Tajikistan

Understand

Spelling

There is no universal system for transcribing Tajik into English. Having been part of the Soviet Union, Russian spellings are often used for transcribing place names into English, but this has become less common as Tajikistan has begun to establish its own identity. The most commonly seen spelling differences will be the interchangeability of O's and A's, A's and E's, and G's and H's. Sometimes consonants can be doubled. As an example, the Hisor mountain range can appear as Gisor, Gissar, or Hissar as well. Street signs for major cities – at least those concerning toponyms – are written in both Tajik and English. Occasionally, these signs will write Ғ, Қ, and Х as G, K, and H, instead of Gh, Q, and Kh. The letter ъ, which represents the glottal stop, is usually written as an apostrophe ('), but may also be omitted when transcribing.

Climate Tajikistan is very hot and sunny most of the year. In the west, north and south of the country there is a temperate inland subtropical climate (but palm trees do not grow). The hottest part of the country is the southern region – Khatlon Vilayat. The climate of this part of the country is generally similar to that of neighboring Uzbekistan and the far north of Afghanistan. This can be compared with the climate of northern Greece, central Italy, northern Spain or partly southern France, central Turkey, or with the climate of northern California or Colorado. The hottest months in this country are June, July and August. July is especially hot, and the temperature is considered normal from +45 to +55. Nevertheless, such temperatures are easier to tolerate here, since the air here is very dry, not humid, as, for example, in India, Thailand, Malaysia and similar countries. It is most comfortable to visit this country from mi

See

There are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tajikistan: the proto-urban site of Sarazm in Panjakent, the Tajik National Park encompassing the Pamirs in the east of the country, and the Zeravshan Valley (including the site of Ancient Panjakent). The mountains of Tajikistan are among the highest in the world with three peaks higher than 7,000 m and more than half of the country is over 3,000 m above sea level.

Do

Tajikistan is a remarkable place, and there is plenty to do, from the Silk Road mystique of places like Khujand and Istaravshan, to the stunning, untou

Getting there

Visas

Nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan do not need a visa for visits up to 90 days. Tajikistan has a 30-day visa-free policy for passport holders of 52 countries. See the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for details. Following the trends of other Central Asian countries, visas are increasingly easy to obtain, particularly for nationals of wealthy countries. This policy is designed to stimulate tourist activity in Tajikistan. There is no longer a requirement to register with OVIR for tourist visits under 30 days. Letters of invitation are no longer needed on arrival at Dushanbe airport, but are needed to prearrange a visa from the UK and US embassies. Evisas for 60 days are available for US$30 for citizens of most wealthy countries. You may apply for a GBAO permit along with the evisa for an extra US$20. The evisa can be used at all land borders and airports, and is typically approved within two working days. Some people have reported teething problems with the evisa system (see Caravanistan), but for the most part the system works well and saves a page in your passport. Remember to print the e-visa before arrival, they will not accept a digital copy. Black and white is fine. You may apply for a visas in advance at a Tajik embassy or online (see above), or if you are a citizen of a country that has no Tajik embassy, you may purchase one upon arrival at Dushanbe Airport. To save time you can complete and print a form before arrival. It is best to use the Tajik form, bring two passport photos, a handful of photocopies of your passport and cash. The process takes around 10 minutes. Tourist visa in Tajikistan costs US$25 in Dushanbe International Airport and in consul

Getting around

Maps If you prefer a paper map, look in your home country for one made by Reise Know-How or Gizi Map.

By minivan or shared taxi Scheduled minivans run between the major cities but otherwise hiring a vehicle or sharing one with other passengers is the only way to travel around the country. Prices are generally per person, not for the vehicle, and divided by the number of passengers. You can always pay for the entire car too if you are either in a rush or don't want to share with strangers. The nice thing about shared taxis is that the drivers will almost always drop you off at your destination, rather than a set point in the city like a marshrutka or minibus will do. SUVs can be hired and leave daily from Khujand's large minibus terminal located just outside the city. Prices are negotiable but should be in the range US$60 per person. Check that the vehicle is fit for long road travel, and inspect the spare tire.

By marshrutka Marshrutkas are similar to minivans in design but that act more like buses in that they have set routes they travel. Most Tajik cities will have a plethora of marshrutkas that run different routes. A marshrutka ride within a town usually costs 2.5 somoni per person and is paid when you get on the vehicle (although marshrutkas to and in Isfara will collect fares when you leave the vehicle). These are often the fastest form of transportation in cities, as they only stop when people want them to (either when they're hailed like taxis or when someone inside says stop), as opposed to buses that call at every stop. To tell the driver to stop, simply say "dored" (stressed on the second syllable). Some drivers will slam on the brakes then and there, while others will glide to a stop at the next available pull-off.

By bus In Dushanbe and Khujand,