Penjikent – Khujand Tour

Tour itinerary: Samarkand – 7 lakes – Penjikent – Khujand –Tashkent

Season: all year round

Days: 3 | Nights: 2

A short tour to elder Tajik cities - Penjikent & Khujand, two places that are older that most of Uzbekistan cities, places that saw Alexander the Great, Sogdianians and living Silk Road golden age.

You will see the ruins of old Penjikent, Sarazm Important bird area, Timur Malik's fortress and many other sights of Tajikistan.

Welcome to Central Asia!

Day 1

Samarkand – 7 lakes – Penjikent

Meet the driver at the hotel in Samarkand.

08:00 Transfer to border post Jartepa. Border crossing usually takes 30 min-1 hr.

Meet the guide and driver at Tajikistan part of the border.

Transfer to Marguzor, the famous seven lakes - seven wonderful water mirrors full of mountain riverside drops. Each lake looks different whenever the sun changes its position. Colors may vary from deep blue to indie color ripple. Most of them are cold to swim even in summer. These lakes belong to Fann Mountains system.

On the western edge of the Fan Mountains in the valley of the river Shing there are seven lakes, six of them are dammed origin, besides the lake Hazorchashma. Lakes are called Marguzor, but each lake has its own name: Nezhigon, Soybean, Gushor, Nofin, Hurdak, Marguzor, Hazorchashma. The difference in level between the upper and lower lake is 692 meters. Easy hike at the lakes.

Transfer to Penjikent. Start sightseeing tour in Penjikent visiting:

-The Sarazm Important Bird Area (UNESCO World Heritage) lies downstream of the city on the tugay-vegetated floodplain of the river.

- The archaeological site of the ruins of old Penjikent - a walled inter-city (2500-years ago) that was a Sogdian trading city on the Silk Road.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Penjikent – Khujand

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Khujand via Istaravshan town located 78 km southwest from Khujand.

Istaravshan is one of the most ancient cities of Tajikistan (more than 2500 years). Ancient name Cyropolis founded by Cyrus the Great in 544 BC as a boarding fort of the Achaemenid Empire.

Overview sightseeing in Istaravshan visiting:

- Mazori Sharif mausoleum;

- Kog Gumbaz madrasa (16th century);

- Kuhi Mug, the ruins of the ancient fortress.

Arrival in Khujand, check-in the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel

Day 3

Khujand – Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start sightseeing tour in Khujand:

- Khujand, the second-largest city and one of the oldest cities in Tajikistan, the furthest point Alexander the Great reached in Central Asia, so the city was named Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Furthest).

- Pushkin square with Kamoli Khudjandi Square;

- Timur Malik’s fortress and Sugd museum;

- Muslihiddin memorial complex;

- Panjshanbe bazaar (The name Panjshanbe comes from Persian language meaning “Thursday”) is one of the oldest markets in Tajikistan;

- Arbob palace.

Transfer to border Oybek. Border crossing usually takes 30 min- 1 hr.

Meet the driver at Uzbekistan part of the border.

Transfer to Tashkent (96 km, 1,5 hr).

Arrival in the hotel in Tashkent.

End of the tour.

Tour Price (PER PERSON):

Person in group	Standart
1	$1155
2-3	$695
4-5	$525
6-12	$465
Single supplement	$55

Book it!

- Accommodation in standard twin - shared rooms in Penjikent and Khujand;

- All transfers as per program by comfortable tourist class transport as per road conditions including transfers to- from the borders;

- English speaking escorting guide in Tajikistan;

- Single entry tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums and nature fees as per program;

- Meals: breakfasts in the hotels in Penjikent and Khujand;

- Tourist tax per person;

- Bottled water l per person per day.

- International flights;

- Accommodation in Samarkand and Tashkent ( can be added by request);

- Photo/video fees (professional camera);

- E-visa to Uzbekistan; Tajikistan e-visa (if required);

- Meals: lunches and dinners;

- VAT, personal travel/medical insurance, portage, tips, personal expenses, and other services not specified under “Tour Price Includes”.

The tour is published on December 04, 2024 and the rates as per program and conditions specified are actual for 180 days ( 6 month) from the date of publication.

All the rates will be subject to change if the request is after 180 days from date of publication because any changes in the seasonal tariffs for hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may cause the increase of rates.

- Please note that the tour price does not include VAT 12 %, VAT can be added to the basic tour price.

- We highly recommend acknowledging the necessary documentation before the trip: valid passport with expiration not later than 6-month, Tajikistan visa and e-visa, Uzbekistan double or mulri-entry visa/ e-visa requirements.

- Any changes in the basic itinerary and service content may cause the change of the tour prices.

- If the hotels, noted in the program are fully booked or not available for the dates or in case of late / last-minute booking, the tour company reserves the right to book the other hotels of the same category and similar service as per room availability.

- Please note that during the national holidays, during the big summits, fairs, festivals, major sport and cultural events, some parts of the roads can be temporarily blocked for delegations and events as per government decrees.

- Check-in 14.00, check-out time 11.00. No early check-in/ late check-out is included unless indicated;

- Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English;

- Please note yurt camps, guesthouses, and homestays offer homemade/camp-style traditional meals; there are quite basic toilet and shower conditions.

- All the changes in the basic itinerary, the timing for transfers depending on the international flight departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed;

- Please note that the train trip/s can be replaced for transfer/s by car depending on train tickets availability and trains schedule;

- After the date of publication, any changes in the hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may influence the tour prices;

- Anur Tour is not responsible for the force majeure occasions (weather conditions during the tour, repairing-reconstructing works at some parts of roads, government restrictions).

ACCOMMODATION

CITY	STANDARD HOTELS	COMFORT HOTELS
PENJIKENT	Panjakent Plaza
KHUJAND	Parliament / Sugdiyon/ Grand Hotel
Or other hotels of the same category depending on room availability