Expert opinion
Pluses
- All seven lakes: The route goes from Nejigon to Hazorchashma, the seventh and farthest lake, with stops for tea, a picnic, short walks and photography rather than a race.
- Local drivers in the mountains: On the Tajik side the group switches to local 4×4 drivers, and an AroundCA guide stays with you on both sides of the border.
- Border handled in advance: Border formalities are confirmed before departure, and the route can be extended by 1–2 days in the Fann Mountains.
Minuses
- Two border crossings: The border is crossed on day 2 after an early start and again on day 4, and border or Entry rules depend on your passport. Once you are here, each stay must be registered within three days, and hotels do it for you; customs and registration rules are in our guide. Read more → formalities are not in the price if they apply to your nationality.
- Guesthouse by the lakes: Two nights are in a mountain house or a small guesthouse by the lakes; the other nights are in hotels in Samarkand and Panjakent.
- Flights and meals extra: Flights to and from Samarkand, meals (on request), tips and insurance are not included.
AroundCA numbers
How we counted
By the AroundCA programme: we count only what is written in the day-by-day programme of this tour. If the programme gives no figure, we show nothing.
- Hotel changes
- 1
- Walking
- Light
Walking: Light: the lakes are reached by jeep, with short walks and a mountain village on day 3. The programme also mentions treks in the route summary, but the length and difficulty of the walks and the altitude are not stated.
Best time
Mar–Nov
The Seven Lakes can be visited in spring, summer and autumn (March–November).
A typical day
Day 3, Haftkul: the whole day in the valley by jeep and on foot, going on to Khurdak, Marguzor and Hazorchashma, the seventh and farthest lake. Stops for tea, a picnic, short walks and photos are timed to light, weather and road, and the group returns to Panjakent by evening.
What the price includes
What is included
- Private jeep in Uzbekistan, plus local 4×4 drivers on the Tajik side
- 1 night hotel in Samarkand, 2 nights guesthouse by the lakes
- Third night in a hotel in Panjakent (after the return from the lakes on day 3)
- AroundCA guide for the entire route, both sides of the border
- Drinking water
- All local taxes
Not included
- Flights to and from Samarkand
- Border/visa formalities, if applicable for your nationality
- Meals (on request)
- Personal expenses, tips, travel insurance
Good for
- Nature and mountain lovers
- Travellers who want something beyond cities
Maybe not for you if
- Those without a passport ready for a border crossing — the route enters Tajikistan
Questions about this tour
What is included in the price?
Everything that is and isn’t included, and what you pay on site, is in one list: What the price includes
Are meals and flights included?
No. Flights to and from Samarkand are paid separately, and meals are available on request at extra cost.
Do we cross a border?
Yes, the route goes from Uzbekistan into Tajikistan on day 2 and back on day 4, and border formalities are confirmed before departure. Border or visa formalities, if they apply to your nationality, are paid separately.
When can we go, and how much does it cost?
Any dates in season, as a private departure. The price is $1,190 per person for 2 travellers sharing a twin/double room, and the per-person price improves with a larger group.
Can the route be extended?
Yes, by 1–2 days: more time in the Fann Mountains, a visit to Iskanderkul, or a night by the sixth lake.
Didn’t find your answer? Ask about this tour →
Make it your trip
Tick what you’d like to add — it goes into your request, and the manager confirms the final price.
Arrival, departure, transfers
Programme and details
Day-by-day route, prices and terms
Nature & Adventure · Tajikistan on prepared 4×4s
Jeep Expedition: Seven Lakes
Samarkand · Panjakent · Haftkul — not a there-and-back excursion, but a road into the Fann Mountains, all the way to the seventh lake.
Route
Uzbekistan → Tajikistan
A private jeep expedition starting in Samarkand. On the Tajik side, the group is met by local 4×4 drivers, so the road stays alive: stops at each lake, a night in a mountain village, and enough time not to see Haftkul through a car window in one frame. Border formalities are confirmed before departure.
| Day | Area | What’s inside |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samarkand | Arrival, transfer, expedition briefing |
| 2 | Panjakent → Haftkul | Border crossing, local 4×4s, first four lakes |
| 3 | Haftkul | Fifth, sixth and seventh lakes; treks and a mountain village |
| 4 | Panjakent → Samarkand | Return through the border, onward flight |
Programme
Day by day
Click a day to expand the description.
Day 1 · Samarkand. Before the Road
Airport pick-up, transfer, and check-in in Samarkand. In the evening, a short expedition briefing — border documents, gear, road conditions, and setting the group’s pace. Afterward, dinner and a walk by the Samarkand's main square, framed by three madrasahs: Ulugh Beg (15th century), Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori (both 17th century). Read more →, if you’d rather start the journey at full scale.
Day 2 · Samarkand to Panjakent to Haftkul
An early start toward the border. After crossing, we switch into local 4×4s and drive through Panjakent toward the Fann Mountains. The road climbs the Shing Valley: the first lake, Nejigon, then Soya, Khushyor, and Nofin. Overnight in a mountain house or a small guesthouse by the lakes.
Day 3 · Haftkul. To the Seventh Lake
The whole day belongs to the valley. By jeep and on foot, we go further: Khurdak, Marguzor, and Hazorchashma — the seventh and farthest lake of the cascade. No racing to check off all seven points — stops for tea, a picnic, short walks, and photography are timed to the light, the weather, and the road. Return to Panjakent by evening.
Day 4 · Panjakent to Samarkand
Morning: time in old Panjakent, or a short walk before the road. Then back across the border, transfer to Samarkand, and your onward flight. The route can be extended by 1–2 days — staying longer in the Fann Mountains, adding Iskanderkul, or a night by the sixth lake.
Price
Price per person
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 2 travelers, twin/double room | $1,190 |
Private departure — the price per person improves with a larger group. Tell us your dates and group size for an exact quote.
Price
What’s included and what’s paid separately
Accommodation, meals, guided excursions, transfers and train tickets can be added to build your final itinerary and price.
Where others see one option — we see ten. AroundCA — MICE & Travel
