Blog articles

Throughout the Pamir Mountains, there is lively cross-border trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The Panj River in the Pamirs forms a sharp border between the Tajik and Afghan side. Bridges connect both countries all along the Panj. On these border crossings, you can often find markets, where trade and cultural sharing create a special meeting point between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Hiking trails in the Tajik mountains remain very uncharted. Trekking routes typically consist of small shepherd trails leading through remote landscapes. In the most desolate regions, however, even such simple trails may be absent requiring you to navigate scree slopes and cross rivers. A lack of technical skills for hiking on rugged terrains can lead to a sub-optimal trekking experience, so selecting an appropriate route is essential. Given the challenging nature of the Tajik hiking trails...

First-time visitors to Tajikistan often find themselves uncertain about the accommodations during their mountain trek. Given the absence of mass tourism, homestays are the most common form of lodging. Homestays offer more than just a place to rest your head, providing unique insight into Tajik hospitality, traditions and everyday life. But what is an homestay precisely from a practical point of view and what facilities do they provide? Across Tajikistan, there are quite some regional...

Tajikistan has several unique dishes that anyone has to try when visiting. The Tajik cuisine particularly uses lots of rice, bread, meat and dairy products. With food being very affordable, there are no excuses to taste everything Tajikistan has to offer. Read on to find out about the food not be missed in Tajikistan.

Most of the amazing places to visit in Tajikistan are quite unknown to those interested in visiting the country. That makes it difficult to oversee where the different highlights are located and how far they are apart. We have prepared a 3D viewer that can help out to get the clear overview of everything that Tajikistan has to offer!

Dushanbe transformed from a small market village into the buzzing capital city of Tajikistan in only about 100 years. With a population just below a million, Dushanbe is a Soviet-style city with a modern feel to it. The city is in continuous construction with new buildings and monuments arising at a fast pace. Dushanbe is the main gateway to Tajikistan when traveling by airplane, so most people who visit Tajikistan at some point end up in Dushanbe. Find out here 9 must-sees of the capital...

New profiles for our trekking routes are now on the website. The heights of the trekking routes in Tajikistan are one of the most frequently asked questions. Altitudes and elevation differences are the most important factor determining the difficulty of a trek. For that reason it is important to give clear insight into the altitudes that can be expected. Here an example of how to achieve this with Google elevation data, ChartJS and some basic Python scripting.

You can reach the Yaghnob Valley directly from the M34 highway. But why always take the easy road? The challenging alternative is to enter the Yaghnob Valley from the Ziddi Valley in the south. From the Ziddi Valley, there are several passes crossing the mountain ridge to the north. Most frequently used are the one at Leilakul and the somewhat easier Anzob Pass. May 2022 – we packed our bags to visit Yaghnob Valley starting from Ziddi. The traverse did not turn out to be as...

Trekking through the high mountains of Tajikistan is a unique and unforgettable adventure. Traversing the breathtaking landscapes is something any trekking adept needs to experience. At the same time, trekking in extreme conditions through touristically under-developed regions comes with particular challenges. Trails are not indicated, public transport to the mountains is lacking and accommodation options are limited. Traveling to the end of the world under such circumstances requires a...

When traveling in a foreign country, it is convenient to be able to move around without too much hassle. As for Tajikistan, this does not really apply. The country lacks a regional public transport system. There are no easy bus or train connections for an easy transfer to the beautiful nature outside the city limits. If you want to travel large distances, you rather need to find a shared car or use your own transport. With sometimes sketchy road conditions, traveling around in Tajikistan is...

Tajikistan lies right in the collision zone of two continents. Over millions of years, extreme tectonic forces have shaped the country into a rugged landscape of mountain ridges, valleys and peaks. And the mountain building is still ongoing! Over 90% of Tajikistan is mountainous with most of the country higher than 3.000 meters. The geology is complex, but knowing the basics will give an extra dimension to your trip when traveling through the mountains of Tajikistan.

Norak is a small yet versatile city along the Vakhsh River in Central Tajikistan. Most importantly it is the largest powerhouse of Tajikistan owing to the huge Norak Dam right next to it – the second tallest dam in the world. Apart from this huge megastructure, Norak hosts a space monitoring center on a nearby hilltop and a military base. The city is also a popular place for locals to hang out and relax at one of the many lakes along the river. If you are in Dushanbe and have some time...

The Hisor Fortress is one of the best preserved historical sites in Tajikistan. Strategically located on a hilltop, the fortress was built around 2500 years ago. Throughout the turbulent history of the region since then, this ancient stronghold has witnessed many changes in power, being demolished and rebuilt numerous times. Less than a one hour drive from Dushanbe, the Hisor historical site is ideally suited for a day-trip from the capital for those interested in the Tajik history.

Are you in Dushanbe and want to get active? With this leisurely day hike, you can explore the Tajik mountains at a stone's throw of the busy capital. Starting from the village of Varzob, the trail runs along a river for a few kilometers and ends at a picturesque waterfall. An easygoing hike that is ideal if you have a day to spare in Dushanbe.

Corona brought a big blow to the tourist industry around the world. The tourism sector of Tajikistan is not left unaffected either. Every single homestay we have visited lately shares one and the same story – the tourists have largely disappeared. Rooms remain empty. The income has dried up. The hiking trails remain nearly completely free of tourists. The abrupt corona pandemic strongly impacted those relying on tourism, as we find out each time we move around in the mountains these...

The Pamirs are among the most impressive destinations for ultra-high trekking expeditions. Most hiking trails in the Pamir Mountains are unfortunately covered by snow most of the year. When summer approaches and temperatures rise, we are – like many – eager to hit the trails as quickly as possible. The early season may still be very snowy and comes with extra challenges on top of the already tough trekking conditions under normal circumstances. We hit the trail in spring to visit the...