On the first day of our trip, we will gather at Dushanbe Airport. After everyone has arrived, we will take a transfer to the hotel. Check-in is after 14:00.

The city of Dushanbe derives its name from the Tajik word for "Monday". This is because trade traditionally began here on Mondays, at the crossroads of several routes. To experience authentic Tajik culture, we will visit the Mehrgan bazaar, where we will immerse ourselves in the sights and sounds of an oriental market.

In Dushanbe, many streets are named after writers and poets. These 'literary' streets will take us to the King Ismail Samani monument, vibrant mosques and mausoleums. At the National Museum of Antiquities, we will see a collection of ancient artifacts, including a 13-meter statue 'Buddha in Nirvana'.

After that we will leave Dushanbe to the majestic Gissar fortress, built in the 13th century.

We will return to Dushanbe for the night.

In the morning we`ll leave Dushanbe and head to a new destination – the city of Penjikent. It is one of the most ancient cities in Central Asia, 5,500 years old. Penjikent was an important cultural and craft centre of Zoroastrian Sogdiana and, for its beauty, was called the “Pompeii of Central Asia.”

During the excursion we will visit the ruins of the ancient Sogdian settlement of the 5th–8th centuries, where the foundations of houses, a citadel with several Zoroastrian fire temples, and wall paintings have been preserved. We will also visit the Rudaki Museum, dedicated to the famous local poet.

Afterwards we`ll depart for the picturesque mountain valley of Haftkul (translated from Tajik as “Seven Lakes”). This is one of the most beautiful corners of the Fann Mountains in the gorge of the Shing River. Here lie seven scenic lakes rich in dissolved minerals: sodium and calcium. Thanks to these minerals, the waters of the lakes constantly change colour depending on the sun, weather and time of day — from emerald-turquoise and blue to violet and even orange at sunset! Today we will see the three lower lakes: Mishgon, Soya and Khushyor.

Today we will continue exploring the scenic Haftkul Valley. After breakfast we will head to the four upper lakes of the cascade:

• Nofin — the longest of the seven lakes, where local shepherds with their herds can often be seen.
• Khurdak — the smallest. Nearby lies the village of Padrud, where we will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the traditional way of life of the highland valley residents.
• Marguzor — the lake that gave its name to the entire chain of water bodies. In its vicinity there once were extensive summer pastures (jayloo), and petroglyphs as well as the ruins of an old factory have been found.
• Hazorchashma — a lake whose name translates as “a thousand springs,” as it is fed by numerous streams and underground sources.

After visiting the upper lakes we will descend to the third lake, Khushyor, where lunch and rest will await us. Those who wish can visit a mountain village, while for active recreation enthusiasts a 5-hour mountain trek to Gurdara will be organised, offering stunning views of the snow-capped peaks of the Fann Mountains.

On this day, we'll go on a scenic trip through the winding mountain roads of the Shakhristan Pass (3 378 m) to the city of Istaravshan.

Istaravshan is known for its craftsmen, who create beautiful pottery, leather, and wooden items. We'll visit a workshop to see how knives and leather items are made. After that, we'll have an excursion to the Mug Teppe Fortress, Kuk Gumbaz Mosque, and Khazrati Shokh Complex.

In the evening we will go to Khujand, the second largest city in Tajikistan. During the Silk Road times, it was an important trade, cultural, and scientific center. It is also said that Khoja Nasreddin lived here.

We'll explore the city and visit the Panjshanbe market, where we can buy souvenirs and gifts.

Saying goodbye to Tajikistan, we depart from Khujand. An organized transfer will take us to Khujand airport.