Fann Mountains Luxury Glamping and Cultural Exploration Tour

The natural wonders of Tajikistan – its magnificent mountain landscapes criss-crossed with streams, the pristine turquoise lakes, and the darkest of night skies pin pricked with diamond-like stars – are the country’s greatest draws for adventurous tourists. But until now there has been a tension between the desire to be immersed in nature and the need to stay in cities and towns. Paramount Journey has the solution: glamping. For the first time you can experience the great outdoors whilst enjoying the comforts of our luxury campsites, moving from one unspoilt location to the next.

 
Discover the breathtaking beauty of Tajikistan’s Fann Mountains with Paramount Journey’s Glamping itinerary. Immerse yourself in the great outdoors and enjoy the comfort of our luxury campsites as you trek through the heart of the Fann Mountains and take in the magnificent landscapes of Iskanderkul, Bibijanat, Kulikalon and Alauddin Lakes, and dramatic passes. Our team sets up spacious bell tents in scenic locations, offering comfortable beds, fresh linens, and meals served al fresco or in a communal tent. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure as you wake up to stunning views each morning and enjoy breathtaking sunsets, serene winds and starry skies before retiring for a good night’s sleep.

Tajikistan is not only famous for its stunning mountains and outdoor activities, but also boasts a rich cultural heritage, particularly in Northern Tajikistan. You have the opportunity to delve into the local lifestyle by visiting bazaars, attending our private dance and music shows by professional artists at teahouses, visiting craftsmen workshops, and participating in cooking masterclasses. These experiences allow for authentic interaction with locals and a deeper understanding of Tajikistan’s unique cultural heritage.

Highlights:

• Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Fann Mountains with our luxury glamping experience
• Explore the historic city of Dushanbe, including the National Museum of Antiquities and the Navruz Palace
• Hike to the stunning Iskanderkul lake and see the Iskander Waterfall and Snake Lake
• Trek to the shore of the picturesque Kulikalon and Alauddin lakes with the assistance of donkeys
• Sing and dance around a bonfire under the stars
• Learn about the ancient history of Khujand and Istaravshan, including a visit to a traditional workshop of craft masters
• Enjoy a traditional Tajik dinner and folk music performance at teahouse and participate in a cooking master class at Anora house-museum in Khujand.

• Day 1: Dushanbe

  Our city tour will start with a visit to the National Museum of Antiquities with its famous Sleeping Buddha, excavated from the Buddhist monastery at Ajina Teppa. Our next stop is the Navruz Palace, an extraordinary modern building decorated by hundreds of artisans from all over Tajikistan. Most of the rooms are now used for official government meetings, or for international conferences, but one room is open to the public and used as a popular wedding venue. This is a unique opportunity to tour the interior of this ornate contemporary palace. Afterwards, we will visit the handicrafts centre to meet master craftsmen, including those involved in the creation of the Navruz Palace.

  After lunch, we will visit the statue of Ismail Somoni in Rudaki Park. This large monument commemorates the 1,100th anniversary of the Samanid State, a Golden Age of the Tajik nation, when science and arts flourished. From there we will walk through pretty Rudaki Park, which is dedicated to the great Persian poet Rudaki, who also lived during the Samanid period, in the 10th century.

  Accommodation: 5* Hyatt Regency Dushanbe.

• Day 2: Dushanbe – Iskanderkul

  It’s a moderately long but scenic drive out of Dushanbe to Iskanderkul. We will stop on the way to have lunch in Sarvoda. By early afternoon we will reach Iskanderkul, the triangular lake named after Alexander the Great (“Iskander” is the Persian form of Alexander). It is considered to be one of the most exquisitely beautiful lakes in all of the former Soviet Union. In addition to admiring the views there will be time for a short hike to Iskander Waterfall and Snake Lake before dinner. We will spend the night in cottages on the lake shore, where the rooms have private bathrooms. (jeep, 130 km; trek 3km)

  Accommodation: Cottages (2,195m)

• Day 3: Iskanderkul – Artuch

  After breakfast by the lake we will transfer by road to the Artuch Alp Camp. The road crosses the steep-sided Anzob Pass and we will arrive in Artuch village in time for a  hosted lunch. At the camp we can rest or take a short hike to the Chukurak (1 hr, 2.5km, +260m/-280m) and Ziyorat Lakes (3 hrs, 7km, +640m/-670m).  Accommodation at the camp.

  Accommodation: Artuch Alp Camp (2,200m)

• Day 4: Artuch – Kulikalon lake

  The donkeys will arrive at Artuch Alp Camp in the morning to carry our luggage and we will depart from the camp after breakfast and a short briefing from our experienced mountain guide. It is a four-hour trek through stunning scenery to reach the shore of Kulikalon Lake, where the glamping site will be set up in anticipation of our arrival. This will be our first night under canvas in our luxurious tents.

  Accommodation:  Glamping (2,800m)

• Day 5: Kulikalon Area

  Today you will have two choices. Either you can do a circular hike from Kulikalon, visiting a ring of nearby lakes including Lesnoy, Kulisiyoh, Bibijanat, and Dushokha; or you can relax, read, and admire the views from the campsite. In the evening we will have a bonfire, a BBQ, and the opportunity to dance and sing songs with your friendly trekking crew.

  Accommodation:  Glamping (2,800m)

• Day 6: Kulikalon lake – Alauddin lake

  In the morning after breakfast at the campsite, we will start our ascent of Loudan Pass which is easier than Alauddin lake (3,630 m, 13 km, ~7 hrs, +1080 m / -1130m). It is a long climb to the top but the beautiful panorama of the surrounding peaks and lakes makes it all worthwhile. It is then a gentler descent to our campsite by the first Alaudin Lake.

  Accommodation:  Glamping (2,770m)

• Day 7: Alauddin lake

  You have two choices for today: to have a quiet morning resting and wandering around the shore of Alauddin Lake and hiking to other neighboring lakes (e.g. Guitar, Shirin, and Chapdar lakes); or to ascend to Mutnoe Lake (3,520m), a hike which takes about four hours. The views from the top are very impressive as you can see great distances in every direction.

  Accommodation:  Glamping (2,770m)

• Day 8: Alauddin lake – Khujand

  It is time to leave the mountains behind and return to urban life, journeying to the city of Khujand in northern Tajikistan. Khujand is situated on the Syr Darya River in the Fergana Valley. It is an ancient city with a history dating back to Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great. On the way we will visit Istaravshan, a city founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC which recently celebrated its 2,500th anniversary. Istaravshan’s artisans are highly regarded across Central Asia and the city is still well known in Tajikistan for its blacksmiths, who hand-craft knives of excellent quality. We will visit the blacksmiths’ workshops near the entrance to the city’s market, and also meet a woodcarver and a comb maker. There will be time to see the main historical sights – the Kok Gumbaz and the Hazrat Shoh Mosque – before continuing on our way to Khujand. We will arrive in the evening and check in at the hotel.

  Accommodation: Khujand Grand Hotel

• Day 9: Khujand

  After breakfast, we will visit Khujand’s main market, Panjshabe Bazaar, which is the largest market in Tajikistan. Our city tour will continue to the Maslihaddin Mosque, the Lenin Monument, and Arbob Cultural Palace, where we will also visit a small factory which produces traditional Tajik textiles. We will have lunch at Anora, a house museum where you can appreciate traditional design and experience the authentic atmosphere of a Tajiki house. The friendly family members are always happy to welcome guests from different cultures and to exchange experiences with interested travellers.

  At the end of the day we will have a special farewell dinner at a teahouse, accompanied by traditional music and dance shows. This is going to be a highlight of the trip. The performance will be conducted by professional performers in a gorgeous venue decorated with carved wooden columns and ceilings.

  Accommodation: Khujand Grand Hotel.

• Day 10: Tashkent

  After breakfast, we will drive across the Tajik-Uzbek border to Tashkent. It will take one hour to reach the border crossing and then two more hours to reach Tashkent. Check in at your hotel on arrival.

  Accommodation: 5* Hyatt Regency Tashkent.

• Day 11: Departure

  You will be transferred to the Tashkent international Airport. Have a safe flight

 

TESTIMONIALS FROM PARTICIPANTS OF GLAMPING TOURS IN 2022

We took a 7 day tour to Tajikistan taking in Dushanbe and trekking in the Fann Mountains. The mountain scenery was breathtaking and the tour was very professionally arranged. Our Guide spoke perfect English and was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
A terrific crew took care of the camping arrangements and the trek was carefully thought out and allowed us to acclimatise to the change in altitude. All together an excellent trip and we thoroughly recommend Paramount Journey. John and Graham Read more…


We had a fantastic time on our trip to Tajikistan with Paramount. From the beginning, we worked closely with Alovaddin to plan a custom trip. He offered lots of great advice and was very patient and flexible when our group size changed. He also patiently answered our many, many questions.
Once we arrived, everything went smoothly. Our guide – Yun – was so friendly and knowledgeable and genuinely fun to be around. Tajikistan is no easy country to travel around, but Paramount made it as seamless and comfortable as possible and made it easy for us to explore this beautiful country. Sanjay and friends Read more … Drone photos by @Sanjay1

Season

May – September

Trip Price

On request