The Telegraph advises tourists to drive along the Pamir Highway, which is part of the Mongol Rally, which is an annual trip from Prague to Siberia.
The six of the world's most thrilling road trips for 2020 mentioned by The Telegraph include: 1: Canada's Alaska Highway; 2) the Wild Atlantic Way; 3) Epic Andes; 4) Paris to the Riviera; 5) the Mongol Rally; an 6) The Mississippi Great River Road.
The Mongol Rally is an intercontinental car rally that begins in Europe and ends in Ulan Ude, Russia. The rally originally ended in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. However, to avoid punitive costs and taxes associated with vehicle imports and disposal, the rally now passes through Mongolia and ends in Ulan Ude. The principal launch is from Goodwood Circuit in the United Kingdom, with subsidiary starting points in the Czech Republic. It is described as the "Greatest Adventure in the World."
Tajikistan’s Pamir Highway is part of the Mongol Rally.
The Pamir Highway, known more formally as the M41, runs 1,252 kilometers from the southern Kyrgyzstan city of Osh, through the Pamir Mountains – known as the “Roof of the World” – and along the border of Afghanistan until it ends in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. It is an adventurous traveler’s dream.
Originally a northern segment of the Silk Road trading route, the Pamir Highway has been in use for almost 2,000 years. In fact, Marco Polo journeyed along this route on his way to China in the 13th Century.
Zorkul Lake, Karakul Lake, Wakhan Valley and Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), attract tourists.
One of remarkable sights in the Wakhan Valley is the Yamchun Fort. Built by traders atop a cliff overlooking the Wakhan Valley, the Yamchun Fort is a Silk Road fortress that dates from the 3rd Century. Located about 180 kilometers southeast of Khorog, it is one of several fortifications in the area built to enable control of the trading routes from China westward to Iran and southward to India.
Structures like this serve to underscore the role of the ancient Pamir Highway, whose significance was powered by trade.
