Zarafshan Valley

OVERVIEW

The Zarafshan Valley, is truly a vast land of contrasts. With an isolated and historic history shrouded in a mystique all its own, it is a must-see for anyone wishing to experience the surviving remnants of the old Silk Road, isolated and ancient cultures, and an opportunity to partake in history that is thousands of years old ...
The valley is a melting pot of Sogdians and other Central Asian tribes, of civilisations dating back to the time of Alexander the Great, who still practise their traditions to this day. Their remarkable legacy is etched in stone in the archaeological sites at Penjkent and Sarazm.
Old Penjkent was a walled city established over 2,500 years ago. It was a major trading city on the Silk Road, a marketplace for valuable commodities from as far away as India, Turkey and Iran. Known to some as the Pompeii of Central Asia, Penjkent now lies in ruin after being sacked by Arab invaders and subsequently abandoned. The archaeological finds continually unearthed here nevertheless reveal many clues and treasures of Penjkent’s diverse historical inhabitants, their religions and past-times, trade products and burial goods.
A short distance from Penjkent is the oldest settlement in central Asia, Sarazm. Estimated to be between 5,500 and 6,000 years old, the name Sarazm simply means “the Beginning of the World”. Thousands of people once lived here, and it was a major metallurgical site in the region. There were ancient mines here for copper and for turquoise, both of which were fashioned by Sarazm’s craftsmen and then traded along the Silk Road. The historical importance of the site is such that it is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The western end of the Zarafshan Valley is little visited these days. The ancient road into Uzbekistan has been closed to foreigners since 2010, and so Penjkent and Sarazm are at the very end of the road within Tajikistan, not en route to anywhere. It is well worth making the effort to come here, however, not only for the monumental cultural significance of the region, but also for the natural beauty and paramount views that frame the area.
Trekking, mountain biking or even donkey riding through this area, you’ll encounter the truly breathtaking sight of the Seven Pearls of the Shing – an oasis of seven lakes in an otherwise barren area – and mountainsides strewn with ancient archaeological finds, ruined cities, long-closed mines, and warm, welcoming populations who will open up their homes to paying guests. link of seven lakes that no picture could ever do the justice to capture.
Little know of the Zarafshan Valley is the district of Matchoi Kuhiston, or Gorno Matcha. This region is largely undiscovered from a tourists point of view, yet envelopes various cultures that have been in the area for millennia. With villages and mines dating back further than the 8th century, through to established and comfortable lodging offered by a very warm and generous people.
The purpose is to tell people that it is an area that is cut-off and little-visited by foreigners, but that they should come here anyway because there is a huge amount to see. Paramount Journey offers numerous travel holidays including trekking trips in Upper Zarafshan and culture holidays with trekking program in Fann mountains.

GALLERY

Zarafshan valley Tours

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Responsible travel is at the heart of our mission, and we strive to ensure that all of our tours are designed with sustainability, environmental protection, and community engagement in mind. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact by promoting responsible travel practices, supporting conservation efforts, and minimizing waste. Additionally, we believe in giving back to the communities that we visit by supporting local businesses, using locally-owned guesthouses, promoting cultural awareness, and providing employment opportunities to the local people. We are also dedicated to the growth and development of our industry and invest in our staff through training and capacity building initiatives to ensure that they are equipped to provide the highest level of service to our clients. By choosing to travel with us, you can be confident that your journey will not only be enriching and unforgettable, but also have a positive impact on the people and places you visit.

Reviews

  • star ratingI visited the Fann Mountains with Paramount Journey in early October for a four-day trek (starting and finishing in Dushanbe). It was my first visit to Tajikistan. Paramount Journey were... read more

    Go546085
    16.11.2022

    star ratingIskanderkul Weekend - My wife and I and two friends of ours enjoyed an excellent autumn weekend Iskanderkul, one of the top tourist spots in Tajikistan. It was a very smooth and... read more

    cplattv
    14.10.2022

    star ratingTravel to Tajikistan - We took a 7 day tour to Tajikistan taking in Dushanbe and trekking in the Fann Mountains. The mountain scenery was breathtaking and the tour was very professionally arranged.... read more

    grahamhV636OW
    09.09.2022
  • star ratingFanntastic trip to the FANN mountains - We had a fantastic time on our trip to Tajikistan with Paramount. From the beginning, we worked closely with Alovaddin to plan a custom trip. He offered lots of great... read more

    dedtomato
    09.09.2022

    star ratingCouple Travels through Tajikistan & Uzbekistan - If you would like to travel through Tajikistan & Uzbekistan we can highly recommend Paramount Journey. The proposed itinerary was excellent, we were able to incorporate all our wishes and... read more

    nicolasmV530OS
    15.08.2022

    star ratingIncredible 7 Day Tour from Dushanbe through the Fann Mountains to Khujand - We partook in a 7 - day tour of Tajikistan from Dushanbe to Khujand and back, stopping in several villages in the Fann Mountains. From the very beginning, it was... read more

    ethan1795
    08.12.2021
  • star ratingWe made a 3 weeks 2 persons Jeep Tour individually designed for our requiremenst through the Pamirs and the Zerafshan including exploring cities on the old Silk-Road. ... read more

    242andreasu
    06.10.2021

    star ratingFantastic 7 day Jeep tour in the Zerafshan and Yagnob Valleys and Fan mountains. - Date of tour: September 2019.

    Booking process: Booking the tour was very easy. Alovaddin answered all my questions quickly, suggested an itinerary and adjusted it to... read more

    SteveP832
    23.02.2020

    star ratingAn amazing experience - I did the Fann Montaign trekk with a friend and we enjoyed every step of it: be it the breathtaking landscapes of montaigns, glacier, incredible blues lakes and camps (add... read more

    Sabine P
    24.09.2019
  • star ratingFann Mountains Trek - We had a fantastic, well organised 3 night trek through the Fann Mountains.
    Yun and the team were fantastic! I cannot fault them. They really cared about us, and... read more

    hepatomegaly
    13.09.2019

    star ratingPamir & beyond - I had a wonderful experience visiting Tajikistan with Paramount Journey. Alovaddin and his staff organized a trip tailor-made to my wishes and needs. Truly a journey to remember. Highly recommended.... read more

    g_f3d3
    10.09.2019

    star ratingPristine Trek - Incredible Untouched Beauty - This must be one of the few pristine trek left in the world. It is very rough but the sights were amazing. The water in the lakes are crystal clear,... read more

    Blowfishpore
    05.09.2019
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