Shirkent Dinosaur Tracks: Day Hike & Fossil Footprints Tour

Summary

Hiking to fossil footprints in tajikistan’s shirkent valley

You’ll start with hotel pickup in Dushanbe before heading out past Hissar to hike through Shirkent gorge. Alongside your local guide, you’ll walk 5 km through wild cherry plum groves and mountain streams until you reach rare dinosaur footprints—fossils unique to Tajikistan. A simple lunch is included before returning home with tired legs and new stories.

What’s the experience like?

The day started with an early pickup in Dushanbe, which honestly felt too early at first, but the city was still waking up and it was kind of peaceful. Our driver chatted about his childhood in Hissar as we passed through—he pointed out a crumbling old gate and said his grandfather used to sell fruit there. I liked that. The road twisted into the Shakhrinav district, and you could smell wild herbs when we finally rolled down the windows. There’s something about mountain air that makes you forget how tired you are.

I didn’t expect the hike to feel so… alive? There were bees buzzing around some cherry plum trees (I tried one, not sure if I was supposed to—sour but good) and the path followed this little river for a while. Our guide, Rustam, stopped us at a ridge and told us about Macropodasaurus gravis—the dinosaur whose prints we’d see. He said there’s nothing else like these five-toed tracks anywhere else on earth. It sounded almost made up until he showed us the real thing: giant footprints pressed into stone, older than anything I can wrap my head around. The rocks were warm from the sun, and I just sat there for a minute trying to imagine what this place looked like millions of years ago.

Lunch was simple—flatbread, cheese, tea—but after hiking 5 km up from the valley entrance it tasted like a feast. Someone had packed tomatoes that smelled like summer. We laughed about how out of breath we all were (even Rustam admitted he’d skipped breakfast). Heading back down, my legs felt wobbly but in that good way where you know you’ve actually done something with your day. The wind picked up along the ridges and carried this sharp mineral scent off the rocks—I still think about that sometimes when I’m stuck inside back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Dushanbe to Shirkent dinosaur tracks

• Pick up from hotel
• Drive to Shirkent village
• Hike to dinosaur footprints
• Return to Dushanbe

Top questions

How far is Shirkent Park from Dushanbe?

It’s about 60 km from Dushanbe to Shirkent Park by road.

How long is the hike to see the dinosaur footprints?

The hike is approximately 5 km from the entrance of the valley to the main fossil site.

Is lunch included on this tour?

Yes, lunch is included during the tour.

Is hotel pickup provided for this day trip?

Yes, private transportation with hotel pickup is included.

Can people with limited fitness join this tour?

This tour requires moderate physical fitness; it’s not recommended for those with spinal or heart issues or pregnant travelers.

What makes Shirkent dinosaur tracks special?

The five-toed Macropodasaurus gravis footprints found here have no analogues elsewhere in the world.

Will there be a local guide during the hike?

Yes, a local guide accompanies you throughout the hike and explains the sites.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation with pickup from your hotel in Dushanbe, a guided hike along Shirkent gorge to see rare dinosaur footprints, plus a simple lunch before heading back in the afternoon.