Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There is a general threat from terrorism in Tajikistan.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• The overall security situation in Tajikistan is currently stable but tourism, health and transport infrastructure in country is poor and travel requires careful planning. You should avoid off-road areas immediately adjoining the Afghan, Uzbek and Kyrgyz borders, which may be mined.  See the Local Travel section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6.  The WHO website at www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details.  Check the “Swine Flu” page of the FCO website for further information.
  
  
• There is increased and ongoing police and security agency activity in the Tavildara and Darvaz area. There are police checkpoints along route 3, and there have been instances when transit along this road is not possible. Due to the heavy rains and bad weather in May/June 2009, travel on roads from Dushanbe to Jirgital and from Dushanbe to Tavildara is hazardous.  
  
  
• There have been landslides/mudslides and collapsed bridges in the Rasht Valley and Garm/Tavildara region, making some roads treacherous or impassable.  Unnecessary travel to this region should therefore be avoided.
  
  
• One British nationals required consular assistance in Tajikistan in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (0 cases); hospitalisations (0 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (1 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (0 cases).
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance including evacuation by air ambulance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.