Things to do in

Tajikistan

Start with a convenient pickup from your hotel in Samarkand or from the airport or railway station. Cross the boarder between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan at the Dzhartepa checkpoint and take in the countryside on the scenic drive to the city of Panjakent. Explore Panjakent, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. See Muhammad Bashoro, an 11th- and 12th-century mausoleum and a mosque with stunning green tiling and a grand central cupola hall. Shop for dried apricots and soak up the lively atmosphere in the Central Bazaar. Continue to Mijgon Lake which appears turquoise, blue, or even purple depending on the weather or the time of the year. Head to. Soya Lake which is located between high rocks which casts the lake in shade throughout the year. Visit Hushyor Lake which is full of sparkling fish. Admire the sparkling waters of Nofin Lake which is bordered by the largest village among the villages of Seven Lakes, a remote community of cattle hearders. Go to Hurdak Lake, the smallest lake in the area. Finally reach Marguzar Lake, the largest and most beautiful lake in the Seven Lakes system where there are petroglyphs and some semi-precious stones were once mined. Have the option to take rent a donkey for the 6 kilometer hike here. Bring your own picnic to enjoy or stop for lunch in the city. Return to your accommodation in Samarkand with unforgettable memories of Tajikistan at the end of your day trip.

Start with a convenient pickup from your hotel, the train station, or the airport in Tashket. Relax on the comfortable drive to the border with Tajikistan. Go thorugh the customs procedures and cross at the Oybek checkpoint before continuing to the city of Khujand. Meet your guide and begin your tour of Khujand. Uncover the history of this city that was conquered and rebuilt by Alexander the Great. See how it is now one of the largest commercial, cultural, and scientific centers of the central Asian region. Visit one of the great architectural wonders of the city theKhudjant is Palace (own expense). See how this facinating building is a replica of the building in St. Petersburg's Petergof. Admire the beauty of the Khodjand Fortress and have the chance to visit its Archeology Museum (own expense). View the Mosque and Mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin, an architectural complex with a cathedral mosque and a 19th-century minaret. Take in the 19th-century Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene and get some shopping done at the Panjshanbe Bazaar. Return to your driver and head back to the Oybek boarder checkpoint and return to your your accommodation in Tashkent with unforgettable memories of the city of Khujand.

After meeting your guide, head to Panjakent to begin your trip. Panjakent was once the capital of the Sogdian Empire, a Zoroastrian civilization well predating Islam in the region. A stone’s throw away from the border crossing are the UNESCO-listed ruins of Sarazm. The ruins of Sarazm, more than 5,000 years old, are the remains of the first agricultural society in Central Asia. A remarkably tall human skeleton dubbed the Princess of Sarazm, was found here with some of her ornaments. Continue to the Panjakent Bazaar, a beautiful central building ringed by brick archways. It’s a good place to stock up on trekking snacks like nuts and dried fruits or get an authentic taste of Tajik hospitality. Next, see the Old Mosque and Madrasah of Olim Dodkhoh. After the city sightseeing, drive to the Seven Lakes (Haft Kul), seven small lakes in northwest Tajikistan. Legend says they’re the tears of the daughters of a missing man. Science says they were created after earthquakes altered the Shing River’s course. Whichever version you prefer, the path to the lakes is one of Tajikistan’s most accessible treks, and it's the perfect introduction to the country’s natural beauty. Aside from the azure lakes, there are plenty of villages to wander through, and many locals are happy to invite travelers in for tea. Enjoy a slow walk to the final lake of Haft Kul, known as Hazor Chashma. The slope is gentle, and the altitude is low (the lake is around 2,400 meters/7,870 ft). Afterward, drive back to the Samarkand border for drop-off.

Route: Dushanbe - Iskanderkul Lake - Dushanbe Description: We offer a day trip to Iskanderkul (Alexander) Lake which 130 kms from Dushanbe. Your driver will be waiting for you at the reception 5 minutes before departure. -Depart from Dushanbe and head towards Alexander Lake via Varzob Pass. Furthermore, we will pass through 5 kms Istiklal Tonnel, which is considered one of the longest tunnels in Central Asia. -Photostop: there are a couple of photo stops along the way in the pass by your request. We continue our journey and begin to climb into the pass. In this route, our maximum level above sea level will be 2700 m. As we turn towards the lake, the normal road ends and the bad road begins, which is 23 km long. -Alexander Lake: arrival at lake and making light trek to the waterfall, which local people call as the local Niagara. Walking in both directions is 3 km. There is an observation deck with a panoramic view of the waterfall. After the visit to the waterfall, we will return to the parking lot and where we can take a short walk down the lake. Lunch/Picnic (extra). There local restaurant-bar on lake shore with panoramic view. After finishing lunch or a walk, we continue towards Dushanbe. -Along the road estimated stop in Varzob. There are several local small bazaars where you can see some typical products of Tajikistan. This chalab is a kind of ayran with very fragrant mountain herbs. In addition, a large number of hard cheeses and many types of dried apricots are offered. After the getting acquainted, we continue our journey towards Dushanbe. Arrival in Dushanbe. Drop-off the travelers at their destination.

Route: Samarkand - Panjakent - Alexander Lake - Istaravshan - Khujand/Dushanbe Description: We offer a unique transfer that includes a visit to Lake Alexandra. Your driver will be waiting for you at the reception 5 minutes before departure. Transfer to Uzbekistan-Tadjikistan Border. Meeting by our driver. -Depart from Panjakent and head towards Aini. Our path will run along one of the oldest rivers in Asia, the Zarafshan. You can see that the river is dirty from the very beginning. But it is very rich in minerals for this reason it is called gold-bearing. -Photostop: arrival in the area of Toghmat, where we will make a stop. There is a local small bazaar where you can see some typical products of Tajikistan. This chalab is a kind of ayran with very fragrant mountain herbs. In addition, a large number of hard cheeses and more than 20 types of dried apricots are offered. We continue our journey and begin to climb into the pass. In this route, our maximum level above sea level will be 2500 m. Photostop: there are a couple of photo stops along the way in the pass. As we turn towards the lake, the normal road ends and the bad road begins, which is 23 km long. -Alexander Lake: arrival at lake and making light trek to the waterfall, which local people call as the local Niagara. Walking in both directions is 3 km. There is an observation deck with a panoramic view of the waterfall. After the visit to the waterfall, we will return to the parking lot and where we can take a short walk down the lake. Lunch/Picnic (extra) After finishing lunch or a walk, we continue towards Khujand. -Arrival in the city of Istaravshan, a visit to one of the very amazing structures is provided here. Kattasai reservoir, where the Lenin monument is located and from here that a panoramic view of the entire reservoir opens. After the visit, we continue our journey towards Khujand. Arrival in Khujand. Drop-off the travelers at their destination.

Meet up with our driver in your hotel and transfer to Uzbek - Tajik border Arrival at Uzbek - Tajik border pass. Pass the border. Meet by Tajikistan staff and transfer to Penjikent. Arrival and start the excursion program in Penjikent. - Ancient Penjikent - the ruins of the old Sogdian town founded in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins - Transfer to Marguzor, the famous seven lakes - seven wonderful water mirrors full of mountain riverside drops. Each lake looks different whenever the sun changes its position. Colors may vary from deep blue to indie color ripple. Most of them are cold to swim even in summer. These lakes belong to Fann Mountains system. On the western edge of the Fan Mountains in the valley of the river Shing there are seven lakes, six of them are dammed origin, beside the lake Hazorchashma. Lakes are called Marguzor, but each of the lakes has its own name.

The fortress was built about 3000 years ago, during the heyday, when the routes of the Great Silk Road passed near Hissar. The remaining remains of fortifications were built in the XVI–XIX centuries. The Hissar Fortress in Tajikistan is one of the oldest and largest architectural monuments of Central Asia. Now it is an open-air museum with an area of 86 hectares, located on the site of an ancient settlement. It is located 30 km from the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe. For a long time, the Hissar fortress served as the residence of the governor of the Emir of Bukhara and the base where the state troops were located. To date, only two cylindrical towers and structures around the main gate, forming a pointed arch and built on the instructions of the emir of Bukhara in the XVI century, have partially survived from the fortress. The fortress was completed in the XIX century. All structures are built of burnt brick. According to another mythical story of the Hissar fortress, the righteous Muslim Caliph Ali came to these places in ancient times to preach Islam on his legendary horse Dul-dul. He stopped at the mountain, which is located to the west of Hissar and is now called Poyi Dul-dul. Disguised as an acrobat-tightrope walker, he entered the fortress. Here they recognized him and tried to capture him. But the faithful horse brought him the magic sword "Zulfikar", and Ali killed all the enemies, including the evil sorcerer. Our Program: 09:00 - pick up of tourists from the hotel (from Dushanbe), and departue to Hissar 10:00 – visit the Hissar Fortress and Fortress museum. 11:00 – fortress square / horse riding (at the request and expense of traveler) 11:30 – visit to the teahouse "Kharbuza" (watermelon). The teahouse "Kharbuza" — is a unique in the world, it was built in the form of a melon (the Taj: - kharbuza). The teahouse, with a height of 43 meters, length 100 meters, width of 55 meters, is designed to receive 2.3 thousand visitors at a time. 12:00 – lunch, national cuisine 13:00 – visiting Museum of Mirzo Tursunzoda. Mirzo Tursunzoda (Tajik: Мирзо Турсунзода, 2 May 1911 — 24 September 1977) was an important Tajik poet and a prominent political figure. Today Tursunzoda has been elevated to the level of a national hero of Tajikistan. Tursunzoda's face appears on the front of the one Somoni banknote. 15:00 – return to Dushanbe 16:00 – arrived Dushanbe, tour completed

Khujand is one of the ancient cities in central asia.The age of the city is about 2500 years old . City was found by cyrus- an achaemenid emperor and was occupied by alexander the great rebuilt , strengthened it and named it: alexandia furthest. During the centuries the city had very important position on the silk road trade: Connected Samarkand with Fergana Valley and China. Taking tour to khujand you will enjoy visiting the noisy and vibrant oriental bazaar "paishanba" - the largest market in all of Tajikistan. You will be fascinated by the quiet streets, the variety of delicious fruits and the hospitality of the locals, ruins of fortresses, architectural monuments of XVI centuries.

The name of the lake in Tajikistan is a fascinating one! It comes from the name "Iskander" (meaning "Alexander") and the word "kul" (translated as "lake"). Some legends say that the reservoir got its name because Alexander the Great visited it during a campaign to India from Central Asia. How incredible is that? The lake, located in the absolutely stunning Fan Mountains, has a fascinatingly rich and long history. It is believed that it was named in honor of the incredible Commander Alexander the Great, whom the locals called Iskander Zulqarnain, which means "Alexander the two-horned" (because of the unusual helmet that resembled horns). And after Iskander Zulkarnain visited here, the name was changed to Iskanderkul, which is just as fitting! The lake is located in the northern part of the country, in the Sugd region, which is absolutely breathtaking! Along the way, you'll be treated to some truly breathtaking sights! You'll see snow-capped mountain peaks reaching for the deep blue sky. The area is absolutely stunning, with magnificent blue lakes, fast mountain rivers, and picturesque forests. The incredible Lake Iskanderkul resembles a triangle in shape! It spans an impressive 3.5 square kilometers! The water is a whopping 70 meters deep! The reservoir's mirror-like surface, surrounded by mountains, looks absolutely amazing! The lake's one-of-a-kind beauty lies in its status as the largest in the mountains, situated at an impressive altitude of over 2,000 meters. The lake is absolutely enormous, with a volume of 172 million cubic meters of water! And get this: the lake has a 14-kilometer coastline! And right near Lake Iskanderkul, there's an incredible old juniper tree (juniper bush) with branches decorated with colorful ribbons! Everyone who comes to admire the incredible local waterfall leaves something of their own on this tree, and it's a wonderful way to make sure they'll return here again in the future! Just a stone's throw away, you'll find the incredible 43-meter Fan Niagara waterfall cascading down the river that flows out of the lake. And that's not all! There's also a rock with an inscription dating back to 1870, left behind by the intrepid participants of the expedition led by the renowned Russian traveler and scientist A. Fedchenko. Just a short distance from Iskanderkul, you'll discover another lake.

City was once an ordinary village and there was a fair every monday, and therefore the city is called Dushanbe, which means Monday in translation. This place was specially chosen by the Communists as the most alternative for the capital to keep the government away from the old capital, Hissar. Meeting poiny: Sadriddin Aini Opera and Ballet Theatre Start of the tour. Start time can be changed by request of traveller. Description: - Opera and Ballet Theatre Square. The theater was founded in Dushanbe in 1936. It is named in honor Sadriddin Aini, one of the most famous writers. After theatre, along the Rudaki Avenue we continue to museum. - The National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan - Buddha in Nirvana. The largest statue in all of Central Asia. The National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan, one of the most popular museum of Central Asia. Visit to museum was available only to a limited category of people. Today, museum exhebitions is available to everyone. The museum is more famous by its 12-meter statue of Buddha in Nirvana. Furthermore, you can see the remains of Princess Sarasm, and other artifacts which dated pre-Islamic period. - Monument of Samani - He is considered the founder of the Tajik state. - Independence Square - the largest monument of emblem of the country is located in this place. - Rudaki Park - along the way we go to park and see one of the largest flagpoles in the world. From here you can see closer Palace of Nation, main residence of President. - The National Museum of Tajikistan - halls of Ancient history and the Middle Ages, as well as halls of fine and applied arts, are recognized as the most impressive. Here you can see more examples of pre-Islamic frescoes. - Navruz Palace - one of the largest palaces in the world. The 12 halls of this complex are decorated with handicrafts of the Tajik masters, such as stucco, mosaic and colored glass, wood carving, stone and mirroring. Once some oficcial visits are welcomed in this palace. Visit some halls could be possible only with guide. End of visit.