How to Visit the Seven Lakes in Tajikistan (from Dushanbe, Panjakent or Uzbekistan)

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One of the biggest highlights of my time in Tajikistan was visiting the Seven Lakes, also known as Haft Kul, a chain of colorful alpine lakes (seven of them, as the name suggests!) in the Fann Mountains near Panjakent.

I love nature, mountains, and lakes, so out of everything I did in Tajikistan, this was easily my favorite experience.

What made it even more special was that I visited late in the season and ended up being completely alone at the lakes — no tour groups, no other travelers, just mountains, silence, and unreal landscapes.

If you’re planning a trip to Tajikistan (or even Uzbekistan), visiting the Seven Lakes is absolutely worth it — and in this blog post I’ll tell you how you can visit the lakes too, either from Tajikistan (Dushanbe or Panjakent) or from Uzbekistan.

If you are also visiting Uzbekistan, make sure to check out my guide to the most beautiful places to visit in Uzbekistan for more travel inspiration in the region.

The Seven Lakes Travel Guide

Do You Need a Tour to Visit the Seven Lakes?

Yes — in most cases, a tour or at least a private driver with a 4×4 is necessary.

The lakes are located deep in the mountains near Panjakent, and the road becomes rough and unpaved as you go higher. A standard car is not suitable for the full route, especially if you want to reach the upper lakes.

Most travelers either:

• Book a guided tour
• Hire a local driver with a 4×4
• Or book a guesthouse near the Seven Lakes that can help arrange transport

I booked a private driver for a 3-day, 2-night trip starting from Dushanbe and combined it with Iskanderkul. Because I visited during the off-season, there were no other travelers to share the costs with, so it essentially turned into a private tour.

How to Travel to the Seven Lakes

There are three main ways to visit the Seven Lakes depending on where you are starting your trip in Central Asia.

1. Day Trip from Samarkand (Most Popular Option)

This is one of the easiest and most popular ways to visit the Seven Lakes, especially if you are already traveling in Uzbekistan.

👉 Check availability: From Samarkand to the Seven Lakes Day Trip

Many organized tours run from Samarkand and include:

• Hotel pickup
• Border crossing to Tajikistan
• A driver and guide
• Scenic stops at the lakes
• Return the same day

Full-day tours from Samarkand typically cross the border and drive through Panjakent before continuing into the Fann Mountains to visit all seven lakes in one trip.

This option is perfect if:

• You are short on time
• Visiting Uzbekistan anyway
• Don’t want to deal with logistics and border crossings alone

2. Two-Day Tour from Dushanbe (My Route – Iskanderkul + Seven Lakes)

This is the exact route I did, and honestly, I highly recommend it if you want a deeper experience in Tajikistan.

👉 Check availability: 2-Day Iskanderkul & Seven Lakes Tour from Dushanbe

I started from Dushanbe and combined Iskanderkul and the Seven Lakes into one trip, which turned it into a full mountain adventure rather than just a rushed day trip.

Before visiting the Seven Lakes, we first drove from Dushanbe to Iskanderkul on the first day, and I got to see the beautiful lake there.

I stayed at a local homestay near the lake. That night it snowed, and I spent the evening inside with the family watching their daughters’ wedding videos and eating dinner — one of those travel moments I’ll probably remember forever.

The next morning, we went to see Iskanderkul Lake again before continuing the journey toward the Seven Lakes, and it was even more beautiful in the morning with its bright blue color and the beautiful orange autumn colors in the trees surrounding it.

This is the exact route (Seven Lakes + Iskanderkul) that I did, with the exception that in some tours the first night is spent in a hotel in Panjakent instead of a homestay:

This option is best if:

• You are exploring Tajikistan properly
• Want a more authentic experience
• Prefer slow travel instead of a rushed day trip

For me, this was 100% the highlight of my time in Tajikistan.

3. Access the Lakes from Panjakent (Closest Starting Point)

If you are already in Tajikistan, the closest and most logical base for visiting the Seven Lakes is Panjakent.

The lakes are located not far from the city, and Panjakent is commonly used as the main base for arranging drivers and tours.

You can:

• Hire a private driver in Panjakent
• Book a local tour
• Or ask your hotel to arrange transport

After visiting the lakes, I actually stayed overnight in Panjakent — at my driver’s home — which gave me a much more local experience than staying in a hotel.

Visiting the lakes from Panjakent is ideal if:

• You are already in Panjakent
• Traveling slowly through the region
• Want the cheapest tour option

You can also decide to stay one night near the Seven Lakes instead of doing it as a rushed day trip. There is at least one accommodation in the area that you can book online on Booking.com called Jumaboy Guesthouse. If you book this place online, you can also organize transport through them from Panjakent or from the Uzbekistan border.

I highly recommend staying overnight if you have the time, because the area is very beautiful and you can actually enjoy some hiking around the lakes instead of just stopping briefly at each one.

Jumaboy Guesthouse also arranges hiking tours around the lakes, which makes it a very convenient base if you want to explore the area more slowly and experience the mountains without having to return the same day.

My Experience Visiting the Seven Lakes (Late Season & Completely Alone)

When I visited the Seven Lakes, it was late in the season and there were no other tourists at all.

We drove deep into the mountains in a 4×4, stopping at the lakes one by one as the landscape became more dramatic and remote. Each lake has a different color, ranging from deep blue to turquoise and green, depending on the light and minerals in the water.

We started with the first lake, which wasn’t that impressive (it definitely gets better!).

The second lake already had more beautiful colors and scenery.

The third lake was also very beautiful.

The fourth one was quite impressive, especially with a snow-capped mountain in the distance.

The fifth lake was also one of my favorites — very calm and peaceful, and there were some local women sitting by the lakeside.

The sixth lake was the most impressive one in my opinion and offered the best photography opportunities. I got some amazing shots here of the blue lake and snow-topped mountains, and it looked beautiful from different angles as we drove around it.

The seventh lake was the most remote of them all, but also the coldest, so I had to take my winter jacket out.

The entire area felt incredibly peaceful and untouched everywhere, but especially at the last lake.

Being completely alone in such a beautiful place made it feel even more special — and very different from the more crowded destinations in Central Asia.

Practical Tips to Know About Visiting the Seven Lakes

• A 4×4 vehicle is highly recommended
• Roads are rough and mountainous
• Public transport is very limited
• If you are coming from Panjakent, you can organize cheaper drivers or tours from there
• Tours make the experience significantly easier, and I highly recommend combining the Seven Lakes with Iskanderkul like I did

Most itineraries involve stopping at every single lake for sightseeing and photography, which is why a full-day or multi-day tour is the most practical way to explore the area.

Is the Seven Lakes Worth Visiting?

Absolutely.

Out of everything I did in Tajikistan, visiting the Seven Lakes was my personal highlight. Combining Iskanderkul, staying in a local homestay during snowfall, and then continuing to the lakes made the entire experience feel authentic, remote, and unforgettable.

If you love off-the-beaten-path destinations, mountain landscapes, and experiences that still feel untouched by mass tourism, the Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) is one of the best places you can visit in Tajikistan.

Other experiences I highly recommend doing in Tajikistan include visiting Hissar Fortress (which I did easily as a half-day trip from Dushanbe) or doing a Pamir Highway tour (which unfortunately I couldn’t do at that time of the year anymore, so it will have to wait for next time).

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