Tennis court rent (1 hour on weekend) | USD 6.09 |
Coke bottle | USD 0.58 |
Utilities (Electricity, Heating, ...) for medium apartment | USD 24.24 |
Milk (1 liter) | USD 0.74 |
Pack of cigarettes | USD 1.42 |
Mid range bottle of wine | USD 7.11 |
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff | USD 0.04 |
1 Pair of Jeans | USD 66.01 |
1 Summer dress in a chain store | USD 45.70 |
Chkalov or Chkalovsk is a town in the Ghafurov district in Northern Tajikistan. It is located between the city of Khujand and Ghafurov, and most visitors wanting to take cheap flights to Chkalov fly in to Khujand Airport. The airport is serviced by airlines with flights to Russia, China and Kyrgyzstan.
For western travelers, the point of entry is the capital city of Dushanbe. From Dushanbe, opt for a cheap flight to Chkalov by way of Khujand Airport instead of traveling by road.
Traveling around would be a chore, and transportation cost is a major expense. The cost of getting a driver and a vehicle is prohibitive. The upside is that you can sight see along the way or depart from the main routes to see more of the country. Just be sure that your driver is reliable and the vehicle is road worthy, with spare tires. To save money, take a taxi on some legs of your travel and negotiate for a cheaper rate. The taxis are 4x4 types and will not leave until full and the costs are divided among the passengers. Local buses when available are cheaper but are slow and crammed, and very uncomfortable.
Travelers wishing to stay in Chkalov for several days should look for an apartment, there being no hotels in Chkalov. Tourism is relatively new in the country and facilities are largely undeveloped. Tourists invariably ask the question of what to see or where to go. The country is by at large untouched and beautiful. This is no place for a package holiday nor is there any beach resort to speak of. Nonetheless, the place has beautiful sceneries with towering mountains and the people are hospitable.
The place is best suited to the individual traveler who can cycle his way around and up and down the mountain roads. Trekking is also a popular tourist activity, and there are many trekking options that are available.
There are some security issues when traveling to Tajikistan. Visitors, especially women, are discouraged from walking alone especially at night. There are some reports of militant activity in the more conservative places of the country, and travelers should check their travel routes to avoid any kind of difficulties. Bring a phrasebook because only a few can speak English.