DISCOVER TAJIKISTAN’S FANN MOUNTAINS

Rasul Tour Travel Company LLC will take part in the KITF 2024 Tourism and Travel exhibition, where it will present tourist routes in Tajikistan.
In this article, we will share one of these routes: "Multi-active hiking and cultural immersion for 9 days/ 8 nights".

Day 1. Flight – Dushanbe
Meet in the airport. Transfer to hotel. Sightseeing the Dushanbe: Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan. Dushanbe means "Monday" in Tajik language, and the name reflects the fact that the city grew on the site of a village that originally was a popular Monday marketplace. Situated at the confluence of two rivers – Varzob and Kofarnihon. Museum of antiquities – Budda in Nirvana position. Lunch. Navruz palace - initially building “Kohi Navruz” (Palace of Nowruz) was planned as a teahouse, but during the construction become into a palace. Kohi Navruz has – 12 unusuall halls, each of which is made in a special style. All the rooms of the palace are decorated by local artists, craftsmen: there are wood carvings and Florentine mosaic from the local semi-precious stones, mosaics made of colored mirrors, painted ceilings. On the walls – scenes from the ancient legends, on the ceiling – made in the old style, wooden ornaments, which are made mainly by craftsmen from Isfara. Walking in the main square: Monument Somoni, park Rudaki, National library, President palace, Flag park. Dinner. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 2. Dushanbe – Panjakent city 220 km – Ghazza village 60 km
Breakfast. Drive to the border. Crossing the border. Drive to Panjakent 60 km. The city of Panjakent ("five villages") is located in Khujand area of Tajikistan in a picturesque Zarafshon river valley. Quite possibly the five villages started the history of this remarkable city which originated in the V-VIII centuries AD. Panjakent of that time was one of the most important cultural and crafts centers of Sogd. It was even named "Central Asian Pompeii". Sightseeing the city: Sarazm settlement – 5500 years, UNESCO site; Museum of Rudaki – Panjakent is a birthplace of Abuabdulloh Rudaki – the father of Tajik/Persian poetry.; Ancient Penjikent – ruines of old Sogdian town founded in V century and abandoned in the VIII century by arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. Lunch in the national teahouse Sayohat with national Tajik food “plov”. Participation in the cooking class, how to cook Tajik national food. Drive to Ghazza village 60 km. Gazza one of the remote villages, located 1700 m above see level, on the foot by Hamid and Obshor mountains, population about 200 people. Ghazza is located in the Fan mountains. Walking and meet local people in the village, exploring how the Tajik people lives in the mountains area. Dinner and overnight in the local community guest house.

Day 3. Gazza - Khushtarita valley, 4 km hike
Breakfast. Spend a full day exploring. Hike in the Fan mountains. The fabulous Fan Mountains are famous for their pristine beauty and the diversity of flora and fauna present there. Hundreds of startling peaks of the Turkestan and Hisor mountain ridges (southwest of Pamir-Alay) make the phenomenal beauty of Fan mountains. More than ten peaks reach the height of 5000 meters having their walls fluctuating at the height of up to 1800 meters. These peaks incorporate the Peak of Bodhona (5138 m), Peak of Energiya (5105 m), Peak of Zamok (5070 m) and Chapdara (5050 m). The highest peak in the region is the Peak of Chimtarga (5487 m). 30 different azure lakes are located in Fan Mountains area which originate from the snowy fields of these miraculous peaks. Rising hike to Murgobi lake (4 km, 2 hours). Resting and walking near the lake. Picnic. Continue hiking to Soya lake 1,5 km and then to Bedak camping place (2300 m). This area arounded by mountains as a Obshor, Kyrgon, Kantif, Ankyf, Sarpyshak. Walking around, and meet the families, which lives here for summer, and sleeping in the tent, looking after animals and making milk product. Dinner and overnight in the tent.

Day 4. Khushtarita valley – Vory village – Ghazza village 10 km hike
Breakfast. Hiking via pass Bory (2800 m the top of the pass), from the top very amazing panoramic view of Khushtarita valley and two lakes: Urdakon and Soya. Picnic on the way. Hiking to village Bory, village located in the 1900 m above sea level, in the mountains area, population about 1000, 120 houses. Construction of building remind you XVIII-XIX centuries. Drive with car about 5 km to Ghazza village. Dinner and overnight in the guest house.

Day 5. Ghazza village – Chukurak lake 12 km hike
Breakfast. Hiking via Zurmich valley and pass to Chukurak lake. Chukurak lake is one of the amazing lake in Fan mountains located in the altitude 2300 m. Picnic on the way. Dinner and overnight in the tent.

Day 6. Chukurak lake – Kuli Kalon lakes 8 km hike
Breakfast. Trekking via Chukurak pass 3200 m to Kuli Kalon lakes. Lake kulikalon (big lake) is situated at an altitude of 2,800 m, and is the second largest lake (after Iskandarkul) in this area. The lake actually consists of two lakes: bolshoi (large) kulikalon and maly (smaller) kulikalon, which are connected by a channel. The northern shore of the lake is indented with large and small creeks separated by capes and crevices. The lake shores are wooded. The water from maly kulikalon goes underground and emerges again 600m below as the Urech river. The water at the southern end of bolshoi lake is noticeably cooler than at the northern end where it is possible to swim, its color also changes near the shores, it looks as if the black bodies of dead animals lie motionless in the bluish-green water. There are marinka (schizothorax) fish in the lake. Kulikalon means 'big lake' in Tajik language. Dinner and overnight in the tent.

Day 7. Kuli Kalon lake – Alouddin lake 12 km
Breakfast. Hiking via Alouddan pass (3840 m) to Alouddin lake (2700 m). Picnic on the way. The Alouddin lakes are a group of reservoirs upstream in the Pasrud valley. all the lakes are situated on the steps of ancient and modern moraines. pure, clear water pours from one step into another and the level of water in the lake remains constant. there are no fish in the lakes. only the most experienced and adventurous will bathe in the water for any length of time since it is very cold.
Resting time. Dinner. Overnight in the tent.

Day 8. Alouddin lake – Mutniy lake – Alouddin lake 8 km+8 km hike
Breakfast. Radial trekking to Mutniy lake (3500 m), around the panorama of highest peak in Fan mountains Gimtarga mountain (5489 m), Energy (5120 m), Politechnikum (4400 m) Zamok (4800 m). Mutnye lake is a good base camp from which to attempt these cliffs. there is no vegetation in the lakes area; all that exists is rubble. Picnic near the lake. Come back to Alouddin lake. Dinner and overnight in the tent.

Day 9. Alouddin lake – Dushanbe 130km
Breakfast. Drive back to Dushanbe. Flight back.