The capital
Almost every trip begins in Dushanbe, a green, orderly capital of wide avenues, teahouses and bazaars, with the main international airport and the best choice of hotels and restaurants. The Varzob gorge and Hisor fortress make easy first day trips.
The lakes of the west
The Fann Mountains hold Iskanderkul, the Seven Lakes of Haft Kul and some of the best trekking in Central Asia, all within a day of Dushanbe. The old Sogdian town of Penjikent, with its ruins and museum, is the gateway at the western end.
The Silk Road north
Khujand is the country's second city, on the Syr Darya at the mouth of the Fergana valley. Its Panjshanbe bazaar is one of the finest in the region, and the old town of Istaravshan sits on the road south.
The high road
The Pamir Highway is one of the world's great road journeys, running from Dushanbe through Khorog to the high plateau around Murghab and on to Kyrgyzstan. It needs a GBAO permit, time and a good driver.
The valley facing Afghanistan
The Wakhan valley follows the Panj river with the Hindu Kush across the water. Fortresses, hot springs, Buddhist ruins and Pamiri homestays make it the highlight of many trips.
How to combine them
A week covers Dushanbe and the Fann Mountains. Two weeks lets you add the Pamir Highway and the Wakhan, ending in Osh in Kyrgyzstan or returning to Dushanbe. Khujand fits easily between the Fanns and the Uzbek border. Mountain roads are slow, so allow a full day for most transfers, and use the free trip planner to shape a route that fits your dates.