Trek the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan

This was my first MBA trip and I hugely enjoyed Tajikistan. It hit a real sweep spot between amazing scenery, a good challenge, friendly people and a really interesting country. It was the perfect opportunity to get away and have a change of scene. Everything was well organised too. Highlights included the group camaraderie, the wonderful lakes, and the stars. Uzbekistan was super interesting and while this leg of the trip was short, the time in Samarkand added an extra dimension to the trip (recommend travellers add on a day or two like I did). I'd do it all again and the whole thing has given me a real interest in doing more MBA trips like this.

The Fann Mountains are incredibly beautiful and this trip will take you to the best spots. The tour is well paced, so even though some hikes were a challenge, you had the time to build up for the high passes. Everyday there was something new and exciting. Islam and the team with us were great. Whenever you needed help, they were there. Illness, equipment, etc. A lot of hard work from them to make camping easy and the tour enjoyable. Dushanbe and Samarkand are great bookends. Both places are friendly, open for exploring and have a lot to offer so make sure you add time to that.

Amazing hike through the Fann mountains. The beauty of the lakes and mountains exceeded my expectations and the guide and group were brilliant. As someone with dietary requirements (no gluten) I was incredibly impressed with how well I was catered for and the variety and tastiness of the meals and snacks provided. I relied on the provided drinking water and had no issue. The camp sites were in incredible locations and I loved the daily (very) refreshing swims. The Fann mountains still feel very much off the beaten track and I’d highly recommend getting in quick to experience this phenomenal place before word get out.

Tajikistan exceeded my expectations. The lake and mountain scenery is spectacular, even more so than the photos that I had seen. The walking is challenging but manageable, so the trip grading was accurate. There is no shade on some days, so bring a wide-brimmed hat! We were out in the wild without internet access for 9 days (even with a local SIM) and we saw no other walking groups until the 7 Lakes at the end. This is exactly what I was hoping for, an incredible and memorable trip. The complicated logistics of the trip were very well organised. The chef did wonders with food that all had to be carried with us by the donkeys. The guys who managed the donkeys and set up / put down camp were super efficient and careful. The tents were new and clean. Hygiene was a priority. Our guide Islom is young but he is from the Fann mountains and knows them very well. He was always thinking about our safety, at one point even sprinting from the back of the group towards an approaching pack of snarling dogs to keep them away from us. He was well respected by the other members of the crew. He would regularly check that each of us was OK and not having any issues. And he was very genuine and good company. He has a good future in guiding and will get even better as he gains experience. We also had a separate mountain guide to lead us from the front and set the pace, which he generally did well though oddly on the downhill sections he would often disappear into the distance at a pace that most people wouldn’t want to match. It would have been nice to get more information from him in advance about each day’s walking. The hotels in Dushanbe and Samarkand were great. The first homestay was lovely too. The second one, at the 7 Lakes, was not impressive as regards the rooms and facilities but the food was good and the staff were welcoming. Bear in mind that this is Tajikistan, where adventure travel is in its infancy - it’s not Nepal where they have been doing trekking trips for decades. Some of the pre-trip information about temperatures, gear and luggage was confusing or inaccurate. And we weren’t always clear what each day’s walking would involve. But I’m sure this will be ironed out as this trip develops - this was only the second time it had run. You don’t get to come to the wilds of somewhere undeveloped like Tajikistan and get a fully formed comfortable travel experience. But you do get amazing views and unique experiences that you will remember forever. And you have the place almost to yourself. For a good idea of what the weather/temperature is going to be like in the mountains, I suggest looking at the forecast for Iskanderkul on the UK Met Office website. (The trip doesn’t go there but it’s nearby and at a similar altitude. ) It was clear to me that the local company, guide and crew are all 100% committed to giving visitors the best and safest experience possible. And it’s spectacular walking country. I thoroughly recommend this trip to adventurous travellers.

This trip really lived up to expectations. From the bonkers post-Soviet city of Dushanbe to the remoteness of the mountain camps it really felt like we were in right at the beginning of Tajikistan's tourism era. We had a really great group, who gelled right from the start and found loads of common ground. Our guide Islomiddin really worked hard to give us a great taste of his country and we learned some basic Tajik words which were much appreciated by the locals. The cooks were amazing and provided multi course hot meals for breakfast and tea (dinner/supper. . . ), and great packed lunches for hiking. I think we surprised them with our appetite for their real strong coffee, but one of the highlights every day for me was the quiet moment between getting up out of my tent and sitting down to breakfast, wandering around the camp with a cup of thick, treacly coffee sweetened with condensed milk waiting for the sun to climb above the mountains and taking in the sounds (mostly donkeys!), sights and smells of the wilderness. The hiking varied and I think the level was accurately described. I have definitely been on trips with harder hiking, but there equally was significant distance and ascent every day so I wouldn't underestimate it. There were plenty of breaks and a long lunch break every day in which to sit and snooze and soak up the epic views. Being able to swim every day in a freezing lake or river was another highlight. The scenery and views were stunning - everyone came back with thousands of photos. If I had any criticism it was that the trip was slightly front-loaded. The trip to the Seven Lakes on the last couple of days would probably have been amazing if that was your only taste of the mountains, but we had been spoiled by the first few days' hiking, which were truly exceptional, and it felt slightly underwhelming in comparison. Temperature-wise it was 30+ in Dushanbe, high 20s in the mountains in the daytime for hiking, but as soon as the sun went below the mountains it was puffa jacket and woolly hat time. We barely saw a cloud the whole time we were there, let alone rain. Tajikistan is an amazing destination - get there before the rest of the world discovers it. This trip has a real 'adventure' feel, and and I would happily have stayed out camping and hiking in the mountains in my tent for much longer!

What a beautiful country with gorgeous hiking & breathtaking views. The trip was fantastic and despite Tajik tourism being in its infancy, the quality was far better than I’d expected- great (& diverse) food while camping, a gorgeous first home stay & our local hosts & guide (Islam) ensuring everything was satisfactory for us all, checking in with how we were doing & our wellbeing throughout the trip. We were lucky to have had such a great group with so many laughs along the way! The lakes were surreal- with the added advantage that we could swim in many of them! The local families & people we met in the villages could not have been more welcoming. Highly recommend!

The landscape was amazing - I wasn't expecting it to be so desolate and the lakes so clear. Alaudin Lake was a particular highlight. The hiking was a bit tougher than expected (would consider distances/elevations as guidelines only; the sun/heat is also relentless during the day) but definitely doable. Bring snacks, ideally a water filter (not just tablets), (a lot of) Imodium, and Compeed! (even if your boots are broken in. . . lots of blisters in our group). Our mountain guide (Mubin) was particularly good - made an effort to sit with us at every mealtime (inc breakfast) and tell us about Tajik culture and his life. The main guide (Islom) didn't add much to my experience. Amongst other things he struggled to handle different fitnesses/walking paces in the group; think it was his first time with a larger group and it definitely showed. Kit list was a bit excessive (maybe just the time of year) - we were fine with just 2-3 season sleeping bags and thermals, and didn't need mosquito nets or waterproofs in early September. Final afternoon in Samarkand felt like a bit of an afterthought - would definitely stay an extra night or two if you actually want to see a bit of the city.

A wonderful country and a superb trip. Islom (our guide) and his team, did a terrific job in giving us an amazing experience of Tajikistan. Full marks! The mountains were beautiful, yet intimate as we are right in the middle of them. The camping spots were delightful and the food the team provided was excellent given the remoteness of the trek. Each day provided stunning scenery of mountains and lakes and the humbling opportunity to meat local villagers. Islom took the time to talk about the Tajikistan culture and attend to any needs we had. Warm during the day (25 degrees) whilst temperatures dip quickly after the sun goes down so bring layers or a good down jacket for the evenings and embrace the glacial lakes and rivers for washing on the camping days. Roll mats are provided but an additional Therma rest recommended along with some extra snacks of you have a good appetite. An incredible experience with a great team and group

The mountains in Tajikistan are stunning, I loved the hiking and enjoyed every single one of the camping spots. Lucked out with one of the best groups of people I’ve ever met on one of these trips. More positives - the itinerary is really well thought through, it was great not needing to pack up camp every night (and staying by lakes / running water each day). The home stays were also great. The crew were incredible and I cannot recommend Mubin (our mountain guide) and Miskola enough for really putting their hearts into this This trip could be awesome and I have every confidence that Miskola will make it awesome for future groups.

The trip was fantastic and the group even better. Miskola and her team were wonderful (special shout-out to our mountain guide Mubin). Beautiful landscapes, awesome campingsites located alongside lakes and rivers (perfect for those seeking a refreshing bath🥶), plus low number of other tourist. This trip is a great way to explore Tajikistan with the benefit to visit Samarkand.