Alauddin to Haft Kul Trek

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Duration 8 days

Distance 68 km

Max. altitude 3800 meters

Camping 3 nights

Homestay 4 nights

Difficulty

Challenging

Price

From €1057 $1190 / person

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Fann Mountains Frontiers: Natural wonders and local charm

Embark on a breathtaking trek from the eastern to western frontier of the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan. Beginning at Alauddin Lake, this in total 66 km long trek brings you all the way to Haft Kul in the western part of the mountains. Along the way, you will encounter some of the Fann Mountains’ most iconic highlights, including the Kulikalon and Chukurak lakes. The trek is designed to provide a well-rounded adventure, offering a mix of hiking through untouched nature and inhabited valleys, where you get to experience the local culture and charm of the mountain village life. Three nights are spent in homestays in local villages, while the remaining four nights are beneath the canvas of the starry sky, camping in some of the most picturesque locations imaginable. Be prepared for a physically demanding trek, as it includes two tough mountain passes exceeding 3000 meters in elevation. This journey therefore promises not only incredible natural beauty but also a test of your endurance and a great sense of accomplishment in the end.

Highlights

Alauddin Lake

Kulikalon

Authentic mountain villages

Wild camping under the stars

Haft Kul

Mountain passes up to 3800 meters high

Available departure dates

Available

Unavailable

Group departure

Itinerary

The day-to-day itinerary gives a detailed overview of the hiking and highlights planned for each stage of the trek. The itinerary has been carefully tested and tried. Although it rarely happens, unforeseen circumstances can force us to make (minor) adaptations to the schedule, even during the trek. For example, weather and road conditions may change rapidly while trekking and make certain parts of the route less passable. Flexibility is indispensable when traveling and hiking through the rugged lands of Tajikistan.

Day 1 – Dushanbe to Alauddin Lake

Departure from Dushanbe in the morning. You are picked up from your desired location in Dushanbe. The drive to Alauddin Lake takes about 4 hours. The road winds through the breathtaking mountain terrain and already offers the first scenic views. The drive concludes at an alpinist camp. From there, we hike about 2 km to reach our campsite on the shore of Alauddin Lake (2800 m). In the afternoon, there is time to explore the surroundings with several other lakes of deep azure hues located in the direct vicinity of Alauddin Lake. We spend the night camping on the shore of Alauddin Lake.

Day 2 – Kulikalon

9 km

The toughest climb of the trek awaits directly on the first hiking day. The Alauddin Pass is situated at an altitude of nearly 3800 meters. With the campsite at 2800 meters, the vertical ascent is around 1.000 meters. This substantial altitude difference makes it a physically strenuous hike. Reaching the pass's summit rewards us with stunning views overlooking Kulikalon on one side and Alauddin Lake on the other. The descent from the pass brings us to the Kulikalon plateau at an altitude of 2850 meters. This plateau boasts multiple lakes and is considered one of the most breathtaking places of Tajikistan. Kulikalon is a true heaven for wild camping, which is precisely our plan for the night. We hike past the Dushokha lakes and Bibijonat Lake before arriving at the campsite for the night at the shore of Kulisiyokh Lake.

Day 3 – Artuch

8 km

The third day offers a relatively easy-going hiking experience compared to the previous day. Starting from the campsite, our route leads us across the Kulikalon plateau to visit the largest lake. It is this main lake that actually bears the name Kulikalon (literally meaning “big lake” in Tajik). Subsequently, the trail descends into the Urech valley. We hike down through the valley until we reach the hostel accommodation (2200 m) where we will spend the night.

Day 4 – Chukurak Lake

12 km

In the morning, we first hike up to Chukurak Lake, situated at an elevation of 2400 meters. The brave can take a refreshing swim in the lake. From Chukurak Lake, the path continues further upward, leading up to the Guitan Pass at an altitude of 2650 meters. Afterwards, the trail descends as we make our way towards the Archamaidan Valley. The finish of today is in the village of Zimtut (1600 m), where we spend the night in a homestay.

Day 5 – Nahang Lake (+16 km optional)

5 km

We start the day with for a short hike through the Archamaidan Valley to reach the village of Gazza (1700 m). From Gazza it is possible to hike up to Nahang Lake. Early in the season, the valley leading to Nahang Lake is often populated with numerous shepherd camps. The hike to Nahang Lake is quite demanding with a notable elevation gain of 900 meters and spanning a total distance of 16 km. This hike however is optional, and those who are tired from the first days of hiking have the choice to stay in the homestay in Gazza and relax.

Day 6 – Sarymat Valley

18 km

We follow the course of the Archamaidan river as the valley becomes gradually less inhabited as we move up. We continue hiking through the Archamaidan valley until we reach Duoba, the point of convergence of the Sarymat and Archamaidan rivers. From Duoba, we head into the Sarymat valley. As the day draws to a close, we establish our campsite at the base of the Tavasang Pass at an altitude of approximately 2500 m.

Day 7 – Tavasang Pass

16 km

In the morning, we start our ascent to the Tavasang Pass. The summit of the pass is located at an elevation of 3300 meters and offers beautiful views over the surrounding mountains. On the way down we pass through several local mountain villages. We hike down until we reach Hazorchashma Lake (2400 m) in the afternoon. Hazorchashma is the seventh and uppermost lake in the Haft Kul (Seven Lakes) valley. We then drive down the Haft Kul Valley, passing the 6th lake (Marguzor) and the 5th lake (Khurdak), before spending the night in a homestay in the village of Padrud.

Day 8 – Return to Dushanbe

Today, we return to Dushanbe by car. The drive takes about 5 hours. Starting from Padrud, we first drive down through the Haft Kul valley along the remaining four lakes (Nofin, Gushor, Soja and Mishgon). There is enough time to stop for taking pictures. We exit the Haft Kul valley to the north, before heading back to Dushanbe via the Zerafshan, Fann and Varzob valleys. Upon our arrival in Dushanbe, you will be dropped off at the location of your wishes.