Just back from Southern Tajikistan

Hello,

I am in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Tomorrow, I will leave for Penjikent.

I just came from three cities in southern Tajikistan.

These are Qurgonteppe (QT), Shahrituz (Sh), Qulob (Qu).

These all cities's info were not in LP anywhere.

First, Dushanbe --> QT

Shared taxi at Sahowat bazzar, Dushabe. 20somoni, 90mins.

Hotel: Qurgonteppe Hotel around bazzar, 40somoni/one night, single, no hot water, dirty room

Second, QT --> Sh

Shared taxi at station(Bogzol), 25somoni, 2hours

There is no hotel around town, so I was back to QT

Third, QT --> Qu

Shared taxi at station, 40somoni, 2 and 1/2 hours

Hotel: Kharlton Hotel, 70somoni/single, Clean room but no water

Fourth, Qu --> Dushanbe

Shared taxi at station, 50somoni, 3hours, arrived at front of airport

Thanks for the informations. I will travel in Tajikistan between the beginning of May to the beginning of June, by myself, alone, without any structure.

Is it easy to travel around? Is it possible to do hitchhiking or find marshrutkas (or shared taxis) along the roads? A maybe not one in one month…

Best regards

Michel

Sorry for a late response.

I just backed to my home country, South Korea, three days ago.

I spent a 10days-trip for tajikistan except a Pamir region since my trip was for winter season (Feb. 14~25)
As a 40year-old sole male traveller, simply speaking, my winter trip was good and challingeable but not easy.
(My trip includes South Tajik and Dushanbe, Penjikent, and Khojand)
If you are a lady, it would be a little bit tough.
Otherwise, it should be fun because your trip begin with wonderful season of May.

The reason why I spend a little bit long time around Dushanbe is to get a transit visa for Turkmenistan.

Yes, I got it, and I was in Turkmen from Feb 28 to March 4th.

Actually, I will go back to Tajikistan May again.

Why? I will penetrate from Pamir from East to West.(Murgab via Khorgh to Dushanbe)

Of course, I will be alone again.

Have a wonderful trip!!

Thanks a lot for your answer.

I will stay one month and will ask for the visa (and the GBAO permit) at the Tajik embassy in Brussels next month.

It will be the first in Tajikistan but I travelled in the past in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan (two travels, more than two months in total)

I suppose with the climate when you were there you used public transports.

I will do the same and using hitchhiking too. I'm a man and I try to travel two times a year, always by myself, for around 50-60 days.

Best regards

Michel

Hey mvbergen,

It should be fun. I am glad to hear your story.
I got Tajik visa two times.
First, at Washington DC, USA / December 2012 (USD25) --> It was used for my Feburary Trip

Second, at Bishkek, Kyrgyz / January 2013 (USD77) --> It will be used for my next May trip for Pamir region

Of course, the second one include a Pamir permit.

Have a great trip.

Anyone recent info about VOA in Dushanbe for EU members?

Michel: you apply for visa in Belgium, you think/know that it is impossible to get visa at airport now?

Drienke

I will ask my visa around the 17th of April in Brussels.
As we have a Tajik embassy in Belgium (I'm Belgian), I read that I need to get one in advance .
I will ask also the GBAO permit in Brussels.

Michel

do you fly to Dushanbe or do you go overland from Kyr or Uz?

The info about VOA is very confusing and I want to avoid sending my passport to Belgium. I am Dutch and don't lkie to send passport to Belgium. Has been stolen from the mail once before. Besides this it is pretty expensive to do this. At least double price.

Hi,

I will fly (Turkish)

For the VOA, why don't you check with Timatic? Easy, up to date and official.

Michel

I will check it.
Have never heard about it, so that seems a good reason for me not have checked it. :)

thanx

drienke

Hi,

Timatic is an official service provided by IATA. All the airlines companies use it for boarding. It's official and very useful.

http://www.staralliance.com/en/services/visa-and-health/

I know that the link above is a Star Alliance link but it's the manner to use it. In the past, I used it on the site of …Kenya Airways but since few years I use the link above.

You can also check with the site of the Tajik embassy (Brussels for example). They provide reliable informations.

Michel

@ Drienke

This morning I was on the Tajik embassy site in Brussels (http://www.tajikembassy.be) and you see directly that Brussels treats also the Dutch visas. Contact them by phone or email to have more information.

Michel

Hi,

This morning, I pick up my visa (and the GBAO permit) at the Tajik embassy in Brussels.

Easy, without any stress. 65€ for one month (single entry) and 20€ for the GBAO permit. One week delay (but I'm working in Brussels and I don't care)

As mentioned on the internet site of the embassy, you need (for the tourist visa) a visa request letter, your passport plus a copy of the first page with your photo and informations, the visa application form (2 pages), and the original receipt of the banking payment.

Michel

thanx for the info.

drienke

hi Michel,
I am Belgian as well and next year planning to visit Uzbekistan, Kirgizie, Tajikistan, China. Time isnt an issue since we have some months. Just dont know which month to leave since i dont really know about the climate in those countrys.
I have seen in your profile that you travelled to those countrys and i hope to hear more of you.

Greatings

Hi,

I'm coming back from Tajikistan since a little more than a week.

It was my third travel in Central Asia but, each time, I travelled in only one country. I never crossed (overland) any borders in this part of the world.

In my point of view, it will be more easy to travel from May-June but you will be there during the summer time and it will be very hot for some parts of your trip. It will be the same if your are travelling latter.

I suppose you will stay "one month" in all the countries of Central Asia (and more in China)

Michel

Hi Michel,
Indeed we will more or less stay one month in each country or depending on visa's - when needed and when possible more. We like to take our time - since we have time.
I was thinking to start mid-april or beginning of may in Uzbekistan (we would fly to Uzbekistan) and then Tajikistan and Kirgizie.
Which part of Tajikistan did you travel now??
Greetings Ellen

Good morning,

In Tajikistan, I was in the Fan Mountains (Sarytag, Iskander Kul and the seven lakes), Penjikent and around, the Ferghana, Dushanbe and for the Pamir: Khorog, Ishkashim and the first part of the Wakhan valley.

Next time, I will reach Osh.

Michel

hi michel,
would you say that may-june is a good time to visit the fan mountains and pamir region?? Whats the weather like that time of the year??
we dont know if we would leave for oezbekistan in april or in may.
Route: uzbekistan - tajikistan - kirgizie - china

Hi,

Except if you want to hike higher in the mountains and cross passes, you can visit Pamir and/or Fan Mountains during May and June. There is no problem on the roads and you can move around without any difficulties.

In fact, it's impossible for me to have one month vacation during July and Augustus and it's the reason I choose May-June (9th of May to 6th of June)

The weather is good but it's cooler at night the more higher you are.

As indicated, next time, I will go to Osh and I will focus only on the Pamir. It was not case this time.

Michel

thanks a lot for the reply MIchel

hi Michel,

in a previous post you say that you have been to the Fan Mountains (Sarytag, Iskander Kul and the seven lakes), Penjikent and around, the Ferghana, Dushanbe and for the Pamir: Khorog, Ishkashim and the first part of the Wakhan valley.
Would you recommend going to Iskander Kull and the Seven lakes and penjikent area in the beginning of may? Or if possible would you do it later on at the end of may or beginning of june?
Did you have a lot of snow?
passes that were still closed?

Hope to here from you
Ellen

Good evening Ellen,

I was in Tajikistan last spring between the beginning of May to the beginning of June.
I was in the Fan before the middle of May. I had no problem to move in the Fan and you have snow in some parts, mainly when you reach the higher passes. If you stay "more down" (not to higher) everything will be ok.

Michel

thanks a lot for your answer

Greetings Ellen