Multi Day Tour in Mountains of Tajikistan

Zeravshan Valley

ARRIVAL DAY. drive distance - 260 km from Dushanbe and 50 km from Samarqand 08:30 – welcome of tourists in Dushanbe from airport or staying hotel or 11:00 – from the border / Samarqand (Uzbekistan) 09:00 – departure to Seven Lakes through Varzob Valley and Hissar Ridge 13:00 – arriving Panjakent and lunch on city restaurant

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Seven Lakes

15:00 – our tour will start from the 1st Lake Mijgon. Here we have 30 minute to be in a beach of the Lake. MIJGON (62 km from Penjikent). Usually, the first lake that travelers see, the lowest lake — Mijgon — is located at an altitude of 1640 meters above sea level. Its name comes from the Tajik word "eyelashes". Lake Mijgon has a depth of up to 20 meters, an area of 0.05 square kilometers. 15:40 – we will reach the 2nd Lake Soya, and have a rest about 20 min. SOYA (1,8 km from Mijgon). Continuing from Lake Mijgon along a steep serpentine, you will cross a natural dam that separates Lake Mijgon from the second lake, Soya (from where a stunning view of Mijgon opens). The lake is located at an altitude of 1701 meters and has an area of 0.1 square kilometers.

1 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

16:00 – we will reach the 3rd Lake Hushor, and a rest time about 1 hour HUSHOR (2,8/1,0 km from Soya). The third lake, Khushor, is 400 meters from Soy, and when you get close to it, you will see a turbulent stream connecting them. Lake Khushor is located at an altitude of 1771 meters and covers an area of 0.23 square kilometers. 17:00 – arriving 4th Lake Nofin. NOFIN Lake lies 400 meters from Hushor lake. It is highly extended as it is more than 2,5 km long but only about 200 meters wide. Lake Nofin is located at an altitude of 1820 meters and covers an area of 0.48 square kilometers. In Soviet times, the Marguzor Lakes campsite was located next to this lake. However, a mudflow from the mountains demolished the camp, leaving only traces of its foundation. Although this may indicate some danger, the lake looks quite calm, and in good weather, you can watch schools of fish swimming calmly in clear water. 19:00 – dinner and overnight in homestay Jumaboy

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Fann Mountains

08:00 – breakfast in homestay 09:00 – continue our tour to the Lake Iskanderkul FANN MOUNTAINS. Iskanderkul, considered the heart of the Fan Mountains, is surrounded by several peaks- 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

4 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Iskanderkul Lake

12:30 – arriving Iskanderkul and lunch at beach of Lake ISKANDERKUL - the lake located in the northern part of the country, in the Sugd region. The distance from the capital of Tajikistan is more than 180 kilometers along a high-altitude and quite decent highway. Along the way, you can see fascinating natural landscapes with snow-capped mountain tops rushing into the deep blue of the sky. This small piece of untouched land can show many interesting things, including Lake Iskanderkul. There are magnificent blue lakes, fast mountain rivers and picturesque forests. The Lake Iskanderkul was calling a pearl in the palms of the mountains, a living legend. Many of tourists come to this mountain lake for have rest and feeling historic soul. There are guesthouses for their stay here, but foreign visitors prefer to rest in tents. Swedes, Englishmen, Frenchmen and Tajiks themselves come here.

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

14:00 - hiking to the Snake Lake Moron and Iskandarkul Waterfall SNAKE LAKE is not far from Iskanderkul Lake. According to the stories of old-timers, many snakes live in it. Locals claim that reptiles will not bite in two cases: when they are in the water and when people drink water. The water in it is warmer than in Iskanderkul, so it is quite possible to swim here. FANN NIAGARA WATERFALL. Nearest of the Lake Iskanderkul there is an old juniper (juniper bush), the branches of which are decorated with colorful ribbons. Everyone who comes to admire the local amazing waterfall leaves something of his or her own on this tree to return here again in the future. The nearby 43-meter waterfall is calling "Fan Niagara". It is located on the river flowing out of the lake.

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

16:00 – tour to Panjchashma and Busefal canyon BUCEPHALUS CAVE - according to another legend, the Macedonian horse, Bucephalus, drank water from the lake during a halt after a long march and fell ill. The commander himself went further 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 in it forever. Since then, during the full moon, every month Bucephalus comes out of the water to graze: the waters part and a snow-white horse comes to the surface of the lake, accompanied by grooms. PANJ-CHASHMA - a place called "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 take your eyes off.

1 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Sarytag

17:00 – continue of trip to Sarytag village Sarytag is the trailhead for serious hikes into the Fan Mountains, but you can also do some more relaxed ambles here focused on fauna and flora, landscape and village life. Follow the Karakul River east as far as you like for a lovely shaded walk. It is a long and boring 9-km walk from the start of the lake to Sarytag. 17:30 – short hiking in Sarytag Valley 19:00 – dinner overnight in Sarytag Hotel or alternative

30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Nurek

07:00 – breakfast in hostel 08:00 – departure to Nurek side via Dushanbe 13:00 – arriving Nurek and have a lunch The BLUE SEA or MOUNTAIN SEA is a reservoir in Nurek city for hydroelectric power station, which filled with clear, mirror fresh water, the source of which is 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 plant in Central Asia, the dam of that has 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.

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Nurek Dam

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

1 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

15:00 - Nurek reservoir-waterfall. Here you can swimming and boating (if desired and at the expense of the tourist) The Nurek Reservoir is the largest in Tajikistan, with a capacity of 10.5 km2. The reservoir is over 70 km (40 mi) in length, and has a surface area of 98 km2 (38 sq.mi). The reservoir supplies the hydroelectric plant located within the dam, and stored water is also using for irrigation of local agricultural land. The reservoir is very popular with boaters, as its creation opened up vast areas for easy exploration by boat. The middle of the lake is also a great place to simply admire the vast gorges and snowcapped peaks on all sides. Many houseboats are moored in rocky niches throughout the many valleys of the reservoir, from which we can swimming. 17:00 - visit Anorbogh, Pomegranate garden, Nurek is one of the cities that is famous for growing a special type of pomegranates. 18:00 – dinner and accommodation to Nurek hotel

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

08:00 – breakfast in hostel 09:00 – departure to Childukhtaron Valley via Baljuvon and Khovaling 11:00 – on the way visit Hazrati Sulton Uvaysi Qarany mausoleum Uvays-i Karani is a cult complex in the district center of Khovaling (Khatlon region, Republic of Tajikistan), associated with the name of the legendary Yaman ascetic from among the “followers” (tabi’un) of the Prophet Muhammad, "God's saint" (valiy) Uvais al-Karani (probably killed in 37/657), who became famous for his special piety and respectful attitude towards the Messenger. The earliest written references to him are in al-Musnad Ahmad b. Khanbala (780-855) and at-Tabaqat al-Kubra Ibn Sada.

3 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Childukhtaron

13:00 – arriving Childukhtaron and lunch in national restaurant The legendarily of the East is contained in its fabulous heritage, which for thousands of years live in the souls of the peoples of the world and which have a real origin, but still they — even in the development of science and technology — will remain undisclosed, mysterious and mythical. CHILDUKHTARON is an ancient place, a valley in the South of Tajikistan, big rocky mountain silhouettes in the form of forty girls.

1 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Childukhtaron Valley

14:00 – hiking to Childukhtaron Mountain Childukhtaron is translate as the valley of the Forty Girls, which is associated with an interesting 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 also another legend, according to which the rocks grew on this place after a fierce battle with Genghis Khan. Defending their land, 40 young women blocked the path of Cinghizkhan himself. However, the forces were unequal and the riders died in battle. At this very place, huge boulders have grown, decorating the valley. 18:00 – dinner and accommodation to Childukhtaron Hotel

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Mausoleum of Mir Said Ali Khamadoni

08:00 – breakfast in hotel departure to Dushanbe via Muminabad and Kulob 10:00 - arriving Kulob, visit 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 2700 anniversary of Kulob, the museum of literary heritage written Mirsaid Ali Hamadoni and house museum of national poet Saidali Valizoda. Every year the museum is visited by over 20 million visitors both local and foreign guests

3 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Hulbuk Museum

11:00 – arriving 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, it was the residence of Shah (King) Khatlon. The citadel guarded by a giant salt hill, which at that time was of great importance as the source of one of the three precious resources (along with gold and horses) traded on the Silk Roads. 12:00 - lunch in Vose district

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Dushanbe

13:00 – departure to Dushanbe 16:00 – arriving Dushanbe END OF TOUR, WELCOME AGAIN

3 Hours • Admission Ticket Free