Tajikistan Tour from Tashkent

Your driver will meet you at the Tashkent hotel to drive to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan ‘Oybek’ land border crossing (100km, 1hr 30min). Clear customs and passport control on both sides and meet your guide and driver. Drive to Khujand (70km, 1hr) and start your city tour:

• Explore Khujand Fortress built in the 5th century BC, rebuilt in the Middle Ages and again reconstructed in recent times;
• Continue to Historical Museum of Sughd, this museum brings the region’s history to life with moving depictions of Alexander the Great’s conquests and unusual artefacts preserved from the territory of historical Sughd;
• Excursion to the Mosque of Sheikh Muslihiddin. This impressive two-story mausoleum commemorating Sheikh Muslihiddin, a 12th century ruler and poet, is situated in a memorial complex that includes a mosque, a towering 20-meter minaret;
• Shop at Panjshanbe Bazaar (Thursday Bazaar). Walk about this bright and colorful oriental market;
• Stroll through Somoni Park, welcoming stretch of land and popular gathering place for local residents, Somoni Park displays a prominent statue of Ismoil Somoni plus fountains and bright mosaics that depict the city’s history.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours. Drive to hotel, check-in and rest. Overnight in Khujand.

After breakfast, depart Khujand in the morning for the ancient city Penjikent (260 km, 5h) via Istaravshan. Arrive in Istaravshan for your guided city tour of Istaravshan’s most popular sites:

• Istaravshan Bazaar - housed chiefly in a 3-story building, it’s impressively large and authentic;
• Hazrat Shah Architectural Complex (18th- 19th centuries) - includes Hazrat Shah Mausoleum, Khudayar Valami Mausoleum and Namazgah Mosque;
• Mug Teppe - this renovated fortress perched atop a hill marks the location of one of the oldest habitations in Istaravshan and provides a great overlook of the city.

Complete the drive to Penjikent. Arrival in Penjikent, free time. Overnight in Penjikent

Drive to Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) in the Fann Mountains (80km), where each lake has its own name and color, accentuated by the beauty of the cliffs encircling each one. Go for a stroll around a nearby village, taking photos along the way. You’ll stop at each lake, take photos and learn about each lake’s history and unique characteristics: Lake 1 - Nezhigon (Eyelashes), Lake 2 - Soya (Shade), Lake 3 - Hushyor (Vigilance), Lake 4 - Nofin (Central), Lake 5 - Khurdak (Baby), Lake 6 - Marguzor (Tulip), Lake 7 - Hazorchashma (Thousand Springs), stretch your legs with a hike along a mountain stream which is situated 2300 meters above sea level. Drive back to Penjikent. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and meet with your guide and driver, start Penjikent city tour:

• Republican Museum of History (Rudaki Museum), which has eight exhibition halls on archaeology, nature, history, culture, lifestyle, Tajik customs and the life of Rudaki;
• Central Mosque and Olim Dodkhoh Madrasah - originally from the Middle Ages and rebuilt in recent times;
• Penjikent Bazaar, a bustling bazaar at the junction of the city’s main roads, complete with all the standard goods and Tajik souvenirs;
• Ancient Penjikent (5th century BC), a labyrinth of walls and passages decorated with amazing murals, the site includes foundations of homes, Zoroastrian fire temples, a cemetery and reconstructed living spaces.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours. Drive to border Jartepe via the settlement of Sarazm, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Go through border formalities at both checkpoints and enter Uzbekistan. Arrive in Samarkand for drop-off at the hotel.