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Trekking in Tajikistan

The northern ranges, Pamirs and Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor

Guidebook to trekking in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Contains 21 treks exploring 5 different mountain areas, including the Northern Ranges, Pamir Mountains and Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor. Also includes a handful of shorter day hikes. With advice on trekking, backpacking equipment, permits and visas, and transport.

Seasons

Most trekking routes in the northern ranges of Tajikistan are accessible from May to October whereas the best time to trek the Pamirs is from June until mid-October.

Centres

Penjikent is the jumping-off point in northern Tajikistan, while Sarytag, the village close to Iskanderkul, connects several trekking itineraries. Khorog is the best hub from which to venture into the Pamirs. The guide also includes five day hikes near the capital, Dushanbe.

Difficulty

Routes vary from easy to very hard. While most trails are clear, solitude, river crossings, route finding, high altitude and the wild terrain of the Tajik mountains all pose varying degrees of challenge. Some treks include travel on small glaciers that require the use of crampons.

Must See

Local hospitality; untamed wilderness; pristine Alpine lakes including Alaudin Lake, Iskanderkul, Leilakul, Zarojkul and Sarez; Dukdon Pass; Ravmeddara Valley; the remote Pamiri villages of Bardara and Vezdara; Shakhdara Valley, with views of Pik Engels and Pik Karl Marx; Afghan Wakhan Corridor
ISBN
9781852849467
Availability
Published
Published
8 Nov 2018
Edition
First
Pages
400
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 2.15cm
Weight
450g
Overview

A guidebook to 24 days walks and short treks, plus 2 link routes, in Tajikistan. The graded routes vary in terms of difficulty, although many involve high altitude and remote terrain calling for self-reliance.

The book includes 5 day walks in the Dushanbe region, ranging from 6 to 17km. Covering the Fann Mountains, the Zerafshan and Hissar ranges and Yagnob Valley, and the western, central and southern Pamir, the treks range from 2 to 9 days. Also included is a 10-day trek in Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor.

  • Route description illustrated with 1:100,000 mapping
  • GPX files available to download
  • Can be used either to plan an independent trek or to select, prepare for and enhance an organised expedition
  • Practical advice on transport and visas, trekking support, equipment, cultural awareness, safety and security
  • Insight into Tajikistan’s rich culture and history
  • Russian/Tajik/Pamiri language notes and useful phrases

Table of Contents
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By Jan Bakker

Jan Bakker was born in a village in the northwest of the Netherlands but fell in love with mountains and outdoor activities at a young age. He co-founded the very first mountain film festival in Tunisia and has been leading pioneering mountain expeditions in Tajikistan, the Afghan Wakhan Corridor and Iraqi Kurdistan. He has written articles about his adventures for Sidetracked, Trek & Mountain Magazine and Adventure Travel Magazine. Jan currently lives with his wife and two sons in Beirut and ventures out into the Lebanese mountains to hike, bike and rock climb whenever he can.

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By Christine Oriol

Born in France, Christine Oriol roamed around Central Asia for a few years before adopting Tajikistan as her second homeland. Settling in a village in the Fann Mountains to work on a rural development project, she enjoyed exploring both the surrounding mountains and the unmarked trails in the Pamirs. After four years, she realised that all this knowledge should be shared and so she suggested to Jan Bakker that they work together on a new trekking guidebook for Tajikistan. Christine is still eager to blaze new trails in this fascinating country and now trains young local women in the Pamirs with the non-profit organization Women Rockin' Pamirs.

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