The Hissar Valley stretches west of Dushanbe, a broad agricultural valley backed by the northern face of the Hissar Range. The road west from the city passes through this valley, running past orchards, cotton fields, and the villages that have existed here since the Sogdian period. The light in the valley in the late afternoon, with the mountains behind, is extraordinary.
The valley contains several worthwhile stops: the Hisar Fortress, the ancient site of Kafir Kala (a small Sogdian-era fortification with good views), and the village of Hissar itself, which has a functioning bazaar and traditional architecture surviving around its periphery. A day driving through the valley, stopping at the fortress and exploring the smaller sites, is a good introduction to the landscape around Dushanbe.