Tour itinerary: Samarkand – Seven lakes – Penjikent – Artuch – Kulikalon – Artuch – Iskanderkul – Dushanbe
Season: May – October
Days: 4 | Nights: 3
Hiking tour to Kulikalon lakes is a trip from Samarkand that includes nature sightseeing and hiking in Marguzor, Chukurak and Kulikalon lakes, passing Iskanderkul lake to Dushanbe.
By request it's possible to arrange the reverse itinerary starting from Dushanbe to Samarkand.
Book a tour to marvelous lakes of Tajikistan!
Meet the driver at the hotel in Samarkand.
08:00 Transfer to border post Jartepa. Border crossing usually takes 30 min-1 hr.
Meet the guide and driver at Tajikistan part of the border.
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, besides the lake Hazorchashma. Lakes are called Marguzor, but each lake has its own name: Nezhigon, Soybean, Gushor, Nofin, Hurdak, Marguzor, Hazorchashma. The difference in level between the upper and lower lake is 692 meters. Easy hike at the lakes.
Transfer to Penjikent.
Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to Artuch tour base, light sightseeing en-route:
- Mausoleum of Khoja Muhammad Bashoro.
- Mausoleum of Abu Abdulloh Rudaki, the founder of classic Tajik poetry.
Lunch at the guesthouse.
Continue driving to Artuch base located 2200m.
Start trekking to Chukurak Lake 2455 for about 2 km and 1 hour trek, visiting the vicinity of Lake Chukurak. Take your time to enjoy the beautiful nature.
Return to Artuch base.
Dinner and overnight in a cottage.
Breakfast at the cottage.
Morning start trekking starting from Artuch base to ascend to Kulikalon Plateau ( about 2-3 hrs trek), the overall trek today will take about 12 km +700m , 7-8 hrs hiking.
It is important to take the moderate pace of hiking as there are quite steep parts of the trek.
- Kulikalon Plateau is dotted with 14 turquoise lakes framed by jagged ridges and summits between 4000m-5000m:
- Maria (4970m), Mirali (5120m), Rudaki (4900m), Adamtash (4700m) -the four peaks create so called “Kulikalon Wall”,
- Saryshah (4650m) and Aurondag (4573m).
Return back to Artuch camp. Night is in a cottage.
Breakfast at the cottage.
Transfer to Dushanbe passing Iskanderkul lake, a real pearl of Fann mountains (located at an altitude of about 2 200 meters above sea level). The area is one of the most beautiful places in Tajikistan that is known with fabulous stories and legends of Alexander the Great. -Easy hiking in the surroundings to Snake Lake (Ko'li Mor) that is famous for its priscine water. -Waterfall that local call "Fan Niagara" ( 38 meters) locates 800 m below the Iskandar river. enjoy some time to take beautiful pictures. easy hiking of about 30-40 min.
- Istiqlol tunnnel ( 2630) with amazing panoramic views to mountains.
Camp-style lunch or lunch at the guest house.
Evening arrival to Dushanbe. Transfer to hotel.
End of the tour.
- Accommodation in standard twin - shared rooms in Penjikent and in shared-rooms in cottage in Artuch base;
- All transfers as per program by comfortable tourist class transport as per road conditions including transfers to- from the borders;
- English speaking escorting guide in Tajikistan;
- Single entry tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums and nature fees as per program;
- Meals: breakfasts in the hotel in Penjikent; lunch in a guesthouse in 7 lakes, home-made lunches, dinners and breakfasts in Artuch, lunch in a guesthouse in Iskanderkul ( traditional meals, fixed menu alcohol excluding);
- Tourist tax per person.
- International flights;
- Accommodation in Samarkand and Dushanbe ( can be added by request);
- Photo/video fees (professional camera);
- E-visa to Uzbekistan; Tajikistan e-visa (if required);
- Meals: lunches and dinners except those specified under Included;
- Personal travel/medical insurance, portage, tips, personal expenses, and other services not specified under “Tour Price Includes”.
Accommodation
CITY | STANDARD |
Penjikent | Panjakent Plaza/ Rudaki |
Artuch | cottage |
Or similar hotels of the same category .The hotels are booked depending on room availability |