and there isn’t a yet a place that cars bound for Murghab depart from. Plan for the journey to cost 400 TJS or 3,650 KGS.

It’s possible to arrange to only go to Sary Tash or Karakul. Note that getting out of Karakul may take a little time.

Murghab to China

There is officially no public transport or shared taxis over Qolma Pass. You’ll need to arrange a ride with a local company to (or from the border), the same can be said about the Chinese side too.

You could try your thumb at hitching with trucks headed over the pass. You cannot take private vehicles over Qolma Pass. Officials on either side of the border know this and will put you on a Kamaz Truck making the border crossing.

Have Any Questions About Murghab Travel or About Any of the Things to Do in Murghab & Around?

Ask in the comments section below!

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