Dushanbe – Varzob Valley – Fan Mountains – Seven Lakes

Zeravshan Valley - ARRIVAL DAY. Travel distance - 260 km from Dushanbe and 50 km from Samarqand

08:30 – greeting tourists in Dushanbe at the airport or hotel
or
11:00 – from the border / Samarqand (Uzbekistan)
09:00 – departure to Seven Lakes via Varzob Valley and Hissar Ridge
13:00 – arrival in Panjakent and lunch at a city restaurant

Seven Lakes - 15:00 – the tour begins at the 1st Lake Mijgon. Enjoy 30 minutes at the lake’s beach.
MIJGON (62 km from Penjikent). Typically, the first lake travelers encounter, Mijgon, is the lowest lake, situated at 1640 meters above sea level. Its name is derived from the Tajik word “eyelashes.” Lake Mijgon reaches a depth of 20 meters and spans an area of 0.05 square kilometers.

15:40 – arrival at the 2nd Lake Soya, with a 20-minute rest.
SOYA (1.8 km from Mijgon). Continuing from Lake Mijgon along a steep serpentine, you will cross a natural dam separating Mijgon from the second lake, Soya, offering a stunning view of Mijgon. The lake is at an altitude of 1701 meters and covers an area of 0.1 square kilometers.

Jumaboy Guesthouse (3 Juniper Branches Homestay) - 16:00 – arrival at the 3rd Lake Hushor, with a 1-hour rest
HUSHOR (2.8/1.0 km from Soya). The third lake, Khushor, is 400 meters from Soya, and as you approach, you will see a turbulent stream connecting them. Lake Khushor is at an altitude of 1771 meters and covers an area of 0.23 square kilometers.

17:00 – arrival at the 4th Lake Nofin.
NOFIN Lake is 400 meters from Hushor Lake. It is notably long, stretching over 2.5 km but only about 200 meters wide. Lake Nofin is at an altitude of 1820 meters and covers an area of 0.48 square kilometers. During Soviet times, the Marguzor Lakes campsite was located near this lake. However, a mudflow from the mountains destroyed the camp, leaving only traces of its foundation. Despite this, the lake appears calm, and in good weather, you can observe schools of fish swimming peacefully in the clear water.
19:00 – dinner and overnight stay at Jumaboy homestay

Seven Lakes - Iskanderkul Lake

Fann Mountains - 08:00 – breakfast at the homestay
09:00 – continue the tour to Lake Iskanderkul
FANN MOUNTAINS. Iskanderkul, considered the heart of the Fan Mountains, is surrounded by several peaks over five thousand meters – Bodhona, Chapdara, Maria, Mirali, Zindon. The highest is Chimtarga (5,487 meters). The Fanns boast about a hundred peaks, with several rising to altitudes of more than 5,000 meters and relative elevations of up to 1,500 meters.

Iskanderkul Lake - 12:30 – arrival at Iskanderkul and lunch at the lake’s beach
ISKANDERKUL - the lake is located in the northern part of the country, in the Sugd region. The distance from the capital of Tajikistan is over 180 kilometers along a high-altitude and well-maintained highway. Along the way, you can enjoy breathtaking natural landscapes with snow-capped mountain tops reaching into the deep blue sky. This small piece of untouched land offers many interesting sights, including Lake Iskanderkul. There are magnificent blue lakes, fast mountain rivers, and picturesque forests. Lake Iskanderkul is often referred to as a pearl in the palms of the mountains, a living legend. Many tourists visit this mountain lake to relax and experience its historic soul. There are guesthouses available, but foreign visitors often prefer to camp. Visitors from Sweden, England, France, and Tajikistan come here.

Waterfall of the Fann Mountains - 14:00 - hike to Snake Lake Moron and Iskandarkul Waterfall
SNAKE LAKE is near Iskanderkul Lake. According to local stories, many snakes inhabit it. Locals claim that reptiles will not bite in two cases: when they are in the water and when people drink water. The water is warmer than in Iskanderkul, making it suitable for swimming.
FANN NIAGARA WATERFALL. Near Lake Iskanderkul, there is an old juniper bush, its branches adorned with colorful ribbons. Visitors who come to admire the local waterfall leave something of their own on this tree to ensure a return visit. The nearby 43-meter waterfall is called “Fan Niagara.” It is located on the river flowing out of the lake.

Panj-Chashma Springs - 16:00 – tour to Panjchashma and Busefal canyon
BUCEPHALUS CAVE - according to legend, the Macedonian horse, Bucephalus, drank water from the lake during a halt after a long march and fell ill. The commander continued to India, leaving his faithful horse here. However, even at such a great distance, he felt the death of his master and threw himself into the lake, remaining there forever. Since then, during the full moon, every month Bucephalus emerges from the water to graze: the waters part, and a snow-white horse surfaces, accompanied by grooms.
PANJ-CHASHMA - a place known as “Five Springs” for an unusual natural phenomenon, where pure spring water flows from five highlands into Lake Iskandarkul. The sight is so mesmerizing that it is impossible to look away.

Sarytag – Nurek, Mountain Sea

Nurek - 07:00 – breakfast at the hostel
08:00 – departure to Nurek via Dushanbe
13:00 – arrival in Nurek and lunch
The BLUE SEA or MOUNTAIN SEA is a reservoir in Nurek city for a hydroelectric power station, filled with clear, mirror-like fresh water sourced from the icy mountains of the Pamir range. The reservoir has formed at an altitude of 885 meters above sea level under the Nurek dam. Currently, it is one of the most powerful hydroelectric plants in Central Asia, with the dam listed in the GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS as the highest bulk dam in the world. The height of the Nurek hydroelectric dam is 304 meters.

Nurek Dam - 14:00 - visit Nurek Dam.
The Nurek Dam and hydroelectric station is a massive earth-fill dam located in a deep gorge at 38.3715 N, 69.3492 E, on the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan. At 304 m (984 ft), it is the tallest dam in the world as of 2008. Currently, the dam accounts for 75% of the country’s total electricity production (3.0 of 4.0 Gigawatts) and provides more than 90% of its power needs.

Nurek – Khovaling – Childukhtaron canyon

Childukhtaron Valley - 14:00 – hike to Childukhtaron Mountain
Childukhtaron translates to the valley of the Forty Girls, associated with an intriguing legend. According to this legend, 40 stone blocks towering over the valley were once beautiful and charming girls. When enemies came to the valley and decided to make them their concubines, the inhabitants of the mountains prayed and asked Allah to turn themselves into silent stones.
Among the locals, there is another legend, according to which the rocks grew on this site after a fierce battle with Genghis Khan. Defending their land, 40 young women blocked the path of Genghis Khan himself. However, the forces were unequal, and the riders perished in battle. At this very place, huge boulders have grown, decorating the valley.
18:00 – dinner and accommodation at Childukhtaron Hotel

Childuktaron - Kulob – Dushanbe

Mausoleum of Mir Said Ali Khamadoni - 08:00 – breakfast at the hotel, departure to Dushanbe via Muminabad and Kulob
10:00 - arrival in Kulob, visit the Mausoleum of Mir Sayid Ali Hamadoni
In the center of Kulob stands the memorial complex of Mir Sayid Ali Khamadoni - the poet, philosopher, and thinker of the 14th century. The complex includes the historical museum of local lore, the 2700th anniversary of Kulob, the museum of literary heritage written by Mirsaid Ali Hamadoni, and the house museum of national poet Saidali Valizoda. Every year, the museum is visited by over 20 million visitors, both local and foreign guests.

Hulbuk Museum - 11:00 – arrival in Vose, visit Hulbuk Fortress
Hulbuk Fortress. From the 9th to the 11th centuries, the Hulbuk Fortress was located in the center of one of the four largest cities in Central Asia, serving as the residence of Shah (King) Khatlon. The citadel was guarded by a giant salt hill, which at that time was of great importance as a source of one of the three precious resources (along with gold and horses) traded on the Silk Roads.
12:00 - lunch in Vose district

Dushanbe - 13:00 – departure to Dushanbe
16:00 – arrival in Dushanbe

END OF TOUR, WELCOME AGAIN

• Private transportation
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• All Fees and Taxes

• Alcohol (own)

Tajikistan is a land of the highest peaks, huge glaciers, fast, turbulent rivers, uniquely beautiful lakes, unique vegetation and rare animals. It is the mountainous, outdoor landscape that determines the originality and uniqueness of the nature of Tajikistan, the richness of its forms, due to the diversity of climatic zones. In this tour we will visit Varzob Gorge, Penjikent, Seven Lakes, Ayni, Iskanderkul Lake, Sarytag Village, Nurek, Mountain Sea, Baljuvan, Khovaling, Muminabad, Childukhtaron-magic rock mountain, ancient Kulob with green fields. Modern Tajikistan is a mountainous country with absolute altitudes from 300 to 7495 meters above sea level. 93% of the country’s territory is occupied by the mountain ranges of the Pamir, Gissar and Tien Shan mountain systems.

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