Beautiful and remote, three major Silk Road routes ran through Tajikistan’s present-day territories. These ancient routes highlight the Tajik contributions to commerce and culture of the time, particularly between the 5th and 12th centuries. The country consists of almost entirely folded mountains, although the country can be divided into four regions: the Ferghana Valley to the north; the Hissar and Vakhsh Valleys to the south; the Pamir Mountains to the east which rise to 7,500m and the Gorno- Badakhshan Oblast which is a plateau at 3,650m; and, the Zeravshan and Hissar Ranges, which run east to west in western Tajikistan. There are opportunities for alpine mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, horse or camel riding, historical exploration, cultural experiences or simply relaxing among the majestic mountains and lakes.