Seven Lakes tour from Samarkand: Emerald lakes in Fann Mountains

Walk between seven mountain lakes ringed by snow-capped peaks

A day tour from Samarkand crosses the Uzbek-Tajik border to reach the Fann Mountains' Seven Lakes (Haftkul), a chain of emerald and turquoise lakes strung across 14 kilometers at high elevation. The route includes stops in the border town of Panjikent and mountain villages, a picnic lunch setup, and a guide who speaks your language. The trek itself is graded easy and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour to Seven Lakes from Samarkand

• Meet driver at hotel
• Drive to Uzbek-Tajik border
• Cross border on foot
• Meet Tajikistan guide
• Drive to Panjikent city
• Stop to buy water and food
• Drive to Seven Lakes area
• Stop at local shop for picnic food
• Trek and explore Seven Lakes
• Return to Panjikent

The experience

The tour departs your Samarkand hotel at 8:00 and heads toward the Uzbek-Tajik border, where you walk across on foot and clear passport control before meeting your Tajikistan guide on the other side. Panjikent, the second-largest city in Tajikistan, is your first stop: a small town where the group buys water and food for the day. From there, the drive climbs into the Fann Mountains toward the lakes themselves.

The Seven Lakes sit between 1,640 and 2,400 meters above sea level, their names in the local language, Haftkul, meaning exactly that. The chain stretches more than 14 kilometers, and the lakes themselves are the draw: Nezhigon, Soya, Gushor, Nofin, Khurdak, Marguzor and Hazorchashma, each one ringed by snow-capped mountains and colored in shades of emerald and turquoise that shift with the light and the angle you stand at. The trek between them is easy enough for all fitness levels, though the full outing (walking and returning) takes 8 to 9 hours. You stop in mountain villages near the lakes (Pardut, Khurdak, Marguzor, Shin) where you can see how people live in these high valleys.

The best window for this tour runs from late June through mid-September, when the snow has cleared enough for trekking and the weather holds steady. Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of three other languages, and the vehicle is air-conditioned for the drive up and down the mountain.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for the drive from Samarkand to the Fann Mountains and back.
• guide in your choice of language.
• pickup from your Samarkand hotel at 8:00.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Infant (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Persian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 49 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by TRIP ORIENT

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one of three other languages, so you follow the commentary in real time without translation lag. The trek itself is easy, making the high elevation and the distance between lakes manageable for anyone comfortable with a full day of walking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Korean and Persian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the actual trek between the lakes take?

The full outing (walking and returning to the vehicle) runs 8 to 9 hours, though this includes time at each lake and in the villages. The trek itself is graded easy and does not require mountaineering experience.

What do I need to bring for the picnic?

You stop at a local shop in Panjikent to buy food and water for the day, so you can choose what suits you. Bring a water bottle you can refill, comfortable walking shoes and sun protection for the high elevation.

Do I need a visa to enter Tajikistan for this tour?

European citizens do not need a visa to enter Tajikistan. Check your passport validity and your own country's entry requirements before booking. Your guide will meet you after you clear border control on the Tajik side.

What are the Seven Lakes actually called?

The lakes are known locally as Haftkul, which means "Seven Lakes" in English. The individual lakes are Nezhigon, Soya, Gushor, Nofin, Khurdak, Marguzor and Hazorchashma, each one a different shade of emerald or turquoise.