Childukhtaron Valley tour from Dushanbe: The Forty Girls

Stand among forty stone peaks shaped by an ancient legend of sacrifice.

Childukhtaron is a one-day tour from Dushanbe to a valley in southern Tajikistan where 40 rocky peaks rise in the form of girls, according to local legend. The tour includes hotel pickup, an English-, Russian- or Persian-speaking guide, lunch, and an 11-hour round trip covering roughly 240 km to Muminabad district. Children from age 10 are welcome. The journey is suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour to Childukhtaron Valley

• Pick up from hotel in Dushanbe
• Drive to Muminabad district (240 km)
• Visit Mausoleum of Mir Sayid Ali Hamadoni in Kulob
• Explore Mu'minobod District
• Visit Childukhtaron Valley and see rock formations
• Return drive to Dushanbe

The experience

The tour begins with pickup from your Dushanbe hotel and a drive south toward Muminabad district. The road covers about 240 km through the southern region of Tajikistan. Along the way, you stop at the Mausoleum of Mir Sayid Ali Hamadoni in Kulob, a 14th-century memorial complex set in a park of centuries-old plane trees. The site holds a historical museum of local heritage, a museum of literary works by Mir Sayid Ali Hamadoni, and a house museum dedicated to the national poet Saidali Valizoda. The mausoleum draws over 20 million visitors annually.

Childukhtaron itself is an ancient valley where 40 towering rock formations rise in silhouettes resembling girls. Local legend tells that these were once young women who prayed to be turned to stone rather than be taken as concubines by invading forces. Another account links the rocks to a battle with Genghis Khan, where 40 young horsewomen died defending the valley. The landscape is especially striking in spring. You walk among these stone peaks and take in the valley's scale and the stories embedded in its geology.

The return journey to Dushanbe follows the same route. The full day runs 11 hours including stops, meals and travel time. An air-conditioned vehicle carries you throughout, and parking fees are covered. Lunch is included. Your guide speaks English, Russian or Persian depending on the option you select at checkout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Dushanbe.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• a live guide in English, Russian or Persian.
• lunch.
• parking fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (36 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 75 years) · Youth (10 to 35 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Persian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Bunyod-Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day to spend: the 11-hour drive covers 240 km to see both Kulob's mausoleum and the Forty Girls Valley's stone formations, with a guide explaining the legends and history at each stop.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Russian and Persian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 35 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What is included in this tour?

Hotel pickup in Dushanbe, an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day, a guide in English, Russian or Persian, lunch, and all parking fees are included. The tour covers the round trip to the valley and stops at the Kulob mausoleum complex on the route.