Tajikistan Tours & Holidays
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays
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Overview
Rugged, mountainous and landlocked, Tajikistan is the smallest of the Central Asian countries. The lush valleys that make up its northern and southern fringes saw few visitors during the last century, when the country was part of the old Soviet Republic. Independence in 1991 then led to a brutal civil war that lasted for six years. Since then though visitors have begun to return, retracing the footsteps of Marco Polo across the Pamir Plateau ...
Rugged, mountainous and landlocked, Tajikistan is the smallest of the Central Asian countries. The lush valleys that make up its northern and southern fringes saw few visitors during the last century, when the country was part of the old Soviet Republic. Independence in 1991 then led to a brutal civil war that lasted for six years. Since then though visitors have begun to return, retracing the footsteps of Marco Polo across the Pamir Plateau towards the once great palace of Kublai Khan.
Dominated by the towering peak of Ismoil Somoni (7,495 m), this magnificent landscape has been continuously inhabited for over 4,000 years, when Aryan nomads first settled here. Today, the once busy trading routes that made up the old Silk Road wind their way through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, providing a snapshot into a more prosperous time.
A destination that promises adventure and a real sense of discovery, places like Penjikent and the old Uzbek town of Khojand are high on the list of must-see highlights, whilst a journey along the 'Pamir Highway’, from Murgab near the southern Kyrgyz border, via the banks of the Wakhan River and north to Khorog will, quite literally, take your breath away.
Start your journey
Group tours
Travel to Georgia with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.
EXAMPLE ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF TAJIKISTAN
BEST EXPERIENCES
Wander the ruins of Penjikent
Once home to 20,000 people during the early days of the Silk Road, the 2,000-year-old ruins of Penjikent in the Zerafshan Valley is a local favourite. Wander the ruined streets and easily imagine the well-laden caravans that would have passed this way.
Experience rural Tajik life
Always inviting and comfortable, local families have opened their homes for the occasional foreign visitor. Try some delicious local dishes, washed down with milky tea, a shot or two of vodka all the while embracing the warmth of Tajik hospitality.
Explore the Kayrakkum Reservoir
Known as the Tajik Sea, on the Syr Darya River, to walk along the coast and swim. Enjoy a dip in the cool waters surrounded by mountainous vistas, and take in lunch at one of the local restaurants.
Admire the Sangin-i-Babur
Visit Istarafshan and its museum containing the Sangin-i-Babur, a rock where Babur, the founder of India's Moghul dynasty, reportedly carved four lines of a poem of Sa'adi when he was on his way to India in 1511.
Hike the Seven Margazor Lakes
Just south of the beautiful Margazor lakes, there are seven lakes, all a different hue of blue and green. Enjoy a hike that takes you to all seven lakes, complete with many stunning landscapes, finishing with lake Hazorchashma (2400m).
Explore the Shirkent Valley
Step back in time at Shirkent Gorge, a nature reserve since the early 1990's to see a rare discovery of dinosaur footprints. There a numerous trails to choose from, along the way you will enjoy beautiful views of the streams that line the valley.
Cook with the Locals
Embrace the Tajik life by learning the cooking techniques of local Tajik culture. Plov, Goat, and egg dishes are staples in this region and will give you a new recipe for your next dinner party.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
Dushanbe
The Tajik 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 ...
Iskandar Kol
This beautiful alpine lake in western Tajikistan lies at 2,195 metres above sea level so that it is much lower than many of northern Tajikistan's mountainous landscapes, and more accessible. The lake ...
Penjikent
Ancient Penjikent was a small but rich town of the Soghdians, an Iranian people who were among the most important peoples of pre-Islamic Central Asia. In their heartland, the Zarafshan Valley, they ...
Karakol & The Pamirs
The Pamirs encompass the mountains of the 'Pamir Knot' and its surrounding areas, the core and majority of which lies in Tajikistan. A trip down the legendary Pamir Highway (the section of the M41 ...
Khojand
Khojand is the capital of northern Tajikistan 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 ...
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
Firuz Hotel, Khojand
The three-star Firuz Hotel in Khujand is a great option for your stay in the city. The four-storey building encompasses twenty rooms and two apartments. As you enter the hotel you will see an…
Serena Hotel, Dushanbe
Located on Rudaki Avenue in the centre of Dushanbe, the five-star Serena Hotel is one of the best hotels in Dushanbe, combining traditionally Tajik decor with modern comfort. It lies within walking…
Umariyon Hotel, Penjikent
Nestled in the centre of Penjikent, the Umariyon Hotel is a simple yet charming hotel with elements of traditional Tajikistan way of living thrown in. Set within a three-floor building, there is a…Discover more
WHEN TO GO
The weather conditions can be extremely varied. In the Pamir Mountains you will often be travelling at heights in excess of 4000 metres, and even in the middle of summer it can turn bitter with snow falling; at the same time mercury in the thermometers of Dushanbe can be nudging 40 degrees. All in all, British summertime is considered the best time to visit in terms of favourable conditions.
Meet the expert, Natalie
Natalie is our Central Asia expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Natalie by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
LGBTQIA+ Guidance
When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:
- Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Checking the Human Dignity Trust map which highlights regions and countries which are potentially dangerous to LGBTQIA+ people, or Equaldex, which tracks the progress of LGBTQIA+ rights around the world.
- Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
- Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
- Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Tajikistan though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in some parts of Tajikistan so we recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
The official unit of currency in Tajikistan is the Somani.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
The first thing to say about travelling in Central Asia is that most areas, particularly the cities and towns, have a much more laid-back approach to Islam than their neighbours to the south in Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, it should also be remembered that it is technically a Muslim region and therefore a little bit of caution should be applied in certain places. Long shorts and T-shirts are fine for both sexes in the cities, but if visiting any active mosques everyone should wear trousers that fall below the knee and tops that cover their shoulders. Women should also wear a headscarf. Throughout this tour we are travelling in quite remote areas not often visited by tourists. The local people are very modest in their dress and so you are likely to feel more comfortable wearing quite conservative clothing too.
Language & Religion
Tajikistan’s official language is Tajik. Russian is still routinely used for business and communication.
The majority of the population follow Sunni Islam, with the small minority being followers of Russian Orthodox, Catholicism, Buddhism and Judaism.
Time
Tajikistan is 5 hours ahead of GMT. A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
The food on this tour tends to focus mainly on soups, meat and potatoes. In the more remote and higher altitude places vegetables can be hard to come by. There is an abundance of dried fruits and nuts available to try though.
With regard to alcohol, the choice is mainly limited to vodka or beer so anyone wanting something different - Scotch or Gin for example - should buy it duty free and bring it out. Mixer drinks like tonic water can be extremely difficult to find, though.
Travelling Solo In Tajikistan
All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.