TAJIKISTAN
Tajikistan - Mountains, Nature and Hospitality
Oh Tajikistan! Or Majikistan as author and journalist Sophy Roberts christened it when we took her there for a Financial Times assignment in 2019.
Small, mountainous and full of heart, Tajikistan is one of our favourite countries, and the one where Silk Road Adventures was born. It’s also the toughest of the Central Asian countries to travel in, and the place where tourism is the least developed. The Tajiks, unlike their Turkic Uzbek and Kyrgyz neighbours, are an Iranic people, closely related to the Pashto of Afghanistan. This is a country of poetry and mountains, where snow leopards and Bukharan markhor roam the high peaks, and mighty rivers thunder through deep valleys.
Dushanbe, the capital, is changing fast, but the mountains and their villages remain largely unchanged. This is a place whose landscape and people will steal your heart.
Whether you want to look for snow leopards, explore the Bartang valley or walk a section of the recently marked Pamir Trail, Tajikistan is an adventure travellers’ paradise.
We have worked in Tajikistan since 2015, and arrange both small-group tours and tailor-made trips here. We’ve facilitated filming projects for the BBC’s Natural History Unit in the High Pamirs, guided photographers and journalists from the Financial Times and New York Times, and produced radio documentaries for the BBC. And we have personally motorcycled, bicycled and driven the Pamir Highway more than two dozen times, at every month of the year.
After a decade of working in Tajikistan we have an unrivalled network of contacts and guides, and pride ourselves on arranging immersive, imaginative journeys that take our guests off the beaten path, and into the heart and soul of this very special country.
Get in touch to start planning your Silk Road Adventure to Tajikistan.
Some of our Tajikistan highlights
Tailor-Made Tajikistan Tours
With our background in journalism and television production, and more than a decade’s experience of planning bespoke trips for individuals, families and small groups, tailor-made journeys are what we do best.
Whether you want to look for snow leopards, hike to the Vanch-Yakh glacier, explore the country by motorbike or bicycle, uncover the history of the Silk Road or do a deep dive into the art and textiles of Tajikistan, we can make it happen.
Spotlight on: Searching for Snow Leopards
If you love wildlife and adventure, then a winter trip to Tajikistan in search of snow leopards is hard to beat.
Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list of threatened species, fewer than 7,000 Panthera uncia are thought to remain across the high mountains of Asia. Of these, an estimated 5% live in Tajikistan’s Pamir mountains, the third-highest ecosystem in the world after the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. Here, against the odds, the leopards appear to be thriving, with Tajik conservationists estimating there to be between 350 and 450 snow leopards here.
Our Tajik snow leopard trips take you to deep into the High Pamirs, to some of the most remote and beautiful valleys you can imagine. And we work directly with local conservationists, to ensure as much money as possible goes to helping their important work.
Listen to Antonia’s BBC radio documentary about the snow leopards of Tajikistan here.
Frequently Asked Questions - Expert Answers from Silk Road Adventures
Planning Your Trip
When is the best time to visit Tajikistan?
This depends on what sort of trip you are looking for, and what your interests are. However, in general the best time to visit Tajikistan is from early June to late September, to ensure all the homestays and high altitude passes are open. The peak season for trekking in the Fann Mountains and High Pamirs is from early July to early September. For lower-level hiking and incredible wild flowers, mid-April to late May are perfect, although the weather can be unpredictable (as it is in high mountain regions everywhere). For skiing, snowboarding, ski-touring and other winter sports, the season runs from late November until early March. For snow leopard spotting, the best time to visit is between January and early March. September into October brings cooler weather and beautiful autumn colours, while February is when the almond blossom turns mountain valleys pink, whilst March is the time of the Navruz (Nawrus, Nooruz) spring festival, which is well worth experiencing in Tajikistan.
How much does one of your Tajikistan tours cost?
We don’t currently offer small-group Tajikistan tours, focusing instead on tailor-made private tours. These start from around £450 per person per day for a two person trip.
Is Tajikistan safe for travelers?
We have been running trips to Tajikistan since 2015, and have always found it a safe and welcoming destination for travellers. In few other countries is the welcome so warm and heartfelt - this is a country where the guest is god. For our higher-risk motorcycle and wildlife spotting trips we provide comprehensive risk assessments and satellite phones, and to date have had no serious incidents here.
Do I need a visa for Tajikistan?
US, EU, Australian, NZ, Singapore and many other citizens do NOT need a visa for stays up to 30 days. UK citizens must still apply for an Evisa prior to arrival. Hong Kong and Chinese passport holders are routinely refused visas. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. If you are from the UK, and hence applying for your Evisa in advance, you will need to apply for a GBAO permit to travel to the Pamirs at this point too. All other travellers to the Pamirs (GBAO area) will require a permit, obtained on arrival from the OVIR office.
How should I fly to Tajikistan?
Once the preserve of only Turkish Airlines or a handful of Russian operators, Tajikistan’s main international airport in Dushanbe is now better connected than ever. There are direct flights with national carrier Somon Air to Frankfurt and a growing number of other regional destinations, regular Turkish Airlines connections via Istanbul, Azerbaijan Airlines via Baku, Air Astana and Fly Arystan to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Airways from Tashkent and options from the Gulf with Fly Dubai or Jazeera Air. Also, the long-awaited Dushanbe-Khorog internal route is has finally re-opened, so this can - if the weather permits and assuming you can secure yourself a ticket - reduce the travel time from around 15 hours by road to just 1 hour.
What's included in your Tajikistan trips?
Every Silk Road Adventures Tajikistan tailor-made trip includes:
Extensive pre-trip planning consultation with either Marley or Antonia
Brilliant, experienced English-speaking guides, personally chosen by us
Comfortable accommodation in quality hotels and authentic guesthouses
Ground transportation in high-quality 4WD vehicles (Toyota Landcruiser or similar)
Most meals, featuring plenty of local cuisine
All activity, historical site and national park fees
Emergency support where required
Comprehensive pre-departure information in the Vamoos app format, with regular updates, articles, playlists, films and all of our personal recommendations along your route
NOT included: International flights, visa fees (if required), travel insurance, some lunches, drinks, tips.
How fit do I need to be for travel in Tajikistan?
This very much depends on the type of trip you are seeking! You will generally need to have good mobility, and be able to walk in cities and on rough ground at a reasonable pace. If you are travelling into the mountain areas, and want to look for wildlife or hike, you will need to be fairly fit, and prepared for some rough roads and footpaths. For your tailor-made trip, we will of course design this around your interests, wishes and abilities.