Tajikistan · August 1 - 5 2025

6 Day Best of the Fann Mountains Lakes Trek

4 Nights

SOLD OUT

Description

Overview

This 6 Day Best Lakes of the Fann Mountains Trek is for the adventurers who want to see the classic lakes the Fanns Range is known for— the Haft Kul, Alovaddin, Kulikalon, Iskanderkul, and Chukurak without rushing so hard you forget to breathe in the scent of juniper smoke drifting from shepherd huts at sunrise. Each day brings a new mirror-like lake reflecting the snow-capped peaks, rock walls that glow pink at dawn, and trails that sometimes feel like they’re just for you, the marmots, and the wind.
Whether you’re a first-time trekker in Central Asia or already know your way around a mountain pass, the Fanns will humble you with their scale and warm you with the hospitality of the people living in their shadows. This trek is not just about the photos you’ll take; it’s about the feeling of looking up at the stars above Alovaddin Lake, the way the mountains seem to hold stories in their folds, and the reminder that even the toughest climbs are worth it when you’re surrounded by this kind of beauty.

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

Uzbek Border | Haft Kul

Day 1: Crossing into Adventure – the Seven Lakes of Haft Kul

After crossing the Panjakent-Samarkand border, the journey into the Fanns kicks off. The drive through Panjakent’s dusty outskirts and up into the Zeravshan Range feels like slipping into a different world, passing walnut groves and apricot orchards with the mountains looming larger by the minute.
From the main road, we take a turn to the south, following a dusty dirt road to the idyllic Seven Lakes of Marguzor, steeped in legend. Take the afternoon today to walk along the stunning lakes set in an arid narrow gorge.
Enjoy dinner back at a lovely homestay for the evening before drifting off to sleep.

Included

Lunch

Dinner

Haft Kul | Artuch | Chukurak Lakes

Day 2: Haft Kul to Chukurak Lakes

After breakfast today, get picked up and drive from the dazzling lakes of the Haft Kul and off to the village of Artuch where we will meet our pack animals and head off toward Chukurak Lakes.
At Artuch, the trek begins, weaving up through fragrant juniper forests toward the emerald bowl of Chukurak Lakes. These lakes are small but heartbreakingly pretty, reflecting the sharp crags above and making you feel like you’re inside a watercolor painting. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch shepherds bringing their sheep down in the golden light, while your first camp by the lake sets the tone for nights under a billion stars.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Chukurak Lakes | Kulikalon

Day 3: Chukurak Lake to Kulikalon Lakes via Chukurak Pass

Today’s climb over Chukurak Pass (3180 m) is where you’ll earn your lunch, with panoramic views across the jagged Fann ridges that make every step worth the thigh burn. The pass is rocky, dramatic, and often dotted with wildflowers stubbornly growing between stones.
Descending into the Kulikalon Basin feels like you’ve been dropped into a high-altitude paradise: azure lakes ringed with juniper forests and grazing cattle, backed by the toothy skyline of Maria and Mirali peaks. The Kulikalon Lakes are a cluster of glacial gems, shifting colors from teal to deep blue as clouds roll by. It’s the kind of place where you end up sitting in the grass for hours, just watching light move across the water, while sipping tea brewed on the camp stove and letting your socks dry out in the sun.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Kulikalon | Alovaddin Lake

Day 4: Kulikalon Lakes to Alovaddin Lakes via Alovaddin Pass

Time to put those legs to work as you hike toward the highest point on this Fann Mountains Lakes Trek, Alovaddin Pass (3860 m). The climb is steady but demanding, with a lunar landscape of scree slopes, reminding you that the trails of the Fanns have been used for over a millennia by shepherds who have inhabited this greater area since the times of Ancient Sogdiana.
Reaching the top, you’re treated to a head-spinning view over the lakes below and the peaks of the Fanns stretching into infinity. The descent toward Alovaddin Lake is steep but rewards you with one of the most iconic scenes in Tajikistan: Alovaddin’s impossibly clear, sapphire waters framed by rugged cliffs. Camping here is a next-level experience, waking up to a sunrise painting the mountains in pinks and oranges and the lake turning mirror-smooth as dusk settles in.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Alovaddin | Mutniye Lake | Iskanderkul

Day 5: Alovaddin Lake to Mutnyi Lake, Transfer to Iskanderkul

With a lighter pack, you’ll day hike to Mutnyi Lake (3500 m), following a path that threads alongside streams, framed by towering granite walls and glacier runoff ponds. Mutnyi is stark and wild, with milky brown water reflecting the snow-dusted peaks above, and feels like the perfect place to sit quietly and listen to the silence of the high mountains.
After returning to Alovaddin, you’ll descend and transfer to Iskanderkul Lake, a legendary spot in Tajikistan folklore tied to Alexander the Great (locals claim his horse drowned here, adding to the mystery of its shifting turquoise hues). You’ll spend the evening by this iconic lake, with the water shimmering beneath the cliffs of the Fanns, transitioning into a deep calm under the glow of sunset.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Iskanderkul | Dushanbe

Day 6: Iskanderkul’s Waters and Waterfalls, Transfer to Dushanbe

The final day is a gentle goodbye to the mountains, exploring the lakeside trails around Iskanderkul and visiting the powerful 38-meter waterfall known as Tajikistan’s Niagara (she’s smaller but feisty). You’ll also check out Snake Lake, named for its winding shape, nestled quietly in the reeds with local frogs and the occasional shepherd wandering by.
The drive back to Dushanbe winds through mountain roads, with glimpses of the Fanns in your rearview, reminding you of every pass you crossed and every star you watched rise above the peaks. It’s the kind of journey that leaves you a little dustier, a little stronger, and already planning your return to these turquoise lakes tucked among the spires of Tajikistan’s mountains.

Included

Breakfast

Lunch

What's included

  • Meals as noted on itinerary
  • English speaking guide
  • Pack animal support
  • Accommodation on twin room sharing basis in Dushanbe
  • Eco tax
  • Transportation from the Samarkand-Panjakent border to Artuch
  • Transportation from Alovaddin Lake to Iskanderkul
  • Transportation from Iskanderkul to Dushanbe
  • Night in homestay in Haft Kul
  • Tajikistan visa fee (if applicable)
  • Personal kit and equipment
  • Sleeping bag (rental available)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips to local staff
  • Tent (rental available)
  • Night in guesthouse at Iskanderkul (additional fee)
  • Night in hotel in Dushanbe following the tour (additional fee)

Extras & Options

Guesthouse in Iskanderkul - shared room

Guesthouse in Iskanderkul - shared room

Don't want to camp on night 4? No Problem

FROM $35.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Hotel in Dushanbe on final night - double occupancy

Hotel in Dushanbe on final night - double occupancy

Let us handle the logistics

FROM $130.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Hotel in Dushanbe on final night - single occupancy

Hotel in Dushanbe on final night - single occupancy

Let us handle the logistics

FROM $100.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Private Transfer from Samarkand to the Panjakent Border Crossing (price is per car, up to 4 pax)

Private Transfer from Samarkand to the Panjakent Border Crossing (price is per car, up to 4 pax)

Let us handle the logistics

FROM $80.00/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 $50.00/pp
This add-on will be available at checkout to add to your order.
View available Dates
Tent Rental

Tent Rental

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

FROM $100.00/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 5 Day Fann Mountains Expedition will begin at the border coming from Uzbekistan at the Samarkand-Panjakent Crossing and end in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

This 7 Day Fann Mountains expedition is rated as challenging and rugged. This means that we will be tent camping each night of the 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 9-12 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.

The food you’ll encounter during your time in Tajikistan will be simple and tasty.

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

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 Megafon 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 electricity. I highly recommend purchasing a solar charger and external batteries to bring with you to keep your electronics charged out here.

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.