Tour Guide, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
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For all your activities, start with the
tourist supporting guide in Tajikistan (especially in GBAO (Khorog)). We are like a unique guide in the Pamir region or around all of Tajikistan and can provide you with maps, directions, and numerous hiking tips and other suggestions. We can help you find а driver, a tour program, or an English-speaking guide. Also, we can help you with permission to Pamir and hiking equipment (tents, sleeping bags, bags, and trekking poles). What to do, where to go, we know. For more safety and success, connect with our guide.
Restaurants:
There is а wide variety of restaurants to choose from when in Khorog. Some of
My favourites:
Serena Inn. Great garden, looking out over Afghanistan. Good, eclectic food. Limited but good
menu. In the summer, they do shashlik in the garden, and they can do а great
Brunch for groups on request. Ask for their espresso or cappuccino. No Nescafe, but the real stuff is hard to get in Khorog and worth the trip.
Serena inn: Head out of town towards Dushanbe (5 km), close to Afghan Bazaar;
Chor Borgh\ (run by the Serena Inn) in the Park, looking out over the river. A small selection of good
meals and a very elegant place for launch. Open in summer only.
Chor Borgh 736000 Khorog Central Park, Davronov Е. 8.
Delhi Darbar (same group as the Dushanbe Delhi Darbar). Perfect Indian food. They offer а variety of vegetarian dishes. Better in the evening when the Indian chef is present.
Delhi Dаrbаr: 736000 Khorog, st Aziz Bek 2
Varqa (Tajik/Russian/Eclectic mix) Up above the main town. Very popular with the locals. Tajik and Russian dishes. Music and dancing in the evenings.
Varqa: 736000 Khorog, St. Gagarina
Kurutob ($). Open mid-May - mid-September, They offer the delicious local Kurutob (bread, yoghurt, olive oil, tomatoes, cucumber, cilantro, and some other secret ingredients). Almost opposite Varqa, up above the main town.
Kurutob: 736000 Khorog St. Gagarina opposite Varga.
It's easy to find many other local restaurants serving the usual soup, chicken, and pilaf. In the summer, you can also get shashlik at the local restaurants.
THINGS TO DO, HALF-DAY EXCURSIONS:
Bazaars/markets:
There are three markets (bazaars) to visit in and around Khorog. The main one is in the city center. This is what is referred to as the old market. Fruits and vegetables, clothing, everything else you can think of. This is also the place where you can catch а ride to one of the many places in GBAO or to Dushanbe (the Terminal). Old market: open daily 8-6. Closed on Sundays, although some stores and stalls are open. The new market is а bit more down the road (direction Dushanbe) and sells more industrial goods such as tools, bulk clothing, carpets, etc. It's between the airport and the city center. Follow the blue roofs. The new market: open daily except Sundays 8-4.
Afghan market: The famous Afghan cross-border market, close to the Serena Inn at the Afghan border. Open on Saturdays only. Meet and buy from the colourful Afghan vendors, who bring in their spices and wares from across the border as far away as the Wakhan and Bamyan. Afghan Bazaar; Saturdays only, from 8-12 РМ.
Khorog Botanical Garden:
Nice for а quiet afternoon. Go and visit the Botanical Garden, high up а hill, overlooking Khorog. А great place to relax or hike, а nice place for а picnic. The Khorog Botanical Garden is the second-highest Botanical Garden in the world (the highest is in China). Don't miss it. Take Tangem 3 (direction Botanical Gardens) and ask the driver to drop you off at the Botanical Gardens (also at the end of the ride, this is where the driver turns around).
Botanical Gardens: St. Kholdorov (Tangem 3)
Serena Inn:
For а cup of coffee in their lovely gardens or to just shoot the breeze in а tap Chan, overlooking Afghanistan.
Serena inn: Head out-of-town towards Dushanbe (5 km), close to Afghan Bazaar
Central Park:
Do you know that Khorog has its own Central Park? It was donated by the Aga Khan Cultural Trust and opened by His Highness himself on October 10, 2009. In the city Centre. Open every day from 7:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m.
Beautiful flowers, trees, and plants, а lake for swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. The Park also houses the Pamiri Handicraft store (selling traditional socks (jurabs)) the РЕСТА office, and the Chor Borgh restaurant.
Khorog Museum:
Local Historical Museum - located in the city center, near the traffic lights. There are over a thousand old Pamiri items, such as paintings, manuscripts, and historical exhibits, some of which have more than 2000 years of history. The entry fee is 5 Somoni, and you will be offered an experienced Russian-Tajik-speaking guide. Don't worry if you don't know either Russian, no Tajik. Explanation in English.
Khorog Museum: Lenin Street 105, opposite the stadium
Pamir Lodge; authentic Pamiri Home
Situated up the hill off Gagarin street. Here, you can see and visit а real Pamiri Home with Arabic verses inscribed on the wooden panels of the traditional house. From here, there is also а hiking trail up the mountains to get а great view of the Khorog Valley.
Pamir Lodge: Gagarin Street 46; Tel 835 222 26545
And last but on least: we'd rather be fishing!
Anywhere along the river, pick up а rod and tackle and join the locals at the Panj river and catch some of those tasty Marinca's. Great fun and an easy meal. No permits are necessary. Go to the market to pick up your gear.
MORE THINGS ТО DO, ONE OR TWO-DAY EXCURSIONS
Khorog is ideally situated for day trips or hikes. There are numerous possibilities; here are а couple of suggestions.
Village Bogev:
There are numerous good hiking opportunities here; ask to be dropped off at the Zoroastrian fire temple. Bogev is а twenty-five-minute ride from Khorog in the direction of Murghab on the Pamiri Highway...
ISHKASHIM DISTRICT:
3 hours South of Khorog, а beautiful road along the Afghan border along the Panj river brings you into the Iskashim district. On Saturday mornings, Iskashim showcases the biggest cross-border market in GBAO. You will cross over to Afghanistan here and leave your passport with the border guards. Ishkashim is the start of the Wakhan Corridor. You can drive all the way to Langar, but you will need а couple of days to do this. Wonderful experience with the Hindu Kush in the background.
GARM-CHASMA:
Hot springs along the road between Khorog and Iskashim. One-hour south of Khorog. There is а nice hotel here and а decent restaurant. From Garm-Chasma, there are several hiking trails up the mountains. Take а dip in the hot springs after your hike. It can easily be done in а day from Khorog.
The Pamirs are а wonderful region with very hospitable people. Please keep the following advice in mind when visiting, especially when hiking or biking. It will make your stay much more enjoyable:
Respect local traditions and culture;
Be grateful when accepting offers of food and hospitality, but don't take advantage of the hospitality, which is legendary here. Always pay for food and accommodation, even if people decline.
Don't drink in public; refrain from too intimate displays of affection;
Help the local economy by patronizing local businesses and by buying local produce;
When photographing people, always ask for permission;
Keep your impact on the environment to а minimum;
Always take rubbish and trash away (although some of the locals will not
follow your lead) with you to where you can dispose of it properly; please set the right example. Keep the Pamirs Pristine.
Don't harass or feed wild animals or catch wild game. Don't hunt or trade in endangered species.