1. Day 1 Arrival day and Independence Day in Dushanbe

   We’ll meet at a designated meeting point in Dushanbe. Ask your Tour Manager for information on Airport Transfers.

   Dushanbe is a relatively young capital since prior to 1929, the modern capital was just a small village. Dushanbe gained prominence under the USSR as a textile production hub, although under the rule of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, the city was initially named Stalinabad. These days, Dushanbe takes on a post-Soviet elegance with its tree-lined streets and large parks making for a city with a real homely feel.

   This morning may be an early arrival for some, however, we will be ready to meet and depart at 10 AM to make the most of the day. As it’s Independence Day, there will be a lot to see and do around the capital.

   Independence Day is the most important holiday in Tajikistan, marking the independence of Tajikistan as the Soviet Union dissolved in the 1990s. In modern Tajikistan, this holiday is still significant and marked with parades, celebrations and other activities.

   After breakfast, our first visit is to Dushanbe’s Victory Park built to honour those who fought and lost their lives during the Second World War, also called the Great Patriotic War. We can expect a mixture of emotions as locals celebrate the national holiday with various festivities.

   This afternoon we will continue with a Dushanbe Walking Tour starting at the Dushanbe Train Station before following the central boulevard towards the city centre. Along the way, we’ll see statues commemorating the Basmachi Revolution and great examples of Soviet architecture. We will also catch some of those famed mosaics, some hidden and some easily visible from the street as well as any locals out enjoying their day off.

    

   Accommodation: Hotel Tajikistan

   Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner

2. Day 2 The Soviet Union In and Around Dushanbe

   Today we’re off to see a lot more Soviet history as we begin our morning with a visit to a mighty feat Soviet of engineering, the Nurek Dam.

   The 300-metre high Nurek Dam was initially completed in 1972. At the time of its construction it was the world’s tallest dam. Along with the Dam a model town was built, also named Nurek, to house the various workers and their families.

   Once our visit to the dam is complete, we’ll drive back to the city for a spot of lunch whilst also stopping to photograph a few more buildings and mosaics on the way.

   After lunch, it’s off to the Ancient Hissar Fortress. However, this old site is undergoing some pretty heavy renovation, although it shouldn’t matter too much as it has been destroyed 21 times during its history. We’re here to catch a glimpse of some of the original outlying buildings and the History Museum which gives an excellent overview of Tajikistan.

   Once our visit here has finished, we will return to Dushanbe making sure to stop by a Lenin Statue en route.

    

   Accommodation: Hotel Tajikistan

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

3. Day 3 Village Visits and Exploring a Soviet Ski Resort

   It’s up and out after a hearty breakfast as we bid farewell to the cafes and coffee shops of beautiful Dushanbe and exchange them for stunning mountains. As we pass through the city’s outskirts there’s plenty to see, from Dachas of Tajikistan’s rich and famous to the narrowing cliffs of the Varzob Valley. We’ll eventually turn into the beautiful Takob Valley, home to remote villages, abandoned Soviet-era mines, and the Safed Dara Ski Resort, our destination.

   As we work out way up the valley, we’ll stop at a small village for a Traditional Tajik Lunch as well as some hiking in the hills. If we’re lucky, our host will provide some of his homemade honey.

   Many of the people who live in this valley speak ancient Sogdian; they were once inhabitants of the nearby Yagnob valley but relocated here during the Soviet period.

   After we’ve enjoyed the local hospitality it’s time to move further up the valley to the Safed Dara Ski Resort, this remote resort will be our home for tonight, giving us a great place to relax.

   Those who wish can take further hikes into the mountains, enjoy the cable car or relax and imagine the many Soviet officials who would have come to enjoy this resort, far from the stresses of city life.

    

   Accommodation: Safed Dara Ski Resort

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4. Day 4 From the Ski Resort to a Very Odd Health Spa

   After breakfast, we’ll have a leisurely start with a free morning to enjoy a little more time in the mountains, take a stroll, or relax before we head off.

   Today we will head back down the Takob Valley and up the Varzob Valley as we make our way to the mammoth Khoja Obi Garm Health Spa. This ageing Soviet marvel sits perched against the mountains like a Bond villan’s mountain fortress.  The building is an impressive display of brutalist style architecture looking out of place against the stunning mountain backdrop.

   Construction began on Khoja Obi Garm in 1935 following on from Lenin’s decree that more attention should be paid to workers’ health within the Soviet Union. From 1922, two weeks holiday were to be given to workers during this time. They would often attend one of the many spa resorts being constructed across the Soviet Union. Construction of Khoja Obi Garm would continue right up until the collapse of the Union in 1991!

   The spa will not fail to impress, its gargantuan size from outside of the building filling the mountain slopes; however, inside its rooms and facilities have begun to decay.

   We’ll spend the afternoon with the feeling that we’ve travelled back to the 1960s whilst attendants poke, prod and recommend various scary treatments. We’ll be able to wander around this ageing building where time appears to have stood still.

   If plunging in into radioactive water, steam baths and massages are not for you then you’re free to head out to photograph this behemoth from outside.

    

   Accommodation: Khoja Obi Garm Health Spa

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

5. Day 5 Tunnel of Death, Firey Caves & Iskanderkul Lake

   This morning it’s goodbye to our mountain stronghold as the adventure continues. Boarding our vehicles we find ourselves climbing up over the Zarafshan mountain range towards Alexander Lake. Along the way, our drive takes us through the notorious Tunnel of Death. 

   Construction of the Anzob Tunnel began in 2002; the work was challenging as the tunnel lies 2,720m below the surface and workers would have to cut through 5,040 metres of rock. In 2006, despite being unfurnished, the tunnel opened. Lacking sufficient lighting, air purification and drainage, the tunnel quickly became the scene of some terrible accidents; hence its grizzly moniker: The Tunnel of Death. However, 2014 saw work undertaken to fix the worst of the issues. These days it’s a little rugged, but a lot safer to navigate.

   Once through the Tunnel of Death, we’ll zig-zag our way down the towards the Yagnob Valley where, along the way, we will stop for photos of the Anzobskiy Mercury Mine which looks as terrifying as it sounds – a true remnant of the industrial Soviet Union marked with colourful mosaics.

   Further down the valley, we will pass the Kuhi-Malik Firey Caves. Plumes of smoke emanating from the mountainside give away their presence. These caves have formed from burning coal seams that are still ablaze today. Herodotus mentions them, and it’s also believed the Zoroastrian religion used them as inspiration.

   As we continue, we’ll drive past more abandoned Soviet factories and once busy towns, eventually arriving at the shores of Iskander Lake.

   Iskanderkul is said to be the place where Alexander the Great paused his empire-building to marvel at the lake’s beauty. In reality, the lake was created in more recent times, the product of a violent earthquake, although there is no denying its beauty.

   Once at Iskanderkul we’ll head to our chalets before exploring the area. This afternoon you’re free to relax or join us as we hike to the nearby waterfalls.

    

   Accommodation: Basic Chalets

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6. Day 6 Iskanderkul lake to Soviet Khujand City

   Today we have a long but beautiful drive ahead of us with Soviet gems galore. Today is a day of statues, mosaics, trucks and buildings.

   Our first stop a small secluded mining town nestled in a deep mountain valley. Here we’ll see a rather impressive mosaic of Lenin and a few mining statues added for good measure. Once we leave, we’ll follow the road through steep-sided river valleys and over mountain passe. As we go, we’ll pass the small town of Ayni. During the Soviet Union’s war with Afghanistan, Ayni housed a major Soviet airbase. Now the airbase has gone, but a rather angry looking Lenin Statue still calls Ayni his home.

   On the road again, we’ll climb over the Shahristan Pass (3372 metres) nearing Khujand – we have one last place to stop the town of Istravshan.

   Istravshan for many will be one of the tour highlights. The town itself is considered to be one of the most interesting in the whole of Tajikistan, founded 2,500 years ago. It’s been referred to as mini-Bukhara or Samarakand but without the tourists. Istravshan is a town dominated by its ancient citadel and the more recent bust of Lenin; one of the largest ever constructed. This mighty construction sits atop the Kattasoyskoye Dam, visible for miles around.

   After exploring the ancient and Soviet sites of Istravshan, we’ll continue the adventure to Khujand once known as Leninabad. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a well-deserved meal and a drink or two before settling down for the night.

    

   Accommodation: Hotel

   Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7. Day 7 Explore Khujand

   A day for exploration, we’ll begin with a short trip to visit a Lenin Statue, this one said to be the tallest in Central Asia and befitting a city once bestowed with the name of this Soviet colossus. Khujand’s Lenin wasn’t toppled or relegated to a location far from the city, but moved Victory Park a few hundred metres from its original site.

   Lenin now stands on the Avenue of Heroes alongside other monuments, remembered amongst those who lost their lives in the Afghan War. From here we will explore some of the Soviet-era residential areas and stop by the city square, dominated by the statue of Ismail Somani as he looks out over some huge Soviet-style stadiums.

   A drive to the city centre will take us to Khujand Fortress, home to the Historical Local Lore Museum of Archeology and Fortification. The museum covers the history of Khujand from Cyrus the Great all the way through to the city’s more recent heritage.

   After the museum we’ll have the fantastic opportunity to view some impressive bas-reliefs depicting Soviet legends, including Yuri Gagarin and Vladimir Lenin.

   A trip to the Panjshanbe Market is the perfect excuse to try some local food alongside Khujand locals.

   As well as being a perfect lunch and shopping stop, Panjshanbe Market is worth admiring for its Soviet architecture. Completed in 1964, its overall design incorporates elements of the Soviet neoclassical style along with traditional Central Asian features.

   From the market, we can venture across the road to see the interesting World War II memorial, after which we’ll take a short drive to visit a local family. The local family we visit have opened up a small museum as well as having an exciting collection of items from Tajikistan’s Soviet past.

    

   Accommodation: Hotel

   Included Meals: Breakfast

8. Day 8 Origins of the Soviet Union's First Atomic Bomb & More!

   Today, we’ll continue with the revolutionary feel as we leave the heart of the city. Our first stop is the slightly surreal Arbob Cultural Palace.

   The Arbob Cultural Palace was modelled on the winter gardens of Peterhof, St Petersburg. Its original function was surprisingly the main headquarters of a collective farm but would go onto be a lot more.

   In 1992, the Arbob Cultural Palace was the location from where the Tajik Soviet officially declared independence from the Soviet Union and later the place from where the peace talks were to be held, ending Tajikistan’s bloody civil war.

   After leaving the palace, we will drive to the Uranium Town of Buston, formerly known as Chkalovsk. This town was once closed to all outside visitors due to its nuclear links. We’ll also make sure to stop at another such town which is even more interesting as it was where Uranium for the Soviet Union’s first atomic bomb, RDS-1, was mined.

   We will cross over the Kayrakkum Dam, passing the reservoir of the same name – another Soviet project, completed in 1957. We will explore the town of Kayrakkum, some of whose buildings were constructed by German prisoners of war. From here we can also add another Lenin Statue to our list. Continuing our drive, we will visit the city of Ghafurov. Built in 1965 and named Sovietabad, the city still retains some of its Soviet architecture.  Finishing our visit, we will return to Khujand to prepare for our last group meal and our departure the following day.

    

   Accommodation: Hotel

   Included Meals: Breakfast

9. Day 9 End of the Tour

   The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Khujand.

   Contact your Tour Manager for information on airport transfers.

   A return drive to Dushanbe will cost 100 USD including hotel accommodation, or your welcome to join us for our Soviet Kyrgyzstan tour.

    

   Included Meals: Breakfast

   END OF TOUR

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