Day 0.

Outside Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport, ready to begin the journey to Tajikistan. I hadn't been to this side of the airport since my trip to Moldova in November last year.


Tajikistan was my last Central Asian country to visit. I had been holding off visiting the country as I wanted to do a ~8-9 day trip on the famous Pamir Highway which runs through the east of the country and along the border of Afghanistan. With the upcoming birth of our daughter however and probably a while since I could spare that much leave, I decided to go for a quick long weekend trip organised by a local tour group for $860 including flights to Dushanbe.

At the ground-side Costa Coffee for a pre-trip group meeting with Piotr, the tour organiser (left).


There was nine of us on the trip, all expats from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi with a range of nationalities including Polish, Indian, Czech, American and Saudi.

Our flight to Tajikistan was a simple direct flight on Somon Air (SZ), a private Tajikistan airline.


We then queued up to check-in to our flight to Dushanbe. Piotr had warned us that fellow passengers would ask us to help check some of their excess luggage. Sure enough we were approached several times but we politely declined.


Boarding the 737-900ER for our midnight departure.


The safety demonstration during push-back.


Sandwich, cake and orange juice served soon after take-off. I then put on my eye shades and put in some ear plugs for a few restless winks.



Day 1.

Disembarking in the early morning hours after arrival at Dushanbe International Airport.


My Tajikistan e-visa which I had gotten in advance online for $50.


And after a short queue at immigration I was quickly stamped into my 132nd country visited.


After collecting our luggage we were met by our local guide, Said, and then escorted to a pair of waiting vans outside at dawn.


We then made the short drive across town to the Asia Grand Hotel.


My roommate for the trip was Wael, an easy going guy from Saudi Arabia but living in Dubai. I then crashed into bed for a couple of hours to rest up before for a day of hiking.


An omelette and some much needed coffee for breakfast at the hotel restaurant.


After meeting up with everyone in the hotel lobby, we hit the road for the drive west to Shirkent National Park.


And heading north towards the mountains.


With our guide, Mona with Mohamed loading up his donkey with water bottles to lighten the load for us on the hike into the hills.


Today's hike would be approximately 10 kilometres round trip to see the fossilised footprints at the Shirkent dinosaur trails.


We then headed up into the hills.


Passing some beehives.


Mohamed offering us some fresh and juicy plums.


One of Mohamed's sons going ahead with the donkey and water bottles.


Apart from the ~30°C Tajik summer heat, the walk was relatively easy going and not too strenuous.


Stopping for a break to rehydrate in the shade.


Climbing up the parched brown mountain fields.


Mohamed's son on the donkey leading the way.


Just after 1pm we arrived at the site of the dinosaur trails, which were situated on a steep cliff face after millions of years of tectonic plate movement.


And scrambling up some scree and loose rocks for a closer look.


Mohamed posing with one of the footprints. They were quite impressive to see up close and I couldn't help but imagine the giant beast that created them many years ago.


Discovered by alpinists during the time of the Soviet Union, the footprints belonged to a new species of a two legged, carnivorous Theropod Macropodasaurus.


Some of the better sets of footprints were near the top of the cliff and quite inaccessible. I launched my drone and flew up the cliff face for a better view however.


Looking to the east with the distinctive sedimentary layers of rock visible.


And to the west, snow-covered mountains on the Uzbek-Tajik border and only ~10 kilometers away.


After the enlightening paleontology field trip we started the trek back.


Going downhill was alot easier and it didn't take so long to make our way down the valley.


And were rewarded with a healthy spread of fresh fruit, bread, honey and yogurt waiting for us.


And roast chicken and vegetable stew for lunch.


Mohamed's two daughters with matching dresses.


And marvelling at my drone buzzing them from above!


After thanking Mohamed for the excursion to see the dinosaur trails and the delicious lunch, we started the hike back to the main road.


A caravan of donkey's carrying firewood down from the hills. We then met up with the two vans again for the drive back.


And back in Dushanbe where the city was experiencing a bit of a late afternoon downpour.


In the evening we headed to a local restaurant situated on the banks of the Varzob river.


Beetroot salad to start. It was quite a diverse group, both in terms of nationalities, careers and travels and made for some interesting conversations.


Followed by the vegetable soup.


Plenty of protein with grilled beef, chicken and lamb kebab for the main. I chatted with Said on trips he helps organise to the west of the country and including a camping/hiking excursion over the border into Afghanistan.


And managing to squeeze in a scoop of tasty ice cream for dessert.