A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY THROUGH TAJIKISTAN
Among all the Central Asian ‘stans’, for us, Tajikistan immediately stood out. It grabbed our attention from that first glimpse through the airplane window; dry and dusty mountains beckoning us with their harsh exoticism.
But those first sights, while both exciting and enticing, belied the true nature of this hugely varied country. From fertile valleys to arid high plateaus, Tajikistan’s geography served up so many diverse scenes of striking beauty. The mountains especially were a revelation, particularly the Fanns in the country’s northwest. A combination of stark peaks, steep-sided juniper filled valleys, and stunning high altitude lakes make this region one of the world’s top trekking destinations – not to mention a photographer’s dream.
Our journey along the Pamir Highway continued to reveal Tajikistan’s complex character. From the more populated deep valleys of the Pamiri west to the high uplands of the Kyrgyz east, the people and culture are as fascinating and varied as the landscape itself.
Since spending a month in Tajikistan, we’ve felt an ever present desire to return. It has a unique beauty, people of a welcoming nature, and deserves to be travelled to. Here you’ll find a collection of our favourite Tajikistan photos, a series of images summing up our lasting impressions of this stunning Central Asian country.
Click into each image to see it full size and read more about it.
MOUNTAIN LAKES
Tajikistan is a place like no other when it comes to mountain lakes. Crystal clear mirrored surfaces at dawn give way to vibrant shades of emerald green and azure blue, as light is refracted off the fine-grained particles of rock in the water. Seen from the hills above, these lakes appear opaque and full of colour, but lakeside at the break of day, they produce the most magical of reflections. The best concentration of lakes can be found in the Fann Mountains, although many others are dotted throughout the extensive Pamir region.
I have never been to Tajikistan before. However, I really want to be there someday. Thanks for the wonderful photos. All people will fall in love with this place when seeing these photos.
Thanks for the kind words, it’s a beautiful country and we hope to return some day too.
These are gorgeous photos. Parts of Central Asia seem so mysterious. Thank you for this glimpse.
Thank you so much. So much of interest in this region. Glad you enjoyed having a look.
These photos are stunning! I especially love the trekking ones, it looks like an amazing place to hike. Tajikistan was never really on my travel radar, but it is now 🙂
Cheers, Casey! It’s such a great place to hike, either multi-day treks or just a short hike away from the main roads travelled. Time to get planning ?
Beautiful photos, thankyou
Thank you, Fran!