Explore Tajikistan's highlights on this exciting tour. Begin in Dushanbe where you'll visit the National Museum of Antiquities and Navruz Palace before venturing to Iskanderkul to enjoy stunning views and short hikes. Discover Penjikent's ruins and explore one of the most authentic village in the 7 lakes valley before continuing on to Khujand, an ancient city with a rich history. Along the way, enjoy delicious meals and comfortable accommodations.

● Scenic drive to Iskanderkul, one of the most exquisitely beautiful lakes in former Soviet Union

● Short hike to Iskander Waterfall and Snake Lake

● Cooking master class with local folklore show

● Visit 7 lakes, see 7 different colour lakes 

● Sightseeing of Old Penjikent ruins, known as Pompeii of Central Asia

● Visit to Istaravshan, a city with a history dating back to Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great, and renowned for its blacksmiths.

You will meet your Tajik guide and driver at the Dewnou border crossing point. From there, you will drive towards Dushanbe, stopping to visit Hissar Fortress en route. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Dushanbe and check into the hotel.

Accommodation: 5* Serena Hotel

Meal: L, D

Our city tour will start with a visit to the National Museum of Antiquities with its famous Sleeping Buddha, excavated from the Buddhist monastery at Ajina Teppa. Our next stop is the Navruz Palace, an extraordinary modern building decorated by hundreds of artisans from all over Tajikistan. Most of the rooms are now used for official government meetings, or for international conferences, but one room is open to the public and used as a popular wedding venue. This is a unique opportunity to tour the interior of this ornate contemporary palace. 

After lunch, we will visit the statue of Ismail Somoni in Rudaki Park. This large monument commemorates the 1,100th anniversary of the Samanid State, a Golden Age of the Tajik nation, when science and arts flourished. From there we will walk through pretty Rudaki Park, which is dedicated to the great Persian poet Rudaki, who also lived during the Samanid period, in the 10th century. 

Accommodation: 5* Serena Hotel

Meal: B, L

 It’s a moderately long but scenic drive out of Dushanbe to Iskanderkul. We will stop on the way to have lunch in Sarvoda. By early afternoon we will reach Iskanderkul, the triangular lake named after Alexander the Great (“Iskander” is the Persian form of Alexander). It is considered to be one of the most exquisitely beautiful lakes in all of the former Soviet Union. In addition to admiring the views there will be time for a short hike to Iskander Waterfall and Snake Lake before dinner. We will spend the night in cottages on the lake shore, where the rooms have private bathrooms.   

If cottages stop operating in October then we continue our journey to Saratog village where a family will host us at their guesthouse.  

Accommodation: Cottages (subject to availability)/ Guesthouse in Saratog. 

Meal: B, L

After breakfast we drive toward Penjikent region. By afternoon, we will reach Penjikent – known as Pompeii of Central Asia. We check it at our hotel and start the sightseeing of Old Penjikent Sarazm ruins – both are selected UNESCO world heritage sites. We will visit local historical Museum to see one of the most impressive fresca. If time allows we will visit bazar, if not then we can do it tomorrow morning. 

Accommodation: 2* Umariyon hotel  

Meal: B, L

Our day trip will start with a bumpy ride into the mountains to explore the area of the Seven Lakes. This mountain valley is not far from Penjikent, but due to the bad road conditions, the trip takes a full day. We will drive up the valley to the sixth lake. It is then a short and easy hike of about two hours (both ways) to the seventh and highest lake, Hazorchashma. There will be time to enjoy the scenery and wander along the lake shore before hiking back down to the sixth lake and returning by road to Penjikent. On the way down we will stop for a walk in a couple of villages and will have a lunch at guesthouse in Noffin village. For the evening we will have a cooking master class at teahouse.

Accommodation: 2* Umariyon Hotel 

Meal: B, L, D

It is time to leave the mountains behind and return to urban life, journeying to the city of Khujand in northern Tajikistan. Khujand is situated on the Syr Darya River in the Fergana Valley. It is an ancient city with a history dating back to Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great. On the way we will visit Istaravshan, a city founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC which recently celebrated its 2,500th anniversary. Istaravshan’s artisans are highly regarded across Central Asia and the city is still well known in Tajikistan for its blacksmiths, who hand-craft knives of excellent quality. We will visit the blacksmiths’ workshops near the entrance to the city’s market, and also meet a woodcarvers workshop and a comb maker’s house. There will be time to see the main historical sights – the Kok Gumbaz and the Hazrat Shoh Mosque – before continuing on our way to Khujand. We will arrive in the evening and check in at the hotel. 

Accommodation: Khujand Grand Hotel

Meal: B, L

After breakfast, we will visit Khujand’s main market, Panjshabe Bazaar, which is the largest market in Tajikistan. Our city tour will continue to the Maslihaddin Mosque, the Lenin Monument, and Arbob Cultural Palace, where we will also visit a small factory which produces traditional Tajik textiles. We will have lunch at Anora, a house museum where you can appreciate traditional design and experience the authentic atmosphere of a Tajiki house. The friendly family members are always happy to welcome guests from different cultures and to exchange experiences with interested travellers. Afterwards, we will departure to Tashkent which will take about 3 hours ride. 

Accommodation: own arrangement 

Meal: B, L