Trip around Tajikistan

Hi,

I am just planing a trip around Tajikistan in Juli. Would like to go from Dushanbe down Wakhan Corridor and from there up to Kara Kul Lake.
Could anyone tell me whether 20 days would be enough for that tour?
Can someone recommend a Tajik travelagency for renting a car ?
Thanks
Annette

Hi
20 days should be enough, we did it in three weeks on a bycicle, for itinery you can look here (german trip report, and the route is not entirely doable on a car (Bartang and Mats)).

With your own car, you could even rush through in a week (pure transportation, no holiday). Be aware, that Bartang may be dead end, it depends very much on the conditions. So probably you would have to go the same way back to Murghab.

Hi Annette
I recommend you a very reliable local agency "Bomi Jahon Tour" (Roof of the World Tour) . They can you organize rent cars with a good condition for the mountains roads like TAYOTA (land crueser), JEEP (4x4) and more.....
Just contact them by e mail : bomijahon@yandex.ru

If you need any info about Tajikistan contact me. I live in Dushanbe and i should you help to resolve your problems...
Il you need Visa support, LOI, GBAO permit ..... or anythings more.
my email: pamirkanets@bk.ru

Best regards

Khudik

Yes, it's easily doable in that amount of time, and it's a beautiful, varied country.

hi,

Tajikistan Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Plov. The national dish is made with rice, beef or mutton, and carrots.
Sambusa (baked pastries)

Shashlik (shish-kebab). Grilled-on-cole fish, liver, chicken, mutton and beef.
Tushbera soup(like ravioli, pasta with meat in)
Ugro soup (handmade spagetti soup served with cheese cream and basilic)
Jiz-biz (fired freshcut lamb or mutton on its own juice)
Dolma (steamed roles with grape leafs and meat inside, served with soure cream and red pepper
Mantu (steamed pasta with meat inside, served with soure cream and fired onions.
Shurbo (fresh vegetable soup with lamb or beef, served with green onion and basilic)
Many types of bread like chappoti, kulcha, non, fatir, qalama etc.
Damlama - like English stew, steamed lamb or beef with vegetables in its own juice.
Khash - soup with sheeps' legs and arms, joints and tendons.
Yammy-yammy!

Take care with street food and do NOT eat unwashed vegetables and fruits. It's best to soak them in distilled water and cook thoroughly.

Tajikistan cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging
Sleeping options in Tajikistan include the following:

Hotels. In Dushanbe, there are a small number of large hotels. The Hyat Regency just built recently and opens doors in March 2009. Another one of big hotels is "Tajikistan" (recently renovated), located in the central city. Most are ex-Soviet era and tend to be over priced and in poor condition. There are a couple of newly built hotels offering western standards of accommodation for around from $70 to $220 per room.

Village Stay.

Umeed, a university student in Khujand, would be happy to spoil you with village hospitality and show you the simple life that many Tajiks lead with a homestay in his family's home. He would meet you in Khujand and show you the way, 45 minutes outside of Khujand by minibus, to his mountainous village and most importantly speak clear English. Accommodation costs are only 12 USD and a few extra dollars for each meal.

MSDSP Guesthouses,

The Aga Khan's Mountain Societies Development Support Programme has a network of guesthouses in places like Kalaikhum and Khorog, offering a good standard of accommodation. Full board is around $40 per person

Tajikistan and kygyzstan visas and LOI by 12 euros - http://www.tajikistanvisa.land.ru/

Car rentals in Tajikistan - Hertz, Alamo, Car Hire 4 Less etc.

Hi Annette,

20 days is plenty and you should also include some time in the Fann mountains in that schedule. I'm assuming that you want to go on into Kyrgyzstan from Karakul which would be a good option.

Check out the META website (www.meta.tj) for options regarding travel and accommodation in the Eastern Pamir. It is also a good source for other essential resources that you should review (including www.pamirs.org) before travelling.

Have a great trip.