ABOUT PARAMOUNT JOURNEY’S ACTIVITIES
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Are you a direct local travel operator?
Yes, we are operating under the legal name Sayohai Oli, LLC in Tajikistan. -
How to book the tour?
You just provide your passport details and pay the deposit. Please visit our Terms and Conditions page for more details -
How to pay for paramount Journey services?
For the tour package, a deposit in amount of 20% from the total cost of the tour should be paid at least three month before the start of a tour. The money can be transferred through a bank or wise. Wise is the most popular way among our clients due to fast and low fee transactions. -
What is the cancellation policy?
Your deposit is refundable if there any force major cases and if you cancel earlier then three months before your tour starts. A transaction fee is not refundable. Please visit our Terms and Conditions page for more details -
How to decrease the price of tailor made tour?
Due to off-roads, travelling to some part of Tajikistan is not cheap, especially to Pamirs. We always try to minimize the tour cost and suggest our customers to book their customized tour as soon as possible, so we can suggest other travelers to join tour and share some major cost such as transportation and guides service expenses. -
Can you organize transfers to other neighboring countries?
Yes, we can book taxi from/to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) as well as to/from Osh (Kirghistan). -
Can you assist with booking hotel?
Yes, we have partnership agreement with local hotels, and we are able to provide with lower rate than most of booking pages such as booking.com and Expedia.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
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Best time to travel
The best time for trekking in Tajikistan starts from mid of May till October. Skiing season starts from mid of December to mid of March. If you are interested in culture activates then we recommend visiting Tajikistan during Navruz celebration where you can watch traditional Buzkashi games, attend traditional & cultural events. -
Passports and Visas
The government of Tajikistan introduced visa-free regime for the citizens of the following countries:
Australia, UAE, Luxembourg, Brunei, Kuwait, Qatar, New Zealand, USA, Iceland, Canada, Switzerland, Malaysia, Hungary, Austria, Argentine, Germany, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Cuba, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Turkey, Philippines, Finland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Chile, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Estonia, Hellenic Republic, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Thailand, Jordan, Sweden, Jamaica, Japan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine.
However, tourists from above listed countries should get registered within 10 days at police station (OVIR) which can be done by us while you are travelling.Other countries that are not listed above can apply fop e-Visa and GBAO permit (for visiting Pamir) at www.evisa.tj
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Land border crossing
Here are the most common land border crossing checkpoints that are open for foreigners:
Oybek-Buston
Konibodom (Patar)
Batken – Isfara
Penjikent
Denau – Tursunzade
Gulbahor
Ishkashim
Kyzylart -
How to get to Tajikistan?
Dushanbe Airport – flights from: Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (FlyDubai, Somonair), Frankfurt (Somonair), Urumqi (China Southern Airlines), New Delhi (Tajik Air), Tehran (Tajik Air), Beijing (Tajik Air), Almaty (Air Astana, Somonair), and there are many frequent flights to Russian cities from Dushanbe, Khujand, Kulyab by Somonair, Tajik Air, UTair, S7, Ural Airlines. You can also consider flights from/to Tashkent, from/to Osh, and we will take care of your transfer. -
Currency Restrictions for Entry and Exit
There is no currency restriction for entry but you are obligated to declare your money if it exceeds 3000 USD. There is a currency restriction for exit. If your money exceed 3000 USD then you are obligated to declare and provide the permission documents (e.g. entry declaration stated at customs). If the amount exceed more than 10000 USD then you need to provide special permission provided by Central Bank. -
Exchange money and ATMs
It is possible to exchange USD, EURO, Rubles to Tajik somoni at the Dushanbe airports, banks and official exchange offices. It is illegal to exchange foreign currency at non-official places and pay with foreign currency. In recent years, there is a tension with issuing USD at some bank’s ATM machines. -
Tajikistan currency
A national currency of Tajikistan is Tajik Somoni. It is issued in banknote denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Somonis. 1 Somoni is equal to 100 Dirams coins. The most updated exchange rate can be found on http://www.xe.com -
Spoken Languages
Tajik language is the mother tongue of 80% of population. It is the most spoken language as well as Russian in the most of part of the county, less in countryside. In Pamir, people speak pamiri language which is different from Tajik, but they perfectly Tajik and Russian languages too. Same with Yagnbis who speak old yagnobi language. -
Clothing limitations
There is no any limitation neither official nor by society. In the major cities, residents wear European style clothes, traditional and Islamic. To respect locals in the countryside we recommend woman and man to avoid wearing revealing outfit that bare shoulders, above knees and back. -
Vegetarian food
Although, many vegetarians praise tasty fruits and vegetables in Tajikistan, vegetarian meals are not popular in Tajikistan and most of the national meals consist meat. You can find vegetarian cafe in Khujand or Indian restaurants that serve vegetarian food in Dushanbe and Khorog. During the trekking our cook is able to cook vegetarian food. -
Mobile Operators
In Tajikistan you can subscribe to the following mobile operators: Tcell, Megafon, Beeline, Babilon Mobile. In Pamir and Upper Zarafshan we recommend to use Tcell. -
Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations required for entry to Tajikistan. -
Altitude sickness
Usually travelers start to feel altitude sickness on 2500m. All our scheduled and talilor made tours are designed with acclimatization days that help travelers to decrease the risk of altitude sickness. While visiting Gorno-Badakhshan we always suggest the route that starts from Dushanbe. Unlike the route Osh – Murghab – Dushanbe, the route Dushanbe – Khorog – Murghab gains elevation 4000m in 4-5 days while the route from Osh in one day. If you frequently suffering from altitude sickness then we you better consult your doctor for advice and medication, and inform us about it in advance. -
Stomach upset
Having problems with stomach among foreigners is frequent. You can take your medication against stomach upsets and diarrhea with you. Otherwise, your guide have a first kit aid that includes such medications. To prevent diarrhea, we suggest limiting the consumption of fat meals, fruits and fresh vegetables. -
Clothing
Tajikistan is located in sharp continental climate region where in summer temperature in on the mountains can vary from 0 (at night and early morning) to 40 degree (during the day). Therefore, we suggest to take appropriate outfit for high mountain climate as well as summer light dress such as short, shirt with long sleeve. -
Voltage
European two-pin – 220v. -
Luggage transportation during the trekking trips
Donkeys will carry your luggage. Suitcase won’t be possible to carry, only backpacks or soft bags (duffel bags). The weight of the luggage should not exceed 20kg in total. You also must have small backpack for your daypack where you can keep your water, snacks, phone, camera etc. If you are having an advanced trekking tour and hiring a porter then you are allowed to give to the porter 10kg per traveler. The extra stuff you can sgive to the donkeys who will bring you back or carry yourself -
Camping Gears Rentals
You can rent from us sleeping bags, backpacks and trekking poles. -
Water supply
For jeep tours we provide one liter bottled water per day. In the trekking tours we also provide one bottled water per day and you will have opportunity to refill your bottle with boiled water/tea in the morning if you need more. For the breakfast and dinner you will have tea and coffee. -
Weather while trekking
It is unpredictable to forecast the the weather on mountains. It is most likely that it might rain, so you always must be prepared for the rain, hence should have water resistant clothes. No, if it rains it won’t affect your route, you will trek even if it rains or snow. -
Useful items for trekking trip
Each of tour has different list of useful items, but here are the most common items we suggest to take with fo rthe trekking tours:• Backpack (+50kg)
• Sleeping bag (-5C)
• Trekking sticks
• Trekking shoes
• Warm and windproof clothes
• Rain jacket and pants
• Stock of clothes
• Hat/cap
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Flashlight
• First-aid kit
• Personal care products
• Sleeping bag
• Personal crockery
• Plastic bottle for water
• Water purification tablets
• Adaptor
• Other personal items
