CULTURAL IMMERSION TOUR: CLASSIC TAJIKISTAN

Duration

9 days, 8 nights

Interest

Exclusive Culture Tours

Price per person​

From 1545$

Comfort level

Mixed

Group size

2-8 people

overview

Explore Tajikistan’s highlights on this exciting tour. Begin in Dushanbe where you’ll visit the National Museum of Antiquities and Navruz Palace before venturing to Iskanderkul to enjoy stunning views and short hikes. Visit Gazza village for a cooking class and folklore show before heading to Voru village to meet locals. Discover Penjikent’s ruins and explore the Seven Lakes area before continuing on to Khujand, an ancient city with a rich history. Along the way, enjoy delicious meals and comfortable accommodations.

  • Scenic drive to Iskanderkul, one of the most exquisitely beautiful lakes in all of the former Soviet Union
  • Short hike to Iskander Waterfall and Snake Lake
  • Cooking master class with local folklore show
  • Visit to Voru village in the Zerafshan valley, where houses are built in a steep gorge and the rooftop of one house serves as the yard for the house above
  • Sightseeing of Old Penjikent ruins, known as Pompeii of Central Asia
  • Day trip to Seven Lakes, a mountain valley with stunning scenery and hiking opportunities
  • Visit to Istaravshan, a city with a history dating back to Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great, and renowned for its blacksmiths.

Gallery

Itinerary

Upon your arrival mid-night, you'll be greeted at the airport by our representative and transferred to your luxurious 5 star hotel. Take a moment to settle in and get refreshed before stepping out to explore the vibrant city. Your hotel, the Serena, is located in the picturesque Ismoili Somoni avenue surrounded by lush green trees. Make sure to take a dip in the rooftop pool of your hotel for a truly relaxing experience.

Later in the evening, join us for a welcome dinner with a music and dance performance that will give you a taste of the local culture. Get ready to be entertained and enjoy a delicious meal with new friends.

Accommodation: Serena Hotel

Meals: B, D

Our city tour will start with a visit to the National Museum of Antiquities with its famous Sleeping Buddha, excavated from the Buddhist monastery at Ajina Teppa. Our next stop is the Navruz Palace, an extraordinary modern building decorated by hundreds of artisans from all over Tajikistan. Most of the rooms are now used for official government meetings, or for international conferences, but one room is open to the public and used as a popular wedding venue. This is a unique opportunity to tour the interior of this ornate contemporary palace. Afterwards, we will visit the handicrafts centre to meet master craftsmen, including those involved in the creation of the Navruz Palace. 

After lunch, we will visit the statue of Ismail Somoni in Rudaki Park. This large monument commemorates the 1,100th anniversary of the Samanid State, a Golden Age of the Tajik nation, when science and arts flourished. From there we will walk through pretty Rudaki Park, which is dedicated to the great Persian poet Rudaki, who also lived during the Samanid period, in the 10th century.

Accommodation: Serena Hotel

Meals: B, L

It’s a moderately long but scenic drive out of Dushanbe to Iskanderkul. We will stop on the way to have lunch in Sarvoda. By early afternoon we will reach Iskanderkul (2191m), the triangular lake named after Alexander the Great (“Iskander” is the Persian form of Alexander). It is considered to be one of the most exquisitely beautiful lakes in all of the former Soviet Union. In addition to admiring the views there will be time for a short hike to Iskander Waterfall and Snake Lake before dinner. We will spend the night in cottages on the lake shore, where the rooms have private bathrooms.  

Accommodation: Cottages (Rooms with lake view)

Meals: B, L

After breakfast we drive toward Penjikent region. We reach Gazza village we will have a lunch at the guesthouse. On arrival to the village you can rest at the guesthouse or walk and explore the village. For the dinner we will have an opportunity to have cooking master class with local folklore show either in here or in Penjikent. 

Accommodation: Guesthouse (rooms with private bathroom)

Meals: B, L, D

After the breakfast we will be transferred to the one the most iconic and authentic village in the Zerafshan valley – Voru village. Voru is a mountain village, it is located on the left bank of the Archmaydon river. The houses in the village are built in a steep gorge which allows for the rooftop of one house to serve as the yard for the house above. We will be hosted by them and have a chance to meet some of their family members. 

By evening, we will reach Penjikent – known as Pompeii of Central Asia. We check it at our hotel and start the sightseeing of Old Penjikent and Sarasm ruins (both UNESCO World Heritage sites). 

Accommodation: Panjikent Plaza 

Meals: B, L, D

Our day trip will start with a bumpy ride into the mountains to explore the area of the Seven Lakes. This mountain valley is not far from Penjikent, but due to the bad road conditions, the trip takes a full day. We will drive up the valley to the sixth lake. It is then a short and easy hike of about two hours (both ways) to the seventh and highest lake, Hazorchashma. There will be time to enjoy the scenery and wander along the lake shore before hiking back down to the sixth lake and returning by road to Penjikent. On the way down we will stop for a walk in a couple of villages and will have a lunch at guesthouse in Noffin village.

Accommodation: Panjikent Plaza 

Meals: B, L, D

It is time to leave the mountains behind and return to urban life, journeying to the city of Khujand in northern Tajikistan. Khujand is situated on the Syr Darya River in the Fergana Valley. It is an ancient city with a history dating back to Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great. On the way we will visit Istaravshan, a city founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC which recently celebrated its 2,500th anniversary. Istaravshan’s 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. We will visit the blacksmiths’ workshops near the entrance to the city’s market, and also meet a woodcarvers workshop and a comb maker’s house. There will be time to see the main historical sights – the Kok Gumbaz and the Hazrat Shoh Mosque – before continuing on our way to Khujand. We will arrive in the evening and check in at the hotel. 

Accommodation: Khujand Grand Hotel

Meals: B, L

After breakfast, we will visit Khujand’s main market, Panjshabe Bazaar, which is the largest market in Tajikistan. Our city tour will continue to the Maslihaddin Mosque, the Lenin Monument, and Arbob Cultural Palace, where we will also visit a small factory which produces traditional Tajik textiles. We will have lunch at Anora, a house museum where you can appreciate traditional design and experience the authentic atmosphere of a Tajiki house. The friendly family members are always happy to welcome guests from different cultures and to exchange experiences with interested travellers. After lunch we drive to our final attraction, to the women's factory Khujand atlas. Khujand Atlas was one of the leading textile factory that use silk for production of traditional Atlas textile. During our visit, we'll get an inside look at the production process and learn about the history of the factory and its significance in the local economy. We'll also have the opportunity to purchase some of the beautiful atlas products for souvenirs. Afterwards, we will departure to Tashkent which will take about 3 hours ride. 

Accommodation: Hyatt Regency or similar 

Meals: B, L

Your driver will transfer you to the international airport. 

Meal: B

Trip Map

Trip information

Included:Note:
  • English speaking guides
  • All Transportation 
  • Early check in at Serena hotel in Dushanbe 
  • Meals indicated in the itinerary. 
  • All permits and entrance fee at all mentioned attractions and visits
  • Cooking masterclass
  • Folklore show
  • Visa Assistance
  • Alcoholic beverage
  • Travel Insurance
  • Gratuities to guide and drivers 
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary

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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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