Our Tajikistan holidays and tours allow you to experience the adventure of travelling through a wild and untamed land. These trips epitomize the very notion of off the beaten track travel.
Dominated by the jagged Pamir Mountains, the small country of Tajikistan was once the battleground of the Great Game, the fierce rivalry played out between the Russian and British colonial powers in the 19th century. This rich history is evident today, with many ruins reminding one of Tajikistan’s complex history. After seventy years of rule from Moscow, the country is in the process of redesigning and re-establishing its identity.
Squashed between China, Afghanistan and Central Asia, Tajikistan is by far the most scenically spectacular part of the region. Its isolated valleys and 7000-metre peaks are home to amazing wildlife, including the elusive snow leopard. Its magical quality, friendly nature and moderate climate makes for a truly fulfilling and underrated Asian destination.
On our Tajikistan holidays, visit remote communities, discover long abandoned fortresses and travel a rarely trodden trail. It will take your breath away.
Top highlights on Tajikistan holidays and tours
- Take one of the world’s most breathtaking journeys, on the incredible Pamir Highway
- Stop in a chaykhana (teahouse) and take tea with the locals
- Wander through the historic alleys of Istaravshan and Khojand
- Explore the beautiful surroundings of Iskander Kul
- Discover remote communities tucked away in the Pamir Mountains
Your camera is an essential companion here. Hot springs dot the surroundings, along with stunning Alpine meadows, glaciers, mountains, rivers and forests. This country epitomizes natural beauty, bursting to the brim with stunning scenery, history and culture.
Culture
Tajik culture is highly influenced by its history. Eating out is a relatively new phenomenon here. Due to food shortages under Soviet rule there are seldom, diverse restaurants compared to other Asian destinations. Despite the somewhat limited menus, predominantly meats, cheeses and flatbread, service is friendly and welcoming. Bread and steaming tea embody Tajik cuisine, and serving them is customary. It is a tradition derivative of this country’s Persian heritage and there are several outdoor cafes to experience this in. Dushanbe also has no shortage of places to drink vodka to liven up your evenings!
Central Asia is an Islamic region, where mosques and madrassahs prosper. Although great efforts were made to impose secular beliefs on the people of the region during Soviet rule, the coming of independence in Central Asia provoked something like a religious revival. Despite this, you’ll often find that Islam is not adhered to quite so rigorously in Tajikistan as it is in other countries. Alcohol is widely available and freely consumed.
Due to Tajikistan’s Persian roots, its dialect is closely related to Farsi. However, you will find that Russian is widely spoken throughout the whole region and a few Russian words would help you communicate with locals much more easily – although it’s no major problem without them.
When to go on holiday to Tajikistan
Sitting in the middle of the Eurasian landmass, Tajikistan experiences some real extremes of temperature. Much of the region will be covered in thick snow in the winter months, while in the summer temperatures can easily reach more than 45 degrees Celsius. The most comfortable time to visit the region is either in the late spring or early autumn months. However, an exception to this would be mountainous regions. Here snow can close the passes for much of the year and so the best time to visit is from June to September. This goes for the Pamir Highway especially.
Start planning your Tajikistan tour
Check out our scheduled small group tours to Tajikistan: The Pamir Highway, Silk Road Explorer and Central Asia Encompassed. While many of our trips are small group adventures with set departures, as a bespoke operator, we can design and create trips to suit any traveller, from solos to larger groups. If you would like to find out more about our tailor-made Tajikistan holidays or our group tours, call us on 01473 328546 or email us via our contact page. We’d love to hear from you.
