Tajikistan Tours & Holidays
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.
Getting a Visa for Tajikistan
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Tajikistan.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
To obtain the Tajik visa you need:
• To provide your flight itinerary for the visa application.
• A guarantee letter from Wild Frontiers.
Tajikistan has opened an Embassy in London making the application process much simpler. There is information at http://www.tajembassy.org.uk/consular.htm.
NB. Please note that some areas of Tajikistan require that you get a GBAO permit. It is essential that you request this at the time of applying for your visa. If asked, please request that the permit covers all areas of the GBAO, as this will allow for maximum flexibility.
Once you have obtained your Tajik visa please send us a scanned copy of this and your passport details page to the office.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you prefer to organise the visa yourself this can be done through a visa company you can use a visa company such as Travcour
When to Visit Tajikistan
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.
Health Information
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Tajikistan, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check here.
Top Tips for Visiting Tajikistan
• If visiting Khodjent take your trunks - a swim in the Amu Darya at sunset is lovely
• In fact take your trunks wherever you're going - in the mountains there are plenty of natural spas
• Roads can be dusty so a bandana is a good idea
• The sun can be harsh at high altitudes in the Pamirs so ensure you bring a good sun hat and lots of sun cream
• Learn the Cyrillic alphabet – it will only take you a few minutes but it will help you immensely
