Tajikistan Freeride Tour
Tajikistan is wild, raw, and completely untouched when it comes to snowboarding. The Pamir and Tien Shan ranges tower above 7,000 meters, carved with glaciers, steep couloirs, and wide-open powder fields. Whilst the sole ski resort in Tajikistan is not this high, it offers freeriding in its purest form with no crowds, no hype, and just big mountains and untouched lines.
The Tajikistan Freeride Tour is part of the Mint Tours' Black Ops series and is reserved for riders who want something beyond the ordinary. As part of Black Ops, this means firstly that you have to be an advanced rider, confident in powder and steeps, and have previous backcountry riding experience. The terrain is big, raw, and demands respect. You should only go if you think you can hack it. Secondly, keep this Black Ops trip under your hat and only tell your very best friends. Don't tell your mother.
The base for the week is Safed Dara, Tajikistan’s only ski resort, which has a base at 2,400 meters. From there, you’ll ride everything from resort laps to lift-accessed sidecountry and backcountry zones. The snow stays cold and dry, the terrain is varied, and every day feels like discovery.
You will start and finish the trip in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital. This Silk Road city mixes ancient history with Soviet architecture and vibrant food culture and makes the perfect bookend to a week in the mountains and your trip to
Tajikistan.
Limited spots are available for the Tajikistan Free Tour. This trip is capped at a small crew so everyone gets the best experience.
Dushanbe
Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan and is set in a valley surrounded by mountains. Once a Silk Road trading post, today Dushanbe is a lively hub where modern life mixes with deep tradition. Expect bustling bazaars, delicious food, leafy parks, and time to relax before or after your mountain adventure. The first and last nights are spent here, including a welcome dinner and a farewell feast with the crew.
Ski Area
Safed Dara (formerly Takob) is Tajikistan’s only ski resort. It has around 15 km of groomed runs and several lifts, including a gondola that heads up to 3,100 metres. Whilst the groomers are fun for warm-ups, the real drawcard is what lies beyond which includes wide fields of powder, gullies, and treeline slopes that drop away from the resort. Thanks to its lifts and new infrastructure, Safed Dara offers direct access to untouched freeride terrain without the need for long hikes.
If you have any questions and/or want to check availability
please get in contact.
Terrain
Expect to ski and snowboard a range of terrain throughout the week, from deep powder, in the trees through to wide open pistes, bowls and natural gullies. On this tour you will ride a combination of in-bounds resort terrain, as well as lift-accessed backcountry. At times short boot packs may be necessary. Snowshoes/ Verts are optional. Guests will need to bring their own avalanche safety equipment. No rental equipment is available for this tour.
Ability Level & Health
Firstly, you must be in good physical health to participate fully in this trip and have the right riding level and fitness for the demands of the tour. This trip requires advanced ability. You must be confident riding powder, steeps, and lift-accessed backcountry terrain, with previous backcountry experience essential. If, in the opinion of the guide, a traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without creating undue risk to themselves or the group, Mint Tours reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without refund. Feel free to
get in touch if you want to clarify this.
It is recommended that you visit your doctor before departure for up-to-date medical travel advice and any necessary vaccinations. Please bring a personal first aid kit and any required medications, as these may not be available in the locations of the trip. It is each traveler’s responsibility to arrive adequately prepared, both in terms of health and riding ability.
Lodging
The trip includes 3 nights of accommodation twin-share in Dushanbe and 5 nights accommodation twin-share at Safed Dara. There are a limited number of single rooms available. Solo travelers will be paired with another guest to share a room with. All rooms are mixed gender and if this arrangement is not suitable it is recommended that you book the single supplement.
Extend Your Trip
If one week in Central Asia isn’t enough, you can keep the adventure going with the
Uzbekistan Freeride Tour which dovetails nicely with this trip. A quick flight connects the two trips, giving you back-to-back freeriding in two of the Silk Road’s most untapped destinations.