Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options)
Traveler rating
4.8/5
Based on 149 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) worth booking?
Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) is a 8-hour experience in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from $85 per person. It scores 84 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 149 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 84 / 100
- Rating
- 4.8/5 (149)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $85 per person
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.
What you get
About this experience
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.
What's included
Included
- Bottled water
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Entrance fees
Not included
- Lunch
- Tajikistan visa (if required for your nationality).
- A double-entry visa for Uzbekistan, as you will re-enter the country after visiting Tajikistan.
What you'll see and do
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.
60 minutes here
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.
180 minutes here
Seven Lakes
Optional hike from sixth lake to seven Hazorchashma - the seventh and highest of the Seven Lakes is located at around 2,400 metres above sea level. The name Hazorchashma (or Azorchashma) means “a thousand springs”, since the lake is fed by the waters of two rivers and many streams and springs. Hazorchashma is the last lake in the gorge of the Shing River. distance is 2,5km one way elevation gain 340m
90 minutes here
Proto-urban site of Sarazm
“Make a brief stop at the Sarazm UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of Central Asia’s oldest settlements, dating back over 5,500 years. Explore the excavated ruins and learn about this ancient hub of culture and trade before continuing your journey toward the stunning Seven Lakes.”
30 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Private tour
Pickup included
Group tour ( (small group)
Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, ru, en, fa
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Discoverystan
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 149 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
6 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
4 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Value for money
3 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Traveler reviews
149 verified traveler reviews for Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Absolutely recommend it!
A must do activity if you are in Samarkand, the drive can be long and crossing the border takes some time but its really easy to be honest. The lakes themselves are beautiful but the real magic is the mountains, such a beautiful scenery and wonderful experience. PS if you don't want to stop at the Bazar I recommend skipping that, not different from other markets in the area and it takes about an hour.
via Viator
Definitely set one day aside for this
Highly recommend this trip if you can set aside an extra day in Samarkand. Every lake gets more beautiful than the last. Our guide was Mansoor, a 16 year old guy who was quite fluent in English so you can easily converse with him. He is excellent. The driver Bobur was quite competent, as the road up the mountains is not easy. You can pack lunch beforehand, but we got takeout from a local restaurant that had great samsa (pastry) stuffed with beef/lamb/chicken/pumpkin at very affordable prices. Be sure to exchange at the official currency exchange right after you cross the border. My only downside was the bumpy ride due to bad road conditions. Note that the mentioned visit to Sarazm is contingent on getting there before it closes at 5pm, which is unlikely.
via Tripadvisor
Stunning!
Expect the unexpected.. always. I’d read reviews of bad experiences at border crossing, and thought it might take a long time.. it didn’t.. it took maybe half an hour from saying goodbye to our Uzbek driver to meeting our tour guide and driver in Tajikistan. It’s actually very simple.. driver takes your photo and forwards to next driver who is there to greet you. We got our Uzbek driver’s WhatsApp in case there was any problem on our return (but everything went exactly to plan). I’d never walked across a border and for me it was a fun adventure.. lots of people watching and thanking of border security (we showed our passports at least three times each way). Eraj was our guide, he grew up in a village in the mountains and has a deep love of his country - and he’s plenty to compare it to as he’s lived in several countries and speaks 6 languages! He was funny and wanted us to have the best day. He took us to his favorite waterfall for our picnic lunch. Although the itinerary wasn’t exactly as described (we didn’t go to Sarazm) but it didn’t matter at all as we drove through (and stopped frequently) to visit villages set in spectacular mountain terrain. Abduvosid is an excellent driver, a beloved local, based on all the waves and greeting he received! He was so gracious. He helped us purchase our picnic lunch in Panjakent (no need to bring lunch - you can get cash from ATM and buy a picnic lunch en route). Abduvosid drove carefully and courteously. Both Abduvosid and Eraj made every effort to ensure we enjoyed our day out in Tajikistan. The lakes and mountains and rugged road provided the best backdrop. I highly recommend this excursion.
via Viator
What a great tour! Our...
What a great tour! Our guide Joy was fantastic. Knowledgeable, personable, and kind. The lakes were also very beautiful. Well worth the trip!
Response from the operator: Thank you for choosing us for your trip to Tajikistan. We hope to welcome you back again for another adventure!
via Viator
Great tour, dont buy here with Viator
Beautiful but not exactly what was sold and expected. 1. We did not visit the Visit Sarazm archeological site. 2. We did not have time to stroll around or enjoy the lakes, only a few minutes to take pictures. 3. Both guides spoke minimal english so it was not very informative. Everything went smoothly and both guides were at meeting points on time. We were back at the hotel at 5PM I would have appreciated more time at the lakes or visit of Sarazm and be back at 6/7PM. You can book this tour locally with hotels or agency for a fraction of this price.
Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that our guides were at the meeting points on time. We sincerely apologize that you did not have enough time to fully enjoy the Seven Lakes and visit the Sarazm archaeological site. Unfortunately, during this period there are many tourists visiting the Seven Lakes, and the border crossing can also take considerably longer than usual. As your border crossing was completed later than expected, we had to adjust the schedule and, unfortunately, skip Sarazm and allow less time at the lakes in order to return to Samarkand on time. Regarding the guides, we understand your concern about the English communication. We had included a guide who has been working with us since the beginning of the season and has received very positive reviews from other travelers, but we recognize that the experience may vary from guest to guest. We appreciate your feedback and will take it into consideration when planning future departures, especially regarding time management and English-speaking guide arrangements. Thank you again for traveling with us and for sharing your experience.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $85 to $260
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 52
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Discoverystan, who run 9 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 59.7.
See everything Discoverystan runsWhy this scores 84
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Samarkand.
How much does Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) cost?
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Prices start at $85 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Samarkand usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Samarkand is not rushed.
Is Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 84 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 149 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Samarkand, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options)?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options)?
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Around 52 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Samarkand can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Samarkand and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Samarkand within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Samarkand?
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On Outty we rank every Samarkand experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include A City Tour Of Samarkand: The Pearl Of The East, Private Samarkand City Tour with Transport: Inside Attractions, Tour From Samarkand To Tajikistan: Seven Lakes. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Samarkand?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Samarkand?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options)?
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Included: Bottled water; In-vehicle air conditioning; and Entrance fees. Not included: Lunch; Tajikistan visa (if required for your nationality); and A double-entry visa for Uzbekistan, as you will re-enter the country after visiting Tajiki. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 389 listed pickup locations in and around Samarkand. Be ready about 10 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) offered in?
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It is offered in German, Russian, English and Persian. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options)?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options) if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options)?
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Across 149 reviews averaging 4.8 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, photo opportunities, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand (Private & Group Options)?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Private tour, Group tour ( (small group). Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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