Jul 25, 2024 • 7 min read
18.07.2024 - 15:12 / lonelyplanet.com
Jul 18, 2024 • 6 min read
The smallest of the five Central Asian countries, Tajikistan is a mountainous nation tucked between China to the east, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and Afghanistan to the south.
With snow-peaked ranges punctuating the skies, slabs of enormous rock formations spanning shades of brick red to charcoal grey, and glacial run-off pouring into churning white rapids, Tajikistan is ideal for hiking, camping and taking advantage of the innumerous viewpoints overlooking the lakes and rivers.
If you’re interested in history in addition to natural beauty, look no further. This nation of 10 million people has witnessed the hustle and bustle of the Silk Road, the might of the Soviet Union at its peak, and visits from the likes of Alexander the Great and Chinggis Khan. This is everything you need to know about planning your first trip and what to expect when you arrive.
With 93% of Tajikistan covered in mountains, there’s a big difference in temperature between the lower and higher elevations. Most of the country's cities are located in the lowlands and the summers are dry with temperatures ranging between 23°C to 30°C (73°F to 86°F). In the winter months, it’s typically closer to −1°C to 3°C (30.2°F to 37.4°F). In the mountainous regions, it can reach -20°C (-4°F) and up to 150 cm of snowfall.
Considering the plethora of outdoor activities, ranging from hiking and camping around the countless trails and mountains to horseback riding and fishing, the most popular months to visit are May, June, September and October. For those who love winter landscapes and hiking in the snow, beware that avalanches and floods are common from December through March. The largest official holiday in the country is Navruz, the Persian New Year. To catch the colorful outfits, elaborate table settings, and floral launch of springtime, plan your trip around the big day on March 21.
To see the highlights of Dushanbe, two full days are sufficient. Hisor and Safed Dara are easy day trips while Iskander-Kul is an overnight trip. Take two or three days for trips to Khujand or Panjakent. For a visit to the Pamirs, most people take between seven to twelve days.
The largest airport, DYU, in the capital Dushanbe services flights from 11 countries. It’s the primary international hub for entering and exiting from other countries, and the two largest connecting cities are Dubai, via Fly Dubai, and Istanbul, via Turkish Airlines.
Citizens of several former Soviet nations can enter Tajikistan without a visa and stay indefinitely. For most other countries, the maximum stay is 30 days. You can travel visa-free if your country is on the exempt list; otherwise, you can apply for a tourist visa online. Check out the
Jul 25, 2024 • 7 min read
As the Olympics take over Paris, the hospitality scene is expanding in the city — and beyond — with a handful of new hotel openings worth bookmarking for a visit once the crowds have died down. Le Grand Hôtel Cayré opened in the Seventh Arrondissement earlier this month with 123 rooms, all with handcrafted wooden beds and mustard yellow velvet chairs, some with balconies and views of the Sacre Coeur or Eiffel Tower. In Carry-le-Rouet, a seaside village outside of Marseille, L’Hôtel Bleu’s design follows its name with 44 harbor-view rooms decorated in shades of blue. The property’s restaurant offers three seafood-heavy, Mediterranean-inspired tasting menus, while a private cinema room can be reserved when the weather calls for some indoor time. Further east toward Cannes, in the commune of Mougins, Hôtel Le Mas Candille was recently redesigned by the architect and decorator Hugo Toro, whose hand-painted patterns appear on the curtains and carpets in the 46 rooms. Its Glow House spa has four treatment rooms, each with its own terrace, and a private swimming pool overlooking Provence. In Nice’s old town, Hôtel du Couvent opened last month within a 17th-century convent surrounded by two-and-a-half acres of gardens. The former nuns’ herbal shop has been revived and now offers personalized remedies, some made from herbs grown on the property. There’s also a bathing area with pools of varying temperatures inspired by the nearby Roman baths.
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Aside from the Refugee Team, the Palestinian squad will be the only one at the Paris 2024 Olympics with the majority of its athletes living outside their home country.
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