• About us

    Zarafshan Tourism Development Association (ZTDA) is a public organization that develops ecotourism and handicrafts in the Sughd region. We support the local community, create tours, train guides and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the region.

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TOUCH THE NATURE, FEEL THE HISTORY

Zarafshan Tourism Development Association (ZTDA) is a young public organization created in March 2008. Within the framework of the project Community-based Tourism in the Zarafshan Valley. The project was implemented by the local NGO APPR NAU and the German NGO Welthungerhilfe with the financial support of the European Commission.
ZTDA develops community-based tourism in the Sughd region adapted to the local community, culture and environment.
Today, ZTDA  represents the interests of its members, who provide various tourist services, ranging from guides, cooks, porters, horse-drawn transport to transport services and homestays.

 

The organization has developed more than 20 tours, conducted various trainings and seminars. Conducts various environmental campaigns to protect the environment.
Also, to ensure the quality of services, ZTDA has developed internal standardization of services and tourist products. Since ZTDA promotes community-based ecotourism, the organization pays great attention to ecology. ZTDA has developed an ecotourist code with recommendations for tourists.
ZTDA also develops handicrafts in the mountainous areas of the Sughd region, thereby not only providing local women with jobs, but also working to preserve the cultural heritage of the region.
It is no coincidence that the name of the Zerafshan Tourism Development Association (ZTDA) contains the word “Development”, thus we involve the local community in the development of tourism and handicrafts. The activities of the ZTDA are aimed at improving the well-being of the local community: reducing poverty, creating new jobs and at the same time preserving the fragile environment and cultural heritage.

 

ZTDA adheres to the following four principles:
  1. Participation of the local community in the activities of the ZTDA;
  2. Financial transparency in the activities of all ZTDA members;
  3. Support of local initiatives in tourism and handicrafts;
  4. Preservation of the natural environment and cultural heritage.
In any conditions

We are ready to work in any conditions and adapt to your needs, so that each of your trips is comfortable, safe and unforgettable, regardless of the complexity of the situation.

Professional team

Our team consists of experts in the field of tourism, with deep knowledge and professional skills that will provide you with quality service and attention to detail.

Experienced travelers

We are a team of people who have visited many different corners of the world and are ready to share with you our valuable experience and recommendations for the perfect trip.

HOW IT BEGAN

Tourism is gradually reviving in the two most attractive locations of Tajikistan: the Pamirs and the Fan mountains of the Zarafshan Valley. However, the pace of this revival has been restricted due to a hangover from the Soviet Union’s style of tourism control. As a result, tourism plays an insignificant role in the development of the regional economy. The Government of Tajikistan has shown little initiative in developing the tourism sector, despite their expressed hope that tourism will be an alternative economic sector for resource poor mountain areas of the country.
In 2007, the local Public Organization ASDP NAU and the German NGO Welt Hunger Hilfe launched a Community Based Project in the Zarafshan Valley, with financial support from the European Commission. The project aims to strengthen the tourism sector in the valley and to establish an alternative source of income in this picturesque land. The mountainous landscape is simultaneously the biggest challenge and the main opportunity. Tourism is an under developed economic activity here, but has good potential. The Zarafshan Valley was a famous tourist destination in Soviet times and thousands of tourists visited the area every year. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the civil war resulted in the complete decline of this economic sector. At present, very few tourists visit the area, although it possesses exceptional natural beauty and is home to an ancient culture.
The main attractions of the valley are its alpine characteristics: the high peaks, deep blue lakes, mountain passes, juniper forests and vast alpine pasture make it a paradise for trekking and mountaineering. In addition, there are several cultural and religious sites dating back to the age of the Great Silk Road. Another advantage of the valley is its geographical proximity to the city of Samarkand, the most famous tourist centre of Central Asia.
The Soviet style of tourism paid little attention to the role of the community, tourism was managed by the central administration and the services offered were very narrow. The few tourists visiting at present travel through intermediary travel agencies, using their personnel and support. In this way the local community becomes just a part of the scenery and has no benefit from it. New Tourism Initiative Groups (TIGs) created in 6 areas (Haftkul, Iskanderkul, Alauddin, Yagnob, Gornaya Matcha, Veshab) are the centre of community management for the development and improvement of tourism services at village level.
 
In order to achieve a decentralized approach to tourism based on the community, effective coordination and relations between the parties concerned are essential. To this end Zarafshan Tourism Development Association has been established in the Zarafshan Valley. ZTDA is the main element in project implementation and aims to bring together the community (TIG service providers), private sector (travel agencies, tour operators) and relevant government departments at district and regional levels.
 
Under the project, the service providers (home stay owners, guides, drivers, cooks, and porters in 6 TIGs) were introduced to the new tourist activities. They acquired new skills by attending the training courses on hospitality, guiding, basic English, international cuisine and others. In order to ensure continuously high quality in the tourist services offered by the members of the TIGs, internal standards for each type of service were created.
 
20 home stays in 13 villages in the Zarafshan Valley have undergone this process and are now ready to host guests.
In addition, some small scale, cost-efficient measures were adopted to improve the infrastructure in the target villages.
With project support a series of marketing activities for promoting the Zarafshan Valley were undertaken by ZTDA:
–       Attractive packages, information and promotion material was created.
–       Familiarization tours for tourist agencies and media were organized.
–       ZTDA and Zarafshan Valley as tourist destination were presented at national, regional and international tourism fairs.

Our Team

Jamshed Yusupov
Executive Director
Shahzod Numonov
Guide-Interpreter
Shahrom Odirmatov
Guide-Interpreter
Таджикистан является домом для Памира, часто называемых «Крышей мира», где можно найти одни из самых высоких вершин мира.
Страна может похвастаться второй в мире по величине плотиной Нурекской плотиной, высотой которой стоит 300 метров.
Таджикистан имеет высокий процент горной местности, 93% страны покрыты горами.
Древний город Пенджикент известен как «Помпеи Центральной Азии» благодаря хорошо сохранившимся археологическим останкам согдийской эпохи.
Озеро Искандеркуль, названное в честь Александра Великого, потрясающее альпийское озеро, окруженное мифами и легендами
Таджикистан - лингвистическая аномалия, так как в первую очередь говорит на таджикском диалекте персидского языка, окружен тюркоязычными
Вакханский коридор, узкая полоса земли Таджикистана, соединяет Центральную Азию с Афганом и является важнейшим проходом для древних торговцев и исследователей.
Таджикистан располагает одними из старейших известных в мире поселений, проживающих на десятки тысяч лет назад.
Горы Фанны - рай для трекингов с кристально чистыми озёрами, такими как Алаудин и Куликалон.
Столица Таджикистана Душанбе на персидском означает «понедельник», поскольку город изначально развивался вокруг рынка понедельника.
В стране насчитывается более 1000 ледников, при этом ледник Федченко является самым длинным за пределами полярных регионов, простирающимся более 77 километров
Традиционное таджикское гостеприимство часто включает в себя подачу гостям зелёного чая в знак уважения и душевного тепла.
Анзобский тоннель, также известный как «Туннель смерти», — это печально известный проход через горы, соединяющий север и юг страны.
Таджикистан празднует Персидский Новый год Навруз с роскошными праздниками, включающими традиционную музыку, танцы и кухню.
Легендарный Шелковый путь прошел через Таджикистан, оставив после себя наследие культурно-исторического влияния, видимое в древних

Tours We Offer

Personal tour

days

11

Unlimited

Group limit

Moderate/Hard

Difficulty

Hiking Expedition

GOLDEN FANS

Personal tour

days

10

Unlimited

Group limit

Moderate

Difficulty

Hiking Expedition

SOGDIAN GEMS