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Tajikistan Practical information Tajikistan

 
 
Area : 55251  sq.mi - Population 7076598 hab.
Tajikistan

Our expert Tajikistan

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map Tajikistan

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Practical information Tajikistan

superficie

Area

55251  sq.mi
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Flights

Unfortunately, none of the cities in Europe connect Tadjikistan by air. To travel to the country, it is necessary to go via Moscow. Four flights fly to Tajikistan from Russia every week. London-Moscow: 4 hrs. Moscow-Dushanbe: 4 hrs.
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Jet Lag

population

Population

7076598 hab.
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Airports

Dushanbe airport is about 3 miles from the capital. Several buses take regular journeys, but taxis are very few due to persistent fuel shortage. A half mile journey by taxi is about 25 pence (state price). You should therefore bargain before leaving.
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Security

Although the country is relatively stable, some regions like the Karateguin valley (Gharm) (centre) are highly unadvised to tourists. Generally, avoid hanging out late and avoid cheap, unsafe and extremely uncomfortable hotels. The road between Dushanbe and Khorog and the A 372 linking the country to Kirghizstan are strictly unadvised.
You can always get a region's or route's security details from the British diplomatic service in Dushanbe which will obtain the required information from the competent Tajik authorities:$$$

Telephone: 00 992 372 21 50 37 / 21 74 05 / 21 78 55 / 24 67 58 / 24 70 16
Fax: 00 992 372 51 00 82
Tel./Fax : 00 992 91 901 50 77
E-mail:
langue

Languages

Tajik is similar to Parsee (Indo-European language in Iran), contrary to other Central Asian languages of Turkish origin. Russian is mostly spoken in the capital. Populations living in the Pamir mountains, from one valley to the other, speak different local languages (Ishkashimi, Rushani, Vanchi, etc.).
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Requirements

A visa is mandatory and getting it is a real hassle. There are many formalities and they require a recommendation letter. This letter must come from a person, a company or a state organisation from Tajikistan. This will have to be approuved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the country's Interior Ministry. After the letter is accepted, your sponsor will be able to send you a letter that will serve as a supporting document for your visa request to a Russian or Tajik embassy overseas (see address). Price of a "short stay": from 43 pounds to 92 pounds depending on the delivery deadline requested. It is however possible to get a visa upon your arrival in Douchanbé (about US $60) by asking for a special attestation in advance ("vizovaïa podderjka " : obtained by fax) from the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs (42, avenue Roudaki, Tel. 00 992 372 21 18 08 / 21 62 37). Important ! If you are going through Russia to get to Tajikistan, you will also have to possess a Russian visa. Since administrative paperwork varies, it is better to get more information before departure, from the Russian embassy, that will give you all of the information you need.
religion

Religion

Sunnite Muslims (85%), and Ismaelian Muslims East of the country. The absence of mosques, representations of faith and weekly day of worship is characteristic of Ismaelianism. Aga-Khan remains the Ismaelians' spiritual father.
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Currency

The currency is the Tajikistani somoni (TJS). 1 pound Sterling = 6.601 somonis.

Visitors are advised to bring dollars in cash, which can then be changed into somonis, Kyrgyz soms or Uzbek soms on arrival. You will have no trouble finding foreign exchange offices in the cities, but remember to always keep some US dollars on you, and do not change all of them. To be on the safe side, bring your credit card and a few travellers cheques as they cannot be used everywhere, except in larger hotels, restaurants and airports. Bank opening hours: from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

transports

Local transportation

By bus : As the eastern part of the country (beyond the Pamir mountains) is ruled out for security reasons, you have hardly any choice (you could travel to Samarkand, via Penjikent, or farther south to Termiz). There is only one bus to each destination per day. It is undavised to go too close to the Afghan border. Eastward, Komsomolabad is the farthest place you can go to.
By taxi: they are rare due to incessant fuel shortages.
By car: It is impossible to rent a non chauffeur-driven car. Contact the Tajik tourism authority which will direct you to one of the car rentals.
By train : the only operating line is Dushanbe-Tashkent. It takes a day to get from one town to the other (only one travel a day, early in the morning). There used to be a train travelling to Moscow via Samarkand, but it proved dangerous and was suspended by the Russian authorities.
By plane: the national airliner, Tadjikistan Airlines (not a member of IATA), links Dushanbe to several other Tajik towns: mainly Garm, Kulyab, Murgab.
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Health

No particular vaccines required. However, be sure to be up to date with the following vaccinations: tetanus, poliomyelitis, typhoid, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria. Careful, the tuberculosis disease is upsurging!

Malaria: From June to October, there is a risk of malaria in the South-East of the country, near the border with Afghanistan, a couple of zones from the centre (Douchambe), the East (Gorno-Badakhshan), and the North (Khodjent). It is recommended that travellers take Nivaquine if they are going in these regions during the affected season.

Favour water in bottles than from the tap. Avoid dairy products and rinse fruits. Do not approach stray dogs.

Lack hospital services are insufficient. Bring a first-aid kit with you. Before going to the doctor's, ask for advice at the embassy. Know that the embassy has signed an agreement with the Russian Military Hospital (in Douchambe centre).

Useful numbers: In Douchanbe, two correspondents can be recommended to establish a diagnostic and give you directions. Dr Ibrahimov (ORL), tel.: 21.33.89 (office) ; 21.48.01 (home)
- Dr Iqbal (anesthesist), tel.: 33.66.70.
$$$$$The French NGO "Pharmacists without borders", present in Tadjikistan, can also orient you towards a doctor or give out medicines in case of emergency:$$$$$$
tel: 00.992.372.24.64.33 and 24.34.40.

electricite

Electricity

220 V. electrical plugs. Like those in France..
frequentation

Flood of tourists

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Taxes and tips

telephone

Telephone

To call from the UK, dial 00 + 992 (country code) + town code (Dushanbe : 372 , Khojand : 342) + the number you are calling.
To call the UK: dial 011 + 44 + the number you are calling. It is virtually impossible to call out of Dushanbe and Khogand.
To call within the country, only dial the last 7 digits.