Our time spent backpacking in Tajikistan was amazing. We had just finished up a two-week journey on the Pamir Highway, a trip that took us over the second highest pass in the world, through some untouched villages and alongside many high-altitude lakes and rivers. We started in the city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan and made our way south into Tajikistan, before ending in the mountain town of Khorog.
The high-altitude road trip was an epic adventure, but what came at the end of the journey was the icing on our Central Asian cake.
We needed to get from the town of Khorog to the capital city of Tajikistan, Dushanbe. Our options included taking (enduring) a 16+ hour car ride, 20+ hour bus ride or a 2 hour flight (for $90USD). For us, it was a no-brainer!
Making the decision was easy, trying to get a ticket or a straight answer from the "airport" was not. We were advised to arrive early in the morning with our passports and cash and we were told that we would be able to buy a ticket that same morning. So, we showed up with our bags and everything ready to go. To our surprise, the plane was already fully booked! How could that be?
Needless to say, Central Asia isn't exactly tourist-friendly.
After waiting around all day and all afternoon to see if they would send out a second flight, we got the best news we could have asked for. A man came over to us and said "would you like to fly to Dushanbe in a helicopter instead of a plane?" our jaws dropped, "YES!"
Apparently the owner of Tajik Air was testing out his aircrafts and next up was the helicopter. The owner, along with about five other crew members, were going to fly the two of us and our German friend on a VIP flight to Dushanbe. Riding in a helicopter had always been on our bucket list, but so far in our travels, it just hadn't been feasible. The fact that we were getting a private ride with the owner of the company was unbelievable!
PHOTO: Views from the open windows of the helicopter.
The feeling of being in a helicopter is quite different from an airplane. I could feel every little shake, bump and gust of wind and the sound was incredibly loud. The unique aspect of this ride in the Pamir Mountains was that we were flying at a low enough altitude that we didn't need to pressurize the cabin. The windows were open the entire time, giving us great views of the mountains and valleys down below.
PHOTO: Looking out at the valley down below.
The seating was two benches alongside the windows facing the center of the helicopter, and we were able to walk from left to right or even into the cockpit! The pilot (the owner of the airline) invited the three of us, one at a time, to join him up front.
The front of the chopper was all glass, even down by our feet. Being able to see just how close we were to the tops of the mountains was such a rush - so much in fact that I couldn't handle being up there for too long and went back to the "safety" of my bench seat!
PHOTO: We were flying a little too close to the mountains for my liking.
We zigged and zagged through the 7,500m high peaks and alongside the border with Afghanistan. We spotted Afghan farmers tending to their crops down below and many rivers and valleys. We were flying in the late afternoon and at around 4:30 the sun reflected off of the mountains, giving them a lovely golden hue. We touched down at the Dushanbe airport around 5:30 p.m. after a two-hour, exhilarating journey.
PHOTO: Arriving in Dushanbe as the sun was setting.
We couldn't thank the crew enough for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we had perma-grins on our faces for the next few days. We had trekked and drove through the enormous mountains, but to be able to fly through them was an experience we'll never forget. Have a look at this quick video of our awesome flight!
For more information on this untouched country, check out our Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Tajikistan. Have you ever flown in a helicopter before? What was your experience like? Share with us below!
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