Dushanbe/Samarqand - Seven Lakes

Dushanbe - Tour Commencement: Tourist Reception:

• 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 - The journey through the Varzob Valley and Hisar mountains, alongside the dynamic Varzob River, takes approximately 3-4 hours.

FANN MOUNTAINS. Iskanderkul, known as 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 several exceeding 5,000 meters in altitude and relative elevations up to 1,500 meters.

Proto-urban site of Sarazm - Upon arrival in Penjikent, a visit to Sarazm, an ancient city dating back 5,500 years, is planned.
SARAZM - This is Tajikistan’s first World Heritage Monument. It is the oldest settlement (IV—II millennium BC) located 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, visits to Central Avenue, the city Bazaar, and the Rudaki Museum are scheduled.
Penjikent
Penjikent serves as an administrative center in the Sughd region of the Republic of Tajikistan. It is situated in the Zarafshan River valley, east of Samarkand, at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. The city is renowned for its attractions, architectural monuments, and a picturesque recreation area along the Zarafshan River.
MUSEUM OF RUDAKI - Located in the village of Panjrud, about 60 km east of Penjikent, this museum is one of Tajikistan’s most famous landmarks. The mausoleum was constructed for 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 distinguished poet and writer but also a talented singer and musician.

Seven Lakes - On this day, there is an opportunity to visit the third lake of the Seven Lakes.
MIZHGON
Typically, the first lake travelers encounter, the lowest lake — Mizhgon — is situated at an altitude of 1640 meters above sea level. Its name is derived from the Tajik word “eyelashes”.
SOY
Soy Lake is named after the Tajik word “shadow” — as it is nestled between high rocks, it remains shaded for most of the day.
KHUSHOR
The third lake, Khushor, is 400 meters from Soy, and upon approaching it, a lively stream connecting them can be seen.
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 only 400 meters, but the serpentine route extends to a full kilometer. Nofin, the fourth of the seven lakes, is notably elongated: over 2.5 km in length and about 200 meters in width.
12:00 - Lunch on the shore of Nofin
13:00 - Hiking tour to Lake Khurdak
This is the smallest of the seven lakes. Its name translates to “baby”. It covers an area of just 0.025 sq.km., and is located at an altitude of 1870 meters. The distance from Lake Nofin is 1.5 km, and along the way, the village of Padrut can be seen.
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. To reach it, a drive of over 2 km along the serpentine is required, ascending to a height of 2140 meters.
16:00 - Return journey

Dushanbe - Conclusion of the tour, with a return trip to Dushanbe or Samarqand.

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• All Fees and Taxes
• In-vehicle air conditioning

• 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.