Yagnob Valley

The Yagnob Valley is a remote high-altitude valley in the Zerafshan Mountains inhabited by the Yaghnobi people, direct descendants of the ancient Sogdians whose language preserves a form of medieval Sogdian. The valley was forcibly evacuated during the Soviet era and only partially resettled; clusters of ancient stone villages cling to steep slopes above the roaring Yagnob River. Reaching the valley requires a demanding jeep track or a two-day trek, and the combination of cultural and landscape interest draws a small number of adventurous visitors each year.