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Trekking Tajikistan
Adventure travelers enjoy a great trek, and will go to the ends of the Earth, sometimes quite literally, to find one. The more remote, desolate, and free from other people, the better. Over the past few years, some of the classic treks of the world have become increasingly crowded, which is why some of the countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have become hot spots for adventure travelers looking to discover new places to hike. Tajikistan is a perfect example of this. The former Soviet satellite, which borders Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China, has a landscape that is dominated by mountains, and remains mostly cut off from the modern world. In fact more than 50% of the country sits above 10,000 feet in altitude, which gives you an indication of the terrain that visitors can expect when they visit the country.
Visit Tajikistan is exactly what travel writer Tiffany Kary did for an article that she wrote on the experience. The author found that once she left Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, her only options for finding a place to stay, were either in the home of locals or her own tent. Just to get out to those regions, trekkers will need letters of invitation and special permits allowing them to travel the countryside, but Kary promises it is all worth it, thanks to the nearly unspoiled scenery and unique cultural attractions that mix Buddhism, Islam, and even Zoroastrianism.
Exploring Tajikistan is a rather inexpensive endeavor, at least once you get there. A few hundred dollars will get you a multi-day trek that includes meals and lodging. Best of all, you're unlikely to come across any other tourists the entire time.
Filed under: Hiking, Asia, Tajikistan, Camping
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Randall Kelley May 12th 2009 10:45AM
My wife and I went there (and to several other "Stans") a couple of years ago, and of all the places we traveled in Central Asia, it was our favorite. The people are wonderful, the scenery is spactacular in an erily barren way. Passes are over 15,000 feet in mountain ranges over 20,000 feet. The Pamirs are indeed "the roof of the world".
GO! It is worth ALL the paperwork you have to go through, and you get an awsome momento in your passport as all the former Soviet states still do full page visas!
Kraig May 12th 2009 10:49AM
Awesome! Thanks for the first hand account Randall. I've heard great things about the "Stans" as well.
Randall Kelley May 12th 2009 11:02AM
If you are interested you can check out
http://www.rubbercow.com/travel-log
Go back to July and August of 2006. I started a travel log when I planned for our trip to Central Asia, and have been running it when we travel for our family.
Some interesting pictures and thoughts in there.
And thanks for your reply, Kraig.
Randall