Private Seven Lakes Tajikistan 4x4 Jeep Expedition from Samarkand
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- 10 to 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
When in Samarkand, don’t miss a chance to head over the border into Tajikistan and visit the beautiful group of mountain lakes, called Seven Lakes. You have private transport, an English speaking guide, and lunch all organized for you, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy your visit hassle-free. Just make sure to get your visa ahead of time for a seamless journey to Seven Lakes.
- Enjoy round-trip transfers from your Samarkand hotel for ease
- Explore the Khaftkul Valley and all of its seven lakes in one tour
- Make sure your cameras are charged for some scenic photographs
- Enjoy this tour with just you and your private group
What's Included
- Private transportation
- English speaking guide in Tajikistan
- Lunch
- Online Tajikistan visa $30, pls apply minimum 7 days before the tour online
- German or French speaking licensed guide in Tajikistan $40/group
- Tips for guide & driver
- A multiple entry Uzbekistan visa or visa waiver is required to re-enter Uzbekistan with this tour
- Online Tajikistan visa, Tajikistan$30.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.7:00 am
Itinerary
1
Khaftkul Valley
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Khaftkul Valley
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Khaftkul Valley
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Khaftkul Valley
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Khaftkul Valley
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Khaftkul Valley
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Khaftkul Valley
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Jartepa
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
9
Samarkand
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- A multiple entry Uzbekistan visa or visa waiver is required to re-enter Uzbekistan with this tour
- Tajik online visa should be applied for at least 7 days in advance
- Depending on border crossing and road condition visits to all 7 lakes can be curtailed to ensure timely return to starting point, no refunds will be offered for this.
- Mountain not asphalted road
- not recommended for children below 6 years old
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.2
based on 11 reviews
Craig_J, Jul 2024
This tour is a deathtrap. We were sent up the mountain in a weak, unsuitable people carrier. Minor rainfall led to several mudpatches, which the guide and driver refused to drive through in case the vehicle got stuck and they got into trouble. We were stranded on a remote mountain for four hours, running out of water. When I asked the guide if we would be stuck overnight, he said "I really hope not". The staff watched us shovelling mud ourselves out of the road, declining to call for help, despite nightfall approaching. Eventually, when we insisted they call a rescue vehicle, they finally did it. We then had to hike for an hour along an unsafe pebble stone river bank, with storming rapids a few inches to the left. One of us almost fell into the rapids. He was bleeding after the fall. Shoes, shorts and bags were lost or ruined, causing over £300 of property damage. Eventually, the rescue vehicle arrived, but we'd have been stuck up the mountain after dark if I hadn't insisted on it being called.
When I complained and asked for my money back, the organiser claimed dishonestly that we were sent up in a 4by4 and that we were prevented from travelling due to other cars being stuck. This is untrue, it was a people carrier, and the road was cleared several times of smaller cars, but our staff wouldn't risk the mud patch because they knew the people carrier wasn't up to it. We were given a £50 per person refund from the £200 per person trip. Under the circumstances, we should have had an apology and a full refund.
Of note is that we didn't actually do around a third of the itinerary due to the crisis. But far more significant was the property damage, risk to life and distress caused. I tried to explain this to the operator in an extended account with evidence, but he ignored the full account and eventually stopped engaging. Don't risk this dangerous, badly organised trip.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Craig
you used 2 different account to tell same lies about this trip and mislead other readers which shows what a great person you are.
larisa_B, May 2024
Awesome tour, amazing nature, amazing mountains scenery and the guide and driver so nice.
Thank you!
Response from Host, May 2024
u r welcome nothing is more rewarding to us than happy customers & this is our endeavour.
Andrei_S, Dec 2023
Very happy we managed to visit ALL seven lakes as we were also lucky with wonderful weather for such trip!
First of all, as the trip took place in November, sunset that time of the year is at 5:20 PM already, so I requested early departure at 7:00 AM instead of listed 8:00 AM to catch all the daytime.
The day before the organizer Mr. Amir kindly confirmed that weather is great and we are good to go, agreed on early departure at 7:00 AM and provided with Excel file with a schedule visiting every lake. Very convenient, flexible and fast responsive tour operator!
First, local driver picked us up at our home in Samarkand. It takes less than 1 hour to get to the border. At 8 AM the border crossing takes around 20-25 minutes, very smooth process there. At the Tajikistan side at 8:15 AM we met our guide Mr. Umar with driver Mr. Mansur and headed to Panjakent city for supermarket shopping to get snacks and drinks (not included in a tour price).
After another hour of driving gravel road, we reached the first lake. Take note that there is no reception/internet in the area. Our guide Mr. Umar is very knowledgeable, explained A LOT about every lake, about local people and culture and many, many more. We had a lot of questions and we got very detailed and interesting answers on all of them, appreciate it, learnt a lot!
Along the way we had a photo stops at every lake, without any rush. All relaxing and smooth. To get to the seventh lake you need to hike for around 30 minutes. By the lake we had a lunch with snacks we bought in Panjakent. I would suggest bringing proper food, as there is no shops/cafes at all in the area and tour operator doesn't provide lunch, as well. So be advised and prepared.
We departed back to Panjakent at around 4 o'clock and reached Panjakent at around 5:15 PM, just by the sunset. I asked to drop us in Panjakent by our hotel, as we wanted to stay for a day to explore city itself, so we haven't had a ride back to Samarkand with the tour operator.
Thanks a lot to Mr. Amir for organizing and adjusting the schedule, Mr. Umar for such an interesting stories and precious information, and Mr. Mansur for driving us safely around!
Priti_J, Nov 2023
I had an amazing day exploring the Fann mountains and the seven lakes. The guide Dawood and driver Masoor were so helpful and shared amazing history and background of Tajikistan. I would highly recommend this trip.
Kyle_E, Sep 2023
This tour was fantastic. Good communication with the tour company, punctual drivers, and a truly wonderful guide. The Seven Lakes are very remote but are absolutely stunning. Lunch was great, and the stops in Panjikent were also interesting. Tajikistan is an intriguing and beautiful place -- I highly recommend this tour.
Elizabeth_M, Sep 2023
This tour company is an absolute scam. They completely lie about the time and itinerary to make you think it’s achievable … but it’s not. For example. They say it will take 45 mins from the boarder to the 1st lake, it doesn’t. It takes 2.5 hours. Which means it’s logistically impossible to accomplish this itinerary in a day. The tour company knows that. They are based in UZ and the Taj guides were wonderful and clear that the times allocated are only if you take a helicopter. Additionally, the road to the lakes is nothing more than a goat path. For miles. So gear up for 3.5 hours (ONE WAY) on this bumpy road. We’ve traveled to dozens of countries and this tour was by far my greatest error. Additionally, I asked for a 50% refund since we could only accomplish 25% of the promised itinerary and they refused. Spare yourself the regret.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Elizabeth, I think u made your point since this is your 3rd review, yes we r based in Samarkand where the tour starts and end, yes we use Tajik guides once we cross boarder since it is logical to use a local guide who knows her/his country better. Pls do not tell 1/2 trurth, it took u a long time since road was partialy closed due to unforseen mud slides which is a force major condition that does not qualify a customer for a refund anywhere in the world. We & our agent acted in good faith and went beyond call of duty to make your trip as pleasant as possibel under previaling condition, as a world traveler you should have more understanding when you do extreme tours, If you check our reviews you will see only posative experinece so I am sorry that you were unsatisfied but no one can control weather conditions.
suddhasatwa_R, May 2023
Great adventure crossing border another country beautiful lake everything in one day. Easy to go if you have visa for Tallis than
Kevin_P, Jun 2022
The tour began with a pick up at my hotel and transport to the Tajikistan where I was met on the other side by my guide and driver. The trip to the mountains included several stops to a variety of sites and while it was a longish drive up to the lakes, I had a great conversation with the guide, whose English was very good, and he told me a lot about the area, Uzbeks, Tajiks and Kyrgyzs, along with the different languages. It was very interesting to learn about the area from someone who grew up in the area. The driver was very good, the roads were a little rough but not terrible.
The lakes were incredible, even though it was a little overcast when I was there. I have never seen bluer blues or greener greens. It is a remote area and there isn't a lot to do other than just take it all in but if you like the outdoors, beautiful landscapes and a glimpse of a very old and remote culture (many of the people in these mountain areas fled the Arab invasion a thousand years ago), this might be for you.
Silk Roads Tours did a superb job of organizing this tour and I did other another tour with them as well which was equally well run. They helped me arrange a variety of things like airport transfers and train tickets, just a really efficient and nice group of people.
This tour was just about perfect in length, and we got to to see most of the highlights of this area of Tajikistan. Everyone involved from the Uzbek side to the the Tajikistan tour was on time, friendly and made the tour even better with good conversation and a really good vibe. Thanks to everyone!
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Tks Kevin for kind your kind review
David_K, Aug 2025
Overall very nice excursion with exciting border crossings and great landscapes. Due to time constraints we could not visit the 7th lake, the gravel road along the lakes is very bumpy.
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Response from Host, Sep 2025
Dear David,
Thank you very much for leaving your review on our website. We truly value and appreciate your feedback and support.
For future tours, we will carefully consider your suggestion to start the tour earlier in order to improve the experience for our guests.
Thank you once again for choosing us.
Kind regards,
Silk Tour Team
Isabelle_L, Sep 2023
Paysagés rurales et des lacs. Une des rares expériences authentiques encore possible.
Wow! Route cahoteuse, mais ça vaut le coup!
From $175.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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