Tajikistan Escorted Tours

Escorted Tours to Tajikistan

With bare rock mountain peaks mirrored in bright blue lakes, high-altitude pastures dotted with farmers’ yurts, small towns stepped into steep-sided valleys, and striking monuments in its modern cities, Tajikistan will take your breath away.

Why choose a tour in Tajikistan?

Tucked at the heart of the “stans”, with borders on Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan, Tajikistan is a small, landlocked, low-income country, and truly a world of its own. Its landscapes are wonderfully wild, its lifestyle is one of rural simplicity, and its scattered cities are disconcerting jolts of modernity amid mile upon empty mile of haunting scenery.

Dushanbe is the country’s capital and largest city. Hemming the Varzob River, built in the Soviet era on the site of three former settlements, and known as Stalinabad from 1929 to ’61, it is the hub of finance, industry, education, and culture, with parks and fountains, boulevards, city squares, and epic monuments marking its modern persona.

Tajikistan’s second-largest city is Khujand, at edge of the Fergana Valley, flanking the Syr Darya river, and backed by mountains. One of Central Asia’s oldest settlements, it was founded by Alexander the Great, destroyed, in the 13th century, by Genghis Khan, and rebuilt in medieval times as a Silk Road trading post. Its ancient and imposing fortress is restored and repurposed as a museum, and its huge Payshamba bazaar is a chaos of colours, crafts and scents.

Istaravshan has a long history, a liberal sprinkling of mosques and madrasas, and an age-old tradition of arts and crafts. On its outskirts, remnants of the ancient Mug Teppe citadel remain, the mud-wall sections in sharp contrast to the grand, newly constructed gateway. In the old town, three mausolea are the focus of the historical Khazrati Shokh complex.

Nestled in a picturesque valley, Penjikent (‘five villages’) is famed as the birthplace of Persian poet Abu Abdallah Rudaki, and for the ruins of ancient Sogdiana, on the outskirts of the contemporary town, its citadel strategically set on the Silk Road to Samarkand.

The grandeur of Nature comes to the fore in remote, rugged, and ravishing landscapes, epitomised by the ethereal setting of Iskanderkul. The triangular glacial lake is 72m deep, 2,195m up in the Fann Mountains, and steeped in legends. A river flows from it to Zmeinoe (‘snake’) Lake, and crashes over the Fan Niagara waterfall.

Jules Verne’s tour in Tajikistan forms part of our Great Journey through the five “stans” of central Asia, teamed with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

When to go on Tajikistan holidays

With variations between the valleys and high altitudes, the country’s continental climate is cold to freezing in winter (November to March), and warm to hot in summer, ranging from 22° in the shoulder months to 35°+ in June to August. The best months for touring are April/May and September/October, when rainfall is rare and sunshine is reliable.

Who are Tajikistan tours suited to?

A tour in Tajikistan is an adventure for the intrepid traveller, a magnet for trekkers, and an eye-opening glimpse of the history and heritage of a land less visited.

Tourism is a very recent arrival in Tajikistan, where the standard of infrastructure varies, and the nature of the tour includes long journeys, on sometimes uneven road surfaces. Patience and good humour will be rewarded with majestic scenery and intriguing towns and cities.

Jules Verne’s tours provide a unique experience of the country’s highlights, travelling in small groups of like-minded people who share your interests and enthusiasm.

Why book Tajikistan tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary adventures, Jules Verne takes you to iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Our journey in Tajikistan includes a traditional homestead lunch in the scenic setting of Dilovar.

Our guided tours to Tajikistan are ABTA and ATOL protected, so you can book with complete confidence.