Tour itinerary: Samarkand – Seven Lakes – Penjikent – Khujand – Tashkent
Season: all the year round
Days: 2 | Nights: 1
Welcome to 2-stans Central Asia tour!
Your journey will begin in Samarkand. This great city once was a capital of Tamerlane's dynasty, even though Temur the Great was born in other city, called Shakhrisabz.
From Samarkand, you will take a border-crossing time and after - transfer to Seven Lakes. They represent the beauty and spirit of Tajikistan - seven beautiful lakes, lined up in a chain coming down from the mountain range. All of them have different colors - from indigo blue to almost transparent tone.
Next will be Penjikent - the most ancient city in whole Tajikistan. Some parts of it are being hugged by modern city and protected by UNESCO. It has many sightseeing objects interesting for tourists.
Khujand - Tajik check-point on the Silk Road map. Previously belonged to Bukhara's Emirate and Alexander the Great's dynasty territory under the name 'Sugd'.
From Khujand you will transfer to Tajik-Uzbek border and travel to Tashkent to take a flight home.
This tour is definitely worth it if you lack impressions & knowledge about ancient Central Asian countries and their history. Both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have so much to show you during this 2-days itinerary from Samarkand.
09:00 Meet with driver and transfer to border Jartepa. Border crossing (it usually takes 30 min- 1 hr).
Meet the guide and driver at Tajikistan part of the border.
Start an excursion to Marguzor lakes in Fann Mountains.
- 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:
1. Nezhigon (other references Mizhgon),
2. Soybean;
3. Gushor;
4. Nofin;
5. Hurdak;
6. Marguzor;
7. Hazorchashma.
The difference in level between the upper and lower lake - 692 meters.
Easy hike at the lakes.
Transfer to Penjikent hotel.
Resting time in the evening.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the guesthouse.
Transfer to Khujand via Istaravshan town.
- Located in the northern foothills of the Turkistan mountain range, 78 km southwest from Khudjand, Istaravshan is one of the most ancient cities of Tajikistan (more than 2500 years) ancient name Cyropolis founded by Cyrus the Great in 544 BC as a boarding fort of Achaemenid Empire.
During the Soviet era, the city was known as Ura-Tyube.
Overview sightseeing in Istaravshan visiting:
- Mazori Sharif mausoleum;
- Kog Gumbaz madrasa (16th century);
- Kuhi Mug, the ruins of the ancient fortress.
- Continue to Khujand, the second-largest city and one of the oldest cities in Tajikistan, the furthest point Alexander the Great reached in Central Asia, so the city was named Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Furthest). Sightseeing tour on arrival:
- Pushkin square with Kamoli Khudjandi Square;
- Timur Malik’s fortress and Sugd museum;
- Muslihiddin memorial complex;
- Panjshanbe bazaar (the name Panjshanbe comes from Persian language meaning “Thursday”). Panjshanbe is one of the oldest markets in Tajikistan.
- Arbob palace.
Afternoon border crossing BP Oybek to Uzbekistan (takes about 30 min-1 hr), meet the driver at Uzbekistan side of the border.
Transfer to Tashkent (appr. 2 hrs drive).
End of the tour.
- Accommodation in standard twin- shared rooms in hotels;
- Tourist tax in the hotels per person;
- Meals: breakfasts in hotels;
- All transfers as per program by comfortable tourist class transport as per road conditions including transfers to borders;
- English-speaking professional licensed local guides in Tajikistan(1 standard excursion);
- Single entry tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums and nature fees as per program;
- Photo/video fees (professional camera);
- E-visa Tajikistan e-visa;
- Meals: Lunches and dinners, except those specified under “Tour Price Includes”;
- Personal travel/medical insurance, portage, tips, personal expenses, and other services not specified under “Tour Price Includes”.
Accommodation
