Tajikistan
Sky high mountain trails
Tajikistan is one of the most spectacular trekking destinations you've never heard about.
Perhaps most accessible and popular are the Fann Mountains. Then there's the wild Pamirs (and the epic Pamir Highway). Little-visited Shirkent National Park, or the truly off the beaten path Yagnob Valley.
Come prepared: Tajikistan is the poorest country in the former Soviet Union. Prices are higher than usual due to its remote, landlocked location, and imported food comes at a premium in remote areas. Altitude sickness, stomach bugs and car sickness due to poor roads are other issues to keep in mind.
Hidden gems in Tajikistan
Shirkent National Park
Karatag to Hakimi
ExperienceAlthough Shirkent National Park isn’t far from Dushanbe, very few people visit this region of the Fann Mountains, making it a real hidden gem and one of my favourite places to hike anywhere in Tajikistan. This circular route is a moderate difficulty camping trek that starts at the Katarag gorge before leading up to the once-inhabited Parmin plateau and onto the Shirkent gorge. For two days you can follow the Shirkent Barrier, a colossal massif of heavily eroded sandstone before crossing the Khazor-Khona pass, the trek’s high point at 3,160m. From here you meet the Pariyon River and follow it to the stunning Pariyon Lake before returning to Karatag.
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Romit Valley to Ziddy Valley
ExperienceMy favourite trek in the Yagnob Valley region starts in the Romit Valley nature preserve and ends in Lailakul in the Ziddy Valley. The upper part of the valley is just stunning, with great sweeping fields overlooked by towering snow capped peaks. The route follows three separate valleys (Yagnob, Romit and Ziddy) connected by two mountain passes. The passes are steep and follow narrow trails, but no technical skills are required. There are also several river crossings which must be completed with safety ropes. You’ll be lucky to see locals here, let along other travellers, although you’ll pass by the occasional farming village inhabited by descendants of the ancient Sogdians.
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Bachor to Yashilkul Lake
ExperienceThe Bachor region of the Pamirs offers some of the most remote, high-altitude and overall challenging trekking anywhere in the Pamirs, and all Tajikistan for that matter. One of my favourite routes is a ten day hike from Bachor to Yashilkul Lake staying in a mixture of camping and local homestays. This trek hops from one glacial lake to the next, with Kulen Lake topping out at 4,800 metres. But the scenery makes it all well worthwhile, the views over Zaroshkkul Lake can bring you to tears and after dark you’re treated to spectacular night scapes of the Milky Way. After eight days of high altitude hiking you descend through through the wide valley of the Chapdarkul river to Bachor pasture grazed by herds of yaks, before crossing the river to Yashilkul Lake.
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Engels Peak Base Camp
ExperienceLike the definition of short but sweet, Engels Peak Base Camp day hike is just a 3.1-mile round trip from Engels Village. Engels Peak Base Camp is the starting point for those looking to conquer Engels Peak, one of the significant summits in the Tajik Pamirs. The base camp sits at an altitude of around 4,200 metres and, for those with just a day, is a scenic introduction to Engels Peak without the commitment of a summit climb. The trail is graced with stunning panoramas, rivers, and isolated hamlets, where you can experience the Tajik mountain culture firsthand.
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Jizeu Valley
ExperienceThe 10-mile village-to-village hike cuts through Jizeu Valley, often called "The Jewel of the Pamirs" for its natural beauty. Located in the Bartang Valley, the trek starts at Jizeu Village and traverses scenic landscapes with terraced fields, cliffs, and serene forested areas. The valley is home to three traditional Pamiri villages - Jizeu, Balunk, and Marjan. Here, you see the age-old Pamiri lifestyle, preserved through generations. There's a chance for cultural immersion, including having tea in the villages or alternating between nights camping and staying in a local homestay. The area is teeming with wildlife. Sightings of Marco Polo sheep and Ibex are common, and you might spot the elusive snow leopard with luck.
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Bachor to Sarez Lake
ExperienceThe Bachor to Sarez Lake trek is a spectacular journey in Tajikistan's Pamir Mountains. This demanding eight-day trek starts in Bachor, a remote village in the Bartang Valley. Accommodation options are primarily camping, with occasional homestays. The route takes you across high passes, rocky landscapes, and past swift rivers. Along the way, you'll visit secluded villages, experience local Pamiri culture, and witness stunning panoramas of snow-capped peaks. The pinnacle of the journey is the arrival at Sarez Lake, a high-altitude lake created by a devastating earthquake in 1911. The natural dam, Usoi Dam, is the tallest in the world and has trapped a stunning body of water over 55 km long. The lake's deep blue waters set against the stark mountainous backdrop form a breathtaking vista and haven for migratory birds.
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Yagnob Valley Loop
ExperienceThis route proves that hiking doesn't have to be endless ridges and desolate valleys. This trek takes hikers through the heart of the Yagnob Valley, known as the "Living Museum" for its preserved ancient way of life. The trek spans four to five days, starting and ending in Vershab village, accessible from Dushanbe. You are immediately met with captivating mountain landscapes, pristine rivers, and small traditional villages where locals still speak Yagnobi, a direct descendant of the ancient Sogdian language. A cultural immersion to its core, this hike offers opportunities to experience local life in remote communities largely untouched by modernity. Key highlights include the scenic Marguzor Lakes and the historical ruins in Pskon village, relics of the ancient Sogdian civilization. You’ll stay in homestays along the way, with camping options if you want a more basic experience.
Read moreFann Mountains
Seven Lakes to Iskanderkul
ExperienceThis route runs through Tajikistan's Fann Mountains from the uniquely coloured Seven Lakes, known as Haftkul, to Iskanderkul, a picturesque turquoise glacial lake. Over two to three days, you’ll tackle diverse terrain from verdant valleys to stark high-altitude passes. Along the route, you'll encounter traditional mountain villages and semi-nomadic shepherds. The rich biodiversity of the region also means you might spot wildlife, including mountain goats and marmots, and if you're particularly lucky, the elusive snow leopard. The trek concludes at Iskanderkul, sitting at 2,195 metres elevation. The lake's beauty, set against the backdrop of the Fann Mountains, makes a remarkable end to the journey. Accommodation throughout is a mixture of homestays and camping.
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Lakes Loop
The 20-mile Lakes Loop traverses the Fann Mountains, a spectacular subrange of the Pamir-Alay mountain system in Tajikistan's Sughd Province. These mountains are well known among the trekking community for their untouched wilderness, breathtaking alpine lakes, and rugged, towering peaks. You’ll be camping throughout your hike and need to bring all your essential gear. The trek is moderately difficult, involving a steep ascent to the Alaudin Pass, which sits at an elevation of around 3,860 metres. This trail loops around the Kulikalon and Alaudin lakes, allowing you to appreciate their crystal-clear turquoise waters surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Kulikalon Lakes, located in the Kulikalon Valley, has three main lakes: Bibijanat, Kulikalon (Dushoha), and Taudaha. They are set amidst lush meadows with the rugged wall of the Mirali Peak as a backdrop. Further along, the trail is the crystal clear emerald-green Alaudin Lake, located at the base of the Alaudin Pass.
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The Pamir Trail
ExperienceDistance: approx. 620 miles (1,000 km) – split up into multiple segmentsMax. elevation: 5,010 mAccommodation: Huts or campingStart/end point: Shing to the Wakhan CorridorDifficulty: Strenuous Still more of a concept than an official thru-hike, the Pamir Trail is a work-in-progress that will one day connect some 1,000 km of hiking, shepherd and livestock trails into a continuous route through the wilds of Tajikistan. Although it cannot yet be hiked in full, big sections have been mapped, and specialist trekking operators are running tours to the region.
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Romit Valley to Ziddy Valley
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Bachor to Yashilkul Lake
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Engels Peak Base Camp
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Yagnob Valley Loop
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The Pamir Trail
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