Dargh Passes

1. Dargh Passes: West, Central And East. East Dargh Pass is AKA Farzod/Farzat. Connecting the Zarafshon Valley to the Yaghnob Valley.

Spelling variations: Darg, Darkh, Dargh. [Дарг, Дарх, Дарғ]

Possible to follow these itineraries in reverse? Yes.

All trekking passes with easy "H/K" ratings. No dangerous glaciers or scary river crossings. All three are just under 4000 meters, and on the Yaghnob side you lose elevation very quickly. Expect the Yaghnob side to be dry and snow-free very early in the season. For the north side, maybe as early as June should be possible (perhaps?). Certainly a sheep pass like East Dargh/Farzod will have sheep using it early in the season. But we make no promises. The other two passes are not really recommended unless you like exploring steep and unpredictable slopes/gullies.

These three passes skip the most interesting parts of Yaghnob valley, unless you then plan to go up the Yaghnob Valley instead of quickly going to the guesthouses in Margheb....

Reasons for doing these passes: 1. It's early or late in the season and you are worried about the higher or more difficult passes further east, 2. You have a limited amount of time, 3. You don't want to travel further up the Zeravshan Valley to reach the eastern passes, 4. You want the easiest option.

Directions from the Zeravshan side: For all three passes, drive to village of Dargh. The assumption is that you will be starting your drive from Ayni, or (closer) from the Sariosiyo or Chormavze guesthouses in Veshab (link to homestays/guesthouses).

Central Dargh Pass is an old disused mining road. It goes over the pass and down to the Yaghnob side for a few hundred meters before disappearing. From the town of Dargh go up the Eskidargh River, then take the Munch tributary river. The Yaghnob side has no trail, so you have to move over open slopes down to the Yaghnob valley road. Avoid getting funneled down the gullies, which may be too narrow and steep.

West Dargh Pass, AKA Kazdon Pass. From the village of Dargh go up the Kazdon River. A local driver with a 4-whell drive will have no problems, or you could just walk starting in Dargh/Kazdon. It seems nice. The road eventually gives way to trail, and the trail ends when the grass ends (nothing left for the sheep to be interested in). From here you will move over open ground. Go around the tiny glacier and small cornice that block the low point of the pass. Kazdon Pass does not appear to be used. It's open territory with no serious obstacles on the north side, but you will need to carefully select a route over the open slopes on the Yaghnob side to avoid going down a too-narrow gully. Arrive in the Yaghnob Valley near the village of Khishortob.

Farzod (AKA East Dargh Pass, or Farzat in Russian) - From the village of Dargh, go up the Eskidargh River, which eventually becomes the Gudiv River upstream. Stay on same side the entire time. There is a clear sheep trail through the pass. No real difficulties are present - the small glaciers nearby are easily avoided. For full instructions, the pass is featured in the “Trekking in Tajikistan” guidebook (Route #13, Dargh to Ziddi). The trail ends in Bidev in the Yaghnob Valley.

For information on Yaghnob (trails, accommodation, transportation, etc.) Check out Archa Foundations' Yaghnob Trails Project and the Adventures of Nicole travel blog guide to Yaghnob.

2. Surkhat Pass

There are no reports available for Surkhat Pass.

Directions: From the village of Pastigov, cross the Zeravshan River and drive up the side valley, almost halfway to pass before trail starts. The trail through the pass ends in the tiny village of Tag-i Chanor in the Yaghnob Valley.

Pass Ratings: 1B (4200 meters)

Pass description: The route skirts along the edge of a glacier. Crevasses visible on the glacier. Section below glacier is rocky glacier debris, and it’s hard to see any trail. Rough ground. Clear sheep trail through pass. Glacier on south slope is to the side, out of the way of the path. Likely sheep going through here in June.

For information on Yaghnob (trails, accommodation, transportation, etc.) Check out Archa Foundations' Yaghnob Trails Project and the Adventures of Nicole travel blog guide to Yaghnob.