Tajikistan
Tajikistan is a rugged, mountainous, landlocked country with lush valleys to the north and south.
It saw very few visitors during the 20th century when it was a Soviet Republic, and even less when independence in 1991 led to a disastrous civil war that finally ended in 1997. Since then travellers have begun to return, tracing parts of the route Marco Polo took across the Pamir Plateau on his way to the court of Kublai Khan.
The scenery here is magnificent, dominated by the 7,495 metre high Ismoil Somoni peak - the highest in the country, and the former Soviet Union.
Tajikistan has been continuously inhabited for over 4,000 years from when Aryan nomads first settled, and its language, Tadjik, is a variant of Persian.
Today, the ancient Silk Road routes, incorporating some of Tajikistan's most stunning landscapes, offer a glimpse into a more prosperous era. Penjikent is a must-see, as is Khojand: a largely Uzbek town related culturally to the Fergana Valley just across the border.
And a journey along the 'Pamir Highway', from Murgab near the southern Kyrgyz border, via along the banks of the Wakhan River and north to Khorog and Dushanbe, will (quite literally) take your breath away.
For the adventure traveller Tajikistan is another must-see destination.
Wild Frontiers offers unique Small Group Adventure Tours, Private Journeys and Tailor Made Holidays to Tajikistan.
How to book a trip
What to do in Tajikistan
Drive the Pamir Highway
Khorog
The M41, commonly known as the Pamir Highway, is one of the world's most breathtaking roads. Starting in the fertile Ferghana Valley at Osh in Kyrgzystan, the road skirts the northern edge of the Pamir Mountains, providing some excellent views of famed summits such as Lenin Peak (7134m). Crossing over into Tajikistan near Karakol Lake, the road then passes by some high pastureland as well as some striking mountain scenery before descending to Khorog and the Panj River (formerly known as the Oxus). This river also forms the border with Afghanistan and so provides for a fascinating glimpse across what was once the southern border of the Soviet Union into this most intriguing of destinations. Finally finishing in Tajikistan's relaxed capital, Dushanbe, they'll be a chance to sit out in one of the many outdoor cafe-restaurants and take stock of the epic journey you've completed.
Explore the ruins of Penjikent
Penjikent
The 2,000-year-old ruins of Penjikent may not be in the same league as the Uzbek sites just across the border, but for sheer location alone - in the Zerafshan Valley - this place is one of our favourites. This Sogdian town was once home to 20,000 people during the early days of the Silk Road and in its on-site museum you can see some of the frescoes that once adorned the walls of the city's better homes. Wander the ruined streets and you can easily imagine the well-laden caravans that would have passed this way.
Explore the Wakhan Corridor
Wakhan Corridor
The Wakhan corridor was ceded to Afghanistan in the 19th century as a buffer between the expansionist empires of Tsarist Russian and British India as a means to keep a neutral space between them and it is one of the remotest and least visited valleys in the world. It has been the goal of many a Western explorer and traveller, yet few have ever made it to this dramatic and awe-inspiring valley. It is a beautiful & mountainous part of the world and as Tajikistan shares a border with the Wakhan Corridor, there are great opportunities for not only exploring the fortresses and hot-springs of the region, but also to stay in welcoming family-run guesthouses whilst looking out across the Wakhan River (a tributary of what was once the Oxus) into Afghanistan from what was once the frontier of the USSR.
Follow Alexander The Great
Khojand
The Macedonian student of Aristotle who was said to have wept at the age of 19 as there was "no more world for him to conquer "came through the region that is now modern day Tajikistan in the 4th century BC. Most closely associated with him are probably the towns of Istravashan & Khodjent . While today little remains to be seen of Alexander's influence in the region, fans of the Hellenistic warrior will take immense pleasure in reaching some of the furthermost limits of his campaign.
Join the locals for a vodka toast
Dushanbe
Although Tajiks are almost exclusively Muslim, most wear their religion lightly and the influence of having been a part of the USSR is still very apparent. While this can be seen in some of the architecture of Dushanbe, it is noted more acutely in the cultural influence and the widespread existence of that Russian favourite tipple - vodka. More of a social lubricator than a drowner of sorrows, vodka is traditionally used in Central Asia to toast guests and hosts alike. Finishing your shot in one gulp is not mandatory but joining in the toasts is great fun. And after all, it would be rude not to....
Stay with local families
Khorog
Outside of Dushanbe, hotel options in Tajikistan are to say at the very least "limited". Turning this into an advantage, many of the locals have turned their houses into homestays for the occasional foreign visitor that might come their way. Although some are quite basic they are always inviting and comfortable and staying with a local family allows us to experience firsthand the warmth of Tajik hospitality. Trying some delicious local dishes, washed down with milky tea and perhaps a shot or two of vodka, you'll be sure to sleep well...
Walk in the Fan Mountains
Penjikent
One of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the whole of Central Asia, the Fan Mountains are remarkably accessible lying within a day's drive of Dushanbe, Khodjent or (when the border is open!) Samarkand in neighbouring Uzbekistan. Part of the great Pamir Mountain range, they offer opportunities for some great walking amongst some of the region's most stunning scenery. It is also the summer home of some of the semi-nomadic peoples who live in the area and with a burgeoning homestay scene, this is a great place to experience some of the hospitality for which Central Asia is so rightly famed.
How to book a trip
Where to stay in Tajikistan
Asia Grand Hotel
Dushanbe
The four star Asia Grand Hotel is well located next to a park not far from the city centre. Rooms are large with...
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Suggested Itineraries
How to book a trip
Tajikistan Travel Guide
Dushanbe
The Tadjik capital lies at the confluence of two rivers beneath the snow-capped Hissar mountain range. The word Dushanbe is derived from the Persian for 'day 2', which referred to Monday, the day the famous market takes place. Although now a busy city, it was little more than a village a century ago but it grew largely as a result of the arrival of the Red Army and later, in 1929, the railway. Dushanbe is a clean, green city with wide, tree-lined streets and pale, elegant buildings with plenty of cafés in which to enjoy tea and local sweets.
Istarafshan
Located in the northern foothills of the Turkistan mountain range, west of the Kattasai River, Istarafshan is one of the oldest cities in Tadjikistan, having existed for more than 2,300 years. Formerly known as Ura Tyube, Istarafshan was founded in the 6th century BC by king Cyrus who fortified the settlement with walls and a citadel. During its long history it has fallen into the hands of many invading forces and enjoyed a period of architectural expression under the Arabian Caliphate and grew significantly through the first Tadjik Samanid dynasty (9th - 10th centuries AD) before being destroyed in the 13th century the by the Mongols. Under the powerful Timurids the city became known as Ura Tyube and it became part of Russia in 1886. Today the city has a number of interesting historical and architectural monuments as well as a huge market.
Khojand
Khojand is the capital of northern Tadjikistan and the second largest city in the country. Its history dates back to ancient times where it is thought to have been founded by Alexander the Great as his easternmost outpost. Its location on the Silk Route at the entrance to the fertile Fergana Valley ensured that it enjoyed prosperity and richness. During the 19th century Khojand became the centre of rapid industrial development and the arrival of the railway allowed the city to become a centre of cultural life.
Iskandar Kol
This beautiful alpine lake in western Tadjikistan lies at 2195 m above sea level and is named after the Macedonian conqueror Alexander. The scenery here is fantastic and there are a variety of walks along the lake shore or up into the surrounding hills.
Penjikent
Ancient Panjekent was a small but rich town of the Soghdians, an Iranian people among the most important peoples of pre-Islamic Central Asia. The ethnic and territorial name "Soghd/Soghdian" occurs in historical sources as early as in Iranian Achaemenid times (6th century BC). In their heartland, the Zarafshan valley, they founded several city-states, as well as colonies along the ancient Silk Routes from Easturn Europe (Crimea) to the Chinese border and Mongolia.In the central Zarafshan valley, the town of ancient Panjikent (Soghdian: Panchekanth) was the capital of Panch and its rulers. The town probably arose in the 5th century AD; its citizens well established businessmen and landowners. In. 722AD, Arabian forces besieged and took the town. The last ruler Devashtich fled into the upper Zarafshan regions where he was captured and sentenced to death shortly after. For some 50 years, ancient Panjikent stayed a living place under the new rulership, but towards the end of the 8th century the place was given up and never resettled again. Penjikent, otherwise known as Bunjikath, is a real highlight of any trip Tajikistan as we wander freely around this amazing ancient town that was once home to 20,000 people during the early days of the Silk Road. Sadly the St. Petersburg Hermitage’s Dr Boris Makasdi is now deceased, but with any luck Dr Vladimir Skoda – who excavated the site for 30 years – will be there to answer your questions.
Murgab
Murghab from the Persian word "river of the birds") is a small town in the Pamir Mountains of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region in central easturn Tajikistan. It’s main claim to fame is that it is the highest town in Tajikistan (and of the former Soviet Union) at 3,650m above sea level. Situated on the Murghab River, it sits strategically at the junction of three major roads lead to the region's capital Khorog to the southwest), the Chinese city of Tashkurgan to the east (through the Kulma Pass), and Kyrgyzstan to the north. The roads leading to Khorog and Kyrgyzstan are segments of the Pamir Highway, the only road that traverses the Pamirs and it’s location at the hub of these roads makes it a regional centre for trade, reputedly including a significant trade in illicit drugs.
Wakhan Corridor
The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow (in some places less than 10 metres wide) corridor in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan. It is located in the Pamir mountain region, with Tajikistan to the north, Pakistan to the south and China to the east. Created at the end of 19th century by the British, to act as a buffer against potential Russian ambitions in India during the Great Game, historically the Wakhan has been an important region for thousands of years as it is where the Westurn and Easturn portions of Central Asia meet.
Khorog
Until the late 19th century, Khorog was in an area disputed between the Emir of Bukhara, Shah of Afghanistan, Russia and Britain. The Russians emerged the winners of the region after The Great Game, which fixed the current northern border of Afghanistan on the Panj River and established the territory of Russian Pamir around Khorog. Following the fall of czarist Russia and the rise of the Soviet Union, Khorog became the capital of Gorno-Badakhshan in 1925. The valley in which Khorog sits is very narrow, and the town essentiall consists of one street. It is surrounded by gardens of apple, apricot and mulberry trees.
How to book a trip
Tajikistan Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Tajikistan.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
To obtain the Tajik visa you need:
• To provide your flight itinerary for the visa application.
• A guarantee letter from Wild Frontiers.
Tajikistan has opened an Embassy in London making the application process much simpler. There is information at http://www.tajembassy.org.uk/consular.htm.
NB. Please note that some areas of Tajikistan require that you get a GBAO permit. It is essential that you request this at the time of applying for your visa. If asked, please request that the permit covers all areas of the GBAO, as this will allow for maximum flexibility.
Once you have obtained your Tajik visa please send us a scanned copy of this and your passport details page to the office.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you prefer to organise the visa yourself this can be done through a visa company such as:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both compani
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Tajikistan, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend you check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
