Overland Travel Across Borders: A Tale of Two Frontiers
Irkeshtam Reliable Torugart Permit High Silk Pass
High in the “Heavenly Mountains” of the Tian Shan range, the 1,063-kilometer border between China and Kyrgyzstan is one of the most dramatic and remote frontiers in the world. Following the path of the ancient Silk Road, your journey here is a high-altitude adventure through breathtakingly rugged and sparsely populated terrain.
Kashgar Day-Long in Rugged Altitude Adventure
You have two main options for crossing: the Torugart Pass and the Irkeshtam Pass. The Torugart Pass, at over 3,750 meters, is the more famous of the two but also the more challenging. It requires special permits, pre-arranged transport, and is subject to closure due to harsh weather. The Irkeshtam Pass, further south, is lower, more reliable, and has become the primary route for commercial traffic and independent travelers.