Tajikistan: Pamir Highway and Bartang Valley

Notes:
* There are three routes depending on your plans.
** First; Pamir Highway and Bartang Valley loop is the whole loop from Dushanbe to Khorog via the North Road (Pamir Highway), then the Wakhan Corridor towards the Khargush pass, up over Ak-Baital pass to Karakol, down the Bartang Valley and finally along the south road back to Dushanbe.
** Second; The Pamir Highway from Dushanbe and finishing in Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
** Third; Just the Bartang Valley starting in Karakol and finishing in Rushon.
* This tour was completed in June and was warm after a hot spring season, little snow left on the peaks. This is not usually the case. In the lower lands it was warm but not too hot to cycle.
* A warning about UV, the higher you go, the stronger it gets. Covering up is the best option. Don't forget the nose like I did. It took a month to recover!Fuel for stoves; Gas canisters are hard to come by but petrol can be found often; however if you are in a complete pickle people will cook for you, but you will be expected to pay, 5 USD each should be enough.Water can be found regularly, some is of dubious quality so a filter would be recommended. Note on the Khargush pass, there are no water sources on the way down towards Alichur until you reach Alichur.Food:
* Generally food can be easily found. Each village will have a shop (magazin), you might need to ask where it is and find the owner to open up!
* There can be an issue finding fresh fruit and veg, stock up where you can. In the Wakhan Corridor, you might find yourself a day ahead of the delivery truck and have little to nothing available.
* Bartang Valley; Food is scarce for the first 130km. There is a house after 50km (from Karakol), which might help with a meal and a yurt after 100km (from Karakol). From Ghudara there are magazine in every village but there is rarely any fruit of veg. Maybe just onions.Road works:
* There are road works between Kalaikhum and Rushon. There will be a lot of dust and in some cases the road shuts for several hours. It is possible to hitchhike through the road works.Lastly:
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