CityOutline guide

Isfara

Place in Sughd Region, Tajikistan

Photo: Шухрат Саъдиев, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Isfara is one of the most prosperous and beautiful cities of the Ferghana Valley of Tajikistan, in the basin of the colorful mountain ranges of Turkestan. A historic Silk Road city, it is now a hidden gem in the far northeast of Tajikistan.

Getting there and around

Getting there

The closest airport is in Khujand (LBD). From the airport, take a taxi to Avtostantsiya, where you can pick up a marshrutka to Isfara for с20. The last marshrutkas leave around 5pm.

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Getting around

Isfara is small enough and compact enough that you can easily walk (<20 minutes) anywhere you'd want to go. Still, if you wish to take a vehicle, the marshrutkas all convene at the station.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Khujand International Airport

Khujand · International · LBD

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Read before you go to Isfara

Articles and travel topics about Isfara and Tajikistan.

Culture & history

Persian Empire

The ancient Persian Empire included areas far beyond modern Persia, now called Iran. At times the Persians controlled much of the Middle East — they were a main antagonist of Ancient Greece a few centuries BCE, and…

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Itineraries

Silk Road

For modern-day trade in China, see Shopping in China The Silk Road (丝绸之路 sī chóu zhī lù), also known as the Silk Route, is not a single road, but a network of historical trade routes across Asia from China to Europe.

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Culture & history

Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is an ancient Iranian religion with a history spanning over 3,500 years, that survives to the present day.

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Itineraries

Pamir Highway

The Pamir Highway leads through the Pamir Mountains in Central Asia. The bulk of the Highway runs through the Tajik portion of the Pamir Mountains, and extends into Kyrgyzstan to the north and Uzbekistan and, briefly,…

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandThe town of Isfara was founded in the 15th century by Arabs who had entered into the Ferghana Valley as part of the broader Arab conquest of Central Asia. The town was originally called Aspara.

Get inThe closest airport is in Khujand (LBD). From the airport, take a taxi to Avtostantsiya, where you can pick up a marshrutka to Isfara for с20. The last marshrutkas leave around 5pm.

Get aroundIsfara is small enough and compact enough that you can easily walk (<20 minutes) anywhere you'd want to go. Still, if you wish to take a vehicle, the marshrutkas all convene at the station.

SeeEach mountain visible from the city center is in a different country (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan). Other than that oddity, there isn't much to see that's special in Isfara other than the giant apricot.

DoTake a walk in the parks, in the city there are two parks: "Ismoili Somoni" and "Isfarang".

BuyIsfara has been famous for craftsmen since ancient times. Woodcarving, blacksmithing, pottery and other crafts have developed here since ancient times. The art of ganch and wood carvers is especially popular.

EatCafe "Isfara", or you can eat cheaply at the Bazaar. Cafe "Isfara" is located in the city center. And the bazaar is located next to the Isfari bus station.

DrinkIsfara is a fairly conservative Muslim town, so alcohol is not easily found. There are some liquor stores in the town, but they're usually holes-in-the-wall and they can be difficult to find.

SleepThere is a hotel in the center of the city "Isfara". There are also the hotels "Shirin" (next to the Cultural Palace), and "Tajiksodirot" not far from the center, about 20-30 meters.

Stay safeThere are territorial disputes between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan over the Isfara Valley. The city suffered from border clashes in September 2022.

ConnectRoaming is available for Russian operators. Local SIM cards can be bought locally for 5 or 10 somoni. Local operators are Babylon, Tcell, MegaFon and Beeline.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Isfara" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Isfara", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Шухрат Саъдиев, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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