Trekking in Tajikistan is barely on the tourist radar but those that make the effort will be rewarded with some of the most pristine and precious landscapes on the planet.
Not only will you gain an insight into the diversity of Central Asian culture, but you will also get to explore Tajikistan’s rich cultural heritage. Soviet-style Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, with its landmarks, museums and busy bazaars, is a world away from the tranquil landscapes of the river valleys and mountain passes that make up Tajik countryside.
This Fann mountains hiking tour will take you back in time as you explore wonders such as the Hisor Fortress and the old city of Penjikent. But the great treat in store for you on this trip is that the countryside through which you’ll trek has been little changed for millennia, its glacial lakes as turquoise as they were in the days of the ancients and its mountain peaks as craggy.
If you’re looking for a physical challenge in a country so unspoiled no one can argue it’s a hidden gem, then this is the trip for you!
We fully appreciate that we all need to be flexible in the world of travel right now. You can book with us with complete confidence that you have the flexibility to change your plans if needed.
All bookings made this year can be changed or postponed free of charge. If you cancel your trip up to 16 days before the departure, we will hold your deposit as a credit towards an alternative trip in the future with Kalpak Travel.
Welcome to Tajikistan! Arrival at the airport early in the morning (most people arrive on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul). Transfer to the hotel and early check-in. You can rest, take a shower, and have breakfast after your long flight.
We start the city tour with a visit to the Navruz Palace. Originally this building was supposed to become the largest tea house in the world. However, during its construction, which involved hundreds of craftsmen from all over the country, the interior became so impressive that it was decided to make it a palace instead of a tea house. Most of the rooms are only used for official government meetings with guests from abroad or for international conferences. Only one room is open to the public and usually, weddings take place there. You will have the opportunity to take a tour of this unique modern palace. After lunch, we will visit the statue of Ismail Samani. The large monument commemorates the 1100th anniversary of the Samanid state, the heyday of the Tajik nation when science and art flourished. From there we go to Rudaki Park, which is dedicated to the great Persian poet Rudaki who also lived during the Samanid period in the 9th century AD.
We will have a welcome dinner in a nice Tajik restaurant. Your guide will outline the itinerary and give you plenty of opportunities to ask questions about the adventure that awaits you.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nestled in the heart of Dushanbe, the hotel is connected to all the city’s business and top tourist destinations. The atmosphere in the hotel is warm and welcoming with an air of elegance and charm. Supermarkets are accessible to the hotel. Banks and foreign exchange facilities are within reach. The 24-hour staff will get you anything and everything you need, be it chocolates with your coffee or ticket for Opera ballet.
Talk to us
This morning we are leaving the Tajik capital and driving through the Varzob Gorge – a weekend destination for locals from Dushanbe. We continue towards the Fann Mountains. These picturesque peaks form part of the high Zarafshan ridge. We plan to reach Penjikent just in time for lunch at around 2 pm. After lunch, we check-in at the hotel before exploring the city.
Penjikent means “the city of five villages” and is located in the fertile Zeravshan river valley. Penjikent dates from the 5th century and was a thriving regional hub on the Great Silk Road. We visit the city’s local market.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Located in Panjakent, Umarion offers a shared lounge and free WiFi. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, a shared kitchen and currency exchange for guests.
At the hotel, every room comes with a wardrobe. All units at Umariyon are equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.
Talk to us
We will be back on the road again today following a route that takes us through the Shing Gorge, with its famous seven pearls of Tajikistan – seven mountain lakes each with its own distinctive colour, microclimate, and flora. We are in no hurry today and can take photo stops at many beautiful spots along the way. Near the fourth lake, we stop at the village of Noffin for lunch in a family guesthouse.
After lunch, we drive further up to the sixth lake with a short walk in Podrud village along the way. From the sixth lake, we hike in less than one hour up to the 7th and last lake – Hazorchashma. The crew of donkeys, cook, and support staff will meet us at the lake. You may relax at the lake, go for a swim, or have a walk around the lake if you like.
Overnight in tent, 2400m altitude.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start the day with a nutritious breakfast. You will be trekking today around 6 hours, mostly uphill, so you will need the sustenance. We trek westwards from Hazorchashma lake towards Tovassang Pass, climbing steadily as the pass is at an altitude of 3350m. The exertion is well worth the effort, though, as we will be treated to an incredible view over the stunning Sarmat Gorge. We continue on, through the breathtaking Danisher Gorge, camping along the way.
Overnight in tent, ca. 2800m altitude.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fortunately, what goes up must come down and it’s downhill all the way today. We’ll stroll down the trail that leads through dense forest to the small village of Khomori Goitan before crossing the Archamaidon and Sarmat rivers. We’ll be glad of our crew and their pack mules who’ll take the hard work out of carrying our gear, leaving us free to focus our attention solely on the unmissable scenery that unfolds before us. Our goal today is to reach the Duoba campsite, located at 1870 meters above sea level at the confluence of the Archamaidon and Sarmat rivers.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Another day’s trekking begins this morning, and a very pleasant walk it is too. Our route hugs the banks of the Archamaidon River. In comparison to the rocky slopes, the meadows which surround the river are lush from the water used to irrigate them. We follow the main road past the villages of Voru and Gaza. Having broken for lunch somewhere along the way we will hike until we reach the village of Zimtut, where we are welcomed by a friendly family in their house, where we will have dinner and overnight. There will be some time to discover the charming village of Zimtut and get acquainted with the villagers.
Overnight in a simple guesthouse, ca. 1900m altitude.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today it is time to hike uphill again as we will cross Ghuytan pass (3000m) to reach Chukurak lake (2450m). After a short rest at the lake, we hike half an hour down to the Artuch Alpinist camp, where you will be able to sleep in twin rooms with a private bathroom and shower.
Overnight in Artuch Camp.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Feeling refreshed after a good night’s rest, we are ready for the delightful ascent to the Kulikalon Lakes. The Kulikalon area is a plateau at an altitude of around 2800m full of rivers and beautiful lakes – some smaller and some larger. Many consider these lakes to be the most beautiful ones of the entire Fann Mountains. We will arrive early enough at the lakes, so you can go for a swim or explore the area on your own. Overnight at lake Bibijanat, a particularly picturesque lake in the Kulikalon area and suitable for swimming.
Overnight in tent, ca. 2800m altitude.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We depart Bibijanat and climb towards the incredible Alauddin Pass (3860m). This is the highest point of our tour. The ascent to the Pass is quite steep, so we make sure to stop sometimes to catch a breath, drink water and eat some snacks. On the pass, you will be rewarded with a clear view of Chapdara Glacier, the peak with the same name, as well as Mount Odamsang and Mount Marriya. Looking down from the Pass you can already spot the two Alauddin Lakes. The descent is quite steep and it takes longer than it seems until we finally reach the shore of Alauddin Lake and can jump into the refreshingly cold water.
We set up our tents next to the lake.
Overnight in tent, ca. 2700m altitude.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today morning we walk down half an hour from Alauddin Lake to Alauddin Alpinist Camp, where the driver will wait for us to take us to Lake Iskander Kul. Named after Alexander the Great, this tranquil lake offers a serene location to mull over the sights and experiences we have had since arriving in Tajikistan. Triangular in shape, it is considered one of the most exquisite lakes in all of the former Soviet Union nations. We will take a short hike to a nearby waterfall, also known as the Niagara Falls of the Fann Mountains. After lunch at the shore of the lake, we drive back to Dushanbe via Anzob tunnel and Varzog gorge. Farewell dinner.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Nestled in the heart of Dushanbe, the hotel is connected to all the city’s business and top tourist destinations. The atmosphere in the hotel is warm and welcoming with an air of elegance and charm. Supermarkets are accessible to the hotel. Banks and foreign exchange facilities are within reach. The 24-hour staff will get you anything and everything you need, be it chocolates with your coffee or ticket for Opera ballet.
Talk to us
Today it is time to say a fond farewell to Tajikistan. Transfer to Dushanbe International airport. We hope you have enjoyed your trip to Tajikistan and will return soon to see more of Central Asia.
Included meals: Breakfast
| Departing | Returning | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| More dates available | Enquire | |||
Not sure when you're travelling yet? Looking for a different date? Contact Kalpak Travel for more information.
Enquire
Call one of our travel experts for ideas and trip planning advice.
Talk to us
Carefully-selected, quality assured hotels ranging from three or four stars and camping while on the trek.
Nestled in the heart of Dushanbe, the hotel is connected to all the city’s business and top tourist destinations. The atmosphere in the hotel is warm and welcoming with an air of elegance and charm. Supermarkets are accessible to the hotel. Banks and foreign exchange facilities are within reach. The 24-hour staff will get you anything and everything you need, be it chocolates with your coffee or ticket for Opera ballet.
Talk to usNestled in the heart of Dushanbe, the hotel is connected to all the city’s business and top tourist destinations...
Located in Panjakent, Umarion offers a shared lounge and free WiFi. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, a shared kitchen and currency exchange for guests.
At the hotel, every room comes with a wardrobe. All units at Umariyon are equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.
Talk to usLocated in Panjakent, Umarion offers a shared lounge and free WiFi...
We loved our tour of Uzbekistan! From the start of the process Luca was very helpful and provided lots of information, then when we had to reschedule twice because of the pandemic he moved the booking on and kept the price the same. As we got closer to actually going we had lots of questions which Luca answered very comprehensively. The organisation of the tour was excellent and our guide Umid was exceptional. Uzbekistan was a long time coming because of the pandemic but it fully lived up to our expectations and Kalpak was a big part of that. Would recommend highly.
We booked an 8 day Best of Uzbekistan trip and added 3 nights so we could fly direct from the UK. Luca was absolutely brilliant with suggestions for places to go and sites to visit to make best use of the time, he arranged drivers, guides, meals and hotels and they were all excellent. We visited Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Shakrisabz and Tashkent, each very different from one another but all really interesting, welcoming and as photographers offered great shots. In Samarkand we had dinner in a local property and a plov cooking demonstration, great fun and as the lone vegetarian, I can put my hand on my heart and say I had an excellent meal!
Nothing is ever too much for Luca to make sure your trip runs like clockwork. He prepares the itinerary meticulously and adjusts to your specific preferences. He will answer emails or whatsapp immediately, no matter the day or time (does the man ever sleep ?!). I covered Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in 33 days and saw the very best of Central Asia. Luca organized the complex logistics of this trip, with comfortable rides (cars, trains, planes) and local guides at every location. Luca and his team are not only super professional, they are also easy and friendly to work with. Simply could not be better ! There's only 1 option when you visit "The Stans" : talk to KALPAK.
My trip with Kalpak to Central was phenomenal. It far exceeded my expectations. Everything was top quality including the accommodations, food, sights, itinerary and outstanding guides in each country. It was an excellent quality tour for the money. Great quality value. I would highly recommend the trip to anyone considering going. Central Asia is the best kept secret that one doesn’t hear much about.
I got a tip to visit the webpage for Kalpak and have not regretted since. They arrange trips to Central Asia and do it really well. They are professional, respond to inquiries instantly, are very flexible and know the region well. I was in contact with Luca for a combination of mountain biking and trekking in the Fann mountains in Tajikistan. My experience is solely positive; truly professional and passionate about the region.
Mind you, Kalpak uses local resources and is responsible tourism. I really recommend Kalpak Travel! They make astonishing trips to Central Asia and are professional, serious and responsible.
We had a fabulous 13-day tour of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan - in May/June. Luca, the owner of Kalpak Travel, has been very reliable and committed to giving excellent service. He was constantly keeping in touch during our trip to ensure that everything was running smoothly.
The guides in each city spoke excellent English and were extremely informative on all aspects of Central Asia. In Almaty, we were invited to have dinner at our tour guide's home. The food was fabulous and we had a wonderful evening….
We were very lucky to have Kalpak Travel as our tour company which exceeded our expectations with flying colours. We highly recommend Kalpak Travel if you are planning a hassle-free tour of Central Asia.
We had a wonderful 3.5 week trip through the 5 Stans. I feel like I've seen the highlights in case I don't get the opportunity to return, but I most certainly DO want to return and see more. These are the warmest and most welcoming people I have every encountered.
My regret is that Kalpak does not arrange trips for other parts of the world, as I truly enjoyed every minute of working with them, and would love to do so again. SUPERLATIVE service.
This itinerary would cost from $2,390 pp.
Pricing may vary by accommodation choice, group size and time of year.
|
Ground transfers |
All ground transfers in a minivan. |
|
|
Some meals |
11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners. |
|
|
Accommodation |
Accommodation: Hotel (4 nights), Family Homestay (1 nights), Tent (5 nights). |
|
|
Guided excursions |
Dushanbe city tour included as well as guided trek in the Fan Mountains. |
We aim to provide absolute peace of mind when booking with us. A €300 per person deposit is required at the time of booking, and you may cancel or re-book your dates up to 15 days prior to departure.
All group departures have a maximum group size of 12 guests. All departure dates are guaranteed.
You can also opt to book the whole itinerary as a private tour. We can arrange extra nights before or after the trip, and suggest private tour extensions.
We can advise and take care of any required visas. Citizens of most countries are eligible for an e-visa for Tajikistan, and a visa on arrival for Turkmenistan, with a letter of invitation pre-arranged by us. Other countries are visa-free for most nationalities. Contact us for advice.
We are happy to advise on your international flights, please contact us for more assistance.
