In reply to Frank the Husky:
Not been this year but 2013 and 2010. Adab Shah Gouhari is a reliable agent with access to a large staff many of whom speak excellent English.
His Facebook page and email address are here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adventure-Wakhan/194100030642635?sk=info but I haven't heard any reports from trips this year.
some good background stuff here:
http://www.pamirs.org/afghan-wakhan.htm
Our last 2 trips are here on UKC:
http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=3031 and
http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=5984
Bear in mind this is a little more out there than most Nepal/Indian/Tajik type trekking regions. A casevac by helicopter from a private company that normally provides medical cover for charities and NGOs further south was arranged from Sarhad in 2010 but it took a week to arrange a 4 hour window of permission and could only get as far as the end of the road. Dari is pretty useless outside Ishkasem (the helicopter in 2010 brought an interpreter but ended up using ours as he spoke Wakhi). If folk speak a european language though its often Russian and English is becoming more popular. Make sure you allow plenty of time for travel hitches. Both times I've been there the main road has been washed out and we've ended up riding to and trekking round blockages (see the 2013 article
taking longer than expected. Take a Satphone (the BBC with us in 2010 had problems with their Thuraya but I've had no problems with Iridium either time.
Its an amazing place with some of the most hospitable people I've met anywhere. If you go to Sarhad stay at Qachi Beg's guesthouse and don't let your interpreter/guide put you anywhere else (they will try)- just because he is an amazing old gentleman who is an excellent understated ambassador for the area.
PM me any specific queries you have but bear in mind my info is already a year out of date. Al
