Culture-nature Khujand-panjakent-dushanbe
About this tour
Highlights of trip: You will explore historical-cultural city of Khujand which history of the city dates back to 3000 years old, first name of the Khujand used to be called as Khvarjanda which means "Sunshine city". Khujand is spacial for many visitors for it's delesious food and you will try Sorghum soup wich is unique for Khujand and don't miss this chance in Khujnad!
Day 2, Istaravshan is museum city in Tajikistan, and very ancient folk crafts are keeping here in Istaravshan for thousands of years and there are lots of ancient monuments the most ancient monument dates back to 8 centure.
Day 3, Panjakent is biggest city of Zarafshon valley in Tajikistan. Panjakent is consider as the most ancient city in Tajikistan and central Asia. The most ancient town in Panjakent is Sarazm which os 5500 years old Proto-Urban civilization town, the reason of calling as Proto-Urban is-Urbanization of Soghdian-Tajik peolpe started here 5500 years ago.
Day 4, Today you will explore 7 beautiful treasure of Tajikistan. Seven lakes are so famaous with seven different colours. First lakes hoght is 1600 meters and the last one is 2400 meters. You will hike from lake #6 to the Lake #7 which is 3 km return by walking and enjoy your picknick by the lake.
Day 5, Iskandarkul is so famous by it's beautiful lamdscape, the lake circle souronded by snowcaped moutains. The lake named after to Alexander the Great. The heart of Fan Mountains, the treasure of Tyan-Shan, a scenic Iskandarkul lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Tajikistan.
Day 6-7, You will explore capital of Tajikistan, wich is very modern city and the name of capital of Tajikistan is Dushanbe. Meaning of Dushanbe is Monday, until 1924 there was famous market which was held on mondays and when Dushanbe became capital of USSR Tajikistan the name of famous market was giiven to new capital of Tajikistan.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Tashkent International Airport, Тоshkent, Uzbekistan to Hotel "Sugdiyon", Khujand, Tajikistan
Tashkent- Khujand, 170km, 3 hours Morning transfer to Uzbek – Tajik border Oybek, border cross then drive to Khujand (100+70km/ 3 hours drive) Khujand is the second largest city in the country. It’s also one of Tajikistan’s oldest town, founded by Alexander the Great in IV BC. The fortress was fortified by Alexander the great at IV BC and named after Alexander-Eskhata (Alexandria furthest) on the place of the present Khujand fortress (the 329 BC) and become the city of highly developed culture, important commercial and crafts centre. Commanding the entrance to the Fergana Valley and the Great Silk Road passed through Khujand from early historical backgrounds. Khujand enjoyed great prosperity and it’s riches spawned palaces, grand mosques and a citadel, before Mongols stream rolled the city into oblivion in the early XII century. Sightseeing: Visit Historical museum of Sughd region, Eastern market Panjshanbe and mausoleum Shaykh Muslihiddin Drive to the Arbob palace and national teahouse. Visit statue of Ismoili Somoni the founder of Tajik nation and Lenin statue. Lunch in local restaurant. Dinner and overnight in the hotel. Accommodations in Sughdiyon hotel
Day 2: Hotel "Sugdiyon", Khujand, Tajikistan to Panjakent, Tajikistan
Khujand – Istaravshan – Panjakent 270km, 5 hours. Breakfast at the hotel Check out hotel Istaravshan – (formerly Ura – Tyube, Urateppa) is located 81km northwest of Khujand. The town is one of the urban settlement in Central Asia, dating back to the first millennium BC. The record history of Istaravshan dates back to the VI century BC when the region was a province the Persian Empire under the Achaemenid. Scholars may recognize the region under it’s classical name of Kiropol, as described by Strasbo (Kirashata, according to Plotemy, Kurukada in Persian and Kurushkada in Sughdian languages). It was fortified by three rows of walls and the citadel was surrounded by a 6.000 m long wall. From the II – I centuries BC to the centuries AD, much of what is now Istaravshan known as Ustrushana, the capital of which was Bunjikat. It was a trading centre and I – II benefited greatly from its position as an important staging post on the commercial roads that linked the civilizations of East and West, through Khujand, Samarqand, Bukhara and the Fergana Valley. In the epoch of Arab invasion (Istaravshan became a province of the Arabian Caliphate in 822 AD) the region became a commercial and cultural centre of the medieval East. Istaravshan started to appear when Islamic architectural structures of portal-dome design such as mosques, madrasahs, mausoleums, minarets, etc. Quick stop in Istaravshan: Visit Central Bazaar, Iron craft masters and watching procedure of the tradition bread baking Lunch on the way Continue driving via Shahristan mountains, tunnel Shahriston (6km) and beautifull Zarafshon valley to Panjakent. Accommodations in Panjakent Plaza
Day 3: Panjakent, Tajikistan
Sightseeings of Panjakent Panjakent is a town in the north of Tajikistan, located on the right bank of Zarafshon River, 60 km east of Samarqand. The Zarafshon Valley was in the ancient time known as Sughd or Sughdiana. The inhabitant of the valley were Sughdians – the direct ancestors of the modern Tajiks. In the Southern suburbs of the modern Panjakent there is a site of ancient settlement, known in science under the name Ancient Panjakent, which was the capital of the same name of least last hundred years of its existence. It was even named "Central Asian Pompeii". Lunch in Panjakent. Sightseeing: Museum of Rudaki – As Penjikent is a birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian Poetry, Central Bazaar Ancient Penjikent - ruins of old Sogdian town founded in 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. Overnight in Panjakent Plaza
Day 4: Panjakent, Tajikistan to Seven Lakes, Tajikistan
Panjakent-Seven lakes -Panjakent 150km, 7hours. Breakfast at the hotel Drive to Seven beautiful Lakes (70km) The first lakes name’s Mizhgon (eyelash) - Multi-coloured, one of the most beautiful Marguzor lakes. The Soya (shade) second lake and third lakes Husher (vigilance) at height 1700м. The fourth lakes name’s Nofin length 3,5км, depth 70m. The fifth lakes Hurdak. The sixth lakes Marguzor - length of lake 5км, depth of 80 metres, height on a sea level 2139м. We’ll continue walking to the Lake #7 which is 3 km return by walking. Seventh Lake-Hazorchashma (one thousand sources) at height 2400м, length 4,5км and depth 85м. Picnic near the lake #6. Afternoon drive back to Penjekent city. Dinner at the restaurant Overnight in Panjakent Plaza
Day 5: Panjakent, Tajikistan to Iskanderkul, Tajikistan
Panjakent-Iskandarkul 150km, 4 hours Breakfast at the Hotel Morning drive to Iskandarkul lake Iskandarkul lake: length - 5км, width - 3,5км and depth to - 80м, located at height 2250м. The heart of Fan Mountains, the treasure of Tyan-Shan, a scenic Iskandarkul lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Tajikistan. Having emerald green and blue colour. A fast flouring Iskandar-darya river flows from the lake, forming a marvellous and gorgeous waterfall, so called the “Fan Niagara” that falls from the height 38 meters. Lunch by the lake Walking near the lake. See waterfall Visit Kulimoron Snake Lake, five spring Walking around Sarytag village and see local mountain people.
Day 6: Iskanderkul, Tajikistan to Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Iskandarkul -Dushanbe 130km 3 hours. Morning drive to Dushanbe via Istiqlol tunnel (5km) and Varzob valley You will see Fan Mountains – a popular tourism and mountain climbing area in Tajikistan. There are about 100 passes in height from 3200 to 5060 m (Mirali). The Fan Mountains are the highest part of Zeravshan range with 11 peaks above 5,000 m with sharp fantastical pointed forms. In the bosom of these mountains are about 30 lakes, the largest of which are Iskandarkul, and the most beautiful and picturesque, famous for the unique play of colours - Kulikalon. Afternoon sightseeing of Dushnabe Explore Tajikistan National Antiques Musuem, Botanical garden and walking in Rudaki avenue Dinner in local restaurant Overnight in Rumi hotel Dinner and overnight at Altas hotel*
Day 7: Iskanderkul, Tajikistan to Atlas Hotel, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Dushanbe sightseeings Breakfast at the hotel Sightseeing of the Dushanbe: DUSHANBE – the capital of Tajikistan (until 1961 called Stalinabad) is located the centre of the Hissor Valley at 837 meters (2,475feet) above sea level, on junction of the Varzob and Luchob Rivers that flow together as a Dushanbinka right beneath the bridge on Ismoili Somoni Avenue. The snow – capped Hissor mountain ranga rises on the north and east of the city, and in the south, there is Kofarnihon River. The first mention of Dushanbe dates back to 1676. At the time, it was a small village on the crossroad of caravan routes connecting Hissar Valley to Samarqand and Bukhara, the Pamirs and Afghanistan. The Tajik word “Dushanbe” means Monday. The weekly bazaar was held in the village on Mondays, and that was what the place came to be called. Situated at the confluence of two rivers, Varzob and Kofarnihon. Start exploring with exploring Monument Ismoili Somoni the founder of Tajik nation and park of Rudaki the founder of Tajik Persian classical literature. Drive to Hissor fortress and explore the sights as Hissor fortress, Old Madrasas Navrouz Palac* Central Mosque and central colourful oriental “Mehrgon Market” Dinner in restaurant Overnight in Atlas Hotel
Day 8: Atlas Hotel, Dushanbe, Tajikistan to Dushanbe International Airport, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Transfer from hotel to Dushanbe International Airport
What's included
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Tashkent International Airport, Тоshkent, Uzbekistan to Hotel "Sugdiyon", Khujand, Tajikistan