Voyager au Tadjikistan, quelques précisions et recommandations Traveling to Tajikistan
Health and hygiene
There are no compulsory vaccines for entering Tajikistan. However, try to be up-to-date with classic vaccinations (diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid, poliomyelitis). In addition, it is recommended to be immunized against hepatitis A.
It is common for travelers arriving in Tajikistan to experience digestive disorders related to the change in diet, in climate, etc. It is therefore essential to be vigilant about washing your hands after each visit to the toilet as well as before and after each meal.
The tap water is not fit to drink; only drink bottled water when in towns and purify all drinking water when in the mountains. Water that is boiled for tea is also safe. During the trek, we provide you with tablets to purify the water we collect from springs and lakes.
In villages, hot showers are available most of the time. They often consist of a shelter situated outside, with tanks filled with water heated on a wood fire (there is no running water). These are often communal showers, shared with the villagers. There are also gender-specific public baths called “saunas’ that Tajiks use when they don’t have private showers. We recommend using a bath mitt for bathing in these shared saunas.
At private residences, toilets consist of a hole in a small hut in the yard.
Hotels and guesthouses in Dushanbe, Khorog and other major cities are equipped with hot showers and Western-style toilets.
Food
When traveling in Tajikistan, open-mindedness, curiosity and goodwill will allow you to enjoy trying new foods.
A bread called “nan” is a staple food in Tajikistan. Meals can be quite fatty and consist of a lot of meat. The main drink is tea, black or green, depending on the season and tastes.
During your stay, the guides do their best to ensure you a varied and balanced diet by choosing quality restaurants and accommodations. During treks with pack animals, a cook accompanies the group to take care of meal preparations. At homestays, we ask that you accept with gratitude meals that hosts will serve you. Know that they will do their best with what they have, hospitality being a cardinal value of Tajik culture.
In cities, all kinds of local and imported food are available in supermarkets. At the markets (bazaar), there are fresh fruits and vegetables produced in Tajikistan, dried fruits, small dry cheeses, and other dry products (pasta, cereals, biscuits), which you can take on a trek.
In villages, especially in the most remote areas like the Pamirs, Tajiks eat products from their own fields (potatoes, cereals) and livestock (meat and goat cheese, sheep, cow, yak). Most small village grocery stores offer dry produce and bottled water, but the choice is minimal.
Tajikistan has only recently opened its doors to tourists. However, our teams can adapt to particular diets (vegetarian, vegan, or others). Please indicate your specific requirements during registration.
How to dress
Summers are very hot in Dushanbe. It is better to pack light and loose clothing. It is recommended that foreign visitors respect, at the least, the local custom of avoiding exposure of bare legs and shoulders. Shorts can be worn in town, but they, along with tank tops, should be avoided in the countryside by both men and women. Islam is moderate in Tajikistan and it is not necessary to cover one’s hair except in places of worship.
Mountain rescue in Tajikistan
When choosing to travel to Tajikistan, it is important to be aware that it is a recent tourist destination. Note that mountain rescues are difficult to put into action : only one helicopter is available for the entire country.
We have the professional experience and field knowledge necessary to implement the mountain rescue procedures available in the country. Our team will employ the full range of its experience and professional training for your safety.
Our treks are designed to optimize acclimatization time and to be able to descend in case of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Our choice of trekking with two guides allows us, if necessary, to accompany a participant who would need to quickly lose altitude. Your guide will inform you about the symptoms of AMS at the beginning of your stay.
It is required that you talk with your doctor before leaving and to be aware of the symptoms of AMS during the trek. Good physical preparation and acclimatization hikes in anticipation of your stay (which will involve spending nights at 2,500/ 3,000 meters) one to two nights a week for 3 weeks before your departure will also allow you to better enjoy your trek.
Trust us and prepare well for your stay. For any advice on preparing your trip, contact us.
Land transport
The condition of the roads is uncertain. The continental climate with its cold winters can bring a lot of snow. In winter, roads can be damaged by cold and frost. In spring, snowmelt and rains can cause flooding and landslides. In summer, some roads are still cut off by mudslides. Tajikistan is located in a zone of active seismic activity, thus earthquakes can also alter the quality of roads.
Overall, roads in Tajikistan have been improving in recent years, and summer and autumn are the least difficult seasons, but many sections are still unpaved. That’s why we recruit drivers we know and trust, whose salaries are included in the price of the stay.
Tangem / marshrutka: in town and in the countryside, minibuses are used as public transport. The local population rides them for small daily trips and for travel between the town and countryside.
Bus: in Dushanbe, the bus allows Tajiks to go to work or students to go to university. It’s very cheap.
Taxi: in Dushanbe, there are collective taxis, which take several passengers. Just know the number of the trajectory you want to make, stand on the sidewalk (or the main avenue), and signal as the driver passes.
4×4: some inhabitants of remote villages use 4-wheel drive vehicles or 4x4s. Professional drivers also have 4x4s with seven passenger seats. Tajiks can squeeze in well more than seven. For our travels (except for the “Adventure” trip), we favor comfort and will use private 4x4s with professional drivers.
Plane: There is a plane that makes the Dushanbe – Khorog connection in 1 hour, but visual navigation makes departure dependent on the weather conditions of the moment. It only has about fifteen passenger seats. To book, you must go directly to the airport a few days before the desired date.
Security
Despite its long border with Afghanistan, Tajikistan is a relatively calm country and does not pose a security threat for travelers. As in most places, one must nevertheless be vigilant of personal belongings and avoid adopting a provocative attitude vis-à-vis the local population.
Phone and internet
The country is covered by several mobile phone providers, but some areas, including the Pamirs, are poorly covered. It is relatively easy and inexpensive to obtain a local SIM card upon presentation of a passport. Generally, this also gives you internet access. There are a few internet cafes in the capital but they are becoming increasingly rare.
The international telephone code of Tajikistan is 00992.
Airline companies
The main air transportation to Tajikistan from Europe is provided by Turkish Airlines. The flights usually transit through Istanbul. For more information, you can consult the company’s website:
https://online.turkishairlines.com
Flights are also available from Frankfurt with Somon Air. https://www.somonair.com/
Permits and visas
There is an embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Paris but it does not have a consular service. Check consular websites to find the closest consulate to your area. To enter Tajikistan, a visa is required. Simple, fast and secure, an online service allows you to apply for a visa before your trip:
Air travelers can obtain the visa upon arrival at Dushanbe Airport, but only after having made an online request. It costs US $ 50, or about € 42 in 2018.
*Important* In order to make your trek with Women Rockin’ Pamir possible, you must apply for a GBAO permit (Gorno-Badakhshan, Pamir Region), on the same application form as the online visa. This permit will allow you to legally enter the Pamir region. The permit represents an additional cost of around €20.
Authorizations and other permits or entrance fees for protected natural areas are included in the price of your trip.
For any other information regarding health, hygiene, food, safety, transportation, visas, and permits, please consult the Tajikistan fact sheet on the France Diplomatie website:
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/conseils-par-pays/tadjikistan/
