If you are looking for high mountains, stunning scenery and a country with an incredibly hospitable people, then Tajikistan is the right place. The small Central Asian country was only visited by few Westerners in the 1990s when it was ravaged by civil war, and even today there are few tourists. The pictures here are from a road trip in the summer of 2011 where I travelled with my girlfriend through the Wakhan Valley - the same valley as Marc Polo visited in 1274 on his journey from Europe to China. From there we drove up to the Pamir Plateau to spend a few weeks on the roof of the world among ethnic Kyrgyz, fairytale villages and stunning scenery. The roads in Tajikistan leave something to be desired in terms of comfort and safety. Watch the video from the road between Dushanbe and Khorog.
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 Toilet along the road |
 Afghanistan is on the other side of the river |
 On the border along Afghanistan is still hidden mines from the war against the Soviet Union |
 A break along the Afghan border (the river) |
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 Local mischiefs from Iskashim |
 A shop in Iskashim |
 On the way through Wakhan Valley |
 The old Abrashim Qala fortress in the Wakhan Valley |
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 Museum about the local astronomer (Mubarak Kadam Wakhani, 1843-1903) in Yamg |
 On the way home from the field |
 Two girlfriends from the village of Langar |
 Camels on the Afghan side |
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 On the Pamir Plateau |
 Old Kyrgyz man who offered us tea in his home |
 Entry sign outside Alichor |
 Alichor |
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 Old grave at the Pamir Plateau |
 Horn of wild ibex |
 Invited for tea at a local family in Murgab |
 Construction site in Murgab |
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 Murgab |
 Lenin Statue in Murgab with President of Tajikistan in the background |
 Lenin Statue in Murgab |
 Murgab |
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 Murgab |
 Creative chimney in Murgab |
 Ready for camel safari in Rangkul |
 On camel safari near Rangkul |
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 Nomad camp close to Rangkul |
 There are probably more sheep than people in the Pamir Mountains |
 Nice atmosphere in the evening near Rangkul |
 A future shepherd |
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 Nice atmosphere in the evening near Rangkul |
 Unexpected visit in the mountains |
 Yak ready for milking |
 Nomad camp near Rangkul |
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 Yak-dung is used everywhere as fuel |
 The road between Rangkul and Murgab |
 Sales of milk products at the market in Murgab |
 Former car in Murgab |
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 Pamir Highway with road sign towards Osh in Kyrgyzstan |
 Cave paintings in Shakhty (4200 m) |
 Kyrgyz shepherd family in Pamir |
 Kyrgyz shepherd family in Pamir |
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 Local kirgiser gets a nap |
 For tea and fried Marco Polo sheep at a local shepherd family near Lake Zorkul |
 Local shepherd family at Lake Zorkul |
 Local shepherd family at Lake Zorkul |
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 Yak-calf |
 Sculpture of Ibex along the Pamir Highway |
 The Afghan Market in Khorog |
 The Afghan Market in Khorog |
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 The Afghan Market in Khorog |
 Traffic jam on the road to Dushanbe |
 Sales of apples along the way |
