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Lake Alovaddin, Lake Alauddin, Fann Mountains, Tajikistan, Central Asia, Sughd, Pamir Altai, Lakes Loop, Lakes Loop Tajikistan

Walking Among Giants in Beautiful Tajikistan

Has it really been nearly two weeks that I’ve been in Tajikistan? It sure has flown by.

Why?

Because it’s amazing here! Tajikistan has easily become one of my favorite countries I’ve ever visited. I’m still a little shocked that it’s not more visited.

Geographically I know it makes sense that it doesn’t get many tourists: it’s between a rock and a hard place. That border with Afghanistan seems to stave off the vast majority and I wish that didn’t detour people, but it does.

Dushanbe, Dushanbe Guide, Dushanbe City Guide, Dushanbe Travel Guide, Rudaki Park, Bag i Rudaki, Parchan
Dushanbe

So what have I been up to?

Well… It all started with a long trip over there. My alarm didn’t go off the morning I was flying out so I woke up literally as I needed to be running out the door. Needless to say, the last minute things didn’t get done and before I knew it I was on a 30 hour journey from Anchorage to Seattle to Dubai and finally to Dushanbe.


I finally stepped foot into Dushanbe at about 4 am on August 31st. I was a little worried about clearing immigration after reading some people’s bad experiences but it turns out I had nothing to worry about, it went pretty smoothly. I had applied for and was approved for an e-visa and GBAO permit back in June, so just a stamp plater and I was in.

Day one I spent wandering around lovely Dushanbe. Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan. My first stop was to find an ATM to get some cash.

Finally, on ATM 17 I finally got money out. What a pain in the ass. Then I made my way toward Rudaki Park where I spent most of the day wondering about Dushanbe’s unusual monuments.


Day two in Tajikistan started with my drive out to the Fann Mountains where I would spend the next 10 days.

Prior to leaving home, I had arranged a car to come to pick me up and bring me to my homestay at Nofin Lake. I had arranged everything through Munira at ZTDA. If you are thinking about coming to the Fanns, Zerafshan Mountains or the Yagnob valley do get in contact with her, I cannot thank her enough for all her help!

The drive out to the FannMountains is an absolutely stunning one, I’m glad I opted to spend the money on a private vehicle overtaking a shared taxi since it gave me the freedom to stop whenever and wherever I wanted.


And by the way the Anzob Tunnel, in my opinion, was nowhere near as scary as every other site I read led me to believe. Either that or no one has ever been to the Fanns had also been to the Rainbow Mountain in Peru- now THAT is the scariest road in the world

One of the many tunnels between Dushanbe and the Fann Mountains.

Fann Mountains, Tajikistan, tunnel, M34, Anzob Tunnel

My Fann Mountains hike would start with a night at Nofin Lake staying at Jumaboy’s Homestay (arranged by Munira), which has got to be the best place to start from your trip. (If you’re starting from the Haft-Kul (Seven Lakes).

Fann Mountains, Fann Mountains Guide, Haft Kul, Tajikistan, Seven Lakes, 7 lakes, 7 lakes of Marguzor, Fann Mountains, Marguzor Lakes
Jumaboy at Najmiddin Homestay in Nofin

Jumaboy is one of the kindest people I have ever met in my life. From Nofin I was brought to the stunningly beautiful Marguzor Lake and then up to. Kiogli Village to start the climb.

Fann Mountains, Fann Mountains Guide, Tajikistan, Tajikistan travel, Tajikistan travel guide, Tajikistan guide, Haft Kul, Tajikistan, Seven Lakes, 7 lakes, 7 lakes of Marguzor, Fann Mountains, Marguzor Lakes
Marguzor Lake in the Haft Kul

Over the next few days, I would climb up and over the Tovasang Pass to camp at the Sarymat River, then follow the Sarymat until it split into the Amshut River and then to where it forked again into the Zindon River. Eventually following the Zindon led to the impressive Bolshoi Allo Lake, of course before Bolshoi Allo there was a small lake with a perfect reflection of the sky in it (I don’t know the name).

Maloye Allo, Zindon River, Zindon Valley, Fann Mountains, Tajikistan
Maloye Allo in the Zindon Valley

Then for the hardest day of all days the trip up and over the 15,700 foot Chimtarga Pass sandwiched between two wicked mountains- Gora Chimtagra, and Gora Energia.

Fann Mountains, Fann Mountains Guide, Chimtarga, Chimtarga Pass, Fann Mountains, Fanski Gory, Tajikistan
The view from the top of Chimtarga Pass

Following the Pass, I’d drop down to Mutnyi Lake that’s studded all around with impressive peaks. Finally down from Mutnyi I’d make way to Lake Alovaddin, which you would swear looks like it’s filled with the bright turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea- trust me, it’s not.

Lake Alovaddin, Lake Alauddin, Fann Mountains, Tajikistan, Central Asia, Sughd, Pamir Altai, Lakes Loop, Lakes Loop Tajikistan
Is this even real?!

That shit is ice cold. From there I’d take Alauddin Pass up and over to Dushakha Lakes and then continue

Panjakent, Fann Mountains, Tajikistan, Panjakent Bazaar
Morning on Kulikalon

onto Kul-i-Kalon Lakes before descending down into Artuch Village to be picked up and taken to Iskanderkul Lake and spend the next two nights in nearby Satytag. Yet again, all arranged by Munira.

Iskanderkul, Fann Mountains, Tajikistan
Iskanderkul

Finally, I’d make my way back to Dushanbe to spend a couple more days in the capital. My last day was spent at a 5 hour long picnic with a giant (mostly female) family who proceeded to try to feed me to death.

Some of my Eid al Qurban feasting buddies

One of these days I will write a more detailed post on the how-to’s, how-much, who to contact and what to pack but for right now I need to get to re-packing because I leave for Kala-i-Khum tomorrow morning to start my trip up the Pamir Highway and through the Eastern side of beautiful Tajikistan. I don’t know when or where I’ll have access to the internet again, at least until I reach Bishkek for sure.

So who’s ready to head to beautiful Tajikistan now??

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5 thoughts on “Walking Among Giants in Beautiful Tajikistan”

  1. Nicole

    And thanks for your comment Diane! It accidentally was deleted in my spam folder… I think Tajikistan may be the worlds most underrated destination. Whenever you’re ready to come here I can give you a couple of great people’s contact info!

    Reply
  2. Natascha

    Beautiful pictures! The Anzob tunel was really bad until around two years ago, when they installed lights. Before that it was pitch dark inside and there was a lot of water in the tunnel. So I guess most sites refer to this condition.

    Reply
    1. Nicole

      Oh thanks Natascha! Parts of the tunnel had lights this time, except for the part where there was a huge truck parked inside with no lights on that you have to swerve last minute to miss! Even the road to Khorog from Dushanbe where I just got to today was better than I had read… I must have come Tajikistan at just the right time road condition-wise!

      Reply

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