When it comes to awesome glaciers, it does not get much more extraordinary than the Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains. Covering more than 700 square kilometers and measuring over 77 kilometers in length, it is the largest glacier on Earth – if you exclude the polar regions. But it is not just its length that is impressive. The Fedchenko Glacier also measures over 1,000 meters thick!
Due to its sheer size, there are various Fedchenko Glacier trekking routes to choose from, each offering a varying level of difficulty. The one you choose will depend largely on your personal hiking and trekking experience and of course your fitness level. One of the main routes is trekking to the Fedchenko Glacier from Poi Mazor. This little Tajik village located at the end of the Vanj Valley in Tajikistan is a great base for trekking trips as there are plenty of authentic and unofficial homestays to choose from.
After a good night’s sleep in your Poi Mazor homestay, you can get an early start on your trek up the Fedchenko Glacier, Tajikistan. Even though you may have read up on the glacier being the largest in the former USSR and seen photographs of its mammoth size and grandeur, there is nothing quite like experiencing it first-hand.
Starting from the village of Poi Mazor, Tajikistan, you will trek to the snout of the Bear, also known as the Medvezhiy Glacier. This usually takes about five hours, depending on your speed and fitness level. Here, you will find two small lakes nestled within the mountain slopes, the lake shores providing an excellent place to set up camp for the night. From this vantage point, you will have a better view of the Russian Geographical Society Glacier above you with its dramatic peaks. Back in the day, Soviet mountaineers would take a short cut and ski down these glacier slopes after visiting the Fedchenko Glacier.
Trekking along the moraine-covered snout of the Bears Glacier involves crossing through icy streams and rivers and a messy clamber across the snout of the Abdulkhagor Glacier. Stop along the way for a picnic and to catch your breath before the final climb up the steep Ablation Valley for the most incredible views over the surrounding glaciers.
Plenty of the enormous glaciers in the Pamir Mountains, such as the Fedchenko Glacier are melting now more than they ever have before because of global warming. The meltwater feeds into the surrounding rivers before emptying into the Aral Sea. However, the melting ice can make hiking the Fedchenko Glacier very dangerous for inexperienced hikers. For safety reasons, it is always advisable to book with a trusted Tajikistan tour company.
Once you have had your fill of the amazing views from the Ablation Valley, Tajikistan,, you will start your trek down towards Poi Mazor Tajikistan. If you are new to Tajikistan trekking, there is no reason you have to do it alone. Book with Paramount Journey and you will have the expertise of an experienced local guide to take you on the safest routes as well as share some fascinating Fedchenko Glacier facts along the way. These treks can be combined with any of Tajikistan’s trekking tours, including those within the Wakhan valley, Pamir Highway, and Fann Mountains, Tajikistan. Take a look at our itineraries for more information!
Fedchenko Glacier by Oleg Brevko
