Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options)
- 8–10 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 4 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Welcome to Fascinating tour to the land of mountains where top of the ridges are always covered with snow and where narrow gorges hide small lakes with an amazing color of water. The lakes are called the Haftkul (which means “Seven Lakes” in Tajik) - sometimes they are also known as Marguzor Lakes. Mountain villages perched near Lakes Khurdak and Marguzor provide a glimpse into the present-day lifestyle of rural Tajik families. Visa Requirements for Your Trip This trip starts in Uzbekistan and enters Tajikistan. Both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan offer visa-free entry for many nationalities. However, before booking, please check your specific visa requirements to ensure a smooth journey. If you need a visa, make sure you have: A Tajikistan visa (if required for your nationality). A double-entry visa for Uzbekistan, as you will re-enter the country after visiting Tajikistan.
Inclusions
What's included
- Bottled water
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrence fee to Sarazm archeological site
What's not
- Lunch
- Tajikistan visa (if required for your nationality).
- A double-entry visa for Uzbekistan, as you will re-enter the country after visiting Tajikistan.
Itinerary
Meet up with our driver in your hotel and transfer to Uzbek - Tajik border. Arrival at Uzbek - Tajik border pass. You nned to walk to cross the border. After border crossing fomality Meet by Tajikistan staff and drive to Penjikent.
Drive to Marghuzor, the first lake , at an elevation of 1,640 m. Its name traslates to eyelashes in Tajik. The lake is known for its vibrant colors. Next you will visit Soya Lake. Translating as "shadow", due to this lake's geographical position between high cliffs, the lake remains in the shade almost the whole day. The third lake, Gushor, is sitauted a mere 400 meters from Soya. The two lakes are connected by a turbulent stream. Translating as "watchful", this lake is surrounded by steep cliffs. Fourth lake, called Nofin, is the central lake translates as "umbilical cord" due to its length, which stands at 2.5 km The fifth lake, situated 1.5 km away from Nofin and passing through the beautiful village of Pardut is the Khurdak lake, which translates to "the baby" as this lake is the smallest one of the seven. The sixth lake, Marguzor, is the largest and, to many people, the most beautiful of the Seven Lakes.
Optional hike from sixth lake to seven Hazorchashma - the seventh and highest of the Seven Lakes is located at around 2,400 metres above sea level. The name Hazorchashma (or Azorchashma) means “a thousand springs”, since the lake is fed by the waters of two rivers and many streams and springs. Hazorchashma is the last lake in the gorge of the Shing River. distance is 2,5km one way elevation gain 340m
“Make a brief stop at the Sarazm UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of Central Asia’s oldest settlements, dating back over 5,500 years. Explore the excavated ruins and learn about this ancient hub of culture and trade before continuing your journey toward the stunning Seven Lakes.”
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 5127
- 410
- 35
- 23
- 12
Ratings come from 147 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Stunning!
Expect the unexpected.. always. I’d read reviews of bad experiences at border crossing, and thought it might take a long time.. it didn’t.. it took maybe half an hour from saying goodbye to our Uzbek driver to meeting our tour guide and driver in Tajikistan. It’s actually very simple.. driver takes your photo and forwards to next driver who is there to greet you. We got our Uzbek driver’s WhatsApp in case there was any problem on our return (but everything went exactly to plan). I’d never walked across a border and for me it was a fun adventure.. lots of people watching and thanking of border security (we showed our passports at least three times each way). Eraj was our guide, he grew up in a village in the mountains and has a deep love of his country - and he’s plenty to compare it to as he’s lived in several countries and speaks 6 languages! He was funny and wanted us to have the best day. He took us to his favorite waterfall for our picnic lunch. Although the itinerary wasn’t exactly as described (we didn’t go to Sarazm) but it didn’t matter at all as we drove through (and stopped frequently) to visit villages set in spectacular mountain terrain. Abduvosid is an excellent driver, a beloved local, based on all the waves and greeting he received! He was so gracious. He helped us purchase our picnic lunch in Panjakent (no need to bring lunch - you can get cash from ATM and buy a picnic lunch en route). Abduvosid drove carefully and courteously. Both Abduvosid and Eraj made every effort to ensure we enjoyed our day out in Tajikistan. The lakes and mountains and rugged road provided the best backdrop. I highly recommend this excursion.
5What a great tour! Our...
What a great tour! Our guide Joy was fantastic. Knowledgeable, personable, and kind. The lakes were also very beautiful. Well worth the trip!
3Great tour, dont buy here with Viator
Beautiful but not exactly what was sold and expected. 1. We did not visit the Visit Sarazm archeological site. 2. We did not have time to stroll around or enjoy the lakes, only a few minutes to take pictures. 3. Both guides spoke minimal english so it was not very informative. Everything went smoothly and both guides were at meeting points on time. We were back at the hotel at 5PM I would have appreciated more time at the lakes or visit of Sarazm and be back at 6/7PM. You can book this tour locally with hotels or agency for a fraction of this price.
5Unforgettable experience with seamless organization!
Everything about this trip was arranged so smoothly from start to finish. The pick-up was prompt, and the vehicles provided for both transfer and sightseeing in Tajikistan were exceptionally comfortable. Our driver and tour guide were fantastic—professional, friendly, and super helpful throughout the journey. A special mention goes to Seven Lakes: the scenery there is absolutely breathtaking, beautifully raw, and untouched. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a hassle-free and memorable trip to Tajikistan!
5Tajikistan Seven Lakes; great tour with the best tour guide!
If you visit the Seven Lakes, be prepared to spend long hours on unpaved roads, but you will be rewarded with astonishing views of the scenery in an unreal harsh environment where people manage to live their lives under hard conditions. It's a welcome change after visiting multiple cities to be in rural territory and experience Tajik-hospitality. Please make sure Dilo is your guide, this extraordinary lovely, lively, fun, well English speaking tour guide is the best I ever had! She really added value to my tour with her strong historical and local knowledge and her positive energy. In my opinion a tour guide could make or break a tour, and Dilo definitely made it a wordefull experience! Job Well Done Dilo and Viator!!
4Long , worthwhile 7 Lakes tour
VERY long tour but worth it Small group, good guide, picnic lunch. Some booked 6hr tour Some booked 9hr tour Some booked 12hr tour- All different costs! All ended up on the same bus!! All experience 13hrs on the road!!!
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Discoverystan
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Samarkand
- Its from-price is 22% below the median of the 48 day trips we list in Samarkand.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 1 of 48.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Samarkand
Samarkand is an ancient Silk Road city in Uzbekistan, famous for blue-tiled domes, grand madrasas and the great Registan square.
Samarkand has been a crossroads of trade routes for more than two thousand years, and in the late fourteenth century it became the capital of Timur's empire. The Registan, a square framed by three madrasas with tiled façades in blue, turquoise and gold, is its best-known sight. The madrasa of Ulugh Beg dates from the 1420s, and the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Top-ranked sights in Samarkand: Registan Square, Gur-e-Emir Mausoleum, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis.
Special offers in Samarkand
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
