Panjakent «Pompey of Central Asia»

Our guide will meet you in the airport and accompany to Dushanbe. The entire day is dedicated to a guided city tour. First of we will visit Rudake Park, National library, White House, National state seal, House of parliament and Jomi theatre. After it we will walk in National park to make photos of Ministry of Inner Affairs and the second biggest National Flag in the world – 165 m high pole, 30 m wide, 60 m long. After excursion in Central Museum you will have lunch. Then you will visit to Gurminj Museum of traditional musical instruments. To feel real life you should visit Asian bazar. It has colorful goods, fruits and vegetables. We will see today the main highlights of Dushanbe and you will find out many interesting facts about Tajik people. Dinner will be in a traditional restaurant where you try Tajik food.

Our trip today is to high Mountain lake – Iskanderkul (2 255 m. a. s. l.). It is situated in the famous Fann Mountains. This fabulous area is one of the best places of Central Asia. The road to the lakes goes over Anzob pass (3 372 m) with amazing panorama views. After arrival to the lake you will go for a walk along it beaches. This is an amazing place to have a rest. Also we will hike 40 minutes to see a waterfall. Tajikistan takes the second place among the CIS countries for volume of water resources: it has the highest water reserves of all Central Asian countries with more than 1 000 rivers, 2 000 lakes and 8000 glaciers.

In the morning we will drive to Penjakent via pass Shahriston (3 378 m). The city of Penjakent («five villages») is located in Khujand area of Tajikistan in a picturesque Zeravshan river valley. Quite possibly the five villages started the history of this remarkable city which originated in the 5th-8th centuries AD. Penjikent of that time was one of the most important cultural and crafts centers of Sogd. It was even named «Central Asian Pompeii». It was a superbly fortified well-organized city with a ruler’s palace, two temples, markets, rich dwelling houses decorated with numerous paintings, wooden and clay statues of ancient gods. The ruins of this ancient city were found only in the last century.

We will drive today to the Fan Mountains. They are one of Central Asia’s most popular hiking areas. You will do a day trip from Panjakent to the Seven Lakes (Marquzor Lakes), about 60 km south of Panjakent. At this place you will have time to go for short hiking. There road goes along a gorge where 7 lakes are located. They are situated on different altitudes and have different colors. Also you will meet local people that live at that area. It will be very interesting to see their way of life.

After driving a little down the stream we turn to the south and make our way towards the mountain village of Artuch. A bit deeper into the mountains we shall find our destination point, stationary mountaineers’ base camp (BC) ‘Artuch’ (2200m).
‘Artuch’ is a wonderful place, which is located in the heart of Fann Mountains not far away from the Tajikistan most beautiful lakes and highest peaks.

Continue your journey through stunning
mountain scenery to the town of Istarafshan.
There is a fascinating and well preserved old
town whose maze of small alleys wind through
neighbourhoods of mud-walled houses of a
typically Central Asian design. Explore the town before moving on to Khojand. In the afternoon head out to the Tajik ‘sea’ kayrakkum a lake on the Syr Darya river to walk along the coast and swim.

Drive back down through the mountains to the
capital city. Spend the afternoon in the city.