Grand Tajikistan Tour — 8 days / 7 nights

Breakfast. Drive to Panjakent via the mausoleum of Abu Abdullo Rudaki — the founder of classical Tajik poetry, who lived in the late 9th and early 10th centuries during the Samanid dynasty. He wrote his famous odes and poems in Dari, the classical Persian language.

Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Sightseeing programme:

The Rudaki Museum — Panjakent is considered the birthplace of Abu Abdullo Rudaki, whom many call the father of Persian poetry.

Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Trip to the Seven Lakes.

Haft Kul — the Seven Lakes, each a different colour, set in the mountains of Tajikistan:

Mijgon
Soya
Hushyor
Nofin — 2,139 m above sea level
Khurdak
Marguzor
Hazorchashma — 2,400 m above sea level

A picnic by the lake in the afternoon. Return to Panjakent.

Excursion to the ruins of Sarazm.

Sarazm — one of the oldest settlements in Central Asia, with some 5,500 years of civilisation behind it. In 2010 Sarazm was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Dinner — Panjakent plov has a flavour all of its own, quite different from the plov of other regions. As the saying goes: if you want to taste real plov, do it in Panjakent; if you want to taste bread, go to Samarkand. Panjakent is also known for its many teahouses, where cooks prepare fresh plov all day long. Plov is one of the most popular and delicious dishes not only in Tajikistan but across neighbouring Central Asian countries.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Drive to Khujand.

On the way we stop at a bazaar — an eastern market where you can find almost anything.

We continue on to Khujand. On arrival — a city tour.

The Museum of Archaeology and Fortification — a 7th–8th-century citadel stands in the northern part of the city. Its grounds measure roughly 300 × 200 metres. The city was once surrounded by a wall. The fortress was destroyed repeatedly during various conquests, and the most recent reconstruction was carried out in the 18th century. The museum is located inside the fortress.

Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Khujand.

The Sheikh Muslihiddin Mosque and Mausoleum — 17th–19th centuries.

Panjshanbe Eastern Bazaar — one of the largest bazaars in Central Asia and one of Khujand's most fascinating sights, drawing visitors with its wealth of sounds, aromas and flavours.

The Arbob Palace named after S. Urunkhodzhaev — 20th century.

City sightseeing tour: the Lenin monument, the monument to the poet Kamoli Khujandi, and the Kayrakkum Reservoir.

Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Today we travel to the high-altitude Lake Iskanderkul, set at 2,255 m above sea level in the famous Fann Mountains.

This scenic area is considered one of the most beautiful places in Central Asia. The road to the lake passes through the Shahriston Tunnel at around 2,630 m, offering impressive panoramic views.

After reaching the lake — a walk along the shore. It is a wonderful spot to relax in nature.

A hike of about 40 minutes to the waterfall is also included.

Tajikistan ranks second among the CIS countries for water resources. It is home to more than 1,000 rivers, 2,000 lakes and around 8,000 glaciers.

Drive to Dushanbe. Check-in at the hotel. Free time to relax. Overnight at the hotel.

Today is the last day of the tour.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

End of the tour. Thank you!