Full Day Private Tour in Seven Lakes from Samarkand
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Panjakent
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.
Seven Lakes
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.
Options
Private tour
Pickup included
Group Tour
Group tour : Pickup will be in front of Registan Square, near Labi G'or Restaurant. TIME 8:30 Pick up from hotel on request
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Air-conditioned vehicle
Entrence fee to Sarazm archeological site
Lunch
Tajikistan visa (if required for your nationality).
A double-entry visa for Uzbekistan, as you will re-enter the country after visiting Tajikistan.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
126 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
10/10, must do activity from Samarkand
AleksZ 13,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the most amazing day; if you only read one sentence of this review, absolutely 100% take this tour. I am a traveler with a lot of questions, and I contacted the tour provider before my trip and he was incredibly kind in answering anything I was unclear about. You get picked up from hotel in Samarkand (very on time), drive one hour to border, driver takes your picture so the guide on the Tajikistan border knows to find you, and you don’t get in the wrong car as they will show you the picture as proof of the correct guide. Our guide, Khushnuda, made the whole day the most unforgettable experience. If you can request her and she is available, you will be lucky because she is truly AMAZING. She is young, intelligent, passionate, knowledgeable and very kind. Her English is great, and we loved asking her many questions about Tajik culture, history and food. After a quick stop in the market in Panjakent, you continue onto the Seven Lakes. It is a long journey, so prepare yourself, but it is totally worth it. I grew up near Banff,Canada, and I have only ever seen lakes this colour there. Beautiful greens, blues, surrounded by the impressive mountains. You will drive from lake to lake, so you don’t need to worry about a lot of walking or hiking. The drive is stunning as you are able to see villages along the way, and you stop for a very simple but tasty plov lunch in front of Lake #3, beautiful view. You keep driving all the way to the TOP of the mountain, I was shocked how high up you are able to drive, normally this would require a serious hike to reach a remote point like this. We enjoyed that we were able to enjoy the nature without strenuous hiking, with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. After the drive back, you pass by the 5500 year old settlement for a quick 20-30 minute visit, and it was interesting to learn about the ancient history of the region. Crossing the border is straightforward and easy both ways. You are in the car for many hours, but we loved talking with Khushnuda, and learning as much as we could about Tajikistan, and she has inspired me to return one day and visit more. Thank you very much
Beautiful
taig0h,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00You can experience beautiful nature and different cultures all in one trip.
Good experience in Tajikistan.
Miriam R,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It is a very good option to get to know Tajikistan from Samarkand. The drivers -both in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan- were very punctual and kind.
Seven lakes tour
purcellt2021,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Good experience the tour guide made the event that much more interesting. Highly professional.
Outstanding Tour of Tajikistan with an Exceptional Guide
James M,May 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I had an excellent tour of Tajikistan with an excellent guide. The guide, a young lady whose name I unfortunately cannot remember, was a tremendous ambassador for her country. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the entire experience truly memorable. We visited all the main highlights on the tour, and the views were breathtaking throughout. From beginning to end, I had an excellent experience and would like to give the final word of praise to the guide, who was outstanding and a remarkable representative of her country.
Bulgarian couple in Tajikistan mountains
Ivan G,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very nice trip to see Tajikistan for few hours while you are in Samarkand. Lakes beautiful and beautiful to explore
Beautiful nature but you all day in the car
1970saskiak,May 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Big day trip from Samarkand. Cars, drivers and guide were well arranged and comfortable. Long line to cross border Tajikistan. Lakes are half full in May, so really only the seventh lake was really worth it. It's a long drive back and forth on very bumpy roads. We understood from the guide that the lakes are the most beautiful in August and September because then there is the most water. Still interesting to see the rural country of Tajikistan and beautiful nature.
Worth it
M4778MXrobertd,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Great experience. The only bad thing is the 2 hours of queuing at the border to pass Tajikistan. It's chaos and the local people are continually sneaking in, making the queue of the civilized people not advance. As for the excursion it was very good. The guide was very nice although our driver drove like crazy!
Surreal Trip
Shubham S,May 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was an amazing trip. The lakes are surreal and our guide, Diloshub, had amazing knowledge about Tajikistan and its history and geography. Would recommend 100%.
The view is beautiful, recommended for those who are prepared for mountain infrastructure
yunam82,May 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I went on a tour of Seven Lakes and overall it was a very satisfying experience. To be honest, it felt a bit expensive compared to the price of the ride-hailing app Yandex in Uzbekistan. However, the scenery was really beautiful enough to make sense of it, and I am glad I participated. When I entered Tajikistan, I found it quite difficult to go there on my own, because I could hardly use the airwaves. I think it was the right thing to do on the tour in that respect as well. The best part was that the driver on the Tajikistan side was an English teacher who was very good at English. It was easy to communicate and I felt safe. The road to Seven Lakes is pretty rattling, but because we had our own solid car on this tour, we were able to get to a deeper area that no other regular car could get to. I think this is a big point. Even at a small restaurant I stopped by along the way, thanks to the driver who stepped in, I was able to eat with peace of mind without worrying about snatching or anything. The tour did not stop at souvenir shops and basically only spent money on lunch. In my case, changing $10 for three people was enough, so I didn't have to change more money. One thing to note is that toilets are fairly simple, have no keys, and are of the so-called "hole" type. It's in nature, so you should be prepared for this. Also, it swings quite a bit along the way, so I think this tour is for people who have some physical strength and can withstand the shaking of mountain roads. Still, it was such a fascinating tour, including all of those, that I wanted to go back. If you came to Samarkand, I highly recommend it. In my case, it was Golden Week, so four Japanese got together and drove the same car. It seems that if there are other Japanese participants, they will solidify it, so I think it is relatively easy for those who are anxious about English communication to participate.
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