Adventure awaits in rugged and remote Tajikistan.
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan sprawl across the vast expanses of Central Asia but are still hidden from many visitor’s minds, despite offering outstanding beauty, simplicity and a feeling of complete remoteness. The allure lies in the heritage of the Silk Road, where ideas, culture and people flowed from East to West, and in the green field backcountry and sweeping mountain landscapes that play host to the traditional nomadic lifestyle. Journey through cities featuring crumbling reminders of Soviet occupation and influence and out into the stunning wilds, where the ancient history of these long-lived nations – Persian and Mongol, Buddhist and Muslim – becomes clearer. While political and military forces have battled over these regions, life in these isolated areas has changed little in the past centuries – the families you will stay with in their homes have remained, while empires have fallen.
Why you’ll love this trip
- Experience the legendary hospitality of Central Asia. With five nights spent across Tajikistan’s excellent homestay network, you’ll immerse yourself in local life.
- Skirting the border with Afghanistan, get glimpses of the other side, from the hair-raising Afghan-built footbridges (ovrings) to the exotic imports on display in Khorog’s local bazaar.
- Enjoy a picnic lunch as you take in the splendour of Karakul, the largest lake of some 800 in the Pamirs.
- Soaring along the iconic Pamir Highway is an unforgettable experience, especially in fine weather when the mighty peak of Muztag Ata rears its head.
- Discover Tajikistan’s capital while learning more about the country’s fascinating past with included visits to the Hissor Fort and National Museum of Antiquities.
- The much-photographed Registan in Samarkand is one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture. You’ll be wowed by the scale, grandeur and beauty of the monuments to iconic figures such as Tamerlane and the Persian influenced madressas, mosques and mausoleums.
Itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek
Day 2: Chychkan/Toktogul/Kok Bel
Day 3: Osh
Day 4: Sary Tash
Day 5: Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan Border Crossing – Murgab
Day 6: Langar
Day 7: Ptup
Day 8: Khorog
Day 9: Khorog
Day 10: Kala-i Khum
Day 11: Dushanbe
Day 12: Dushanbe
Day 13: Penjikent
Day 14: Tajikistan/Uzbekistan Border Crossing – Samarkand
Day 15: Samarkand
learn about this unique way of paper making from mulberry. Returning to Samarkand, visit the impressive Shak-i-Zinda ensemble of mausoleums. This unusual necropolis has monuments from the 14th and 15th centuries, reflecting the development of the monumental art and architecture of the Timurid dynasty and is photo worthy at every turn.
Day 16: Tashkent
Day 17: Tashkent
Inclusions
Meals
16 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle
Accommodation
Guesthouse/Hotel with private rooms (11 nights), Guesthouse/Homestay multishare (5 nights)
Included activities
- Osh – Suleiman’s Mountain
- Osh – Bazaar
- Tajikistan – Karakul Lake
- Langar – Petroglyphs
- Vrang – Buddist Stupa
- Ptup – Yamchun Fort
- Khorog – Regional Museum
- Khorog – Pamir Botanical Gardens
- Khorog – Bazaar
- Dushanbe – City Tour
- Dushanbe – Hissor Fort
- Dushanbe – National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan
- Samarkand – Shakh-I-Zinda
- Samarkand – Registan
- Samarkand – Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
- Samarkand – Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Samarkand – Paper making workshop & home cooked lunch
Images courtesy of Intrepid Group
INT – KFST