Hey guys, hello everyone — if you go to Varzob Gorge, where is it better to head? I’ll be taking a taxi.
Looking for an easy walk, but to see the mountains, get some fresh air, and eat at a local café.
An easy walk can be imagined as simply driving along the gorge — to Varzob and back. There will be mountains on both sides. Usually there used to be cafés along the road, шашлыки.
In general, Dushanbe residents (especially in Soviet times) used to go to Varzob Lake, to sanatoriums, or go hiking in the mountains on their own. A favorite place was the 22 km mark, but now the markings have shifted after Chinese reconstruction. People would climb to peaks, waterfalls, or just have picnics in clearings along small rivers.
You can also go to the Siama River gorge — there used to be interesting alpine meadows and the powerful nature of the river.
Or maybe go to the Khoja Obi Garm sanatorium? You’ll be amazed by the monumentality and technological sophistication of its architecture. The impressions are unforgettable. To build such a structure high up in the mountains!
Pick some waterfall on the map, like Gusgarf or Adzhuka, and walk to it. Or there’s a circular route opposite the Malika hotel. Malika will be on the left if you’re driving from Dushanbe, and on the right the road goes uphill. The route there isn’t difficult, about 8 km in a loop. But you can walk less. There aren’t really many places to eat on that side, so bring food with you.
Among somewhat decent places along the road there’s the Chor-Bed restaurant. And another one nearby. Fine just for a quick bite.
You should take a taxi like locals do — from the exit of the city around Ayni Park, for 10 somoni per person in a shared taxi of 4 people to Varzob