HOW TO GET TO THE ZERAFSHAN VALLEY
You can get to the Zarafshan valley from three directions:
From the Uzbek border. Oybek - Penjikent
On arriving in Uzbekistan you should travel from Samarkand or Tashkent in the direction of Tajikistan – Oybek border post – a journey of approximately 5 hours . After passing through customs and immigration at the Oybek border post, you will find taxis to Hujand then from Hujand to Penjikent. The distance from Hujand to Penjikent is 350 km, and takes 5-6 hours. If you want to travel to Aini and Gorno Matcha you must go to the east city station on the outskirts of Penjikent by the city graveyard, where there are vehicles for these destinations. There are also taxis for the Hujand-Penjikent and Khujand-Dushanbe routes. Transportation cost is negotiable, and changes according to the seasons, road conditions and traffic movements. The transportation cost from Hujand to Penjikent is 100 – 120 somoni per person in spring/summer, in winter it costs 130-150 somoni. The taxi cost to Aini settlement is approximately 120-150 somoni per vehicle.
Further on, you will cross the Shakhristan mountain pass (3378m) offering a spectacular panorama, and you will admire the human achievement of constructing a road through such high peaks. Driving down from the pass you will arrive at a crossroads going either to Dushanbe or to Penjikent. Here you are now in the Zarafshan valley.
The taxi station for Aini-Penjikent is on the outskirts of Dushanbe (Vodonasos). You have two options to choose your route from Dushanbe to the Zarafshan valley, either over the Anzob pass (3372m) or through the Anzob tunnel. Driving over the pass is more attractive. Most drivers will only take this route in summer. The distance to the next settlement, Sarvoda, is 135km - 4 hours. However, if you travel in November to May you have to take the Anzob tunnel, length 5km, that was constructed with the help of Iran in 2006, and shortens the total distance to 40km - this way you can drive 90km to Sarvoda from Dushanbe in 3-3.5 hours. Driving down from the pass, on your right you will notice a turnoff to the Yaghnob valley, the home of the descendants of the ancient Soghdian civilisation. By turning there and driving to Murgab village, you can find our guesthouse, service-providers, traditional handicrafts and many other interesting things.
