Varzob valley tour

In the morning depart Termez and drive to Uzbek–Tajik border (180 km, 3h.*). Meeting at Uzbek-Tajik border “Sariosiyo”. Transfer to Dushanbe (80 km, 2h.*).

North to the "Land of Mountains" en- route enjoying gorgeous views of green, sometimes barren rocks, rushing mountain streams and steep rocks.

Arrival in Dushanbe, you will visit:

Visit a National Museum of Dushanbe - acknowledge more about this mysterious country. Continue your tour visiting Hissar Fortress located 30 km away from the city. 

Memorial of Ismoil Somoni – Palace of the Nation-State emblem area – Park "Nowruzgoh" – State Flag square – National Museum Our tour begins with a visit to the Ismoil Somoni complex. In this complex, there is a monument of Ismoil Somoni and Dusti Square. The monument of Ismoil Somoni constructed in honor of the founder of the statehood of the Tajik nation Ismail Somoni. I. Somoni was the head of the Samanids State in the VIII-IX century. Monument height is 11.5 meters; the arch height of 40 meters is a symbol of the Eastern state. The next object, which we will visit, is the Flagpole. The STATE FLAG SQUARE is located in the center of Dushanbe, to the left of the Nation Palace. This Flagpole entered the Guinness Book of Records as the Highest Flagpole in the world. The height of the flagpole is 165 meters, area 1800 m², width 30 meters, and length 60 meters.

Next, visit the National Museum.

NATIONAL MUSEUM — located in the center of Dushanbe. The Museum consists of 22 large and small exhibition halls — departments of nature, antiquity and the Middle Ages, modern history, fine and applied arts. The exposition area of the National Museum of Tajikistan is 15 thousand m²

You will get in touch with the biggest Dushanbe sights during a very short time. A whole tour won't take longer than 4-5~ hours.

Resting time.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel.

Driver will meet you at your hotel in Dushnabe to start Varzob Valley (30 km). Varzob valley is a favourite recreation area for Dushanbe residents. There are many recreation areas and picnic spots here. It is widely known as a small geographic area close to Dushanbe in the basin of the Varzob River, crossing the central part of the southern slopes of the Hissar range. Not far from Dushanbe, in Varzob valley is the Gusgarf Waterfall, the most beautiful in the Hissar range. A wild river breached a vertical rocky cliff many centuries ago and the water falls there from a height of 30 m.

Next appointment is - Penjikent (205 km - 3.5 hours)

Museum of Rudaki – As Penjikent is a birthplace of Abu-Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian Poetry.  Before lunch, we'll visit the local bazaar and mosque.

Lunch in a traditional Chaikhana (tea room/tea house), for the lunch you will get a chance to taste plov (rice with meat and vegetables) cooked according to Penjikent recipe.

- Ancient Penjikent - the ruins of the old Sogdian town founded in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins

- Sarazm ruins - one of the ancient settlements in Central Asia with a 5500 - year civilization. In 2010 Sarazm was added to the list of Human Heritage by UNESCO. 

In the evening transfer back to Tajik - Uzbek border pass.

Cross the border to Uzbekistan and meet up with a driver and transfer back to Samarkand hotel.

End of the tour.