ISKANDARKUL - Live Legend, One-day tour

Dushanbe

09:00-09:30 - departure to Iskandarkul lake, Ayni district Our trip will start from the Dushanbe. We will pick up travelers from the hotel residences in territory of Dushanbe.

Varzob

09:30-12:00 - we will driving through the Varzob valley and Hisar mountains in line with the Varzob aggressive river

Fann Mountains

12:00-13:00 - in way we will meet the Fann mountains. Iskanderkul, considered the heart of the Fan Mountains, is surrounded by several peaks- five thousand meters – Bodhona, Chapdara, Maria, Mirali, Zindon. The highest is Chimtarga (5,487 meters). The Fanns boast about a hundred peaks, with several rising to altitudes of more than 5,000 meters and relative elevations of up to 1,500 meters.

Iskanderkul Lake

13:00-14:00 - arrived to Iskandarkul and lunch at the Iskandarkul Beach Lake Iskanderkul resembles a triangle in shape. Its area is 3.5 square kilometers. The water depth is 70 meters. The mirror surface of the reservoir surrounded by mountains looks great. The uniqueness of the lake lies in the fact that it is the largest in the mountains and is located at an altitude of more than 2000 meters. The volume of the lake's water is 172 million cubic meters. The length of the coastline is 14 thousand meters.

14:00-15:30 - Iskanderkul lake - Panjchashma - Busefal canyon; In this time we are visiting Busefal canyon and have opportunitie swimming and boating in the lake. According to another legend, the Macedonian horse, Bucephalus, drank water from the lake during a halt after a long march and fell ill. The commander himself went further to India, leaving his faithful horse here. However, even at such a great distance, he felt the death of his master and threw himself into the lake, remaining in it forever. Since then, during the full moon, every month Bucephalus comes out of the water to graze: the waters part, and a snow-white horse comes to the surface of the lake, accompanied by grooms.

15:30-16:30 - hiking to the Lake Moron and Iskandarkul Waterfall The nearby 43-meter waterfall is called "Fan Niagara". It is located on the river flowing out of the lake. There is also a rock with an inscription dating back to 1870, it was left by the participants of the expedition led by the famous Russian traveler and scientist A. Fedchenko. Not far from Iskanderkul there is another lake called Snake Lake. According to the stories of old-timers, many snakes live in it. Locals claim that reptiles will not bite in two cases: when they are in the water and when people drink water. The water in it is warmer than in Iskanderkul, so it is quite possible to swim here.

Dushanbe

17:00-20:00 - end of the tour, leave Iskandarkul, way back to Dushanbe