Embark on a two-day tour to Iskanderkul Lake in Tajikistan and discover the legendary beauty of this natural wonder. Explore the stunning landscapes, stay in guest houses or camp in tents, and experience the diverse ways tourists from around the world enjoy their visit.
Iskanderkul lake - Panjchashma - Bucefall canyon - Lake Moron - Waterfall
Dushanbe - 08:00-11:00 am - Departure from Dushanbe to Iskandarkul
Iskanderkul Lake - The lake located in the northern part of the country, in the Sugd region. The distance from the capital of Tajikistan is more than 180 kilometers along a high-altitude and quite decent highway. Along the way, you can see fascinating natural landscapes with snow-capped mountain tops rushing into the deep blue of the sky. This small piece of untouched land can show a lot of interesting things, including Lake Iskanderkul. There are magnificent blue lakes, fast mountain rivers and picturesque forests.
Lake Iskanderkul is called a pearl in the palms of the mountains, a living legend. A lot of tourists come to this mountain reservoir. There are guest houses for their stay here, but foreign visitors prefer to rest in tents. Swedes, Englishmen, Frenchmen and Tajiks themselves come here. Moreover, they all rest in different ways. Some travel on foot, others on motorcycles, and others on rare cars.
Panj-Chashma Springs - BUCEPHALUS CAVE
According to another legend, the Macedonian horse, Bucephalus, drank water from the lake during a halt after a long march and fell ill. The commander himself went further to India, leaving his faithful horse here. However, even at such a great distance, he felt the death of his master and threw himself into the lake, remaining in it forever. Since then, during the full moon, every month Bucephalus comes out of the water to graze: the waters part, and a snow-white horse comes to the surface of the lake, accompanied by grooms.
PANJ-CHASHMA
“Panj-chashma” - a place called “Five Springs” for an unusual natural phenomenon, where pure spring water flows from five highlands into Lake Iskandarkul. The sight is so mesmerizing that it is impossible to take your eyes off.
Snake Lake - FANN NIAGARA WATERFALL
Nearest of the Lake Iskanderkul there is an old juniper (juniper bush), the branches of which are decorated with colorful ribbons. Everyone who comes to admire the local amazing waterfall leaves something of their own on this tree to return here again in the future. The nearby 43-meter waterfall is called “Fan Niagara”. It is located on the river flowing out of the lake. There is also a rock with an inscription dating back to 1870, it was left by the participants of the expedition led by the famous Russian traveler and scientist A. Fedchenko.
SNAKE LAKE
Not far from Iskanderkul there is another lake called Snake Lake. According to the stories of old-timers, many snakes live in it. Locals claim that reptiles will not bite in two cases: when they are in the water and when people drink water. The water in it is warmer than in Iskanderkul, so it is quite possible to swim here.
Fan Mountains - Sarytag -Makshevat cave mummy
Dushanbe - 17:00 - end of tour, way back to Dushanbe
20:00 - arriving Dushanbe
- Private transportation
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Camping
- personal costs, alcohol drinks, food etc.
- Trikke use
The lake in Tajikistan is named ‘Iskanderkul’, originating from the word ‘Iskander’, which translates to ‘Alexander’, and ‘kul’, that means ‘lake’. According to certain folklore, the water body derived its name when Alexander the Great journeyed to it during his expedition from Central Asia to India. Post the visit from Iskander Zulkarnain, the name was updated to Iskanderkul due to the recognizable rhyme.
This lake is situated in the northern territory of the country, within the Sugd region. It’s positioned over 180 kilometers from the Tajikistan capital, accessible via a high-altitude and well-kept highway. Travelling this route, you get to admire the enthralling scenic views of snowy mountaintops piercing into the clear azure sky.
An abundance of tourists are drawn to this mountainous lake. While accommodation in the form of guest houses is available, most international visitors choose to camp in tents. It attracts people from Sweden, England, France, and also local Tajiks. The manner of their visit varies as some prefer to explore on foot, some on motorcycles, and others in unique automobiles.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
