This propriety covers more than 2.5 million hectares in the east of Tajikistan, about 18% of the national territory, at the center of the so-called “Pamir Knot”, a meeting point of the highest mountain ranges on the Eurasian continent. It consists of high plateaux in the east and, to the west, rugged peaks, some of them over 7,000 meters high.

Visit to this propriety is difficult, because it is the remotest part of Tajikistan. Even if independent travel is possible, I would recommend to travel with a local guide or through a guided tour. The roads are very bad (meaning several punctured tires) and slow, and amenities are few (petrol, shops) even if guesthouses are plentiful. Additional to the Tajikistan visa (available as e-visa for most nationalities), a GBAO (Gorno-Badakhahan Autonomous Oblast) permit is needed, is available for an extra fee when applying for the e-visa, and will be checked several times on the way.

The entire Tajik National Park (TNP) was nominated for inclusion into the World Heritage, without need for a buffer zone (according to the IUCN technical evaluation). The propriety map is however confusing, with a division between a “core”, a “traditional use”, a “limited economic use “and a “recreation” zone. As far as I understand, the entire Park is a core zone according to usual WHS definition.

I travelled in a guided tour around the Pamir Highway in June 2019. We passed through the north-easternmost part of the park. We entered it at the Kyrghiz-Tajik border, a 4336-meter-high pass. The remoteness of this area is immediately felt. Villages are few, small and far-between. Driving time from Dushambe is about two days, and people tend to go to Osh in Kyrghistan for shops (still a 5 hours drive). I agree with Anthony Sun’s review stating a surreal landscape. No trees, grey pasture, snow covered mountains. The North-east area’s main feature is the salty Karakol lake, lying at 3960 meter in altitude, 52 km in diameter. The rugged peaks are visible on the other side of the lake. It is an impact crater, creating an endorheic (without an outlet) lake. Next to the lake if the very small village of Karakol, inhabited by ethnic Kirghiz, where we had a basic lunch. We left the park soon after by 4654-meter-high pass, on the way to Murghab.
The park features rare animals, like the Marco Polo sheep, snow leopards and Siberian ibex. However, their viewing is very rare, and we only saw a few domestic yaks, some fat marmots along the road and a few birds around the lake.
I only saw a very small portion of the site, and but can imagine how great the rest is. Worth the very long trip, and definitely of OUV.