• Tashkent - At 08:00, depart from Tashkent to Khujand.

Khujand, the second largest city in Tajikistan, serves as a key transport hub and a center for politics, economy, culture, and science. Situated on the banks of the Syr Darya River below the Qayroqqum reservoir in the Fergana Valley, Khujand is one of Central Asia’s oldest cities, with origins dating back to the 7th-6th centuries BC. Alexander the Great conquered and fortified the city, renaming it Alexandria Eskhata (The Furthest Alexandria).

• Khujand Fortress - Khujand Fortress

Established in the 6th-5th centuries BC, the Khujand Fortress initially featured a rampart and later a thick wall made of raw materials. The ancient city and its citadel were protected by separate fortress walls and a wide, water-filled moat. Remnants of these fortifications, covering 20 hectares, are found in the central part of left-bank Khujand. As the city grew economically and demographically, a new fortress was constructed in the 6th-7th centuries. Medieval Khujand comprised three main sections: the Citadel, Shahristan, and Rabad, with the Citadel located by the Rabad gate on the Syr Darya River. This fortress was among the most fortified in Central Asia.

• Masjidi Jami Mosque - The Jami Mosque, part of the Sheikh Muslihiddin complex, is a 16th-century folk architecture monument. Located on the western side of Panjshanbeh Square, its facade faces Shark Street. Built between 1512-1513, the mosque features a 30-column aivan adjoining the eastern wall of the winter hall, which has 20 columns, leading into the mosque’s courtyard.
• Panjshanbe Market - Panjshanbe Bazar, a notable Khujand attraction, is situated in the city center opposite the Sheikh Muslihiddin mausoleum. The market includes a main pavilion and numerous adjacent shops and tents. It is a bustling area frequented by both locals and visitors from nearby villages. The bazaar’s unique architecture and decor blend classicism and Stalinist Empire styles with Soviet and Oriental elements. The central entrance is marked by a hemispherical portal adorned with bright paintings, flanked by sculptures of a man and a woman. Inside, a long-vaulted hall with rows of columns can be seen. Visitors have time for shopping at Panjshanbe Bazar.
• Arbob Cultural Palace - The Arbob Cultural Palace, built in the 1950s in Khujand, was the former headquarters of a Soviet collective farm and is modeled after the winter gardens of Peterhof, St. Petersburg. The main building has three wings, including an ornate theatre seating 800 people. The South wing houses a museum detailing the history of Arbob, collectivization, and the Soviet era in Tajikistan. The palace gained significance in 1992 as the site where the Tajik Soviet declared independence from the Soviet Union and chose the Tajik flag. It also hosted peace conferences following the Tajik civil war, with President Emomalii Rahmon rising to prominence here. The palace was the venue for a “plov of peace” celebrating successful peace negotiations.
• Kayrakkum Reservoir - Also known as Qayroqqum, Qayraqqum, Kayrakum, or Kairakum, this large artificial lake in Sughd Province’s Ghafurov District was renamed Tajik Sea (Tajik: Баҳри Тоҷик) in 2016. Located in the western Fergana Valley on the Syr Darya River, the reservoir is about 15 km east of Khujand. BirdLife International has designated a 1150 km2 area around the reservoir as an Important Bird Area (IBA) due to its support for significant bird populations, including residents, overwintering, breeding, and migratory species. The new Bahoriston sanatorium is situated on the shores of this pristine reservoir, also known as the Tajik Sea, in the vibrant oasis of the Sogd Valley.

• Private transportation
• Lunch
• Licensed guide/driver
• All fees and/or taxes

• Alcoholic Beverages

In this historic destination, we will see the oldest and most fascinating city in Central Asia - Khujand. We will visit the ancient Khujand Fortress, Jomi Mosque, Panjshanbe Bazar, Arbob Palace, and the beautiful Tajik Sea. The incredible city of Khujand is situated on the banks of the majestic Syr Darya, nestled below the Kayrakkum reservoir in the breathtaking Fergana Valley. Khujand is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia! Some sources even believe it was founded as far back as the 7th-6th centuries BC. It was conquered by none other than Alexander the Great himself! He rebuilt and strengthened it, calling it Alexandria Eskhata (Extreme). The Khujand Fortress was founded in the VI—V centuries BC. According to the fascinating archaeological dates, the Khujand fortress was first surrounded by a massive bulk rampart, later by a wall of remarkable thickness made of raw material. The city and the citadel — are two of the most important components of ancient Khujand.

• We can accommodate dietary restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc. If you have dietary requirements, please indicate them when booking. You can add this information under “Information travelers need from you”

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.