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Note : Travellers
are advised against all non-essential travel to Tajikistan. The
Karategin valley, Kofarnihon and Tavildara areas, mountainous areas
bordering Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and districts bordering
Afghanistan in particular should be avoided. For further advice,
contact a local government travel advice department.
AIR : The national airline is Tajikistan Airlines (website:
http://www.tajikistanairlines.com). Other airlines serving
Tajikistan include Air Kazakstan, Eurasia Airlines and Samara
Airlines. The UN operates flights for staff and visitors of
humanitarian organizations working in Tajikistan.
Approximate flight times : From Dushanbe to Moscow is 4 hours,
to Karachi is 2 hours and to Delhi is 1 hour 30 minutes.
International airports : Dushanbe Airport (DYU) is 1 mile (2km)
south of the city. Bus nos. 3 and 12, and trains 3 and 4, run to the
city centre 0600-1800 (travel time - 20 minutes). Taxis are also
available 0800-2000 (travel time - 5 minutes). Airport facilities
include first aid, left luggage, chemist, post office, restaurants,
snack bars, tourist information and nursery.
RAIL : Trains are the most reliable way of reaching Dushanbe
for those not arriving by air. Passenger railways are, however,
restricted at present. Dushanbe is connected to a spur of the
Trans-Caspian Railway which winds down to the Afghan border in
Uzbekistan before heading north towards Dushanbe. Travellers are
advised to sit with their back to the engine, as throwing rocks at the
windows of passing trains seems to be a popular pastime among local
children. The journey from Tashkent to Dushanbe takes approximately 22
hours; from Moscow it takes approximately 4 days. Khojand in the north
of the country can be reached directly from Samarkand in Uzbekistan.
There is also a new train service between Dushanbe and Volgograd in
the Russian Federation.
ROAD : Tajikistan can be approached by road from Uzbekistan,
subject to occasional unannounced border closures and snow. Cars with
a Tajik registration, however, are not allowed to enter Uzbekistan,
unless the vehicle belongs to a government body. It is not advisable
to attempt to cross the border from Kyrgyzstan at present. A new road
has recently been built into China (PR). The border between Tajikistan
and Afghanistan is officially closed. Bus : Services have been severely
disrupted by border closures and should not be relied upon. A service
normally operates connecting Dushanbe with Tashkent and Samarkand. |
