Destination 》Asia 》Central Asia 》Tajikistan
Year Visited: 2019 – August/September
After traveling through Kyrgyzstan for three plus weeks, I, along with a German couple, rented a 4×4 from Osh and started our journey on the Pamir Highway. We started early morning from Sary-Tash towards Kyzyl-Art Pass, one of the highest (4,280 m) border crossings in the world. Border officers from both countries are very friendly and welcoming.
Tajikistan, a former Soviet Republic, is a wild, rugged, remote country. It is bound by pristine alpine lakes, golden plains and snow-capped peaks. Highlight of travel to Tajikistan is riding on the Soviet built highway M41, unofficially known as The Pamir Highway, the second highest altitude international highway in the world (4,655 m).
Tajikistan is the poorest of “the Stans”, the Central Asian counties. There is no public transport available on the Pamir Highway and in the Wakhan Valley. Shared Taxi are available in Wakhan Valley, the driver will leave once the car is full. If you Hitchhike, driver may expect you to pay, please discuss it in advance. Marshrutkas are available in the rest of the Tajikistan.
Travel in Tajikistan is not for a faint-hearted, roads are in a bad to very bad condition, home-stays are very basic, many times toilet is just a big hole in the ground covered with wooden planks. it is cold year-round, altitude sickness and landslides can mess up your plans, hygiene is a big issue, almost everyone gets sick…. If you still decide to go, it will be the most rewarding and refreshing journey,
Below are some places I explored during my three plus weeks in Tajikistan. Click on any cities to view my travel photos and stories.
After three plus weeks of exploring this most wonderful country, I took a shared taxi from Panjakent to the border of Uzbekistan and from the border took another shared taxi to the Registan in Samarkand. It took less than two hours of total travel time, including time at the borders for immigration and customs.
Window on the World 