TREKKING IN THE HEART OF FAN MOUNTAINS 8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS

Category: Tajikistan

TREKKING IN THE HEART OF FAN MOUNTAINS 8 DAYS/ 7 NIGHTS

Highlights

Season: June – October

Duration: 8 days /7 nights

Starting point: Samarkand

Ending point: Samarkand

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Overview

Season: June – October

Duration: 8 days /7 nights

Starting point: Samarkand

Ending point: Samarkand

Description:

This trekking program is dedicated for the hiking and adventure lovers who leaves the house to go for long trips to places where few have visited, kind of those who love to challenge themselves remaining alone with the wildlife, who like to walk tens of miles on foot and sleep close to the stars, then our Trekking tours are created just for you. It is unique trekking itineraries through beautiful valleys, along the shores of the azure lakes, among the magnificent mountains and great glaciers of Fanns and Pamir of Tajikistan and Wakhan and Little Pamir of Afghanistan. It starts by crossing border from Uzbekistan and can end either in capital city Dushanbe or in

ITINERARY: SAMARKAND – PANJAKENT – GHAZZA – KHUSHTARITA VALLEY – GHAZZA – CHUKURAK LAKE – KULI KALON LAKES – ALOUDDIN LAKE – MUTNIY LAKE – DUSHANBE OR KHUJAND

Itinerary

Day 1

Samarkand – Panjakent city 60 km – Gazza village 60 km

Breakfast. Drive from Samarkand to the Uzbek – Tajik border. Crossing the border.

Drive to Panjakent 60 km. The city of Panjakent ("five villages") is located in Khujand area of Tajikistan in a picturesque Zarafshon river valley. Quite possibly the five villages started the history of this remarkable city which originated in the V-VIII centuries AD. Panjakent of that time was one of the most important cultural and crafts centers of Sogd. It was even named "Central Asian Pompeii". Visit the UNESCO site Sarcasm’s settlement, Museum of Rudaki, the father of Tajik/Persian poetry. Ancient Panjakent, ruins of old Sogdian town founded in V century and abandoned in the VIII century by Arabs.

Lunch in the national teahouse Sayohat with national Tajik food “plov”. Participation in the cooking class, how to cook Tajik national food.

Drive to Ghazza village 60 km. Gazza one of the remote villages, located 1700 m above sea level, on the foot by Hamid and Obshor mountains, population about 200 people. Ghazza is located in the Fan mountains. Walking and meet local people in the village, exploring how the Tajik people lives in the mountains area. Dinner and overnight in the local guest house. Meals: lunch, dinner.

Day 2

Gazza - Khushtarita valley, 4 km (hiking)

Breakfast. Spend a full day exploring. Hike in the Fan mountains. The fabulous Fan Mountains are famous for their pristine beauty and the diversity of flora and fauna present there. Hundreds of startling peaks of the Turkestan and Hisor mountain ridges (southwest of Pamir-Alay) make the phenomenal beauty of Fan mountains. More than ten peaks reach the height of 5000 meters having their walls fluctuating at the height of up to 1800 meters. These peaks incorporate the Peak of Bodhona (5138 m), Peak of Energiya (5105 m), Peak of Zamok (5070 m) and Chapdara (5050 m). The highest peak in the region is the Peak of Chimtarga (5487 m). 30 different azure lakes are located in Fan Mountains area which is originated from the snowy fields of these miraculous peaks.

Rising hike to Murgobi lake (4 km, 2 hours). Resting and walking near the lake. Picnic. Continue hiking to Soya Lake 1,5 km and then to Bedak camping place (2300 m). This area a rounded by mountains. Walking around, and meet the families, which lives here for summer, and sleeping in the tent, looking after animals and making milk product. Dinner and overnight in the tent. Meals: full board.

Day 3

Khushtarita valley – Vory village – Ghazza village 10 km (hiking)

Breakfast. Hiking via pass Bory (2800 m the top of the pass), from the top very amazing panoramic view of Khushtarita valley and two lakes: Urdakon and Soya. Picnic on the way. Hiking to village Bory, village located in the 1900 m above sea level, in the mountains area, population about 1000, 120 houses. Construction of building remind you XVIII-XIX centuries. Drive with car about 5 km to Ghazza village. Dinner and overnight in the guest house. Meals: full board.

Day 4

Ghazza village – Chukurak lake 12 km (hiking)

Breakfast. Hiking via Zurmich valley and pass to Chukurak lake. Chukurak lake is one of the amazing lakes in Fan mountains located in the altitude 2300 m. Picnic on the way. Dinner and overnight in the tent. Meals: full board.

Day 5

Chukurak lake – Kuli Kalon lakes 8 km (hiking)

Breakfast. Trekking via Chukurak pass 3200 m to Kuli Kalon lakes. Lake kulikalon (big lake) is situated at an altitude of 2,800 m, and is the second largest lake (after Iskandar Kul) in this area. The lake actually consists of two lakes: Bolshoi (large) kulikalon and maly (smaller) kulikalon, which are connected by a channel. The northern shore of the lake is indented with large and small creeks separated by capes and crevices. The lake shores are wooded. The water from maly kulikalon goes underground and emerges again 600m below as the Urech river. The water at the southern end of Bolshoi Lake is noticeably cooler than at the northern end where it is possible to swim, its color also changes near the shores, it looks as if the black bodies of dead animals lie motionless in the bluish-green water. There are marinka (chylothorax) fish in the lake. Kulikalon means 'big lake' in Tajik language. Dinner and overnight in the tent. Meals: full board

Day 6

Kuli Kalon lake – Alouddin lake 12 km

Breakfast. Hiking via Alouddan pass (3840 m) to Alouddin lake (2700 m). Picnic on the way. The Alouddin lakes are a group of reservoirs upstream in the Pasrud valley. All the lakes are situated on the steps of ancient and modern moraines pure, clear water pours from one step into another and the level of water in the lake remains constant. There are no fish in the lakes. Only the most experienced and adventurous will bathe in the water for any length of time since it is very cold. Resting time. Dinner. Overnight in the tent.

Meals: full board

Day 7

Alouddin lake – Mutniy lake – Alouddin lake, 8 km +8 km hiking

Breakfast. Radial trekking to Mutniy lake (3500 m), around the panorama of highest peak in Fan mountains Gimtarga mountain (5489 m), Energy (5120 m), Politechnikum (4400 m) Zamok (4800 m). Mutnye lake is a good base camp from which to attempt these cliffs. There is no vegetation in the lakes area; all that exists is rubble. Picnic near the lake. Come back to Alouddin lake. Dinner and overnight in the tent. Meals: full board

Day 8

Alouddin lake – Dushanbe or Khujand

Breakfast.

Drive to Khujand to cross the land border to Kyrgyzstan

or drive to Dushanbe capital city.

Price is on request

Please contact us to book your tour. The Price is upon your request. The itineraries can be adjusted individually to fit into your schedule and provide you with the best experience. Furthermore, we are happy to create tailor-made tours according to your wishes.

What's included

Included

Overland transportation by comfortable transport with air conditioning;
Accommodation according itinerary;
English speaking escort - mountain guide for the whole tour
Breakfasts // Lunches // Dinners as per itinerary;
All sightseeing as specified in the itinerary;
Ecology tax;
Mountain cooker;
Donkey for carry luggage;
Tent

Not included

International flights
Visa Costs (please check the list here, to see if a visa is needed, citizens of 52 countries can visit Tajikistan visa free for 30 days. https://mfa.tj/uploads/berlin/2021/11/The-introduction-of-a-unilateral-visa.pdf
If you need a visa it can be obtained online, the cost is 30US$ www.evisa.tj ;
Camera and Video charges during sightseeing (if applicable, in some places a fee is charged);
Single supplement;
Tips for guide and driver

Suggested accommodation or similar in categories:

DAY	Place for overnight	NIGHTS	Hotels
*1,5*	*Ghazza village*	2	Guest house
2	Khushtarita valley	1	Tent
4	Chukurak lake	1	Tent
5	Kuli Kalon lakes	1	Tent
6, 7	Alouddin lake	2	Tent
8	Dushanbe or Khujand	1	Hotel

Map of the itinerary

Additional information

Sustainability:

This trip contributes to the welfare of local communities and the preservation of cultures and environments. We practice Leave No Trace, ensuring our trash is carried out with us when we leave. We try to reduce single use plastic in our tours.

Medical and Fitness:

Participants need to be physically fit and able to carry a daypack on all days, with their trail lunch, water, rain jackets etc. Back / knee injuries, vertigo and any history of heart problems or lung problems would preclude clients from joining this tour as it is strenuous and travels through remote areas when communications are sometimes lacking.

Food and Beverage

Food in the region is generally locally sourced and produced. It is simple in presentation but

tasty and often organic. Fruit and vegetables are seasonally available. Vegetarians can be catered for but may find that in some place’s options are limited. A vegan diet is more complicated to adhere to since vegetarian options will usually rely on eggs, cheese, dairy, bread, fruit and local vegetables. Thus, a vegan diet would mainly be bread, fruit and vegetables (salads etc.). Vegan or vegetarian substitutes such as tofu and soy are starting to become more widely available in the cities. Gluten intolerances are becoming more widely known and some restaurants will be able to cater for a range of dietary requirements, but in the mountains and at family run guest houses this is difficult. Let us know if you have specific allergies or intolerances

Provided Gear & Equipment

The operator will pay for and provide the following gear and equipment necessary to operate the itinerary (please list all individual and group gear items):
Tent for sleeping in the mountains;
Travelers should bring with them: mountain boots, sprinklers, warm things, personal first aid kit Sleeping bag
Refillable water bottle / minimum 2 liter
Headtorch and spare batteries for camping
Travel towel
Rechargeable (solar) battery packs for phones / cameras

Water: Drinkable water during the trip will be provided.
Seasonality and Weather/Temperatures

Please note this trip runs from June – October.

The daytime temperatures are expected to be +20 in the valleys to +10 in the high mountains and overnight at the camping locations can fall as low as +5-+10.

Guides

Our best guides are assigned to lead these itineraries. Our Guides are experienced trip leaders, possessing a significant amount of interpretive knowledge pertaining to local culture, human and natural history, geography and flora & fauna. Our guides possess the appropriate level of fitness required to complete the itinerary while assuming all responsibilities associated with leading a group throughout the duration of the trip including first aid knowledge and planned risk assessment / evacuation plan for injured or sick guests.

From 1 to 10 pax will be one guide, for 11 to 15 pax, 2 guides

Vehicles

The trip operator provides the following vehicle(s), well-maintained, clean, and in good working condition, to be used on the trip. For road transfers we generally use Mercedes Sprinter with max 18 seat capacity for larger groups, Starex Honday 7-8 seaters for smaller groups. For rough terrain and off-road, the jeeps are Toyota, Nissan and Land Rover. All commercial vehicles used for transport of passengers are required to undergo an annual maintenance check before they can get a new annual road license. We will of course be able to provide details about specific vehicles to be used for each transfer throughout the trip, nearer to the time of a tour departure