From Samarkand · by Goldsilktour
Turquoise lakes, Fann Mountain peaks and Silk Road towns — a day across the border, with local drivers and guides.
Our tours
1 day · approx. 11 hours
Cross from Samarkand into Tajikistan, explore Panjakent's bazaar, then follow the chain of seven turquoise mountain lakes.
Starting from $80 per person
Guide: English or Russian (live) · booklet in 5 more languages
2 Days / 1 Night · Private / Group Tour
Explore Panjakent and the Seven Lakes, with an overnight stay at a traditional Tajik guesthouse near Nofin, the 4th Lake.
Starting from $300 per tour · up to 3 people
Guide: English or Russian (live) · booklet in 5 more languages
1 day · approx. 14 hours (06:00–20:00)
A long, rewarding day through the Zarafshan Valley to turquoise Iskanderkul and the Fan Niagara waterfall.
Starting from $80 per person
Guide: English or Russian (live) · booklet in 5 more languages
2 days · 1 night in Panjakent
Two of Tajikistan's most famous lake landscapes in one private trip, with an overnight stay in Panjakent.
Starting from $200 per person
Guide: English or Russian (live) · booklet in 5 more languages
Itineraries
1 day · approx. 11 hours
Group tour
Starting from $80 per person · daily departures
Private, 1–2 people
$170 per tour (group total)
Private, 3+ people
Starting from $80 per person
Prices may vary depending on group size, travel season, vehicle selection, requested pickup location, and other special arrangements. The final price will be confirmed before your booking is accepted.
07:00
Hotel pickup in Samarkand.
08:00–09:00
Drive to the Uzbekistan–Tajikistan border.
09:00–10:00
Cross the border on foot.
10:00–10:40
Drive to Panjakent city center.
10:40–11:20
Visit Panjakent Bazaar and Ismoil Somoni Monument. Sarazm Museum is an optional stop; entrance fee is not included.
11:20–12:30
Drive to the Seven Lakes area.
12:30–15:30
Visit the seven lakes, with short walks, photo stops, free time, and lunch according to the selected package. Vegetarian food is also available upon request. We can provide suitable meal options for vegetarian guests.
15:30–17:00
Return toward the border.
17:00–18:00
Border crossing and drive toward Samarkand.
≈18:00–18:30
Hotel drop-off in Samarkand.
2 Days / 1 Night · Private / Group Tour
Route: Samarkand – Panjakent – Seven Lakes – 4th Lake Guesthouse – Seven Lakes – Samarkand
Stay: Traditional Tajik guesthouse near the 4th Lake (Nofin).
1–3 people
Starting from $300 per tour (group total)
More than 3 people
$85 per person
Optional extras
Guide $120 for two days · lunch $10 per person, per lunch
Prices may vary depending on group size, travel season, vehicle selection, requested pickup location, and other special arrangements. The final price will be confirmed before your booking is accepted.
06:30
Pickup from your hotel in Samarkand. Meet your driver and begin the journey toward the Uzbekistan–Tajikistan border at Jartepa.
07:30–09:00
Border crossing. Complete the border formalities and meet your Tajik driver and, if selected, guide on the Tajikistan side. Crossing times may vary depending on the queue.
09:00–10:00
Drive to Panjakent through the beautiful landscapes of the Zarafshan Valley.
10:00–10:45
Explore Panjakent Bazaar to experience everyday Tajik life, discover regional products, and see local traditions.
10:45–12:15
Scenic drive to the Seven Lakes through mountain villages, valleys, and spectacular landscapes.
12:15–13:00
Visit the first and second lakes, Mijgon and Soya. Discover their colorful waters and stop for photographs.
13:00–14:00
Visit the third and fourth lakes, Hushyor and Nofin, enjoying the mountain scenery along the way.
14:00–15:00
Traditional Tajik lunch near the lakes. Not included; optional for an additional $10 per person.
15:00–16:30
Explore the fifth and sixth lakes, Khurdak and Marguzor. Stop at scenic viewpoints for photographs and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
16:30–17:00
Return to your guesthouse near Nofin Lake in the 4th Lake area.
17:00 onwards
Check in at a traditional mountain guesthouse, relax, enjoy local hospitality, and experience a peaceful evening in the Seven Lakes region.
Overnight
Guesthouse near the 4th Lake (Nofin).
08:00–09:00
Breakfast at the guesthouse. Prepare for another day in the mountains.
09:00–11:00
Explore the 4th Lake and surrounding villages. Enjoy the mountain atmosphere and photograph traditional villages and landscapes.
11:00–12:30
Visit the upper lakes, including the seventh lake, Hazorchashma, if accessible and weather and road conditions permit. Depending on road conditions and the vehicle, some sections may require walking.
12:30–13:30
Lunch in the mountains with spectacular views. Not included; optional for an additional $10 per person.
13:30–15:00
Scenic drive back toward Panjakent through the Seven Lakes valley, with photograph stops along the way.
15:00–16:00
Drive to the Tajikistan–Uzbekistan border crossing at Jartepa.
16:00–17:00
Border crossing. Complete exit formalities in Tajikistan and entry formalities in Uzbekistan. Waiting times may vary.
17:00–18:00
Meet your Uzbek driver and transfer to your hotel in Samarkand.
≈18:00
Arrival in Samarkand. End of the tour.
Please note: The schedule is approximate and may change due to border queues, mountain road conditions, weather, or accessibility of the upper lakes. Guests must carry valid travel documents and check the entry requirements applicable to their nationality.
1 day · approx. 14 hours (06:00–20:00)
Private, up to 2 people
$250 per tour (group total)
Private, 3 people
Price on request
Private, 4+ people
Starting from $80 per person
Prices may vary depending on group size, travel season, vehicle selection, requested pickup location, and other special arrangements. The final price will be confirmed before your booking is accepted.
06:00
Pickup from the hotel in Samarkand.
07:00–08:00
Jartepa–Sarazm border crossing.
08:00–11:00
Scenic mountain drive through the Zarafshan Valley, with photo stops where possible.
11:00–12:00
Explore turquoise Iskanderkul Lake.
12:00–13:00
Visit Iskanderkul Waterfall (Fan Niagara).
13:00–14:00
Traditional Tajik lunch at a local guesthouse or restaurant.
14:00–14:30
Scenic stops and, if time allows, the Sarytag village area.
14:30–17:30
Return drive toward the border.
17:30–19:00
Border crossing.
19:00–20:00
Transfer to Samarkand and hotel drop-off.
2 days · 1 night in Panjakent
Private, up to 2 people
$450 per tour (group total)
Private, 3+ people
Starting from $200 per person
Prices may vary depending on group size, travel season, vehicle selection, requested pickup location, and other special arrangements. The final price will be confirmed before your booking is accepted.
07:30
Hotel pickup in Samarkand.
08:30–09:30
Border crossing on foot; meet the Tajik driver and guide.
09:30–11:30
Scenic drive to the Seven Lakes area.
11:30–15:00
Explore the lakes: photo stops at Lakes 1–3, walks and viewpoints at Lakes 4–5, a tea break near Lake 6, and free time at Lake 7 (Hazorchashma).
15:00–16:00
Traditional lunch at a local guesthouse.
16:00–17:30
Drive to Panjakent.
17:30–18:00
Hotel check-in.
18:30–19:30
Dinner at a local restaurant (not included).
Night
Overnight in Panjakent.
07:30–08:30
Breakfast and hotel check-out.
08:30–12:30
Drive to Iskanderkul Lake, with scenic stops.
12:30–15:00
Explore the lake, visit Iskanderkul Waterfall (Fan Niagara), and enjoy short walks and photos.
15:00–16:00
Lunch near the lake — paid on site, not included.
16:00–19:00
Return toward the border.
19:00–20:00
Border crossing.
20:00–21:30
Transfer to Samarkand and hotel drop-off.
Prices may vary depending on group size, travel season, vehicle selection, requested pickup location, and other special arrangements. The final price will be confirmed before your booking is accepted.
Schedules may change due to weather, road conditions, traffic and border queues. Guests must check entry requirements and carry valid travel documents. Cross-border driver arrangements are confirmed in advance.
Before you book
Each tour includes only the services explicitly listed in its package. Any service, meal, entrance fee, accommodation upgrade, optional guide, or other expense not expressly stated as included is excluded from the package price and may require an additional payment.
Included
Not included
Included
Not included
Included
Not included
Included
Not included
Included
Not included
Languages
Live guide
English · Russian
A guide who travels with you and speaks your language.
Written booklet guide
Japanese · German · Spanish · Italian · French
A printed guide to read along the way — not a live guide.
Please choose your language in the booking request. It is confirmed before travel.
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About us
Goldsilktour runs day trips and short tours from Samarkand into Tajikistan's Fann Mountains. We handle the hotel pickup, the walk across the border, the Tajik driver and guide on the other side, and the drive home — so you can simply enjoy the lakes.
FAQ
All tours start with hotel pickup in Samarkand and end with drop-off back in Samarkand. Pickup or drop-off in Bukhara or Dushanbe can be arranged in advance for an additional transport fee, confirmed by Goldsilktour.
Yes. All four tours are available as private tours. The Seven Lakes day trip and the two-day Seven Lakes guesthouse tour are also offered as group tours.
Group departures for the Seven Lakes day trip run daily, and you may travel with other participants. Group options for the two-day Seven Lakes guesthouse tour are confirmed on request. Please confirm your date on WhatsApp.
Yes. The Uzbekistan–Tajikistan border is crossed on foot. Cross-border driver arrangements are confirmed in advance.
Bring a valid passport and any visa or e-visa required for Tajikistan and re-entry to Uzbekistan. Entry requirements depend on your nationality, so please check them before travel.
Seven Lakes group: guide, transport, water and lunch. Seven Lakes private: transport and water. Two-day Seven Lakes guesthouse tour: private transport on both sides of the border, Samarkand pickup and drop-off, one night near the 4th Lake, breakfast and drinking water. Two-day Seven Lakes & Iskanderkul: door-to-door transport, guide, lunch on day 1 and a Panjakent hotel with breakfast. Iskanderkul: transport and lunch.
Included on the Seven Lakes group tour, the Iskanderkul tour, and day 1 of the two-day Seven Lakes & Iskanderkul tour. On the private Seven Lakes day trip lunch is +$10 per person. On the two-day Seven Lakes guesthouse tour, day 1 and day 2 lunches are optional at $10 per person each. Dinners are paid on site.
Included on the Seven Lakes group tour and the two-day Seven Lakes & Iskanderkul tour. Optional on the private Seven Lakes day trip (+$45), the two-day Seven Lakes guesthouse tour (+$120 for two days) and the Iskanderkul tour (+$50).
Toyota RAV4 4W4 — Recommended for groups of up to 3 people. Jeep 4x4 — Recommended for groups of up to 4 people (+$25). Hyundai Minivan Starex 4W4 — Recommended for groups of 5 to 7 people. Availability is confirmed when booking.
Payment is cash only, in USD, Uzbek som or euros, paid before the tour. No deposit is needed and cancellation is free.
No. The Sarazm Museum is an optional stop and its entrance fee is not included.
Yes. Times are approximate and may change due to weather, road conditions, traffic and border queues. We cannot promise exact border-crossing times.
Send your booking request on WhatsApp using the booking form. Our team will reply to confirm availability, vehicle and the final price.
Contact & booking
Fill in the booking form and your request opens in WhatsApp, ready to send. We reply to confirm availability and the final price.