Seven Lakes of Tajikistan: 2 Days from Samarkand, a Night by Lake 6
Cross from Samarkand into Tajikistan for Sarazm, Panjakent bazaar and the Seven Lakes, sleep in a private room above Marguzor, the sixth lake, and drive…
Seven Lakes Day Trip from Samarkand: Tajikistan's Fann Mountains by 4×4
Cross into Tajikistan for a day at the Seven Lakes: Panjakent bazaar, the lakes of the Fann Mountains by 4×4 and the UNESCO site of Sarazm on the way back. Daily departures, April to October.
About this trip
The Seven Lakes are a chain of mountain lakes in Tajikistan's Fann Mountains, strung along one narrow valley above Panjakent, each a different colour from the one before. From Samarkand they make a full day: you walk across the border at Jartepa, a 4×4 with a local driver takes you up the valley, and you are back in Samarkand in the evening.
The day
- Departure at 07:00, 08:00 or 09:00 from the Qalam bookshop near the Registan. Hotel pickup in Samarkand can be arranged.
- The border at Jartepa is about an hour away. You cross on foot, and your Tajik driver meets you on the other side.
- Panjakent bazaar, for a look at everyday life in a Tajik market town.
- The Seven Lakes: Nezhigon, Soya, Gushor, Nofin, Khurdak, Marguzor and Hazorchashma, with stops for photographs along the way.
- Sarazm on the way back, a UNESCO-listed settlement more than 5,000 years old, with a small museum.
The whole day takes about ten hours. When you are back depends on your departure time and the queue at the border.
Lunch
Lunch is not included, so choose one when you book: lunch at the café by Lake 3, a home-cooked lunch at our tour base near Lake 6, or a packed picnic, often eaten by Lake 7.
Driver or guide
The price includes a Russian-speaking driver. An English-speaking guide-driver costs $30 extra for the whole group, and other languages can be chosen when you book.
Good to know
- The tour normally goes all the way to Lake 7. In bad weather or poor road conditions it may end at Lake 6.
- Bring your passport, and check whether you need a Tajik visa: see our Tajikistan visa guide.
- It runs every day from April to October. The more people in your booking, the lower the price per person.
Who it suits
Anyone spending a few days in Samarkand who wants one day of mountains, and travellers curious to see a little of Tajikistan without planning a separate trip.
Day by day
- Meeting / pickup in Samarkand
Departure at 7:00, 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. Meet at Qalam Book Store near the Registan complex or, if arranged, at your Samarkand hotel. Drive through the countryside toward the Uzbek–Tajik border.
- Transfer from Samarkand to Jartepa border
It takes about an hour to get to the border of Tajikistan.
- Jartepa Border Crossing
Walk across the Uzbekistan–Tajikistan border - crossing the border is on foot and you will meet TravelX Tajikistan side driver right after crossing the border.
- Panjakent town & Panjakent bazaar
Meet your Tajik driver/guide, pass through this historic town at the gateway to the Fann Mountains. You will stop at Panjakent bazaar and feel the vibe of the town.
- Lake 1 — Nezhigon (Mijgon)
The first lake welcomes visitors with waters that can shift between turquoise, blue, and violet as the light changes.
- Lake 2 — Soya
Sheltered by steep cliffs, Soya offers a shaded setting where the water’s colors change with the weather and sunlight.
- Lake 3 — Gushor (Khushyor)
Surrounded by rocky slopes, Gushor features clear water and a rushing stream connecting it to neighboring Soya.
- Lake 4 — Nofin
A long, narrow lake stretching through the valley, with mountain views and small settlements along its shores.
- Lake 5 — Khurdak
The smallest of the Seven Lakes, Khurdak sits above Padrud village before the road climbs toward Marguzor.
- Lunch
Lunch depends on the option you add when booking: a café by Lake Three, a homemade local lunch at our tour base near Lake Six (Marguzor), or a packed picnic enjoyed outdoors, often at Lake Seven. The time and place of the lunch stop depend on your option, the route and the weather. Lunch is not included unless you add one of these options to your booking.
- Lake 6 — Marguzor
The largest of the Seven Lakes, Marguzor combines a broad expanse of blue water with dramatic mountain scenery. In bad weather or poor road conditions, it may be the last lake visited.
- Lake 7 — Hazorchashma
The highest and final lake, Hazorchashma is fed by mountain rivers and streams, offering a remote alpine setting. The tour normally reaches this lake, but it is not guaranteed: in bad weather or poor road conditions, the lake route may finish at Lake Six.
- Sarazm UNESCO Archaeological Site & Museum
On the way back, explore the 5,500-year-old ruins and small museum of Sarazm, one of Central Asia’s earliest settlements.
- Return to Samarkand
Scenic drive back through Panjakent, border crossing on foot, meet Uzbek side driver and drop-off in Samarkand. Return time depends on your departure time, the pace of the tour and waiting time at border control.
What's included
- Hotel pickup in Samarkand, as arranged.
- Round-trip transfers between Samarkand and the Jartepa border.
- 4×4 transportation in Tajikistan with an experienced local Russian-speaking driver.
- Sightseeing stops at Sarazm UNESCO site and Panjakent Bazaar.
- Seven Lakes sightseeing, normally up to Lake Seven (not guaranteed: in bad weather or poor road conditions the route may finish at Lake Six).
- Drop-off at your Samarkand hotel or the train station, as arranged.
Not included
- Lunch, unless you add a lunch option to your booking.
- English-speaking guide-driver upgrade (+$30 per group), unless booked.
- Personal expenses, snacks, and souvenirs.
- Tips for drivers and guides (optional).
- Travel insurance.
- Visa fees, if applicable.
- Sarazm museum ticket: 35 somoni per person, paid in cash.
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