Car & 4x4 rental

• • Sedans are fine for Dushanbe–Khujand, Hisar, Kulob and Varzob.
• • For Iskanderkul, Fann Mountains, Wakhan and the Pamir Highway you need a 4x4 with high clearance.
• • Expect $60–120 per day for a 4x4 with driver, fuel usually excluded.
• • An international driving permit plus passport is required; keep both with you at checkpoints.

Shared taxis

• • The backbone of intercity travel — cars leave from set lots when full, mostly 05:00–09:00.
• • Dushanbe → Khujand ≈ 5 h, Dushanbe → Khorog 14–16 h, Dushanbe → Penjikent 5–6 h.
• • Pay per seat; buying two seats gives you room on long mountain legs.
• • Agree the price before departure and keep small somoni notes.

Domestic flights

• • Dushanbe ↔ Khujand takes about 1 hour and saves the Anzob tunnel drive.
• • Dushanbe ↔ Khorog is spectacular but weather-dependent and often cancelled.
• • Book early in summer; baggage limits are strict on small aircraft.

City public transport

• • Dushanbe buses and trolleybuses are the cheapest way around, but require a CityCard — no cash.
• • Marshrutka minibuses cost 1–3 TJS and run until about 21:00.
• • Use the Jura Taxi app for fixed prices and verified drivers.

Mountain roads

• • Drive only in daylight: no lighting, livestock on the road, and unmarked drop-offs.
• • The Anzob tunnel is dark and wet; Shakhristan and Ak-Baital passes can hold snow into June.
• • Landslides and river crossings are common in May–June melt — always keep buffer days.
• • Fill up fuel in Dushanbe, Khujand, Khorog or Murghab; stations in between are unreliable.

Border crossings

• • Penjikent → Samarkand (Uzbekistan): busiest and easiest crossing, open daily.
• • Oybek → Tashkent (from Khujand) and Fotehobod are the northern options.
• • Kyzyl-Art → Sary-Tash (Kyrgyzstan): 4,280 m, summer only, GBAO permit required.
• • Bring passport, visa/e-visa printout, and expect no ATMs at the border.