Northern Tajikistan Tour
Accommodation, guides, transport included.
Northern Tajikistan Tour Highlights
An 8-day private journey across Northern Tajikistan, from Dushanbe over the Fann Mountains to the Silk Road city of Khujand. In Dushanbe the trip begins with a dinner to traditional folk music and a day of sightseeing in the capital. The road then climbs through the Varzob valley to Iskanderkul lake, with a night in the mountain village of Saritag, and on to the village of Gazza in the Fann Mountains for a taste of rural life.
In Panjakent you see the Rudaki museum and the ruins of the Sogdian city founded in the 5th century, before a full day among the Seven Lakes with a short hike to Hazorchashma, the highest of them. On the way to Khujand you visit Istaravshan, famous for its craftsmen and hand-forged knives, and in Khujand you explore the great Panjshanbe Bazaar, a traditional house museum and a silk atlas factory before the drive across the border to Tashkent.
Difficulty: Easy No special fitness needed: city walks, one short and easy hike of about two hours there and back to the highest of the Seven Lakes, and long drives on mountain roads, partly bumpy, of up to about 290 km (Panjakent – Istaravshan – Khujand).
Tour Itinerary
Arrive in Dushanbe and transfer to the hotel, with free time until dinner. In the evening the group gathers for a welcome dinner accompanied by traditional folk music. Overnight at the hotel in Dushanbe.
Dushanbe
Overnight: Dushanbe (Hotel)
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, spend the day exploring the sights of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Lunch is at a traditional teahouse, and in the evening dinner is at a restaurant with performances of traditional music and dance. Overnight at the hotel in Dushanbe.
Dushanbe
Overnight: Dushanbe (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, drive north through the Varzob valley to Iskanderkul, a mountain lake in the Fann Mountains. Take a walk around the lake before continuing to the nearby village of Saritag, where you spend the night at a local guesthouse. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse in Saritag.
Varzob valley, Iskander Kul, Sary Tag
- Dushanbe → Iskander Kul (134 km)
- Iskander Kul → Sary Tag (7 km)
Overnight: Sary Tag (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, drive toward the Panjakent region and reach the village of Gazza, where lunch is served at the guesthouse. In the afternoon, rest at the guesthouse or take a walk to explore the village. Overnight at the guesthouse in Gazza.
Gazza
- Sary Tag → Gazza (130 km)
Overnight: Gazza (Guesthouse)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast at the homestay, drive to Panjakent, a major city founded by the Sogdians in the 5th century AD. Visit the Rudaki historical and ethnographic museum, the local bazaar and the mosque. After lunch in a traditional chaikhana, explore the ruins of the ancient Panjakent settlement. Overnight at the hotel in Panjakent.
Panjakent, Panjakent History Museum (Rudaki Museum), Ancient Panjakent
- Gazza → Panjakent (65 km)
Overnight: Panjakent (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The day trip starts with a bumpy ride into the mountains to the Seven Lakes. The valley is not far from Panjakent, but because of the poor road the trip takes a full day. Drive up the valley to the sixth lake, then take a short and easy hike of about two hours (there and back) to the seventh and highest lake, Hazorchashma. There is time to enjoy the scenery and wander along the shore before hiking back down to the sixth lake and returning by road to Panjakent. On the way down, stop for walks in a couple of villages and have lunch at a guesthouse in Nofin village. Overnight at the hotel in Panjakent.
Seven Lakes (Haft Kul)
- Panjakent → Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) (65 km)
- Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) → Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) (5 km)
- Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) → Panjakent (65 km)
Overnight: Panjakent (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you leave the mountains behind for the more urban life of Khujand, the capital of Northern Tajikistan, on the Syr Darya River in the Fergana Valley. Khujand is an ancient city whose history goes back to Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great. On the way, visit Istaravshan, a city founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC that recently celebrated its 2,500th anniversary. Its artisans are highly regarded across Central Asia, and the city is still well known in Tajikistan for its blacksmiths, who hand-craft knives of excellent quality. Arrive in Khujand in the evening and check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Khujand.
Istaravshan, Khujand
- Panjakent → Istaravshan (210 km)
- Istaravshan → Khujand (78 km)
Overnight: Khujand (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, visit Panjshanbe Bazaar, Khujand's main market and the largest in Tajikistan. The city tour continues to the Sheikh Muslihiddin Mosque, the Lenin monument and the Arbob Cultural Palace, where you also visit a small workshop that produces traditional Tajik textiles. Lunch is at a house museum where you can appreciate traditional design and the authentic atmosphere of a Tajik home. The friendly family is always happy to welcome guests from other cultures and to exchange thoughts with interested travelers. After lunch, drive to the last sight of the tour, the women's atlas factory of Khujand, one of the leading producers of the traditional silk atlas fabric. See the production process, learn about the history of the factory and its role in the local economy, and buy some atlas products as souvenirs. Afterwards, drive to Tashkent (about 3 hours by car), where the tour ends.
Panjshanbe Bazaar, Khujand, Tashkent
- Khujand → Tashkent (160 km)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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What's included
Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights: 2 nights at the 5* Serena Hotel in Dushanbe, 1 night at the Shakhboz guesthouse in Saritag, 1 night at a guesthouse in Gazza, 2 nights at the Penjikent Plaza Hotel in Panjakent and 1 night at the Sughd Hotel in Khujand
- Full board: breakfasts, lunches and dinners as per the program (from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 8)
- Services of a cook
- Guide
- All transport in air-conditioned 4x4 vehicles, including the drive from Khujand to Tashkent on day 8
- Entrance tickets to the monuments in the program
Not included
- International flights
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Consular visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Fees for photo and video shooting at historical sites
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Single room supplement (40 USD per person)
Sino is an experienced tour leader and focuses mainly on the tours in Northern Tajikistan and other parts of Tajikistan outside Pamirs.
Tajikistan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Tajikistan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Tajikistan before booking.
The official currency is the somoni (TJS). US dollars are accepted in some places, but the somoni is what you use day to day.
ATMs
Withdrawing cash can be difficult, so carry some cash with you. There are ATMs in Dushanbe, Panjakent, Khujand, Khorog, Isfara, Istaravshan and Bokhtar (Kurgan-Tube), and even in smaller towns, but not in Murghab. Eskhata Bank in Dushanbe is a reliable choice for US dollars and has a generous limit for somoni withdrawals. ATMs may be harder to find at weekends, and ATMs that take Mastercard can be tricky to find.
Exchanging money
US dollars and euros are widely accepted, though in rural areas without exchange offices people often prefer dollars. Changing money on the black market is illegal.
The overall security situation is generally stable and Dushanbe is relatively safe, though robbery and petty crime occasionally happen, and foreigners can be targets.
Documents
Always carry a copy of your passport's photo page, as the authorities may ask for identification.
Staying safe
- Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and stay alert in public places.
- Do not leave drinks unattended, decline drinks from strangers and keep an eye on how much you drink.
- If you are followed or harassed at the airport, report it right away to your tour agent or the consular office at the airport.
- Women travelling alone may face unwanted attention or harassment.
Laws and customs
- Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions.
- Smoking while walking in the street is prohibited.
- Possessing or using drugs is strictly illegal.
- Photographing anything related to the military or security services can cause trouble with the authorities.
- Same-sex relationships are not illegal, but local views are conservative and tolerance varies, especially outside the major cities.
Roads and services
- Vehicles are often poorly maintained and driving standards are basic. Fuel stations are rare outside the cities and emergency services may not be available, so bring what you need and expect delays.
- Roads outside the major cities are poor and some are passable only by four-wheel drive. Spring is especially hazardous because of avalanches and landslides.
- Energy and water shortages and power cuts are common, especially in winter and spring and mostly outside Dushanbe.
Border areas and nature
- Avoid the border area with Afghanistan because of the unstable security situation there.
- Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed a border treaty in 2025 after the clashes of 2022, and the northern Sughd region, including Khujand, is safe to visit.
- Tajikistan is prone to earthquakes, avalanches, landslides and floods.
Visitors from many countries can travel to Tajikistan visa-free. Leave the country before your visa or visa-free stay runs out, to avoid fines and having to get an exit visa.
Pamirs (GBAO) permit
A permit is required to visit the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).
Borders and customs
Tajikistan's borders can close at short notice. Declare large amounts of money on arrival, and show the customs declaration when you leave.
The best months to explore Tajikistan are April, May, June, September and October. September may be the very best: the heat on the plains has eased and nearly all mountain passes are still open.
Autumn
In September the markets are full of fresh produce and the landscape turns golden.
The Pamirs
The best time to visit the Pamirs is August.
Summer and winter
Summers are dry and very hot, up to 40°C in the lowlands. Winters can be extremely cold, down to −20°C in the mountains, and heavy snow in the west can disrupt winter routes and close the high passes.
Medical facilities in Tajikistan are limited and essential medicines are often in short supply. Outside Dushanbe facilities are basic, and some areas have almost none.
Insurance
Before you go, check that your destination can provide any medical help you might need, and make sure your travel insurance covers treatment and unexpected medical evacuation. If you are sent to a medical facility, contact your insurer straight away.
Medicines
Some medicines containing codeine are strictly prohibited. Check that any medication you bring is legal, and declare all medicines and other restricted items on arrival.
Vaccinations and risks
Ticks are common in forests and rural areas from spring to autumn. Improperly disposed uranium and pesticides in the northern Sughd region are a possible health hazard. At a minimum, get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B and tetanus before your trip.
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