Iskanderkul
Turquoise mountain lake ringed by steep slopes in the Fann Mountains, named after Alexander the Great. Walking paths lead to a waterfall nearby.
Fann Mountains and Iskanderkul
Trekking, camping and homestays in villages suit these rugged peaks and turquoise lakes, not far from Dushanbe.
Attractive locations
Pik Chimtarga
The highest peak of the Fann Mountains, over 5,000 metres, a goal for experienced climbers. Trekkers can see it from the valleys below.
Kulikalon Lakes
Group of mountain lakes in the Fann Mountains, reached on a multi-day trek or a long day walk. Clear water reflects the surrounding peaks.
Kal'ai Mug
Ruins of a hilltop fortress where 8th-century Sogdian documents were found. Visitors come for its remote setting and its place in Central Asian history.
Fann Mountains
A rugged range south of the Zeravshan river with peaks above 5,000 metres, glacial lakes and alpine meadows. It is Tajikistan's best-known area for trekking and mountaineering.
Artuch
A high mountain valley and trekking base in the Fann Mountains, used as a starting point for hikes towards Chimtarga peak and nearby lakes. Basic camps sit among streams and meadows.
Airports
Dushanbe International Airport DYU
It is about 85 km in a straight line from Fann Mountains and Iskanderkul.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Tajikistan page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-12.4 °C34 mm
- Feb-11.1 °C51 mm
- Mar-5.3 °C57 mm
- Apr1.1 °C54 mm
- May6.3 °C36 mm
- Jun10.6 °C14 mm
- Jul13.3 °C3 mm
- Aug12.7 °C2 mm
- Sep8.3 °C2 mm
- Oct2.1 °C16 mm
- Nov-4.8 °C35 mm
- Dec-10.3 °C34 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Feb, Mar, Apr.
Costs
Prices here are about 28% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112. Older numbers still used: fire 01, police 02, ambulance 03 - confirm with your hotel or driver.
local government
Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan (police helpline)
Helps with: Tajikistan's interior ministry, which runs the national police. Its contact page lists a helpline and a duty number; no police unit for tourists is shown.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Tajikistan, including visitors, who needs to reach the police.
Phone: +992 37 221-21-21
Email: info@vkd.tj
Address: 734025, J. Ikrami St. 29, Dushanbe
local government
Committee for Tourism Development (tourism hotline)
Helps with: Tajikistan's tourism committee. Its tourism site lists a hotline open 8:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday, with messages taken by text app outside those hours.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Tajikistan or planning a trip there.
Phone: 118-200-200
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Tajikistan
Helps with: The UN migration agency's mission in Dushanbe. Contact it about migration matters in Tajikistan.
Who qualifies: Migrants and organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +992 48 701 0202
Email: dushanbe@iom.int
Address: 48 Ayni Street, Sozidanie Business Center, Block B, 2nd Floor, 734024 Dushanbe
embassy
Foreign embassies in Tajikistan (official diplomatic list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Tajik foreign ministry links to a Diplomatic List of missions in Tajikistan (2025 edition) as a downloadable file.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy.
local government
Police emergency number 02
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice says to dial 102 from a mobile phone, and that emergency services do not speak English.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 02
local government
Ambulance emergency number 03
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice says to dial 103 from a mobile phone, and that emergency services do not speak English.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 03
local government
Fire emergency number 01
Helps with: Reaches the fire service. UK government travel advice says to dial 101 from a mobile phone, and that emergency services do not speak English.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 01
ngo
Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan
Helps with: The ICRC works with the society on first aid, mine risk education and restoring family links. No contact details are given on that page, so use the society's website.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use it. The ICRC calls the society its main partner in Tajikistan.