Tour From Samarkand To Tajikistan: Seven Lakes
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- 8 to 10 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- A Professional Guide Consulting in Uzbekistan
- Bottled water
- Photo Stops at the Best Spots
- Private transportation
- Parking Fees
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- LunchYou can taste Traditional Foods of Tadjikistan (excluded: you will pay extra money)
- Tajikistan and Uzbekistan E-Visa (if required) - Please, check your eligibility before the tour!
- A guide service in Tadjikistan for English groups (usually don’t need, we can add by extra cost)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We can pick you up from anywhere in Samarkand City. The guide will be waiting for you at the appointed meeting place.
Itinerary
1
Samarkand
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Panjakent
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
Seven Lakes
5 hours • Admission Ticket Included
4
Samarkand
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- 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
4.9
based on 53 reviews
Santiago_C, Apr 2026
This is a great trip overall. We're surprised by the differences between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The border crossing was very smooth because we arrived there very early, well done by our guide. The lakes are beautiful and the bumpy road also has its highlights but the most interesting thing of the tour is to get to see the local culture, stop for lunch at a village and see get to see the city of Panjakent with the mountains in the back. Very recommended.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you so much 👏👏👏
Lisa_J, Apr 2026
Overall, this was a fantastic and memorable experience, and definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
4 stars only because of the border crossing issue and the $100 bribe we had to pay.
Our guide picked us up promptly from the hotel, and during the two-hour drive to the Uzbek–Tajik border, shared fascinating insights into Uzbekistan’s history, which made the journey both informative and enjoyable. At the border, we crossed independently, passing through Uzbek exit control before proceeding to Tajik entry.
One important note for future travelers: UK citizens do need a visa for Tajikistan, while EU and US citizens do not. Unfortunately, I did not have one (— my fault, as I should have researched this before the trip, but I had assumed I didn’t need one since Uzbekistan is visa-free for UK citizens —) and was initially told I could not cross. After some stressful discussion with the border officials and our guide, we were eventually allowed through after being asked to pay a $100 bribe, and my passport was held until our return, which made me anxious. Thankfully, the same officer was there when we came back later in the day, and the return crossing went smoothly.
Once across, the drive into the Shing Valley and Haft-Kul (Seven Lakes) was absolutely spectacular and well worth the off-roading. Our Tajik driver was highly skilled, expertly navigating the mountain roads in a 4WD Toyota. I would definitely recommend bringing water, snacks, some Tajik cash for the Panjakent bazaar, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer, as facilities are very basic and there are limited opportunities to buy anything in the mountains.
A wonderful day trip overall and highly recommended for anyone visiting Samarkand.
Barbara_T, Mar 2026
We booked this tour and added the English-speaking guide for $40 USD extra. We were very glad we did! He helped us with the border crossing, money exchange, found a lovely shashlik place for lunch, helped us find Western-style toilets, etc. The road is very bumpy and windy past the gate toward the seven lakes. Make sure you take motion-sickness meds if you need it! Even so, we stopped after lake number 4 because my headache got too strong.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
👏👏👏👏🌞
Jason_W, Mar 2026
This was a fantastic trip! It was organized really well and the communication was excellent. We got dropped off at the border and were given clear explanation of what to do and everything was smooth. We had a driver waiting on the Tajikistan side (Akbar). He was amazing. He didn't speak English but we managed with a translator tool and had such a fantastic time. The seven lakes were beautiful and Akbar was a safe driver. The road to the seven lakes isn't the best but the drive is definitely worth it. We stopped off afterwards and got some traditional Tajik food which was fantastic. Overall an excellent day!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the great feedback 👏👏👏👏☺️
Balazs_K, Mar 2026
When i book after we communicate in
whats app so very flexible.
Pick up me in front of my hostel the We go to the tajik border and after go by walk to border control and the other side wait the other guide. We drive to long trip to lakes mountain area. This lakes between the mountains is really stunning. We make short photo brake all lakes (except the seventh becouse the snow closed the road). After we go back to panjakent and go to the bazaar. It's huge and super busy public Market. After we go back to the border and again passport control. Just be careful becouse other side many drivers say he is your drive and this is not true so watch out. So mostly the very good day trip if you are in samarkand and want visit the nighbour country.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for the review and explanation of details of the tour. 👏👏👏👏☺️
Agnes_N, Feb 2026
Awesome view, experienced driver, great adventure, tasteful meal, nice and crowd market, good 4wd car
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you dear guests for the wonderful feedback 🌞
LAYPING_K, Jan 2026
Great tour guide and skilful driver. We feel secure and safe when travel with them although the road to our destination a bit bumpy and slippery.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you dear friends for using our service and for such a great review 👏👏👏👏☺️
Thomas_K, Nov 2025
Fantastic experience visiting Tajikistan and the seven lakes. The tour was informative, and our driver was super friendly and gave us good time to visit the nature attractions, bazar and local food. The guide and organiser was also very nice and helpful making the crossing of the border very easy! We would definitely recommend the tour to anybody.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you dear guests, friends, for the great review 👏👏👏👏☺️
Abhi_B, Aug 2025
We started early at 5am, Ikrom was on schedule and picked us up at 455am, we drove to the border and because it was early we were able to cross over to Tajikistan in 15 mins. Sohib driver on the Tajik side met us at the exit and we drove over to the LAKES.
Sohib carefully navigated the terrain, stopped at the right spots, brought us back to the market, helped us with exchanging the money and then walked with us through the market. Helped us with buying some vegetarian samosas from a local vendor - they were amazing.
Going early is the key. The shadow and reflections are amazing before the sun rises all the way to top of us.
Branislav_E, Jul 2025
Great tour, and customizable! Lovely drivers and beautiful scenery. Thanks Islom and Ardik! Recommend 10/10 times
Ps: bring toilet paper on the trip in case if you need to go to toilet outside the main road!
claes_s, Jul 2025
Driver in Tadjikistan was nice and stopped for photos when ever I wanted. Seven lakes were a very beautiful area.
Carina_S, Jun 2025
The Seven Lakes and the historic town of Panjakent are true gems of Tajikistan. The landscapes are stunning, the atmosphere peaceful, and the cultural experience unforgettable. A day trip well worth taking!
Will_H, May 2025
Overall, we had a good experience with the trip, and I’d like to highlight a few positive aspects first.
The driver was punctual, and the vehicle was very clean and comfortable. After crossing the border, the SUV provided was of high quality, and the driver was highly professional and reliable. These factors made the journey smooth and reassuring.
That said, I believe there are a few areas where the experience could be improved.
To be clear, I don’t blame the driver personally, as I understand that the tourism industry in this region is still developing. My suggestions are intended as constructive feedback to help enhance service quality and potentially attract more customers and revenue in the future:
Lack of guiding and cultural context: I wouldn’t consider the gentleman who accompanied us a proper tour guide, as he provided little to no information about the local culture, history, or landmarks during the journey. His main role appeared to be logistical – ensuring we didn’t get lost and guiding us from one checkpoint to the next. While helpful, this left the trip feeling less enriching than expected.
Unclear arrangements and lack of communication: We felt very unsure about several parts of the trip – for example, the process of crossing the border, whether we needed a new vehicle, how much time we’d have in the small town afterwards, how much local currency to withdraw, or what the exchange rate was. These are basic but important details that were not clearly explained.
Ethical concerns: We were encouraged to offer a bribe to the visa officer at the border in order to speed up the process. I found this deeply uncomfortable and unacceptable. Additionally, there was repeated talk about tips – including hints toward giving a "big tip" – which felt a bit inappropriate given the cost of the trip. For the price paid, I believe the margins are already quite decent.
In summary, I hope these comments are taken in the spirit of helping improve what could be a fantastic experience. With better communication, more informative guidance, and greater professionalism, this trip could easily stand out as a top-tier offering.
Jorge_D, Apr 2025
Great experience. Good cars and safe adventure in the mountains. Well coordinated and can recommend it to everyone
Rafeeq_R, Mar 2025
We had an absolutely phenomenal time on this tour with Ikram. He took such good care of us throughout every step of the tour. He picked us up at our hotel in Samarkand and drove us to the Tajik border. From there we walked across the border with him guiding us through the checkpoints. Once through Ikram and the Tajik driver took us on the journey up the mountain to the lakes. Each lake was unique and gorgeous with stunning colors. The first six lakes could be reached by car but the 7th required hiking up. We lucked out with the weather as Ikram said sometimes they can’t go to the 7th lake. It was a long hike to the 7th lake but boy was it worth it! The lake was still frozen so we were able to walk out onto the lake surface. A true winter wonderland! After the lakes Ikram took us to a great restaurant to try qurutob, a traditional Tajik dish. We then proceeded across the border and Ikram dropped us back at our hotel. It was a long day but a spectacular one. I highly recommend booking this tour!!
Aizuddin_R, Feb 2025
Booked a travel guide for a family adventure and it was an absolute blast! Iqrom went the extra mile to ensure every moment was worth our while. His expertise and enthusiasm made the trip unforgettable, filled with laughter and learning. Highly recommend—it's a journey you won't want to miss!
Silvia_D, Aug 2025
The 7 lakes are very beautiful and I recommend to carry out this experience.
But the organization was not positive.
We were on dirt mountain roads with a station wagon. Everyone else was with 4x4s. With such an unsuitable car, to go up the air conditioning could not be used and as a result we were obliged to keep the windows open. So we ate a lot of dust throughout the day. Not to mention that, due to incompreywith the driver who did not speak English, he did not even let us stop for lunch.
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Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear guests, first of all, thank you for visiting our country.
We will always try to find a good car, if possible, and we did not promise a guide to the region of Tajikistan. Please read our tour instructions, it says: a guide consulting in Uzbekistan.
Anyway, thank you for a review, we will do our best to improve the quality of our service.
We wish you all the best: good luck, health and happiness
Best regards
Team of Samarkand’s Guides
From $99.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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