Hike #3 - Luchob Valley

Today the weather was sunny and mild, perfect for an outing with HikeTajikistan. Our group of about 15 from the U.S., Germany, India, etc drove out of Dushanbe, through some villages to the northwest, to the Luchob Valley.

Our hike took us across a stream, up a rocky road, to a village set among boulders. 

We walked along grazing land, small plots of land ready to be planted, and old orchards.

This man was plowing with two oxen and his wife was following behind, sowing seed.

  We stopped for lunch.

 And some of us climbed a little higher for an extra view.

We circled back via goat paths, following a stream.

Here are some village scenes:

A few of the people we passed on our way: a grandfather and a man carrying milk cans on his donkey

Sheep

Three little girls (and a white calf) grinned at us as we passed their yard

These baby goats butted heads against the door until this girl came out

A load of firewood

 Not pictured: men fishing in the stream, beekeeping, small boys running ahead of us, a girl in a red velvet outfit carrying a bowl of yogurt.

 

Here are some of the wild flowers we saw:

Wild crocus, anemone, or pasque flower

wild iris

wild iris

 We are so thankful for this opportunity to get some exercise (7.5 miles worth), see the country, and chat with the interesting expats who were part of our group.