Dushanbe/Samarqand - Seven Lakes

Dushanbe - Tour Commencement: Welcoming tourists:

• From Dushanbe at 08:00
• From Penjikent/Samarqand at 11:00
• Heading towards the city of Penjikent
• Lunch en route or in Penjikent

Fann Mountains - Enjoy a 3-4 hour drive through the Varzob Valley and Hisar mountains alongside the dynamic Varzob River.

FANN MOUNTAINS. Iskanderkul, the heart of the Fan Mountains, is encircled by several peaks reaching five thousand meters – Bodhona, Chapdara, Maria, Mirali, and Zindon. The tallest is Chimtarga (5,487 meters). The Fanns feature around a hundred peaks, with many exceeding altitudes of 5,000 meters and relative elevations up to 1,500 meters.

Proto-urban site of Sarazm - Upon arrival in Penjikent, visit Sarazm, an ancient city dating back 5,500 years.
SARAZM - Tajikistan’s first World Heritage Monument. This ancient settlement (IV—II millennium BC) is situated 15 km west of Penjikent’s district center, on the left bank of the Zeravshan River. The well-preserved palace, religious, public, and residential buildings hold significant historical and cultural value. Excavations have uncovered metal and stone artifacts, along with numerous pieces of jewelry made from precious stones and processed seashells. The settlement is part of the Bactrian-Margian Archaeological Complex.

Panjakent - In Panjakent, explore Central Avenue, the city bazaar, and the Rudaki museum.
Penjikent
Penjikent serves as an administrative center in the Sughd region of Tajikistan. Located in the Zarafshan River valley east of Samarkand, it sits at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. The city is renowned for its attractions, architectural monuments, and a scenic recreation area along the Zarafshan River.
MUSEUM OF RUDAKI - Situated in the village of Panjrud, about 60 km east of Penjikent, this museum is one of Tajikistan’s most famous landmarks. The mausoleum honors Abuabdullo Rudaki, the founder of Persian-Tajik literature, who lived in the late IX – X centuries during the Samanid dynasty. Rudaki was not only a celebrated poet and writer but also a gifted singer and musician.

Seven Lakes - Today, visit the third Lake of the Seven Lakes
MIZHGON
Typically the first lake travelers encounter, Mizhgon, the lowest lake, is at an altitude of 1640 meters. Its name derives from the Tajik word “eyelashes”.
SOY
Soy Lake, named after the Tajik word “shadow,” is nestled between high rocks, remaining shaded most of the day.
KHUSHOR
The third lake, Khushor, is 400 meters from Soy, and a lively stream connects them.
19:00 - Accommodation in a hostel and dinner

Seven Lakes - Dushanbe / Samarqand

Seven Lakes - 07:00 - Breakfast at the hostel
08:00 - Hiking tour to Nofin Lake
The distance between Lake Khushor and Lake Nofin is just 400 meters, but the serpentine route stretches a full kilometer. Nofin, the fourth of the seven lakes, is notably elongated: over 2.5 km long and about 200 meters wide.
12:00 - Lunch on Nofin’s shore
13:00 - Hiking tour to Lake Khurdak
This is the smallest of the seven lakes, aptly named “baby.” It covers only 0.025 sq.km. and is situated at an altitude of 1870 meters. The distance from Lake Nofin is 1.5 km, and the route passes through the village of Padrut.
15:00 - Hiking tour to Lake Marguzor, possibly using a car to save time
The largest and most stunning lake in the Seven Lakes system. Reaching it requires a drive of over 2 km along the serpentine and an ascent to 2140 meters.
16:00 - Return journey

Dushanbe - Tour conclusion, with a return trip to Dushanbe or Samarqand

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• All fees and/or taxes

• Trikke use
• Alcohol and other private services

The network of seven terraced lakes, collectively known as ‘Haft Kul’ or ‘Seven Lakes’, is nestled within the Fan Mountains in northwestern Tajikistan, close to Penjikent city. These alpine lakes captivate onlookers with their vivid and ever-shifting hues. Each body of water is distinctively named; beginning with Mizhgon at the base, followed in succession by Soy, Khushor, Nofin, Khurdak, Marguzor (the most expansive), and Hazorchashma (the loftiest).

A sequence of seven lakes lies embedded in the Fan Mountains, within the Shing River’s ravine. Age-old rock art, found beside one of the lakes, testifies to their historical presence. The bottom lake, Mizhgon, is perched at 1,640 meters above sea level, while the uppermost lake, Hazorchashma, rises to 2,400 meters. The vertical span separating the lowest from the highest lake amounts to 760 meters, with the chain stretching over a length exceeding 14 kilometers.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.