The mountainous Central Asian nation of Tajikistan offers stunning natural scenery and interesting possibilities for activities such as trekking, rock and mountain climbing, biking or horseback riding. Little known Tajikistan is also home to many historic sites along the old Silk route. Largely untouched by tourism, Tajikistan has only recently started to attract active holiday visitors.
Mountainous landlocked country and smallest of the Central Asian republics, Tajikistan is located between China, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is covered by Pamir Mountains and several river valleys. More than 50% of the country is located over 3,000 m / 10,000 ft above the sea level. Tajikistan is inhabited by Tajik people who are related to Persians, as well as minorities of Uzbeks and Russians. Great majority of Tajiks are Muslims. Tajik is the official language, but Russian is spoken widely in business and government offices of Tajikistan.
Tajik travel destinations. Tajikistan's capital city Dushanbe is a clean, European-style city with wide boulevards and Soviet-style buildings, as well as cafes, museums, monuments, and good trekking and horse-riding areas nearby. The second-largest city, Khojand is situated in the fertile Ferghana Valley, and the town of Penjikent near the border to Uzbekistan is home to interesting ancient ruins. The Fansky Gory mountain range in Northwest Tajikistan is a favorite region for mountain climbing and trekking, and the remote eastern Badakhshan province offers great mountain views and ancient fortresses along the Silk Road.
Traveling to Tajikistan is becoming easier with new flight connections from Europe and a new tourist visa that does not require
registration. The capital city Dushanbe has an international airport receiving direct flights to Tajikistan from many parts of Russia, Riga in Latvia, Munich, Istanbul, Karachi and Delhi, as well as from Central Asian countries. You can also travel to Tajikistan by rail from Moscow through Kazakstan and Uzbekistan, or by minivan or private car from the neighboring Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.
Once in Tajikistan, you can travel around by air, by road or by rail. Flying is often the only choice during the winter. There are domestic flights between Dushanbe, Khojand, and Khorog. Scheduled minivans ply the roads between major Tajik cities, and irregular buses and shared jeep services get you into the mountain areas.
Mountainous landlocked country and smallest of the Central Asian republics, Tajikistan is located between China, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is covered by Pamir Mountains and several river valleys. More than 50% of the country is located over 3,000 m / 10,000 ft above the sea level. Tajikistan is inhabited by Tajik people who are related to Persians, as well as minorities of Uzbeks and Russians. Great majority of Tajiks are Muslims. Tajik is the official language, but Russian is spoken widely in business and government offices of Tajikistan.
Tajikistan attractions: mountains, trekking and climbing
Tajikistan is known mainly for its beautiful mountainous landscape that offers great surroundings to active holidays. Trekking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, horseback riding, and mountain biking are all popular tourism activities in Tajikistan. There are also scenic mountain lakes and rivers good for fishing in Tajikistan. The Alay and Pamir Mountains that dominate the landscape in Tajikistan are wild and excellent places for active exploring, but they are hard to get to and almost inaccessible during the long winter.Tajik travel destinations. Tajikistan's capital city Dushanbe is a clean, European-style city with wide boulevards and Soviet-style buildings, as well as cafes, museums, monuments, and good trekking and horse-riding areas nearby. The second-largest city, Khojand is situated in the fertile Ferghana Valley, and the town of Penjikent near the border to Uzbekistan is home to interesting ancient ruins. The Fansky Gory mountain range in Northwest Tajikistan is a favorite region for mountain climbing and trekking, and the remote eastern Badakhshan province offers great mountain views and ancient fortresses along the Silk Road.
Tajikistan travel information and practical tips
Tajikistan has a continental climate with very hot summers and cold and snowy winters. There is major variation in temperatures according to altitude from the semiarid valley plains to snow capped peaks and glaciers in the high Pamir Mountains. Weather in Tajikistan is generally more attractive in spring from April to June and autumn from September to November. In the high mountain areas only summer from July to September is good for travelling, and the land routes even between the major cities in Tajikistan close for the winter. Snowstorms occur in the mountains from October to May. Rainfall is higher in the southern valleys and comes mostly during spring.Traveling to Tajikistan is becoming easier with new flight connections from Europe and a new tourist visa that does not require
registration. The capital city Dushanbe has an international airport receiving direct flights to Tajikistan from many parts of Russia, Riga in Latvia, Munich, Istanbul, Karachi and Delhi, as well as from Central Asian countries. You can also travel to Tajikistan by rail from Moscow through Kazakstan and Uzbekistan, or by minivan or private car from the neighboring Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.
Once in Tajikistan, you can travel around by air, by road or by rail. Flying is often the only choice during the winter. There are domestic flights between Dushanbe, Khojand, and Khorog. Scheduled minivans ply the roads between major Tajik cities, and irregular buses and shared jeep services get you into the mountain areas.
Photo: babasteve, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Hiring a car with a local driver is the best option for road travel in Tajikistan. Car rental is available through local travel agencies. Taxis can be found in the cities and private vehicles are available for shared taxi journeys.
Limited services. Tajikistan does not receive much tourism, so tourist services outside the major cities, Dushanbe and Khojand, are still scarce, although developing. Local road transport is slow and the mountain routes shut down totally during the winter. Hotels can be found in Tajik cities, whereas the accommodation supply in the countryside is restricted to cheap and basic homestays and local guesthouses that are not always used to accommodate foreigners. Restaurants are well available throughout the country. Nightlife in Tajikistan can be found mainly in the two major cities. Some educated Tajiks speak English, but Russian is a much more useful language to know if you are traveling to Tajikistan.
Safety. Tajikistan is generally a relatively safe country to visit. However, armed conflicts occur occasionally, spreading from nearby Afghanistan. The border areas with Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are not safe as there are mines on the ground. Seek local advice about safety situation in rural areas. Tajikistan is a poor country and violent crime does happen. Do not walk outside alone after dark and do not travel to remote areas unaccompanied. Remember also that Tajiks are often conservative Muslims and it is advisable for women to dress modestly.
Short history of Tajikistan
The territory of Tajikistan has been inhabited since 4,000 BC. The area has been ruled by various empires, especially Persian ones, and it has been one of the cradles of Persian culture. Russia conquered the area during the 1860s and the 1870s. Tajiks fought for their independence following the revolution in Russia, but were forced to join the Soviet Union in 1925. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union but experienced a civil war between 1992 and 1997, which caused many Russians and Uzbeks to flee the country. Elected civil governments have ruled the country since 1999, but some remote areas are not under the government control. Tajikistan remains the poorest country in the former Soviet Union. The recent war in Afghanistan has brought international attention, US military aid, and other economic development to Tajikistan, and the country has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.hint See also these nearby destinations: Dushanbe
