Tour description
The Republic of Tajikistan is located in the south-east of Central Asia. The total territory is 143.1 thousand square kilometers. The population is 10,010,800 people (as of January 1, 2023). The capital is Dushanbe. The currency unit is somoni.
The climate is continental. The average temperature in June – July is 30 C° to 35 C°. Modern Tajikistan is a mountainous country with absolute altitudes from 300 to 7495 meters above sea level. 93% of the country’s territory is occupied by mountain ranges of the Pamir, Gissar Alay and Tien Shan Mountain systems. These ranges are divided by rich and fertile lands of the Fergana, Zerafshan, Vakhsh and Gissar valleys.
Tajikistan is the land of the highest peaks, powerful glaciers, rapid, turbulent rivers, unique beautiful lakes, unique vegetation and rare animals. It is the mountain, floor landscape that determines the distinctiveness and uniqueness of the nature of Tajikistan, the richness of its forms brought by the diversity of climatic zones. In the republic, in an hour and a half of flight from the sultry heat of the Vakhsh valley, you can get into the arctic cold of the eternal snows of the Pamirs.
The history of the Tajik people dates back to the depths of centuries, to the beginning of human civilization. The most ancient finds on the territory of modern Tajikistan serve as the evidence. The mountains and valleys of Tajikistan, the peoples who lived on its territory are mentioned in ancient sources of ancient authors: Pliny and Ptolemy. The Venetian traveler Marco Polo wrote about his travelling to the Pamirs.
At the beginning of the 9th century, tendencies toward national self-identification of the people arisen, the first state formations of Tajik people appeared, the largest of which was the Samanid state with its capital in Bukhara, founded by Ismail Somoni from the Samanid dynasty.
The Tajiks made a significant contribution to the spiritual treasury of civilization, gave the world outstanding and remarkable scientists, philosophers, writers, poets and architects whose works have become an integral part of the scientific and cultural baggage accumulated by the world civilization. Examples of this are the lyrics of Abuabdullo Rudaki, the founder of Persian-Tajik literature, the immortal poem “Shahnama” by Abul Qasim Firdausi and “The Canon of Medical Science” Abu Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna), the treatise that for centuries served as the main medical guide in European educational institutions. The world poetry stars: Khayyam, Rumi, Saadi, Hafiz, Jami, masters of artistic creativity Borbad, Mani, Behzod – were known far beyond the boundaries of ancient Sugd, Khorasan and Movarounnahr – the main territory of modern Central Asia.
Cultural and historical heritage: part of the Great Silk Road, a site of ancient settlement "Sarazm" and National Park are included in the List of World Heritage (UNESCO)
Visa requirements: starting from 1st January 2022 Tajikistan has introduced a unilateral visa-free regime (for up to 30 days of temporary residence and for all types of passports) for citizens of 52 countries of the world.
Program of the tour
- ARRIVAL DAY, DUSHANBE EXCURSION
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09:00 – we will pick up tourists from hotel and starting our excursion from the Ismail Somoni complex which is in the center of Dushanbe. - Visiting objects: Ismail Somoni complex – National Library – Nation Palace – State emblem square – Park "Navruzgoh" – State Flag square – National Museum – Rudaki Park
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In this complex we will be introduced about the Maydoni Ozodi, history of Ismail Somoni and Monument of Ismail Somoni. - The monument of Ismoil Somoni constructed in honor of the founder of the statehood of the Tajik nation Ismail Somoni, who was the head / shah of the Samanids State in the VIII-IX century. Monument height is 11.5 meters; arch height of 40 meters is a symbol of the Eastern state.
- The National Library of Tajikistan is the main library of the country, specializing in preserving cultural heritage of the peoples of the Republic of Tajikistan, there are a new nine-story building features, 15 reading halls as well as over 20 departments. The library main focus is to include works that are of national renown by the Tajik people and of international renown written by Tajik authors.
- The area of the State Emblem with a 45-meter stele is located on the left side of the Nation Palace, equipped with a variety of seedlings.
- Navruzgoh Park was opened in 2014 in honor of the international holiday Navruz and is located on an area of 146 sq. meters - between the Palace of the Nation and Navruzgoh Square. On 15 hectares of the garden grow such types of trees as pine, viburnum, lilac, cedar, fir, juniper, magnolia, plane tree, chestnut, red maple and other plant species. On foot from Dusti Square, you can go to the Navruzgoh park. Despite the fact that the park is located very close to the center, there is a completely different atmosphere here. A lot of greenery, trees and fountains. There is even a waterfall - "Sharshara". This is a great option for families with children, and just a good place for walks, both on foot and by bike. It is especially beautiful here in the evenings. You can walk in the park at any time.
- The Palace of the Nation (Tajik: Қасри Миллат) is the official residence of the President of Tajikistan. The construction of the Palace began in 2000.
- Еhe State Flag Square located in the center of Dushanbe, to the left part of the Nation Palace. This Flagpole entered in the Guinness Book of records as the Highest Flagpole in the world. The height of the flagpole is 165 meters, area 1800 m2, width 30 meters and length 60 meters.
- National Museum — located in the center of Dushanbe. The Museum consists of 22 large and small exhibition halls — departments of nature, antiquity and the Middle Ages, modern history, fine and applied arts. The exposition area of the National Museum of Tajikistan is 15 thousand m2.
- The city garden “Boghi Rudaki” - Rudaki Park is located in the center of Dushanbe, and its eastern side faces the main street of the city - Rudaki Avenue, and the southern side to the Nations Palace. The area of the garden reaches - 8 hectares. The park is named after the founder of Tajik classical literature, the world-famous poet, father of the Persian language Abubdullah Rudaki.
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13:30 – lunch at a national kitchen, halal. - 18:00 – end of day excursion.
- 19:00 – dinner at a national restaurant “Toqi”
- Direction / traveling objects: Kokhi (Palace) Navruz – Independence monument & square (Istiqlol) – National Museum of Antiquities – Iram Park – Yaqubi Charkhi mausoleum – Mehrgon Bazar
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07:30 – breakfast in hotel - 09:00 – tourists will be picked up from hotel and starting excursion from the
Kokhi (Palace) Navruz. - Kokhi (Palace) Navruz - is a new building of 12 unusual halls, each of which is made in its own special national style. It is ready to receive up to 3200 guests at the same time. All the halls of the palace are decorated by local craftsmen: there are wood carvings, Florentine mosaics made from local semi-precious stones, mosaics of colored mirrors, and painted ceilings. On the walls there are scenes from ancient legends, on the ceiling there are wood patterns made in the old style. Navruz Palace impresses with its splendor and modern luxury - it is a representative palace in which important political events of the country and international meetings take place. It was within these walls that the 14th SCO summit took place.
- Independence monument & square (Istiqlol) - this complex was opened on September 8, 2022 with the participation of the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, in honor of the 31st anniversary of the State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan. The 121-meter height of the Istiqlol complex is symbolic, that is, the lower part of the 30–meter complex is a symbol of the 30th anniversary of State independence, and the upper part - 91 meters – represents the independence in 1991 of the last centuries. The total area of the symbolic complex "Istiqlol" is 11900 square meters, the area of the object under construction is 4761 square meters. In the upper part of the complex there is an 8-meter crown made of titanium. In the symbol of Independence, the crown embodies the symbol of statehood, independence, state property and civilization, knowledge of the history of the ancient Tajik people. The base of the complex is an octagonal pyramid and consists of 7 entrances. When drawing up a project with the symbol "Crown", the designer relied as a basis on the symbol "Tree of Life", which represents and embodies broad ideas.
- National Museum of Antiquities - was established in 1934 on the basis of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy and Expeditionary Research of the Tajik Base of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Then the museum had only 530 exhibits. The museum collection contains unique finds, such as the preserved artifact of the "Queen of Sarazm" in Sarazm, Sughd region, near the city of Penjikent and a twelve-meter figure of Buddha, found by archaeologists in 1961 in the town of Ajina-Tepa in southern Tajikistan, Khatlon region, near the city Kurgan-Tyube and other items that have been awarded the status of a nominee for the World Heritage Site by the international organization UNESCO.
- Iram Park - This Park located in the Northern part of Dushanbe. The garden area reaches 40 hectares; the main entrance to the garden is start from the East. The alley goes to the glass greenhouse, where the alleys and paths of the Botanical Garden originate. Parker was established in Dushanbe in mid-1933.
- Yaqubi Charkhi mausoleum - is in the west part of Dushanbe. Yaqub Ibn Usman Al-Charkhi (1359-1447) — a religious figure, the spiritual leader of the Sufi tariqa Hadzha-Naqshbandi. Sheikh, the eighteenth in the golden chain of succession of sheikhs of tariqa.
- Mehrgon Bazar - is a new and modern food market in the city of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, put into operation in September 2014. The total area of the market is approximately 30 thousand square meters. The market is located on the eastern outskirts of the city of Dushanbe. The total area of the market building is about 10 thousand square meters. The building consists of 3 floors, the first floor mainly sells fruits, cakes, legumes, meat, chaka, spices and dried fruits, the second and third floors are clothing stores, cafes and service salons, including financial services, communication services. All goods and products of the market are environmentally friendly and very healthy for health, which are very hard to get in ordinary markets or supermarkets.
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13:30 – lunch at a national kitchen, halal. - 18:00 – end of day excursion.
- 19:00 – dinner at a national restaurant “Toqi”
- 08:00 – breakfast in hotel
- 09:00 – pick up tourists from the hotel. Today we have trip to Hisor city
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Visiting places: Hissar city museum – Hissar Fortress – Hissar Fortress Museum – Horse riding – Kharbuza Teahouse – Museum of Mirzo Tursunzoda -
Hissar Fortress - The Hissar Fortress, one of the most famous historical monuments of Tajikistan, was built to protect the local population and trade caravans from the raids of nomads. The Hissar fortress still impresses with its power and monumentality, especially after major restoration. The fortress was built about 3000 years ago, during the heyday, when the routes of the Great Silk Road passed near Hissar. The remaining remains of fortifications were built in the XVI–XIX centuries. The Hissar Fortress in Tajikistan is one of the oldest and largest architectural monuments of Central Asia. Now it is an open-air museum with an area of 86 hectares, located on the site of an ancient settlement. It is located 30 km from the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe. For a long time, the Hissar fortress served as the residence of the governor of the Emir of Bukhara and the base where the state troops were located. To date, only two cylindrical towers and structures around the main gate, forming a pointed arch and built on the instructions of the emir of Bukhara in the XVI century, have partially survived from the fortress. The fortress was completed in the XIX century. All structures are built of burnt brick. The Hissar fortress was built on the slope of a large hill. A high fortress wall 1 meter thick with loopholes for guns and cannons was built of baked bricks. The main gate has a laconic and simple look, traditional for the feudal military architecture of the Bukhara Emirate.
- Fortress square - horse riding (at the request and expense of traveler)
- Teahouse "Kharbuza" (watermelon)
- The teahouse "Kharbuza" — is a unique in the world, it was built in the form of a melon (the Taj: - kharbuza). The teahouse, with a height of 43 meters, length 100 meters, width of 55 meters, is designed to receive 2.3 thousand visitors at a time.
- Museum of Mirzo Tursunzoda
- Mirzo Tursunzoda (Tajik: Мирзо Турсунзода, 2 May 1911 — 24 September 1977) was an important Tajik poet and a prominent political figure. Today Tursunzoda has been elevated to the level of a national hero of Tajikistan. Tursunzoda's face appears on the front of the one Somoni banknote.
- In the Hissar Fortress square we will participate in the process of Navruz Festival (our visit will be regulated within the dates of Navruz festival)
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13:00 – lunch in the Hissar restaurant - 17:00 – back way to Dushanbe
- 19:00 – end of day
- 07:00 – breakfast at the hotel
- 08:00 – reception of tourists from hotels
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Places to visit: Varzob Valley - Safed-Dara Mountain resort -
Safed-Dara Mountain resort - The Ski Complex was founded in 1976 and provides sports, tourism and skiing services. The resort is located at a distance of 50 km from Dushanbe. Safed-Dara is Mountain resort, located on a unique, hilly plateau at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level. Clear sunny weather, always fresh mountain breeze makes this place ideal for all-season holidays. The breathtaking mountain landscape, the most beautiful blue sky pulls everyone who has ever spent a holiday in Safed-Dara to come back here again. All infrastructure - a good hotel, ski lifts, ski and snow slopes, cafes.
- The word “Safed-Dara” from the Tajik language is translated as "White Gorge" which means a white place.
- The Safed-Dara with special attention and consistency began to function at the end of 2016 Safed-Dara, with the participation of the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, in a new design. In this area, many services have been built, sports halls and playgrounds are located on an area of 60 hectares, which can simultaneously accommodate up to 1000 people.
- In Safed-Dara, mainly on winter days, as well as at other times of the year, tourists are offered the following services: - two cableways (in 2000 m.); - skiing; - skates; - snowboarding; - skis and snowmobile; - zip-line; - paintball; - pool; - restaurant; - conference room; SPA and other services.
- Safed-Dara is now a whole tourist complex; Modern hotel, restaurant, ski slopes, new cable cars, snowmobile parking. A special children's and youth school for winter sports has also opened on the territory of the complex.
- In Safed-Dara we will spend our time with the sport and entertaining events as Zip-Line, Paintball, SPA, Horse riding, Quadricycle driving etc. (at the request and expense of traveler)
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13:00 – lunch in the Safed-Dara restaurant - 17:00 – back way to Dushanbe
- 19:00 – dinner including a concert program in the Rohat restaurant
- 21:00 – and of day
- 07:00 – breakfast at hotel
- 08:00 – reception of tourist from hotel and departure to Shaartus, Bokhtar region
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Places to visit: Mausoleum of Hazrati Zayn al-Abidin - Chiluchochashma – Khoja Mashhad Medrece - central square of Bokhtar – Kurgon Hill - Bibikhonum Museum -
10:00 – arriving Shaartus -
Ali ibn Husayn was born on January 6, 658 in Medina. His father was Husayn ibn Ali— the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his mother was the Persian princess Shahrbonu, the daughter of the last Sasanian Shah Yazdigerd III. Zayn al-Abidin has the face of a Prophet." Some authors report that people who saw Imam Sajjad could not get enough of him. - Chiluchorchashma from Tajik means 44 Springs. There are five large water springs break into 39 smaller ones. All springs merging form a 12-13 m channel inhabited with a plenty of fish. People all over Tajikistan visit this place for spiritual harmony and pilgrimage.
- Mausoleum / Madrasa Khoja Mashhad is a unique monument of Tajik architecture of IX-XII centuries, which embodied the whole era of history, culture, building skills and aesthetic views of his time
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13:00 – lunch - 16:00 – arriving Bokhtar
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Bokhtar (until 2018 — Kurgan-Tube) is a city in southwestern Tajikistan, the administrative center of the Khatlon region. It is located 100 km south of Dushanbe, in the center of a rich oasis in the valley of the Vakhsh River. According to ancient sources, the Kurgan-Tube oasis appeared during the Kushan Kingdom. It was already a big city that had its own currency. At the end of the VII century, it fell under the rule of the Arabs. Near Bokhtar, on the bank of the Vakhsh River, there are ruins of the city of the X—XIII centuries Lagman, probably together with Bokhtar, which was part of a vast oasis. In the middle of the 20th century, archaeologists discovered ancient water pipes, brick wells and fortifications with towers. This city was one of the largest settlements of ancient Bactria and occupied a relatively large territory of 43 hectares. This oasis was destroyed by the Mongol invasion of Genghis Khan. -
19:00 –dinner and accommodation in hotel
- 07:00 – breakfast at the hotel
- 08:00 – reception of tourists from hotel
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Places to visit: Hulbuk - Kulyab -
On the way to Kulyab we will visit the Hulbuk Fortress (165 km from Dushanbe). From the 9th to the 11th centuries, the Hulbuk Fortress was located in the center of one of the four largest cities in Central Asia, it was the residence of Shah (King) Khatlon. The citadel was guarded by a giant salt hill, which at that time was of great importance as the source of one of the three precious resources (along with gold and horses) traded on the Silk Roads. - The next object is the Kulyab (31 km drive from Hulbuk). In the center of the city of Kulyab, in the park area, there is a memorial complex of Mir Said Ali Hamadoni - a poet, philosopher and thinker of the 14th century. His son Muhammad, relatives, as well as Sheikh Shokhi Tolikoni from the Afghan city of Tolukan, a former inspector of the mausoleum and mosque, are also buried there. The complex includes the local history museum of the 2700th anniversary of Kulyab, the museum of the literary heritage of the writer Mirsaid Ali Hamadoni and the house-museum of the national poet Saydali Valizod. Every year the museum is visited by more than two million visitors, both local and foreign guests.
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13:00 – lunch - 19:00 – dinner and accommodation
- 07:00 – breakfast at hotel
- 08:00 – reception of tourists from hotel, departure to Qal’ai Khumb with Pamir highway
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Places to visit: Kalai Khumb - the ancient city of Karon -
The name of the city in translation from the Middle Persian language means "a place located at an altitude". Karon is located east of the village of Kalai Khumb in the historical region of Darvaz, on the ancient caravan road to Khorog, at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level, in the highlands above the Panj River, near the Tajik-Afghan border. The area of the city is 100 hectares. Karon was discovered in 2012 by archaeologist, academician Yusufsho Yakubov. According to opinion of Yakubov, the city was founded 4 thousand years ago. Since the discovery, archaeologists from Russia, Iran, France and Belgium have been involved in the excavations. Until the tenth century, Zoroastrianism was professed in the Crown. An altar of the temple of fire, a ritual pool, and a stone stand on which the holy book "Avesta" lay were found in the central square of the city. Islam came to Karon in the XII—XIII centuries. The complex of buildings is presumably a royal palace. The buildings are built of brick. The city had a water supply and drainage system. Workshops for firing bricks are located in the Crown, clay pipes were made. The city was abandoned in the XV century, probably due to the depletion of water resources. -
13:00 – lunch - 19:00 – dinner and accommodation to Karon Hotel
- 07:00 – breakfast at hotel
- 08:00 – reception of tourists from hotel, departure to Khorog city with Pamir highway
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Continuation of the journey, heading to Khorog (from Kalai Khumb - 243 km), lunch at the same time. - Khorog (taj. Khorug) is a city in Tajikistan, the administrative center of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) - Pamir. The city is located at an altitude of 2600 m above sea level. By highway, Khorog is connected with the capital of the country - the city of Dushanbe and the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan. Khorog is an important regional center for trade, transport and education. The city has such educational institutions as: Khorog State University, affiliate of the International University of Central Asia (UCA) etc. Khorog is the main tourist center of the Pamirs, and is also one of the starting points for tourists to the main attractions of the Pamirs. Every year, thousands of tourists from around the world travel to the Pamirs to see the beautiful nature, majestic mountains covered with eternal snow, Lake Sarez and many other amazing corners of the Pamirs.
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20:00 – arrival in Khorog, accommodation in a hotel - 21:00 – dinner (national cuisine)
- 07:00 – breakfast at hotel
- 08:00 – reception of tourists from hotel
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Visiting places: Khorog city – Botanical Garden – Ishkashim district – Garmchashma (Wakhan) -
At the eastern end of the city is the Pamir Botanical Garden - the highest mountain in the CIS and the second highest above sea level in the world (2320 m), after the Botanical Garden of Nepal. The garden was founded in 1940. The collection of the botanical garden includes more than 4 thousand species of plants from all regions of the world. During the period of independence of Tajikistan, the garden continues to function successfully, scientific work is being carried out -
12:00 – lunch (national cuisine) - 13:00 – departure to Garmchashma, Ishkashim (from Khorog - 112 km driving)
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ISHKASHIM - Officially, Ishkashim is the first village in the Wakhan. Just across the border, the first Afghan village is also called Ishkashim as, many years ago, they were one single town. Ishkashim is the largest village in the valley. There’s not much to do in Ishkashim besides wandering around the village and taking pictures of the rural life. Moreover, if you are lucky, once a week, an Afghan market takes places in neutral territory, on an island in the Panj River, just between the two borders.
- GARMCHASHMA
- Hot mineral springs in Tajikistan, Ishkashim district are located on the western slope of the Shahdarinsky Pamir Range, in the middle reaches of the Garmchashma River. Mineral waters come to the surface from great depths from ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks in the form of gushing griffins. The exits are located along the crest of a travertine hill formed during the existence of the springs, 7-8 meters high and up to 1500 meters long. The hill slopes down to the river. There are five tiers of travertine deposits on the site, probably of different age. The water of the Garm-Chashma springs belongs to hydrogen sulfide-carbonate, chloride-hydrocarbonate, sodium-siliceous terms. The content of hydrogen sulfide in water is 170 mg/l. The average water temperature is 59 °C. The total mineralization reaches 3.0 - 3.3 g/l.
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18:00 – arriving Ishkahism, accommodation in a hotel - 19:00 – dinner (national cuisine)
- 07:00 – breakfast at hotel
- 08:00 – transit and hike through the villages and mountain gorges of the Wakhan Valley
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Visiting places: Wakhan Valley -
WAKHAN VALLEY - The Wakhan Valley (also named the Wakhan Corridor) is one of the most beautiful and remote places in Asia and the world. The Wakhan Valley is a mountainous region that belongs to the Pamir and Hindu Kush ranges, most of it being part of southeast Tajikistan and northeast Afghanistan. For centuries, the Wakhan Valley was an important principate of the famous Kushan, a great empire that extended from southeast Tajikistan to the Ganges Valley itself in India. For this reason, despite being a very mountainous area, in the valley you find several fortresses located on the top of very high hills, offering the most epic and impressive views ever. Historically, the region served as a dividing line between west and east Asia, so the valley became an important Silk Road route as well. In the 20th century, it also marked a clear border between the Soviet Union and the British Empire. With all this historical context, its incredible landscape, and awesome people, the Wakhan Valley is the ultimate adventure and a place you can’t miss in your journey through Tajikistan.
- Namadgut. Arriving from Ishkashim, just two kilometers from the tiny hilltop village of Namadgut, you will find the Qahqaha Fortress, a ruined fort with spectacular views of the Pyanj River, offering sweeping views of both Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
- Yamchun. In this pretty village built on top of a cliff, you will find the Yamchun Fort, which is 2000 years old and was used to protect the townspeople during the Kushan Empire. The Yamchun fortress is the most impressive place in the entire Wakhan valley, as it offers stunning views of the valley and the Afghan Hindu Kush, whose snow-capped peaks jut out against the backdrop of the fortress. Yamchun also has several famous hot springs called Bibi Fatima.
- Vrang - the world-famous Silk Road was not only a set of routes aimed at trade and the exchange of goods between civilizations and empires, but also the fact that many different people from different religions left their religious and cultural mark. It is for this reason that in Vrang you can find a Buddhist stupa from the 4th century, the origin and history of which, unfortunately, remain rather unknown. The stupa is built on the highest point of the village, offering breathtaking views of the valley.
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13:00 - lunch during the trip - 18:00 – end of trip / hiking, way back to Ishkashim / hotel
- 20:00 – dinner
- Length: 9 km, climb - 450 m
- 07:00 - breakfast at the hotel
- 07:30 – way back, departure to Dushanbe (from Ishkashim, Garmchashma - 720 km driving); lunch on the way.
- 20:00 – arriving Dushanbe, accommodation
- 21:00 – dinner in national restaurant
- 07:00 – welcome tourists from the hotel
- Visiting places: Panjakent city – ancient Sarazm – Rudaki mausoleum
- 12:00 – arriving Panjakent and have a lunch to a national restaurant
- 13:00 – starting the sightseeing of the tourism objects of Panjakent
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Sarazm - Sarazm – is the first World Heritage Monument in Tajikistan. This is the oldest settlement (IV—II millennium BC) located 15 km west of the district center of Penjikent, on the left bank of the Zeravshan River. Well-preserved palace and religious buildings, public and residential buildings are of great historical and cultural value. Metal and stone products were found at the excavation site, as well as numerous jewelries made of precious stones and processed seashells. The settlement is located within the Bactrian-Margian Archaeological Complex. The destruction of the settlement coincides with the invasion of this territory by nomadic Indo-Iranian tribes. The name "Sarazm" comes from the ancient Tajik word "sari zamin" (the beginning of the earth).
- Penjikent
- Penjikent is an administrative center in the Sughd region of the Republic of Tajikistan. Penjikent is located in the valley of the Zarafshan River east of the city of Samarkand, at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. The city is rich in its sights, architectural monuments, a beautiful recreation area on the banks of the Zarafshan River
- Rudaki Mausoleum
- Rudaki Mausoleum (taj. Oromgohi Rudaki) is the mausoleum of the famous poet, writer and scientist, the founder of Tajik—Persian literature-Rudaki (858-941). One of the most famous and popular attractions of the country. The mausoleum of Rudaki is located in the small village of Panjrud, which is located 60 kilometers east of the city of Penjikent. The mausoleum is located inside a small park with green spaces, the entrance to which is marked by a large brick arch of Persian style, with massive decorated wooden gates. The mausoleum itself is located in the center of the square, on a small hill, which is reached by a long staircase surrounded on both sides by trees. The mausoleum building is a polyhedron in plan, topped with a hemispherical dome resting on a drum. The mausoleum is built of red brick, and the dome is lined with blue tiles in the manner of ancient Central Asian and Persian mosques and mausoleums. Inside the mausoleum, in the center there is a marble sarcophagus over his grave. ABU ABDULLAH JAFAR RUDAKI is the founder of Persian and Tajik classical literature, the first of the famous Persian poets who began composing poems in the New Persian language. He is considered the "Father of Persian poetry", who stood at the origins of literature in this language.
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17:00 – continue our trip, departure to Istaravshan - 19:00 – arriving Istaravshan, accommodation to hotel and dinner in the national restaurant
- 20:00 – end of day
- 07:30 – breakfast in hotel
- 09:00 – welcome tourists from the hotel
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Visiting places: Istaravshan city– Hazrati Shoh mausoleum – Kok-Gumbaz – Handicraft Avenue -
Istaravshan - Istaravshan is located at an altitude of about 1178 meters above sea level. Istaravshan is a museum city, an ancient center of trade and crafts, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. In 2002 Istaravshan turned 2,500 years old. According to written sources and some archaeological data, it is known that in the VI—IV centuries BC, in connection with the development of crafts and trade in the settled Central Asian regions, along with small rural settlements, large urban-type settlements arose. In addition to Samarkand, there were other cities in Central Asia of that period. One of them was the present Istaravshan, and in the past, Kyropolis (Kurushkada), named after the founder of the Persian empire, Kira-Kurush (529-559 BC). Kiropol owes its origin to the growth of handicraft production and trade. By the time Alexander the Great conquered Central Asia (IV BC), Kurushkada was already large. a well-fortified city. The city of Kurushkada, Kiropol was founded in the VI century BC in honor of the Achaemenid king Cyrus, who fortified the settlement with three rows of walls and a citadel. In the II—VII centuries BC. on the territory of Istaravshan there was a settlement of Mugteppa — the place of residence of the local aristocracy, who built numerous castles with a peculiar, expressive architecture here.
- Hazrati Shoh mausoleum
- The Hazrati Shoh mausoleum is the grave of the holy Hazratishoh, the brother of Qusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, buried in the 11th century in the Samarkand Shahi Zinda ensemble. This object is one of the ancient sights of Tajikistan, part of the historical and architectural complex "Hazratishoh", located in the old part of the city of Istaravshan.
- Kok-Gumbaz
- Madrasah "Kok Gumbaz" located in the western part of the city. This building of the XVI century was built on the initiative of Abdulatif Sultan, the son of the famous astronomer and philosopher Ulugbek, grandson of Tamerlane. The folk legend about the construction of Kok-Gumbaz says that Abdulatif, having quarreled with his father, left his parents' house and took a job with an old Dehkan to dig a ditch for irrigation of his land. He was supposed to receive 100 tenge for this work. The father found out about this and took the money honestly earned by his son from the peasant, added his own to them and built a madrasah with these funds. Even three centuries later, at the end of the XIX century, students studied at the madrasah
- Handicraft Street
- One of the most important and real attractions of the city of Istaravshan is the handicraft of the inhabitants. A street of pavilions stretches through the city from the bazaar (the main market), with open doors, folk crafts of various kinds, made by hand. In this street, you can admire handmade creativity like knives, spoons, earrings, bags, belts, etc., at the same time buy important accessories for yourself. In Handicraft Street we have time for shopping.
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13:00 – lunch in the Istaravshan restaurant - 15:00 – continue our trip, departure to Khujand
- 17:00 – arriving Khujand, accommodation to a hotel
- 19:00 – dinner in the national restaurant
- 21:00 – end of day
- 07:30 – breakfast in hotel
- 09:00 – welcome tourists from the hotel
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Visiting places: Central square of Khujand – Khujand Fortress – Jomi Mosque – Panjshanbe Bazar – Arbob Cultural Palace and museum -
Khujand - One of the oldest cities in Central Asia is Khujand. The second largest city in Tajikistan, an important transport hub, political, economic, cultural and scientific center of the country. Khujand is located on the banks of the Syr Darya, below the Kayrakkum reservoir, in the Fergana Valley. Khujand is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, according to some sources, the foundation of the city falls on the VII-VI centuries BC. It was conquered by Alexander the Great, who rebuilt and strengthened it, calling Alexandria Eshata (Extreme).
- Khujand Fortress
- The Khujand Fortress was founded in the VI—V centuries BC. According to the archaeological dates, the Khujand fortress was first surrounded by a bulk rampart, later by a wall of considerable thickness made of raw material. The city and the citadel — components of ancient Khujand, had separate fortress walls surrounded by a wide and deep moat filled with water. The remains of these fortifications were found under the central part of the left-bank Khujand and surround the territory of the ancient city with an area of 20 hectares. With the development of the economy, trade, government system and population, the city is growing. In the VI—VII centuries, a new fortress was built. Medieval Khujand consisted of three main parts: Citadel, Shahristan and Rabad. The citadel was located on the bank of the Syr Darya at the Rabad gate. The medieval Khujand fortress was considered one of the most fortified in Central Asia. During the invasion of Chinggis khan (1219-1220), a 25,000-strong army with 50,000 Central Asian solders was sent to besiege the city. The heroic defense of the Khujand fortress under the leadership of Temurmalik is one of the brightest pages in the history of the liberation struggle of the Tajik people. As a result of the Mongol invasion, the Khujand fortress was destroyed.
- Jami Mosque
- The Jami Mosque is a complex of Sheikh Muslihiddin, a monument of folk architecture of the XVI century. The object is located on the western side of Panjshanbeh Square. The facade of the building faces Shark Street. The mosque was built in 1512-1513. The multi-column (30 columns) aivan adjoins the eastern wall of the winter hall, also multi-column (20 columns), and enters the courtyard of the mosque.
- Panjshanbe Bazar
- Panjshanbe Bazar is one of the attractions of Khujand, is located in the center of Khujand, and opposite it stands the mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin. The bazar consists of the main pavilion and many shops, tents, and shops adjacent to it. It is always very noisy here, as not only residents of the city come to shop, but also guests from nearby villages. The main feature of the Panjshanbe Bazar is its unique architecture and decor. The bazaar building combines elements of classicism and Stalinist Empire style, and the decoration is harmoniously executed using Soviet and Oriental styles. A hemispherical portal decorated with bright paintings rises above the central entrance, and sculptures of a man and a woman are installed on the sides. If you go inside, you can see a long-vaulted hall with slender rows of columns. In Panjshanbe Bazar we have time for shopping.
- Arbob Cultural Palace
- The Arbob Cultural Palace is a building in Khujand, Tajikistan, the former headquarters of a Soviet collective farm, built in the 1950s and modelled on the winter gardens of Peterhof, St Petersburg. The main building consists of three wings - with an ornate theatre seating 800 people in the main wing. The South wing currently houses a museum which tells the history of Arbob and of collectivization and the soviet empire in Tajikistan. The building had particular significance in 1992, when it was the site for the meeting of the Tajik Soviet which officially declared independence from the Soviet Union. It was the site where the Tajik flag was chosen. More recently, in the late 1990s it was also the site where peace conferences following the Tajik civil war were held. In particular, Tajik President Emomalii Rahmon first came to prominence speaking at the Palace, and it was the site for a "plov of peace" which celebrated successful negotiations towards an agreed end to the Tajik civil war.
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13:00 – lunch in the restaurant - 19:00 – dinner including a concert program in a restaurant
- 21:00 – and of day
- DEPARTURE DAY
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07:30 – breakfast in hotel - 09:00 – welcome tourists from the hotel. Today, afternoon we have back way
- 10:00 – arriving Qayroqqum
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Visiting places: City of Qayroqqum – Bahoriston resort – Tajik Sea, Qayroqqum reservoir (you can swim and boating) – Cruise on yacht - TAJIK SEA
- Kayrakum also spelled variously as Qayroqqum, is a large artificial lake in Ghafurov District of Sughd Province, in northwestern Tajikistan. In 2016, the reservoir was renamed Tajik Sea (Tajik: Баҳри Тоҷик) by the country's parliament. The reservoir lies in the western part of the Fergana Valley on the Syr Darya river. The provincial capital of Khujand lies about 15 km west of the dam. A 1150 km2 tract of land encompassing the reservoir and its surrounds has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant numbers of the populations of various bird species, either as residents, or as overwintering, breeding or passage migrants
- Bahoriston Sanatorium
- In a vivid oasis of Sogd valley of Tajikistan, on a shore of a purest Kairakkum reservoir, which is also called the Tajik sea, is located a new sanatorium “Bahoriston”. “Bahoriston” became famous with its rich infrastructure, modern medical diagnostics and highquality of service. “Bahoriston” from Tajik/Persian means “Kingdom of Spring”. The naming is not just a coincidence. The founder of sanatorium National Bank of Tajikistan created on the shore really ideal environment for recreation and treatment. The green area of this health resort makes 22 hectares. Lovely land planning, various infrastructures, neat sidewalks with antique designed street lamps, lawns with bright-green grass and flowers, a lot of beautiful and lovely fountains during summer, cozy wooden arbors carved in traditional Tajik style, various statues, children’s playgrounds and areas, outdoor pools with areas for rest, picnic areas, everything is done to deliver maximum comfort and pleasure for the guests. Sanatorium has its own comfortable beach. The beach season in Tajikistan is from June to September inclusively. But already May has many warm days. Wonderful natural healing factors, modern medical diagnostics, experienced resort doctors and nurses will allow you to get a full treatment of the following profiles. Results always impress everyone who took complete course of spa treatment of sanatorium “Bahoriston”: 98% discharged with improvements; average length of remission after the treatment is 9 – 12 months; morbidity will decrease 2-3 times. In Bahoriston sanatorium we have time for relaxing, swimming and boating (at the request and expense of traveler).
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11:00 – Cruise on yacht (at the request and expense of traveler, except of winter time) - 13:00 – lunch in the Bahoriston restaurant
- 14:00 – back way, departure to Dushanbe or border Panjakent/Samarqand
- 19:00 – arriving Dushanbe
