Itinerary
- Day 1
Tashkent
You'll arrive in Tashkent and get settled at your hotel. After breakfast, a local guide takes you through the old city starting with the Hasti Imam complex, where you'll see the 7th-century Osman Koran. Then you'll browse through Chorsu bazaar and check out the Applied Arts museum. Before the day ends, take a ride on the Tashkent metro to see how locals get around the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in the hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast in hotel
- Afternoon city tour in Tashkent with local guide
- Visit Old City
- Visit Hasti Imam complex with Osman Koran
- Visit Chorsu bazaar
- Visit Applied Arts museum
- Tashkent metro ride
Landmarks/POIs Hasti Imam Complex Chorsu Bazaar Applied Arts Museum Tashkent Metro - Day 2
Tashkent to Bukhara
The train departs at 8am and gets you to Bukhara by 12:25pm. After arriving, you'll head to Laby Hauz in the heart of the old city where cafes and mosques surround a water pond. From there, walk through the trade domes including Taki Sarafan and Taki Zargaron. You'll also wander the ancient Jewish quarter with its synagogue and school, then finish at the Ark Citadel and nearby Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, and two significant mausoleum sites.
Included Activities
- Train transfer to Bukhara (0800-1225)
- City tour in Bukhara with local guide
- Visit Laby Hauz
- Visit Taki Sarafan trade dome
- Visit Taki Telpakfurushon trade dome
- Visit Taki Zargaron trade dome
- Visit ancient Jewish quarter with school and synagogue
- Visit Ark Citadel
- Visit Kalyan Minaret
- Visit Kalyan Mosque
- Visit Ismail Samani mausoleum
- Visit Cashmai Ayub mausoleum
Landmarks/POIs Laby Hauz Taki Sarafan Taki Telpakfurushon Taki Zargaron Ark Citadel Kalyan Minaret Kalyan Mosque Ismail Samani Mausoleum Cashmai Ayub Mausoleum - Day 3
Bukhara
Start with breakfast, then visit the Summer Palace where you'll see the blend of local and Russian-European architecture plus its gardens and harem. Next stop is the mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshabandiy, an important site for Sufi Muslim pilgrims. Your afternoon is free to relax or explore on your own. If you're interested, there's an optional hammam experience or folk music and dance performance at the Nadir Divan Begi madrasah in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast in hotel
- Visit Summer Palace - Sitorai Mohi Hosa
- Visit mausoleum and necropolis of Bahauddin Naqshabandiy
Optional Activities
- Bukhara Hammam (traditional bath)
- Folk Music and Dance show at Nadir Divan Begi madrasah
Landmarks/POIs Sitorai Mohi Hosa (Summer Palace) Bahauddin Naqshabandiy Mausoleum Nadir Divan Begi Madrasah - Day 4
Bukhara to Samarkand
You'll catch the 8am train from Bukhara and arrive in Samarkand by 9:45am. After checking into your hotel, head straight to Registan square to see its three impressive madrasahs built across different centuries. Stop at Siab bazaar and Bibihanim market before lunch at a local chayhana with traditional food. In the afternoon, travel to Konigil village to see how Samarkand silk paper gets made from mulberry trees, then have free time to rest.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at local chayhana with local food)
Included Activities
- Train transfer to Samarkand (0800-0945)
- City tour in Samarkand with local guide
- Visit Registan square with three madrasahs
- Visit Siab bazaar
- Visit Bibihanim market
- Lunch at local chayhana with local food
- Visit Konigil village
- Visit silk paper production facility of Samarkand
Landmarks/POIs Registan Square Siab Bazaar Bibihanim Market Konigil Village - Day 5
Samarkand
Begin at Gur Emir mausoleum, the burial place of Amir Temur and his family members and spiritual teacher. Head to Ulughbek Observatory and the Afrosiab museum which holds frescoes and artifacts from ancient settlements dating back to 6 BC. Later, visit Shahi Zinda, a sacred complex with mausoleum sites of Temur's sisters, generals, and other historical figures. This holy site draws Central Asian Muslims daily for prayer and visits.
Included Activities
- Visit Gur Emir mausoleum
- Visit Ulughbek Observatory
- Visit Afrosiab museum with frescoes and artifacts
- Visit Shahi Zinda holy site and mausoleums
Landmarks/POIs Gur Emir Mausoleum Ulughbek Observatory Afrosiab Museum Shahi Zinda - Day 6
Samarkand to Penjikent to Marguzor Lakes
After breakfast, drive to Penjikent in Tajikistan's Zeravshan river valley. This city from the 5th-8th centuries AD was a major cultural hub, sometimes called the 'Central Asian Pompeii'. You'll see the Museum of Rudaki and explore ancient ruins with Sogdian foundations, a citadel, fire temples and the old bazaar. After lunch, you'll drive 70km to Marguzor lakes, seven alpine lakes at different altitudes, enjoy a picnic there, then overnight in Nofin village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Drive to Penjikent
- Visit Museum of Rudaki
- Visit Ancient Penjikent ruins
- Lunch
- Drive to Marguzor lakes
- Visit Marguzor lakes
- Picnic near the lake
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Museum of Rudaki Ancient Penjikent Mizhgon Lake Soya Lake Husher Lake Nofin Lake Hurdak Lake Marguzor Lake Hazorchashma Lake - Day 7
Marguzor Lakes to Kuli Kalon Lakes
Following breakfast, drive to Alp camp Artuch for an 8km hike to Kuli Kalon lakes at 2,800m altitude. You'll have a picnic along the way. The two connected lakes sit surrounded by forested shores and have something unique: the northern end stays warmer and swimmable while the southern end turns greenish-blue and stays cooler. Spend time by the water before hiking back to camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Picnic
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Drive to Alp camp Artuch
- Hiking 8km to Kuli Kalon lakes
- Picnic en route
- Resting near the lake
Landmarks/POIs Kuli Kalon Lakes Bolshoi Kulikalon Maly Kulikalon - Day 8
Kuli Kalon Lakes to Iskandarkul Lake
After breakfast, drive to Iskandarkul lake in the Fan Mountains where you'll find roughly 100 mountain passes and 30 alpine lakes throughout the region. Iskandarkul sits at 2,250m and has those green and blue waters you'll hear about. A 38-meter waterfall called Fan Niagara drops from the lake into a fast-flowing river. Walk around the lake and see the waterfall, have lunch, then drive to Saritag for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Drive to Iskandarkul lake
- Walking near Iskandarkul lake
- See Fan Niagara waterfall
- Lunch
- Drive to Saritag
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Fan Mountains Iskandarkul Lake Fan Niagara Waterfall - Day 9
Saritag
This day in the Fan Mountains is for relaxing and taking it easy. You'll do some short hikes, visit a nearby village to meet locals, and help prepare traditional food for dinner. The evening and night you'll spend at the guest house.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Short hiking in Fan mountains
- Visit to local village
- Cooking local food
- Dinner
- Day 10
Saritag to Dushanbe
You'll drive to Dushanbe through Varzob gorge and pass through the 5km Isticlol tunnel, stopping for lunch along the way. Once in Tajikistan's capital, explore the Navruz Palace with its exhibits on history and art, the Museum of Ethnography featuring 20th-century Tajik pottery and textiles, the Sleeping Buddha, Monument Somoni and Park Rudaki. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Symon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Drive to Dushanbe via Varzob gorge and Isticlol tunnel
- Lunch
- City sightseeing in Dushanbe
- Visit Navruz Palace
- Visit Museum of Ethnography
- Visit Sleeping Buddha
- Visit Monument Somoni
- Visit Park Rudaki
- Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Navruz Palace Museum of Ethnography Sleeping Buddha Monument Somoni Park Rudaki - Day 11
Dushanbe Departure
You'll transfer to the airport for your flight home today. Tour services end here.
