Mountains and Lakes of Tajikistan Tour
Tour Details
8 days
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Season
from $1,050 / per person
Prices
EconPrices are in $ per person and for larger groups are available upon request
Description
Resplendent in towering mountain summits, lush valleys and cities abounding in history, Tajikistan’s northwestern Sughd Province is perhaps one of the most underrated corners on the planet. Consider the striking Fann Mountains, home to such delightfully refreshing features as Iskanderkul Lake and Seven Lakes, and the Anzob Pass which bridges Dushanbe with the north. Culturally, this region offers historical discoveries in Khujand, Sarazm, ancient Penjikent and Isaravshan, while all the treasures of Dushanbe, from the ancient Buddha statue to Rudaki Park, remain well within reach.
Program
Overnight in Dushanbe.
- Hissar Fortress (15th century/16th, 17th-19th centuries), where the impressive gates of a castle, once the home of a Bukharin emir, still amaze with their stateliness
- Kukhna Madrasah (17th century), a spacious religious school that functioned until the early 20th century, it now contains a small history museum
- Khistin Caravanserai (19th century), an unusual caravanserai constructed of burnt brick.
- The site also includes a mosque and an additional madrasah.
- National Museum of Tajikistan, housed in an artsy 4-storey building and holding more than 40,000 expositions on Tajikistan’s history, nature and art, including a 12-meter statue of Buddha discovered on Tajikistan territory
- Haji Yaqub Mosque (19th century), Dushanbe’s landmark mosque that can hold up to 3,000 people
- Rudaki Park, a beautifully manicured park filled with fountains, flowers and foliage, with a tasteful monument of Rudaki in the center
- Gurminj Musical Instruments Museum, dedicated to celebrating and preserving the musical heritage of the Tajiks and Pamiris through a collection of national instruments, music lessons and periodic concerts
- Ayni Opera and Ballet Theatre (1940s), whose gorgeous outer décor is accentuated by the pristine lawns that surround it
- Statue of Ismail Somoni, a classy tribute to the founder of the Tajik people which towers 25 meters high in the city center
- Mehrgon Market, one of Dushanbe’s newest attractions, this large indoor bazaar is housed in an ornately designed and decorated atrium.
Tour duration: approximately 5 hours
Spend the afternoon at legendary Iskanderkul Lake (Lake of Alexander the Great) where you’ll have free time to walk around, snap photos, dip your feet in the water or simply rest by its calm shores. A short hike will take you to the 38/43-meter-high Fann Niagara Waterfall, where an observation deck allows you to view the falls unhindered. The area also holds small natural springs and Snake Lake, named for the unusually large number of snakes that inhabit its waters due to their warm temperatures.
Overnight in Iskanderkul Lake guesthouse.
- Istaravshan Bazaar - housed chiefly in a 3-story building, it’s impressively large and authentic.
- Hazrat Shah Architectural Complex (18th- 19th centuries) - includes Hazrat Shah Mausoleum, Khudayar Valami Mausoleum and Namazgah Mosque. Admire the brightly painted ceiling and learn about the family of Hazrat Shah, whose brother Kusaim ibn Abbas is buried in Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand.
- Mug Teppe - this renovated fortress perched atop a hill marks the location of one of the oldest habitations in Istaravshan and provides a great overlook of the city.
Overnight in Khujand.
- Khujand Fortress: First built in the 5th century BC, rebuilt in the Middle Ages and again reconstructed in recent times, the Khujand Fortress was once one of the most impenetrable castles in Central Asia.
- Historical Museum of Sughd: Housed in the Khujand Fortress, this museum brings the region’s history to life with moving depictions of Alexander the Great’s conquests and unusual artefacts preserved from the territory of historical Sughd.
- Mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin Khujandi (dates vary/12th century): This impressive two-story mausoleum commemorating Sheikh Muslihiddin, a 12th century ruler and poet, is situated in a memorial complex that includes a mosque, towering 20-meter minaret and an assortment of lesser mausoleums.
- Payshanba Bazaar (Thursday Bazaar): Walk about this bright and colorful oriental market, rumored to be the best in Tajikistan, where you can sample fresh fruits and mingle with shoppers from Khujand and the surrounding villages.
- Somoni Park: A welcoming stretch of land and popular gathering place for local residents, Somoni Park displays a prominent statue of Ismoil Somoni plus fountains and bright mosaics that depict the city’s history.
Overnight in Penjikent hotel.
Tour Duration: 4-5 hours
- Republican Museum of History (Rudaki Museum), which has eight exhibition halls on archaeology, nature, history, culture, lifestyle, Tajik customs and the life of Rudaki, the founder of Tajik-Persian classical literature
- Central Mosque and Olim Dodkhoh Madrasah, originally from the Middle Ages and rebuilt in recent times, it now serves as the city’s main mosque and a popular gathering place for locals
- Penjikent Bazaar – a bustling bazaar at the junction of the city’s main roads, complete with all the standard goods and Tajik souvenirs
- Ancient Penjikent (5th century BC), a labyrinth of walls and passages decorated with amazing murals, the site includes foundations of houses, Zoroastrian fire temples, a cemetery and reconstructed living spaces.
Continue the day with a drive to Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) in the Fann Mountains (70km, 1hr to first lake).
Each lake has its own name and color. You’ll stop at every one, about a 10-15 minutes’ drive apart from one another, to take photos and learn about each lake’s history and unique characteristics:
- Lake 1 - Nezhigon (Eyelashes)
- Lake 2 - Soya (Shade)
- Lake 3 - Hushyor (Vigilance)
- Lake 4 - Nofin (Central)
- Lake 5 - Khurdak (Baby)
- Lake 6 - Marguzor (Tulip)
- Lake 7 - Hazorchashma (Thousand Springs)
Check-in to the guesthouse. Overnight at Seven Lakes.
Tour duration: 4 hours
Free time in Dushanbe after arrival and hotel check-in.
Overnight in Dushanbe.
Price includes:
- Transportation during the tour;
- Accommodation based on double/twin room (7 nights, with breakfast);
- Full-board (lunches, dinners);
- Private, local English-speaking escort guide (except days 1 and 8);
- Sightseeing tour program in each city;
- Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary.
Accommodation:
| Dushanbe - 3 nights | The Rumi or similar |
| Pendjikent - 1 night | Panjakent Plaza, Rudaki, Sarazm |
| Seven Lake - 1 night | Home stay |
| Saritag - 1 night | Home stay |
| Khujand - 1 night | Khujand Deluxe, Grand Khujand |
Prices
| Persons | Economy |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $2,590 |
| 2 persons | $1,500 |
| 3 persons | $1,200 |
| 4 persons | $1,050 |
per person
Single supplement: Economy $160
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It was a very nice day, and our guide was great! Thank you very much.
Tour: Chimgan and Charvak Day Tour →We did indeed arrive home safely from this wonderful adventure. It was a truly beautiful trip! Everything was so special: the culture and nature. You realize how little you know about that rich history. The trip went smoothly. The arrangements were kept. In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the tour operator (the day before) promptly sent me an app telling me what time we would be picked up or dropped off. Everything was accurate. Credit card payments aren't accepted on the train ride through Kazakhstan.
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