The Best Places to Visit in Tajikistan
As Central Asia becomes an increasingly more popular destination, Tajikistan remains one of the least visited countries within the region. It’s a country of nearly 11 million people, and nearly 90% of its territory is covered in mountains. The best thing about Tajikistan is the beautiful, turquoise colored lakes you can find all over the country. It makes for some awesome hikes and incredibly scenic stops. Tajikistan also contains part of the Pamir Highway, which stretches through various countries in Central Asia and is one of the most stunning roads in the world. Definitely add Tajikistan to your itinerary if you have time because the scenery is breathtaking.
Capital: Dushanbe
Currency: Tajikistani Somoni
Language: Tajiki, Russian
When to visit: April to May, August to October
1) Dushanbe
Dushanbe sits quietly in a wide valley in western Tajikistan, and is the country’s capital city and a big green space. Dushanbe is not packed with a bunch of major attractions and it doesn’t jump at you like Bishkek or Astana, however it’s probably going to be your gateway into Tajikistan and you can make use of some of the pleasant spaces before you head to the mountains.
Things to do:
The big long street which runs across the main part of the city is called Rudaki Avenue, and you can find many attractions along each end. To the west of the avenue is the massive green space called Rudaki Park. You should definitely spend some time walking through this, you can find the National Museum of Tajikistan and the big Flagpole of Tajikistan. Whereas at the southern end of the park is the incredible Monument of Ismail Samani, the Independence Monument, and the National Library too. The second best park is definitely Victory Park, which is very large and contains a WWII Memorial Monument. Next, visit Navruz Palace which was built to celebrate Tajik craftsmanship and heritage and has an intricate decorative design. And lastly, visit the Mehrgon Bazaar which is going to be your best shopping and market experience in Tajikistan, and a great place to find all kinds of exotic produce in the beautiful building.
How to get there:
Dushanbe International Airport (DYU) mainly has flights across Central Asia and the Middle East.
You can often take shared taxis or minibuses from cities in Uzbekistan.
2) Iskanderkul
Iskanderkul is one of Tajikistan’s most beautiful natural landmarks - a deep turquoise lake set high in the mountains about 130 kilometres north of Dushanbe. It’s not a gigantic lake, but on a sunny day the pristine water reflects in a charming way. The name is said mean “Lake of Alexander,” and local legend says it was named after Alexander the Great, who is believed to have passed through the region during his campaigns in Central Asia.
Things to do:
Iskanderkul is accessible by road, so no over the top hiking required. It’s the perfect place to relax in the sun. You can also rent a boat or book a boat trip from Turbaza Iskanderkul which sits on the northern shore. If you do want to do some walking, Snake Lake sits right behind the main viewpoints from the northern shore, and has more of a dark green color and it’s filled with snakes. If you continue walking from Snake Lake, you can find the Waterfall of the Fann Mountains, AKA Iskanderkul Waterfall. You can see the water crashing below for quite some time.
How to get there:
The most practical way if you don’t have a car is with a tour guide or booking a shared taxi.
3) Seven Lakes
Koh Rong Sanloem is the smaller, peaceful counterpart to Koh Rong. It’s a short boat trip away, yet has half the tourists. The beaches are beautiful here as well, and compared to some of the beaches on Koh Rong there is little to no development. It basically just has some of the nicest spots to swim and relax in Cambodia.
Things to do:
Saracen Bay is the longest beach on the island, and it has a couple bars and guesthouses to go with it. It’s a massive wide crescent with white sand and some tranquil water, so definitely one of the top spots. On the west coast is Lazy Beach, which is the most remote on the island as it’s literally just surrounded by trees and mountains. Sometimes on Koh Rong Sanloen, you can even see the bioluminescent plankton, most of the time around Saracen Bay, so that is definitely something to look out for. On the north of the island is M'Pai Bay, which is less of a single beach and more a little fishing settlement (although there is still sandy beaches). Those are the main spots, of course there is more beaches like Clearwater Bay or Buck Beach, so feel free to check them all off.
How to get there:
Take a boat from either Sihanoukville or Koh Rong to the island.
4) Yaghnob Valley
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and the biggest city in the country, with around 2.3 million people in the metro area. It’s the busiest and most intense city in the country, with a few historic sites, some newly constructed big buildings and quite a bit of loud traffic. It’s a good connection between Siem Reap and the south, with a decent bit to see around the city. It’s just real Cambodia.
Things to do:
When you are here, you should go to the Royal Palace of Cambodia, which is the king’s official residence and a large complex with some other traditional sites inside like Khemrintra Pavilion and the Silver Pagoda. This is definitely the top spot in Phnom Penh, plus the National Museum of Cambodia is right next door too. On the darker side of things, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a former high school turned Khmer Rouge prison and torture center. Inside is rooms with photos of victims, torture tools, and cells. It is an important place in the city. You can just walk along the Mekong River and explore, the area around Street 240 has nicer restaurants and shops. Back to the more grim suggestions, 15km south of the city is Choeung Ek Killing Fields, which was used for 2 years by the Khmer Rouge to commit the Cambodian Genocide. All these places are important to understand Cambodia’s traumatizing past and hardship.
How to get there:
Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) has direct flights from around Asia all the time.
You can also bus from all the main cities in Cambodia direct to Phnom Penh.
Support the Site
If these guides have helped your travels, consider buying me a coffee ~ it helps keeps the content free!
buymeacoffee.com/roamingideas