VANJ VALLEY

In central Tajikistan, where the Panj River changes its course, is the Vanj Valley, an attractive space that sprawls out beneath the Pamir Mountains. In the spring time, the river is bloated and angry with melt water, and there are still banks of snow reaching down to the water’s edge. This means, however, that when summer finally arrives in June, the vegetation is lush and green, and the riverside orchards are overflowing with fruits to eat.

The Vanj Valley Tajikistan, which overlooks Afghanistan, was a key location in the 19th century Great Game, the spying match between the Russian Empire and British India. More than a century on, the Tajik villages developed with the arrival of electricity and passing trade, but those on the Afghan bank of the river appear to be caught in a time warp. The contrast is a fascinating case study in development.

If you are looking for things to do in the Vanj Valley, you should know that this part of Tajikistan is less about actual modern landmarks and more about the incredible natural scenery. You’ll discover a host of extraordinary high-altitude hikes, glacier treks, rock climbing, jeep rides, and mountaineering adventures on a Vanj Valley hiking holiday.

Forming part of the glorious ‘Roof of the World’, the Pamir Mountains are filled with an impressive collection of sky-scraping glaciers. While the largest glacier on Earth is hands down the Lambert-Fisher Glacier in Antarctica, the 70-plus-kilometer Fedchenko Glacier right here in Tajikistan is the longest outside of Antarctica and the Arctic.

If you’re up for hiking the Vanj Valley’s high-altitude climbs, make sure you acclimatise for a few days first – there are plenty of authentic Tajik villages to choose from in the surrounds of both Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Another highlight of the Vanj Valley is trekking around the Poi Mazar, Academy of Science Range, and Ismoli Somoni Peak, the highest in Tajikistan. As the Fedchenko Glacier lies within Tajik National Park, part of the West-central Gorno-Badakhshan (or Gbar Tajikistan) region, permits are required if you’re looking to scale the surrounding peaks.

Outdoorsy travelers will be in their element discovering the various trekking routes in the Western Pamir. The Vanj Valley to Yazgulom Valley route specifically attracts trekkers to visit Vanj Valley, winding its way along dusty tracks up the Langar Glacier and past old quartz mines. This route is best enjoyed in the fall or spring when the river is at its lowest flow rate, so we’d recommend taking this into account when planning your hiking holiday in Tajikistan.