Take-off – Ptukh
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- Direction
- NNEESESSWWNW
- Coordinates
- 37.0091, 73.3684
- Altitude
- 3353 m
- Region
- Badakhshan, AF
- Landing
- 0.3 km from the take-offView on map ↗
Take-off description
There is a bench about 600 feet above the valley floor offering multiple launch locations. It takes 30 minutes of steep walking out of the village of Ptukh up steep, muddy, moraine until you arrive at this bench. Watch out for sharp rocks, vegetation, and livestock at launch. Conditions are best early to mid-morning. Gets violent mid-day or afternoon in summer. Flying potential in the Wakhan is limitless. There are Hike-and-Fly opportunities above Sarhad E Broghil as well, and across the valley at Selkemj and Purtwurs.
Getting there
The Wakhan Corridor is one of the more remote places to fly in the world. But, assuming you get there, you gain permission to fly and the blessings of local tribal elders, you will have an unforgettable experience. Fly into Dushanbe. Hire transport to Khorog, Tajikistan. Get an Afghan visa. Cross the border into Ishkashim. Hire transport to get you up the Wakhan. It's a two day drive up the Wakhan on bumpy 4WD to get to Ptukh and Sarhad.
Weather
Strong valley breeze most days from mid-day on in spring and summer. I saw numerous dusties late afternoon.
Rules / airspace
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FLY ANYWHERE NEAR THE TAJIK/AFGHAN BORDER! YOU MAY BE SHOT AT! An opium smuggler in a powered PG was shot down by border patrol a few years ago. Keep your mountain XC flights a safe distance away from the border and you should probably notify the local Afghan border police forces in advance of your desires to fly. They will probably want to come watch. Corruption runs rampant. Prepare to offer bribes.
Comments
There are Austrian maps available for purchase online for parts of the Wakhan. Get the 'Koh-E Pamir Topographische karte'. Search for it on google.