On March 2nd, I embarked on my longest journey so far – a journey that took me through…
Times visited: 1
Cities visited: Khorog, Dushanbe and Khujand
Towns and villages visited: Karakul, Murghab and Ishkashim
UNESCO sites visited: 1/4
One of the least visited countries in the world is also, hands down, one of the most beautiful. I kid you not – Tajikistan is among the most naturally breathtaking places I’ve ever seen. Why the masses haven’t discovered it yet is beyond me, but perhaps that’s exactly what makes it so special. It’s remote, it’s wild, and for the most part, you’ll have it all to yourself.
During my 2016 journey through Asia, I spent a month exploring Central Asia with a friend. After some time in Kyrgyzstan, we set off on an unforgettable adventure along the Pamir Highway – the second-highest altitude highway in the world. The route took us deep into the autonomous region of Gorno-Badakhshan, through mountain passes and remote villages where Westerners are a rare sight. It felt like travelling through a world untouched by time.
We eventually reached Khorog, the region’s capital, from where we made a bold detour across the border into northern Afghanistan. When we returned, we flew over the towering Pamir Mountains to Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, where we spent a day staying with a local friend. Our final stop was the city of Khujand in the north where we experienced a local festival – a perfect end to a journey through one of the world’s most overlooked gems.