🇹🇯 Tajikistan – Hidden Peaks, Persian Roots & Plov for Days
🛬 27 Aug – 02 Sep 2023 🛫
Tajikistan – a country many people can’t even point to on the map, but once you go there, it’s impossible to forget.
Nestled in Central Asia, this small landlocked nation shares borders with Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬, Afghanistan 🇦🇫, and Pakistan 🇵🇰 (through the majestic Pamir Mountains). It’s remote, raw, and absolutely unique.
🌍 A Few Things You Probably Didn’t Know: – Half of Tajikistan’s GDP comes from its migrant workers in Moscow—over 2 million Tajiks live and work in Russia 🇷🇺. – Tajik people are Persian by ethnicity and language, not East Asian as many might assume. – Their national dish? Plov—and it’s absolutely delicious 🍚.
🚶 Border Crossing & New Friends
I entered Tajikistan by land, crossing from Uzbekistan with a Spanish mountaineer I had met along the way. Our first stop? Panjakent, a quiet border town where we found a place to sleep for the night.
There we bumped into a unique group: two Irish couples and a Danish sailor. Yes, you read that right—a sailor in landlocked Tajikistan. Traveling teaches you to expect the unexpected. Rumors were circulating among travelers: “Don’t drink the tap water—not even for brushing your teeth!” And unfortunately, it seemed true. Almost every tourist we met got sick within the first week. Tajikistan is beautiful—but not easy.🔌 The MacBook Quest
The next morning, our mission was to find a MacBook Pro MacSafe charger in the city. Spoiler alert: no luck. So I told my Spanish friend,
“I’ll head to the capital, Dushanbe. I’ll find the charger there and wait for you to catch up.”
It was a 235 km journey through rugged landscapes and winding roads.
🇩🇿 An Algerian Surprise
While traveling through Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, I kept hearing the same thing:
“You’re the first Algerian I’ve ever met!”
It became a running theme—until one evening, something amazing happened. I was in a shared kitchen in Dushanbe when a guy walked in and said:
“Salam Alaykoum.”
I looked at him and asked,
“Are you Algerian?”
He smiled. He was.
We clicked instantly. Spent an entire week together, sharing stories, laughing about travel mishaps, and even cooking a massive pot of plov that lasted us two full days.
🚴‍♂️ A Lesson from the Road
One thing that amazed me was how many European youth cycle across continents, from Europe all the way to Central Asia. It’s a wild journey, full of grit and stories.
I hope to see more Algerians doing that one day. We’ve got the spirit—just need to hit the road.
✨ Final Thoughts
Tajikistan may be small, but it’s full of mountain magic, warm souls, and unforgettable encounters. It’s not the easiest country to travel—but maybe that’s what makes it special.
If you’re looking for a real adventure—off the grid, full of stories, and slightly unpredictable—then Tajikistan might just be your next destination.
