Tajikistan · August 1 - 5 2025

7 Day Fann Mountains Expedition

4 Nights

SOLD OUT

Description

Overview

Trek through the idyllic Fann Mountains of Tajikistan’s northwest fringes with us for 7 days in 2025, taking in some of the most beautiful mountain scenery on Earth. This is one of my most favorite expeditions to share with you, showing you around a place that has become a second home to me.
Starting from the capital city of Dushanbe, we will make our way north by road to the massive lake of Iskanderkul to begin our trek into the Tajik wilderness. From there we will continue on to cross over a gorgeous mountain pass and beyond villages getting a taste of Tajik mountain culture.
After completing the trek, the tour will finish up in Dushanbe.

Highlights

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Exploring Kulikalon Bowl

The Kulikalon Bowl features a scattering of stunningly beautiful lakes in every direction.

Visit the Gargantuan Iskanderkul

End your time exploring the Fanns at one of Tajikistan's largest lakes- Iskanderkul.

Sunrise Over Lake Alovaddin

One of the most unforgettable mornings will be our final day of the trek over the mirror-like Alovaddin Lake.

Itinerary

Dushanbe

Day 1: Dushanbe City Tour

In the morning, meet your guide and fellow trekkers and head out on a city tour of Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s unimposing capital city. You’ll have a chance to see many of Dushanbe’s highlights including the Somoni Monument, the world’s second-tallest flag pole, Rudaki Park, the parliament buildings, and the Navruz Hall. Later that evening, we will have dinner at a restaurant allowing you to try some local Tajik fare.
Accommodation: Atlas Hotel

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Dushanbe to Artuch

Day 2: Transfer to Artuch

Starting early after a lovely breakfast, we will hop in a 4WD van with all of our gear bound for the Fanns. After a stop for lunch along the road, we’ll plan to reach the village of Artuch by afternoon. We should arrive in the early afternoon, giving us plenty of time to explore the village and get an introduction to Tajik mountain life.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Drive time: 4 hours by car
Altitude: 2200 meters

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Artuch & Kulikalon

Day 3: The Dazzling Lakes of the Kulikalon Bowl

After a leisurely breakfast, we will start our trek up to the Kulikalon Bowl. Following a tumbling river, we should reach our camp in the early afternoon and with time for exploration around the beautiful Kulikalon Bowl Lakes.
Altitude: 2200m
Distance: 12 km | ~4 hrs | +600/- 60 m
Accommodation: Tent

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Kulikalon & Alovaddin Lake

Day 4: Conquering Alovaddin Pass

We begin our day with an ascent up the spectacular Alovaddin Pass. From the top of the pass (3860m), we will be rewarded with mindblowing panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and lakes spread out below. From the top of the pass, we will make our way to our campsite located beside the impossibly blue Alovaddin Lake.
Altitude: 2800m
Distance: 12 km | ~6-7 hrs | +1060/ – 1100 m
Accommodation: Tent

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Alovaddin & Mutniye Lakes

Day 5: Day Trip to Mutniye Lake

After breakfast at Alovaddin Lake, we begin a gradual ascent to 3520 meter Mutniye Lake, its name meaning ‘muddy’ in Tajik. Along the way, we’re treated to stunning views of the Fann Mountains towering peaks, and breathtaking panoramas from higher elevations.
Altitude: 3520m
Distance: 10km | 4 hours | +670m/-670m
Accommodation: Tent

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Iskanderkul & Sarytag

Day 6: Transfer to Iskanderkul

After a short 1.5 kilometer trek down from Lake Alovaddin, hop in a 4WD van bound for the last stop in the Fanns, Iskanderkul Lake. Once to Iskanderkul, have plenty of time to explore the shores of this dazzling turquoise lake. Later in the afternoon, head to the nearby village of Sarytag for the night.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Distance: 1.5 km
Drive time: 3 hours by car
Altitude: 2200 meters

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Lake Alovaddin & Dushanbe

Day 7: Back to Dushanbe

Say your goodbyes to the Fann Mountains this morning to head back to the capital of Dushanbe.
We will arrive back in Dushanbe in the afternoon, where we’ll have a bit of time to do some last-minute shopping before we have our goodbye dinner in the heart of the Tajik capital.
Altitude: 2750m
Drive time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Atlas
Hotel

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What's included

  • Meals as noted on itinerary
  • English speaking guide
  • Pack animal support
  • Cook
  • 4WD transportation
  • Accommodation on twin room sharing basis in Dushanbe
  • Same gender shared room at homestays & guesthouses
  • Shared double tent on trek
  • Eco tax
  • OVIR registration

  • Tajikistan visa fee (if applicable)
  • Personal kit and equipment
  • Sleeping bag (rental available)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips to local staff

Extras & Options

Single Supplement

Single Supplement

Opt for a private room. Only available for nights in Dushanbe. Subject to availability.

FROM $262.50/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Sleeping Bag Rental

Sleeping Bag Rental

Don't want to carry yours? Save space in your luggage and rent ours.

FROM $52.50/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates

FAQs

With a low crime rate and welcoming population Tajikistan is generally a safe country to visit. Visitors should exercise regular precautions they would anywhere in the world while traveling in Tajikistan.

The most common problems a traveler may face include corruption, altitude sickness, and stomach upset.

In terms of natural disasters, Tajikistan is prone to earthquakes.

This 7 Day Fann Mountains Expedition will begin and end in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

This 7 Day Fann Mountains expedition is rated as difficult and rugged. This means that we will be tent camping for much of this expedition, sleeping in primitive camps, and will be trekking for long hours at higher altitudes. We will have several nights without access to showers, so it can be a bit uncomfortable for some.

You can expect long days of trekking, up to 18 kilometers | 11 miles (7-10 hours) at the longest. As mentioned in the itinerary, we will trek over high mountain passes, the highest just over 3800 meters. We will have pack animal support for the trek to carry food and tents, but you should still expect to carry a pack with roughly 5-10 kg of weight each day.

Most visitors from western countries can enter Tajikistan with either the Tajik e-visa, visa on arrival, or may enter visa-free.

Some nationalities will need to apply for a Tajik visa issued by an embassy or consulate to enter the country.

You can read an overview of Tajikistan’s visa policy here but it would still be wise to check with your nearest Tajik consulate or embassy as visa schemes are always subject to change.

Note that if you will be entering Tajikistan visa-free and you will be staying in the country for more than 10 business days, you must register with OVIR. We will handle this process for you after you’ve checked into the hotel on the first day.

To join any Safar Expeditions departure you will need to carry an active travel insurance plan. Be aware that the remote nature of the Fann Mountains poses very real challenges in the event of medical emergencies and serious illnesses and injuries. Because of this, it is recommended to select an insurance plan that covers both medical care and evacuation.

We recommend using IATI travel insurance for medical coverage and an evacuation plan from Global Rescue.

Prescriptions and over-the-counter meds are usually possible to find in Dushanbe, but we still recommend to make sure to bring any meds you need or may need with you.

The Tajik Somoni (TJS) is the official currency of Tajikistan. The value of the Somoni fluctuates a little but seems to have steadily stayed around 10-12 TJS to $1 USD for the past few years.

Yes, we do provide a suggested packing list and preparation guide for our Fann Mountains expedition that can be viewed here.

In Kyrgyzstan (KGS), the Kyrgyz Som is the official currency and has been steadily staying around 80-90 KGS to $1 USD.

The food you’ll encounter during your time in Tajikistan will be simple and tasty. In the cities and towns, we will have the chance to try different Tajik and Central Asian dishes in local restaurants. Once the trek begins we will have a cook with us who serves up some delicious meals as we make our way through the mountains. You can expect flavorful soups and salads, plov (a traditional Central Asian take on fried rice), noodle dishes, and meat dishes. Of course, almost any meal in Tajikistan is accompanied by a hot glass of chai.

Please let us know of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that we can accommodate your needs.

It is possible to purchase a Tajik SIM card in Dushanbe, with T-Cell and Megafone being the best local carriers. Once we begin our trek in the Fanns, we won’t have access to the internet from Sarytag to Artuch, where we’ll have Wi-Fi (for a fee) for the evening at the base camp. Again we won’t have any internet access until we depart Lake Alovaddin back toward Dushanbe. Once we begin the trek we will not have access to regular electricity. I highly recommend purchasing a solar charger and external batteries to bring with you to keep your electronics charged out here. You can expect to have electricity to charge items on the nights in Dushanbe, Sarytag, Vin, and Artuch.
Yes, a minimum of 2 passengers will need to be on this expedition in order to run. If the minimum isn’t reached, we will contact you about the potential to still operate the trip but at an additional charge or you will be given the option to cancel and your deposit/payment can either be returned to you or applied toward a different expedition of your choosing.

Reviews

“We went to Socotra with Nicole in Jan 2023 – starting in Cairo and finishing in Adan. Nicole handled all the details and was wonderfully responsive pre-trip as what are ordinarily simple things like buying airplane tickets are not easy for this itinerary. She handled every detail. This is an incredible trip – we felt very safe traveling as single women. Her relationships with the locals made it an authentic experience. The beauty and magic of Socotra is beyond compare. We have travelled all over the world and this was a highlight.”

Leslie

“My wife and I travelled to Socotra with Safar Expeditions and it was an incredible experience. The island is stunning and spending time there was a real privilege. Although anyone visiting should be prepared for fairly basic conditions (there are no hotels outside the city, so it’s wild camping all round), we felt very comfortable in the tents provided by the team and the food was excellent. They also safely navigated some pretty tricky roads and were really flexible, allowing us to get the most out of our trip. Nicole, who led the expedition, was particularly helpful before and during the trip, helping to make everything as hassle free as it could be andthe trip as amazing as it was. All in all, would highly recommend travelling with Safar. We certainly hope to go back to Socotra with them at some point!”

Will