A little more
Tajikistan.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Tajikistan: what to know before you go

Tajikistan is one of the most mountainous countries on earth, with the Pamir range, turquoise lakes in the Fann Mountains and a high-altitude road that follows the Afghan border along the Panj river. It suits adventurous travellers, trekkers and overlanders who are comfortable with basic guesthouses, long drives and limited tourist infrastructure outside the capital.

Where to go

• Pamir Highway. The M41 runs from Dushanbe through Khorog and the high plateau around Murghab towards Kyrgyzstan, one of the highest international roads in the world.
• Wakhan Valley. A narrow valley along the Panj river with the peaks of Afghanistan's Hindu Kush on the other side.
• Fann Mountains and Iskanderkul. A compact range a few hours north of Dushanbe with jagged peaks and glacial lakes.
• Seven Lakes (Haft Kul). A chain of lakes in a valley near Penjikent, each a different shade of blue and green, with small villages along the track that leads up past them.

Best time to visit

June to September is the main season. This is when the Pamir Highway and high passes are reliably open and the trekking routes in the Fann Mountains are free of snow.

Staying online in Tajikistan

Mobile coverage is reasonable in Dushanbe, Khujand and other towns, with 4G available in the main cities. In the mountains, coverage is patchy: Khorog and Murghab have some signal, but long stretches of the Pamir Highway, the Wakhan Valley and the Fann Mountains have little or none. Homestays often have no Wi-Fi, and electricity can be intermittent in rural areas. Download offline maps and translation packs before leaving the city. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.