Tajikistan - Freeride and Tour in Tajikistan

Freeriding in the Pamir Alai Mountains

In recent years, Central Asia has made a name for itself in the tourism sector. However, Tajikistan remains largely undiscovered when it comes to ski tourism. Situated in the heart of the Pamir-Alai—the world's second-highest mountain range—and nestled between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, it offers unparalleled opportunities for freeriding and ski touring. Five years ago, we explored this territory—then completely uncharted terrain for skiers—and were absolutely thrilled by what we found.

If you possess a bit of a pioneering spirit, enjoy skiing in places where few have ventured before, and are eager to experience a different culture, then this trip is the perfect choice for you.

Itinerary

The trip departs on Friday with Turkish Air, via Istanbul we arrive in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, on Saturday night. Upon arrival, our driver will take you to a well-located city hotel. The next morning, you'll sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before exploring this fascinating city. Our local guide will show you the city's most beautiful sights. In the late afternoon, you'll be transferred to your hotel in the ski resort, which takes approximately one hour. The next six days are now at our disposal to get to know the most beautiful tours and descents in this beautiful mountain world. This includes a trip to the Anzob Pass, where we step into our skis at 2800 meters and quickly reach heights of around 4000 meters, and we are rewarded with a breathtaking descent. If the weather is not at its best, we visit the hot healing springs of Obigam, a very special experience. After the last day of skiing, the shuttle bus takes us back to Dushanbe. Over a traditional dinner, we reflect on the experiences of the week, before we set off home the next morning.

The Skiing Terrain

The terrain in the Pamir Alai region is highly varied. We access our descents using a combination of lift systems and, in some instances, climbing skins. These runs range from high-alpine zones to magnificent descents at the tree line, situated below 2,500 meters.

Daily ascents involve a maximum elevation gain of 800 meters—sometimes undertaken at higher altitudes reaching just shy of 4,000 meters above sea level. Accordingly, you should be in excellent physical condition for this trip.

Skiing in the Pamir Alai mountains is a truly exclusive experience; last winter, there were many days when we were the only skiers at the lift, effectively having the entire skiable area accessible by the lift system entirely to ourselves.

Our Hotel

We are staying at a renovated winter sports hotel in Safed Dara. It is a small winter resort dating back to the Soviet era. All rooms are simple yet clean, and equipped with a private bathroom and toilet. Breakfast and dinner are served in the restaurant located right next to the hotel. After a long day on the slopes, we unwind in the lovely wellness area, recharging our energy for the day ahead. The tow lift and a new 8-person Doppelmayr gondola are within walking distance.

In Dushanbe, we will spend our first night at a city hotel—most likely the Hotel Serena.

General Information about the Country

Tajikistan is still largely unknown as a travel and skiing destination. This is not least due to the vastness of the country and the lack of infrastructure in the remote regions of the Pamirs. We are absolutely impressed by the very hospitable and courteous people. Even if the country is quite poor, everything is very clean and well-kept. There is no rubbish that is deposited anywhere and even the simplest home is well-kept and clean. People are very open-minded, everyone greets and is friendly and helpful. We value the honesty and reliability of the people a lot. The younger generation often speaks English quite well. In addition to the Russian language, Farsi (Persian) is the official language. Even if the majority of the population is Muslim, religion is not particularly important. A large number of the Ismailis, whose head is Aga Khan, lives in the east of the country. He in turn has a high influence in the country and builds schools and infrastructure and provides education for a wide number of people.