Tajikistan is not one of the most popular spots among western tourists however it is an incredible trekking destination with lots of incredible views. The country is also greatly diversified with different cultures in every corner of the country, speaking different languages and having different customs.

Traveling info

Everyone traveling to Tajikistan is required to have a valid passport. Most of the ex-soviet republics are allowed to enter Tajikistan for an indefinite amount of time without the requirement of a visa whilst Ukraine and Turkmenistan may also enter without a visa but for a limited amount of time. Citizens of all other nations may either apply online or in certain cases must first obtain a visa in a Tajik consulate or embassy. Tourists must know that the GBAO region is off limits to non-Tajik people. To enter the region special permission from the Tajik government is required. It is usually not difficult to obtain. To drive in Tajikistan, foreign visitors need International driving permits along with their original driver licenses. It is permitted to drive in Tajikistan with an International driving permit and foreign driver license for three months. Beware that an international driving permit is only a translation of the original document and does not substitute for it. Both documents must be present with the driver at all times.

Traveling hazards

Travel to, from, and within Tajikistan is difficult and unreliable. Neighboring countries may unilaterally close borders and some borders are poorly delineated. Armed police or military checkpoints can make road travel outside Dushanbe more difficult. Crossing the Tajik Uzbek border, in particular, has been known to present difficulties for drivers operating vehicles with non-Tajik government issued plates. Road travel should be undertaken only in daylight hours and on routes known to the traveler or a reliable escort. Those traveling to Gorno-Badakhshan by car should do so only during daylight hours. The roads traverse mountainous terrain along the Afghan border that is difficult to navigate, even in daylight hours. If you are driving, be vigilant because pedestrians often tend to cross the street at inappropriate places or walk along the highway without paying attention to vehicular traffic. Also, erratic driving and car accidents are common. Traffic police are posted at stationary positions and checkpoints and along major roads. They are notorious for paying little if any attention to traffic safety issues, but rather for randomly pulling over cars and exacting bribes. In Dushanbe, expensive cars and those with government license plates routinely speed past police, sometimes on the wrong side of the road and through stop lights, while other cars are flagged down for “document checks.” During the winter months, the potential dangers when traveling outside Dushanbe in the mountainous areas of the country are heightened. Every year, accidents and casualties occur on Tajikistan’s mountain roads and pass, often when drivers ignore warnings not to travel over a closed mountain pass. Avalanches are a common occurrence in Tajikistan’s mountains during the winter months. The tunnel bypassing the Anzob Pass is still not complete and you should try to obtain information regarding tunnel conditions before traveling via this route. The alternate Anzob Pass road is not maintained. Please exercise caution and limit winter travel to Tajikistan’s mountain regions. In certain parts of the country, including the Vakhsh and Rasht valleys and along the Afghan-Tajik border, landmines and cluster munitions form an additional hazard. If an area has land mine warning signs, or is marked off with red and white plastic tape, heed the warning and do not venture off the road. In all cases, do not pick up or handle anything that looks like unexploded munitions.

Environmental hazards

A large portion of the country is covered in mountains, making it a very difficult terrain to travel. Wolves and brown bears are present in Tajikistan however these are rarely spotted. These animals generally avoid humans however most often come in conflict with local farmers as these animals prey on livestock. Hikers should make as much noise as possible on their travels through the wilderness as these animals are deterred by human noises. Confronting any of these up close can be very dangerous or even fatal. There are two venomous snakes in Tajikistan. One of them being the Caspian cobra and the second a venomous pit viper known by the name of a Siberian pit viper. Bites of these snakes can be fatal however that is a rare occurrence. Distance from the nearest hospital is the key to survival. Tajikistan is a landlocked country. There are however lakes and rivers which are quite popular swimming spots during the summer season.
Tajikistan’s geology, hydrology, and topography make it prone to such natural hazards as avalanches, droughts, earthquakes, flooding, and land and mudslides.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases in Tajikistan. There are however several vaccinations recommended for a safe trip. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies vaccines. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination against malaria however there are other forms of protection against the disease. Malaria is contracted through mosquito bites, therefore, it is vital to protect against these. Using mosquito repellants is strongly recommended. There is also medicine on prescription against Malaria. Standards of health care outside of Dushanbe are very low. Medical staff is usually knowledgeable and well trained but hospitals often lack modern equipment and medicines available in the west. Travelers, especially those who plan on long hikes are advised to carry a well-equipped first-aid kit with them containing basic medicines and any prescriptions that they might need on their journey. Beware that the emergency services do not speak English and only use Tajik or Russian. The most remote areas might receive no emergency services or these might be very delayed because of the difficult terrain in Tajikistan.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Crime in Tajikistan and Dushanbe directed toward Western expatriates and foreign entities are relatively low; however, levels of corruption are very high. This corruption occurs at all levels of government and in the private sector. Be careful in establishments that serve alcohol; being “slipped a mickey” can happen easily, especially if you do not have that drink opened in your presence. Ensure you secure your valuables in any residence, home or hotel. Be careful when renting an apartment. Try to choose an apartment that is well-protected from strangers, and look at lower rise buildings to minimize vulnerability to earthquakes. Expatriates are vulnerable to home robbery, so the physical security aspects of housing are important: grilles on lower floor windows, well-illuminated streets and entrances, and nicer neighborhoods. A common robbery tactic is to push an apartment resident into the apartment as he or she attempts to enter the apartment. Then, the assailant can easily rob the apartment while possibly injuring the resident. Territorial disputes along the Uzbek and Kyrgyz borders have the potential to develop into limited armed conflict. The recent warming of Tajik-Uzbek relations may ease concerns on that border. But, there have been several instances of armed skirmishes between Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards over the past three years, particularly in the area of Isfara and the Vorukh enclave. Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) in the Pamirs is a restricted region for non-Tajik citizens. GBAO, beginning on the west side of the border with Afghanistan Badakhshan province, covers most of the eastern portion of Tajikistan. To cross into GBAO, an expatriate must use designated checkpoints and have special permission in the form of a passport stamp that can only be obtained in Dushanbe from the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Visas and Registration. The government will periodically close GBAO to foreigners. This occurred for several weeks in summer 2012, when government forces clashed with local criminal gangs, resulting in a number of deaths. From Dushanbe into GBAO, the initial posts for checking GBAO permission are near Shurobod in Khatlon Region and just north of Qalai-Khum in Davros Region. Drugs are strictly outlawed and possession usually results in jail sentences.

Summary

Although Tajikistan is regarded as a great tourist destination for hikers and cyclists recent incident of a couple of American cyclist being murdered by ISIS terrorists. Those who decide to visit Tajikistan should closely monitor the most recent incidents in the country. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.visa.gov.tj/index.html
https://www.visa.gov.tj/index.html#/help
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tajikistan