Private Seven Lakes Tajikistan 4x4 Jeep Expedition from Samarkand

We were sent up a mountain in an unsuitable vehicle, which caused us to be stranded for four hours at the peak after some rain. The guide had no idea what to do. When I asked if there was a risk we’d be stuck overnight with no water, the guide said “I hope not”. Their anxiety was because their people carrier vehicle may get stuck in a few inches of mud caused by the rain. Because of this, the driver and guide refused to take us home. As night approached and we began to get desperate, we even began shovelling the mud off the road ourselves, as our guide and driver ignored us and chatted casually to locals. They refused to call for help for three hours. The road was cleared of other vehicles, but they still refused to try to drive the vehicle over the minor mud patch. Eventually, after three hours of being stranded, I demanded the guide summon help. He eventually gave in and a 4by4 was called. This was the car we should have been given to go up the mountain in the first place. We then had to hike a mile on a thin riverbank made of pebbles. If it had collapsed, we’d have fallen into strong rapids. One of us fell towards the bank during the hike on this unsafe ridge and cut himself, bleeding significantly. Thank goodness he didn’t stumble into the rapids or he would have likely drowned. Our shoes and shorts were caked in mud and ruined after this hike, and some items of property were lost. This is a very expensive day trip - we paid £414 for two people. But the day was badly organised, no rescue vehicle was sent for three hours, and the staff ignored us even though we were naturally getting anxious about nightfall approaching and the risk of more rain. I raised these issues with the tour operator when we returned. He gave us a £50 per person partial refund (25 per cent). When I asked for a full refund given how badly organised, dangerous and distressing the trip was, he accused me of ‘wanting a free ride’. He also claimed, falsely, that we were sent up the mountain in a 4by4 vehicle rather than the truth, which is that an unsuitable people carrier was used, and that’s why the staff were frightened to drive it through a few inches of mud. I sent a detailed, carefully written account of what happened to the agent last week, as I assumed he may have been misled by his partners. Despite several attempts, he’s refused to engage with any of the matters of fact raised. I’ve also made clear I have supporting photos and video of what happened. I now have several aggressive and insulting messages in my inbox from the operator, who has chosen to get very personal rather than address the specifics in the detailed account I sent to him last week. He’s being evasive because he knows they got things very wrong. The following is a direct quote from the operator’s last message to me: “wake up craig you choose to take a tour to off the track mountain, God forbid but tourist sometimes loose their life due to unforeseen weather condition, my advise to you is to stay nice & safe doing city tour in future.” I think this tells you all you need to know about this trip and agency.

This tour is a deathtrap. We were sent up the mountain in a weak, unsuitable people carrier. Minor rainfall led to several mudpatches, which the guide and driver refused to drive through in case the vehicle got stuck and they got into trouble. We were stranded on a remote mountain for four hours, running out of water. When I asked the guide if we would be stuck overnight, he said "I really hope not". The staff watched us shovelling mud ourselves out of the road, declining to call for help, despite nightfall approaching. Eventually, when we insisted they call a rescue vehicle, they finally did it. We then had to hike for an hour along an unsafe pebble stone river bank, with storming rapids a few inches to the left. One of us almost fell into the rapids. He was bleeding after the fall. Shoes, shorts and bags were lost or ruined, causing over £300 of property damage. Eventually, the rescue vehicle arrived, but we'd have been stuck up the mountain after dark if I hadn't insisted on it being called. When I complained and asked for my money back, the organiser claimed dishonestly that we were sent up in a 4by4 and that we were prevented from travelling due to other cars being stuck. This is untrue, it was a people carrier, and the road was cleared several times of smaller cars, but our staff wouldn't risk the mud patch because they knew the people carrier wasn't up to it. We were given a £50 per person refund from the £200 per person trip. Under the circumstances, we should have had an apology and a full refund. Of note is that we didn't actually do around a third of the itinerary due to the crisis. But far more significant was the property damage, risk to life and distress caused. I tried to explain this to the operator in an extended account with evidence, but he ignored the full account and eventually stopped engaging. Don't risk this dangerous, badly organised trip.

Awesome tour, amazing nature, amazing mountains scenery and the guide and driver so nice. Thank you!

Very happy we managed to visit ALL seven lakes as we were also lucky with wonderful weather for such trip! First of all, as the trip took place in November, sunset that time of the year is at 5:20 PM already, so I requested early departure at 7:00 AM instead of listed 8:00 AM to catch all the daytime. The day before the organizer Mr. Amir kindly confirmed that weather is great and we are good to go, agreed on early departure at 7:00 AM and provided with Excel file with a schedule visiting every lake. Very convenient, flexible and fast responsive tour operator! First, local driver picked us up at our home in Samarkand. It takes less than 1 hour to get to the border. At 8 AM the border crossing takes around 20-25 minutes, very smooth process there. At the Tajikistan side at 8:15 AM we met our guide Mr. Umar with driver Mr. Mansur and headed to Panjakent city for supermarket shopping to get snacks and drinks (not included in a tour price). After another hour of driving gravel road, we reached the first lake. Take note that there is no reception/internet in the area. Our guide Mr. Umar is very knowledgeable, explained A LOT about every lake, about local people and culture and many, many more. We had a lot of questions and we got very detailed and interesting answers on all of them, appreciate it, learnt a lot! Along the way we had a photo stops at every lake, without any rush. All relaxing and smooth. To get to the seventh lake you need to hike for around 30 minutes. By the lake we had a lunch with snacks we bought in Panjakent. I would suggest bringing proper food, as there is no shops/cafes at all in the area and tour operator doesn't provide lunch, as well. So be advised and prepared. We departed back to Panjakent at around 4 o'clock and reached Panjakent at around 5:15 PM, just by the sunset. I asked to drop us in Panjakent by our hotel, as we wanted to stay for a day to explore city itself, so we haven't had a ride back to Samarkand with the tour operator. Thanks a lot to Mr. Amir for organizing and adjusting the schedule, Mr. Umar for such an interesting stories and precious information, and Mr. Mansur for driving us safely around!

I had an amazing day exploring the Fann mountains and the seven lakes. The guide Dawood and driver Masoor were so helpful and shared amazing history and background of Tajikistan. I would highly recommend this trip.