Image: Hazorchashma (7th) Lake.
Highlights
– Seven Lakes or Haft Kul in Tajik language is one of the most popular tourist destinations from Panajakent, Tajikistan.
Time of Visit: September 2026
Duration of Visit: Day Trip from from Panjakent
Description
The Seven Lakes or Hatf Kul is one of the most popular tourist destinations from Panajakent, Tajikistan. This is a series of seven interconnected mountain lakes located in the Shing River Valley of the Fann Mountains. Formed by natural rock dams and fed by glacial snowmelt and underground springs, each lake sits at a progressively higher elevation.
The first lake is located about 1.5 hours from Panjakent while the seventh lake is another hour’s drive through winding and narrow rough mountain roads. The lakes have a deep blue color even on cloudy days. The water’s color is most impressive when the sun is directly overhead. But the weather in the mountains is unpredictable and can change in an instant.
Each lake is surrounded by towering bald but multi-colored mountains. These mountains are beautifully reflected on the lake’s glassy surface if you are fortunate enough to be there on a windless day.
The lake names with approximate elevations from lowest (first) to highest (seventh) are:
- Mijgon (Nezhigon) at 1,640 meters (5,381 feet)
- Soya: 1,701 meters (5,581 feet)
- Gushor: 1,771 meters (5,810 feet)
- Nofin: 1,820 meters (5,971 feet)
- Khurdak: 1,870 meters (6,135 feet)
- Marguzor: 2,139 meters (7,018 feet)
- Hazorchashma: 2,400 meters (7,874 feet)
The total elevation gain from the first lake to the seventh lake is roughly 760 meters (2,493 feet) over a distance between 14 and 15 kilometers (8.6 and 9.3 miles).
Activities
There are two ways to enjoy the lakes. The first is a day trip from Panjakent with a private driver/vehicle. The second is to stay in one of the lodging establishments at Nofin (4th) Lake or village or one of the camps at Hazorchashma (7th) Lake.
Day Trip from Panjakent
We explored the Seven Lakes as a day trip from Panjakent. Our host arranged for the driver to pick us up at 8:00 AM from the hotel. Our driver drove on the fast side and seat belts were totally optional. For sure, I would be flying through the windshield if we got into an accident. Best we could figure, our driver wanted to be at the first lake as soon as possible (it will make sense later). We arrived at the Mijgon (1st) lake around 9:15 AM. The lake’s surface was like glass and reflected the surrounding mountains and the blue sky beautifully.
We stopped at all the lakes, some longer than others. Our driver gave us all the time we wanted. In our opinion, Marguzor (6th) Lake was the most scenic.
We arrived at Hazorchashma (7th) Lake at 11 AM and walked the trail off its right bank. Only then we understood why our driver drove like a madman. It was not even 30 minutes later, the wind started picking up and the lake’s still glass surface was now rippled. The beautiful mountain and sky reflection was gone.
We left the lake at around noon and our driver casually drove back to the newly built restaurant at Gushor (3rd) Lake’s south end where we had lunch. We were back at our accommodation in Panjakent around 3PM.
Staying at Nofin (4th lake) or Camping at Hazorchashma (7th) Lake
An overnight stay at Seven Lakes is a great way to experience its beauty before the day tours arrive or after they leave. We expect the place to be really quiet and if it is a clear night, the stars will be vividly visible because of the absence of light pollution.
One of the drawbacks with an overnight stay at Seven Lakes is that there is no public transportation. So to explore the lakes would mean a hike to get from one lake to another. Nofin Village is at the north end of Nofin Lake and would make a good base to access the 5th to 7th lakes as well as the north end of the 4th lake. Nofin Lake House, located at the lake’s south shore is an accommodation that would make a good base to explore the 1st to the 4th lake.
The other drawback is the logistical challenge of traveling to Seven Lakes and returning back to Panjakent without a vehicle. According to our host at Pankajent and the owner of Nofin Lake House, the locals leave at 5AM to do their shopping in Panjakent. Then they return to Seven Lakes around midday.
Riding with the locals means arriving at Seven Lakes in the afternoon. According to our host, locals will not stop at any lake as they want to get home as soon as possible. So this means, you would have to stay at least two nights (possibly three) at Seven Lakes if you go the cheap route of riding with the locals. This allows you to explore half of the lakes one day and the other half the following day.
The last drawback is food. We did not see any supermarkets and restaurants in the area. Food-wise, you either bring it with you or totally depend on your host for subsistence.
Tips
We totally recommend staying in Panjakent if your schedule allows it. The people are very warm and friendly and even little kids will say hi and wave at you. The city has that “authentic” feel especially if you walk through the bazaar.
If you plan to hire a driver/vehicle as a day trip to Seven Lakes from Panjakent, ensure that the vehicle is not a car. Though the road is rough and unpaved, we saw ordinary cars able to reach the 6th lake but not the 7th. So some day trippers had to walk uphill from Marguzor Lake to Hazorchashma Lake and back.
Very few people, especially older ones, speak English. So get your offline translator ready.
How To Get There
To Panjakent: We flew into Samarkand, Uzbekistan then hired a Yandex from the airport to take us to the Jartepa Border Control. We walked through the border control and then took a shared taxi from the border to the city. Yandex was not available in Panjakent or Dushanbe.
If you have US dollars, we suggest you exchange it right after the X-ray machines on the Tajik side so you will be able to pay the taxi driver going from the border to Panjakent. The exchange rate was quite reasonable and there were no fees.
To Seven Lakes: As stated earlier, there are basically two options to get to Seven Lakes from Panjakent. One is to hire a private driver for a day trip. The second is to ride with locals which poses a logistical challenge unless you plan to stay at least two nights in the area.
Bring your passport. Our driver had to show it at the checkpoint prior to Seven Lakes.
Where To Stay
Panjakent: We stayed at SUGD Hotel which is less than 10 minutes walk from the bazaar. The hotel is centrally located and is owned and operated by Mr. Maksud Kurbonov and his family. They are very helpful and nice.
Mr. Maksud arranged all our transportation needs and provided a healthy and hearty breakfast. If you want an early breakfast, he will say “no problem”. You need a transport to somewhere, his response is “no problem”.
WhatsApp # 992 92 771 12 10
Nofin Lake: Nofin Lakehouse. +992 99 777 33 62
How To Get Around
Panjakent: Jura and private taxis (possible haggling required) are available in the city. You will also find mini-buses at the bazaar.
Seven Lakes: Hitchhiking and walking.
Expected Expenses
Yandex from Samarkand Airport to Jartepa Border Crossing: 153,000 Uzbek Somoni (UZS) ($13).
Taxi from Jartepa Border Crossing: 15 Tajik Somoni (TJS)/pax on a shared taxi (our driver initially quoted 70 TJS/pax ($7.50) but we asked a local that was crossing the border the other way and he said 15-20 TJS/pax ($1.60 – $2.20/pax ).
SUGD Hotel: Available at Booking.com but you can get a discount if you book directly. WhatsApp # is +992 92 771 1210.
Seven Lakes Day Trip: $90 USD or equivalent in TJS.
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Summary
The Seven Lakes is a popular tourist day trip destination because of its accessibility, deep blue color lakes and mountainous surroundings. Visitors can easily journey to the area from Panjakent or cross over from neighboring Uzbekistan, making it a convenient addition to a Central Asia itinerary. The route provides fantastic opportunities for day-hiking, photography, and experiencing the dramatic topography of the Fann Mountains without requiring extreme mountaineering skills.
In addition to nature, authentic cultural experience can be found in the traditional mountain villages dotting the valley. Travelers can stay in tent camps, to simple guesthouses or a couple of hotels near the lake. This provides a chance to interact with friendly residents and witness a rural lifestyle largely untouched by modern urbanization.
The combination of stunning lakes, mild summer weather, and rich cultural hospitality makes Seven Lakes a favorite spot for hikers and explorers.