This page runs through these resources for Tajikistan:
*Guidebooks
*Maps
*Websites
*General Reading:

Guidebooks

1) The best guidebook for Tajikistan is without doubt Tajikistan and the High Pamirs by Robert Middleton and Huw Thomas (see link below).  Robert Middleton also runs the Pamirs website which is currently the best website going on Tajikistan.  This book has great maps, for instance it includes a trekking route map for the Fann mountains.  Unfortunately its size and the fact it is packed full of history means it isn’t really practical to go trekking with it.  It is far more up to date than the LP guide and a lot more authoritative.  It is excellent for learning about the country, culture and for planning a trip.

2) The Lonely Planet Guide to Central Asia – provides slim pickings for Tajikistan but if going to Central Asia generally and can only fit one book in your backpack – then this would be it.  It will soon be being updated.

3) There are two guidebooks you can pick up in Dushanbe, these can be picked up in the tourist/culture shops. One is called ‘Welcome to Tajikistan,’ apologies I cannot provide a review!

Maps
There are a number of regional maps that include Tajikistan and the surrounding countries, such as the Kazahstan map by Gizi – the latest version now has the Tajikistan southern road under construction via Kulob, which wasn’t present on the old version.

The best map to use for the Pamirs/GBAO is definitely ‘The Pamirs’ map (1:500 000) distributed by Gecko Maps ‘a tourist map of Gorno Badakhshan – Tajikistan and background information of the Region.‘  You can buy it here at Stanfords or here at Gecko (this site is in German).

The best maps to use for the rest of Tajikistan, i.e the Northern and Southern Tajikistan are also by Gecko Maps and are a 1:500 000 scale, they also include some tourism information. This link to Gecko shows them all : Link

Magazines
The Open Central Asia magazine is rather good and informative providing articles on every country in the Central Asia Region. You can subscribe here or visit the publication at here.

There is also Discovery Central Asia Magazine which online provides the Tajikistan Discovery travel guide section and you can subscribe also.

Websites
There is a lack of good websites providing practical information about Tajikistan. The best websites I have already provided the links to on the right hand bar.
The Pamirs Website is generally the best for cultural and historical information and it can give a useful overview to the country and some guidance. The man who runs the website also writes the guidebook and these isn’t a better site online. It unfortunately isn’t always completely up to date – that includes the visa section, and it also isn’t interactive.

To find an interactive website where you can discuss what you are doing and find out what others are doing, you really need to go to the Thorntree forum on the Lonely Planet website.

There are the usual statistics websites for Tajikistan but they are a bit dry, e.g the CIA factbook, and generally Wikipedia has all the same info and more.

There are some travel agencies operating trips to Tajikistan and also some now set up in Tajikistan. A list of the various agencies and contacts for signing up to a trip or organizing one for when you arrive is going to be set out on the ‘Travel agents’ page of this website. One veteran agency that does have a website on Tajikistan offering general advice, including visa advice is the Great Game company. This website, along with the Pamirs website are the most practical ones to visit.

For visas it would also be a good idea to look at the Charity Rallies Visa page. These guys have to keep up to date guidance for their teams driving to or through Tajikistan and so can be a useful alternative reference.

General Reading
I’m putting in here a couple of books that I have really enjoyed and that are relevant to Tajikistan or adjoining region.

* A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush – which I found quaint and entertaining.

* Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson which is frankly inspiring – and also includes his account of the Wakhan Corridor, although on the Afghanistan side. Mr Mortenson has been building many schools against the odds.

*’The Places inbetween’ by Rory Stewart – It is probably the least relevant but if you like armchair adventure, it is hard to believe what this modern day British adventurer gets up to. This book is his story of walking across Afghanistan during the war.