Learning Beyond Borders

Tajikistan in Brief

After years of violent fractional civil war following Tajikistan's unexpected statehood after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Tajikistan is now open for visitors.  Lying at a strategic, if not a doomed, position between Afghanistan and the gateway to Central Asia and Europe, Tajikistan still has it's fare share of problems. Over an estimated 25,000 kg of opium passes through Tajikistan from Afghanistan every year, and although most is bound for the streets of Europe, local addiction to heroin is on the rise.  In addition, unemployment is high, a large portion of the local economy (32%) is dependent on remittances sent back home from Tajik workers in Russia and other post-Soviet states and Tajikistan is constantly on the brink of possible natural disaster or famine.

Where's the good news?  Well, since 2004 the Tajik economy, the weakest among all the ex-Soviet states, has been growing at a booming 9.5% each year.  Tajikistan's hydroelectric potential has been realized, border controls tightened and Tajikistan is now beginning to realize the importance, rather than the burden, of its location.  

That being said, Taikistan has not seen many travelers and most of her people are still leading sustanence-based lives.  Tajikistan, her people and her land offer much however.  The extreme beauty of the mountains and steppe paired with the warm and extremely hospitable nature of the Tajik people are Tajikistan's true treasures.  The Pamirs skyrocket into the clowds in the remote GBAO region (east) of the country and simple Tajik and Kyrgyz nomads graze their yak heards at their feet.  Tajikistan is open territory for great exploration, join us as we venture through the Pamirs!  Come to Tajikistan before more find out!

About our Tajik Partners

 
The Murghab Eco Tourism Association (META - 2003) is a community based association of service providers aiming at supporting the development of tourist activities in eastern Tajikistan, specifically on the Murghab plateau (in the Pamirs).  META has a special focus on nature protection and preservation, green tourism, sustainable tourist infrastructure development and direct income generation for the most vulnerable of Tajikistan's people.  

META was initially funded in part by UNESCO and is supported through the French group ACTED.  

By traveling with us, we guarantee your travel dollars will be going to those who need it most and will help to continue to develop sustainable development in this extremely remote and beautiful region of the world.

Visa Requirements 

Welcome to Central Asian, post-Soviet bureaucracy!  Permits, stamps, signatures, more stamps, Tajikistan has it all. 

Almost all visitors to Tajikistan require a visa in advance, although for some nationalities, visas are available on arrival at Dushanbe International Airport, not NOT at any border crossings.  

Tourists from most developed countries no longer need letters of invitation from a Tajik company to obtain a tourist visa, however, if you are visiting the GBAO region in eastern Tajikistan where we operate, a special permit is required.  For those who do require letters of invitation to obtain a visa, we can provide these for you for free with any booking.  

In order to obtain this GBAO visit permit, we will need to apply on your behalf within Tajikistan or at certain Tajik embassies abroad.  It costs $45 for us to arrange the paperwork for and purchase the GBAO permit. 

The GBAO permit comes in two forms, either a stamp in your passport next to your Tajik visa or on a separate piece of paper.  Only certain Tajik embassies abroad, like in New Delhi for example, will issue stamped GBAO permits along with your visa.  Most of the time, we will apply for your permit within Tajikistan and fax of scan and email you a copy of the permit once we receive it.  We will get you the original copy of the permit to you once you arrive in Tajikistan.

In addition to all the permits and visa requirements, you will need to register twice within three days after your arival in Tajikistan, once with the OVIR - this costs approximately $22 - and once with the local KGB - this is free.  You will then have to carry both of these registration slips around with your passport.  Fun, fun, we know, but it's all part of the price for getting to be in Tajikistan.  

Craft your own Expedition! 

What would you like to do, to see?  See below for some of our suggestions on traveling through this ruggedly beautiful country and e-mail us with what you would like to be put together!  

If you are interested in purchasing photographs for image licensing purposes or would like to inquire about purchasing Tajik handicrafts, just send us a quick e-mail.  

The GBAO?!

The vast majority of our expeditions are operated in the extremely remote and stunningly picturesque GBAO region.  What is the GBAO? Well, GBAO is a Russian acronym for the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, or Горно-Бадахшанская автономная область (ГБАО) in Russian.  It is an autonomous province in the far east of Tajikistan and is home to some of Tajikistan's best kept secrets.  Besides the stunning peaks of the Pamirs, the GBAO, although only containing three percent of Tajikistan's population, is ethnically diverse and culturally unique, as Pamiris, Wakhis, Tajiks and Kyrgyz nomads all inhabit the region. 

Because the region is so hard to reach, even from the rest of Tajikistan, it has remained quite culturally and environmentally undisturbed, a unique diamond in the rough as far as the Soviet Union is concerned.  If you are looking for extreme scenic beauty and friendly and welcoming nomads to hang out with, as well as some adventure, the GBAO is the place for you!  Just e-mail us and we will construct a program right for you!  

 Of Interest 

Tajikistan is virgin territory for exploration and that's just what we do.  If living with nomads high in the Pamirs appeals to you you have come to the right place!  We can organize,  in coordination with our partners,

• Jeep explorations through the Pamirs

• Authentic, completely non-touristy, homestays in yurts with Kyrgyz and Tajik with nomads

• Treks in the Pamirs along the Afghan and Chinese borders

• Wildlife explorations in search of rare Marco Polo sheep, ibex, brown bears, wolves, camels and for the very lucky a peak at the reclusive snow leopard. 

• Rafting trips on high-mountain rivers and lakes

• Road trips throughout the GBAO region (eastern Tajikistan), including Murghab, Wakhan Corridor, Ishkashim, and Khorog

• Transportation connections to Dushanbe, Osh (Kyrgyzstan), and even to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan