Tajikistan on the rise: why Russian tourists are heading to the mountains

Russian travelers are discovering Tajikistan. According to the Russian Union of Tourism Industry, demand for trips to Tajikistan is steadily growing — and many visitors are pairing it with neighbouring Uzbekistan for a double dose of Silk Road culture and mountain adventure.

"Tajikistan is not a promoted destination," admits Darya Domostroeva, Director of Public Relations at Intourist. "But combined routes with Uzbekistan help boost demand. Sometimes a third country — Kyrgyzstan — is added. However, there are also programs fully dedicated to Tajikistan alone." The main request from tourists is a mix of culture and nature. "The Pamir Highway and the Wakhan Corridor are the biggest draw — a classic eight-day route from Dushanbe to Osh in Kyrgyzstan via the Pamir Road," Valery Britaus, Commercial Director of the tour marketplace YouTravel.me, says. "Second is trekking in the Fann Mountains with their turquoise lakes. Third are combined Tajikistan-plus-Uzbekistan programmes," he comments.

Tour operators note two main drawbacks: more expensive airfares compared to neighbouring Uzbekistan, and a tourism infrastructure that is still underdeveloped. There are direct flights to Tajikistan from Russia operated by Ural Airlines, Utair and Tajik national carrier Somon Air. The average price for a Moscow–Dushanbe round-trip ticket starts from 25,000 roubles (around $280).

The peak tourist season runs from May to October, but Domostroeva expects a further rise in demand towards autumn.  "Autumn is the best time to visit neighbouring Uzbekistan, which is among our top five most popular outbound destinations," she explains. "And tourists usually want to see both countries in one trip." The growth is also driven by the Tajik government's ambitious target: welcoming over 2 million foreign visitors by the end of 2026.

Russian Travel Digest collected the latest statistics of Russian tourists to Tajikistan (the main source of statistics is the Committee for Tourism Development under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. In some cases, data from the Border Service of the FSB of the Russian Federation and the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan are also used):

- 2021  ~ 57 000 pax

- 2022 ~ 136 000 pax

- 2023 ~ 262 000 pax

- 2024 ~ 329 000 — 334 000 pax

- 2025 ~ 396 000 pax

Photo by Marina Zatsepina, Russian Travel Digest