The Republic of Tajikistan is a newly-independent state. It is located in Central Asia between latitudes 36°40' and 41° 05' North and longitudes 67° 31' and 75° 14'East, on the same latitude as Greece, Southern Italy and Spain. It encompasses an area of 143,100 km stretching 700km from east to west and 350 km from north to south.
The country borders the People's Republic of China, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. South-eastern Tajikistan is only separated from Pakistan by a narrow strip of Afghan territory of 15-65km wide. The terrain in the west of the country is hilly desert and semi-desert. To the east the elevation rises to form the highest mountain systems inCentral Asia - the Tien Shan and the Pamirs. Mountain peaks are the source of numerous tributaries which flow into Tajikistan's main rivers - Syr Darya, Panj and Vakhsh (the Amu Darya begins at the merging of these two rivers). Most of the border with Afghanistan follows the Panj and Amu Darya Rivers. Three majestic mountainous ranges mark the country: the Tien Shan, the Alai and the Pamir Darvoz, with elevations ranging between 300 and 7,495m above sea level.
As summers are ferociously hot and winters bitterly cold, spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons to visit Tajikistan, especially for the Tajik Ferghana Valley, Dushanbe and southern part of the country. But if you are planning to go to the mountain (trekking, hiking, climbing, jeep-tours etc.) the best time for the visit is second part of June- early October. When you go to the mountains, always be prepared for abrupt changes in the weather. Bring good raingear (especially in May, early June and in late October), a fleece and thermal underwear.