Tours over lakes in mountains Fany.

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move” 

Robert Louis Stevenson «Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes».

The Fan Mountains are a popular tourist destination situated in north-west Tajikistan. The Fan Mountains area is convenient for visiting. A paved road from Dushanbe going to the largest Pamir-Alai lake - lake Iskanderkul - leads to this place via the Anzob Pass 3372 meters above sea level. 
Another paved road runs from Panjakent. One more road from Khujand runs through Istravshan (formerly Uroteppa) and the Shahriston Pass 3351 meters above sea level. The Fan Mountains area road system includes both paved and unpaved roads.
The area is ideal for organizing hiking tours lasting several days. Going from one valley to another, from one beautiful lake to another no less stunning, via numerous rocky outcrops with occasional hanging glaciers, tourists can't help but recognize the fantastic environment through which they are travelling.
Among the most beautiful and interesting peaks (from a mountaineer's point of view) are Chapdara 5050 meters above sea level, Bodkhona 5138 meters above sea level, Zamok 5070 meters above sea level, Maria 4970 meters above sea level, Mirali 5120 meters above sea level, and Zindon 4800 meters above sea level. Both the good and the ordinary routes on the south and west sides of Chimtarga 548 meters above sea level, the highest peak of Fan Mountains, lead to its top.

 The short description of a route of whistle-stop trip in mountains Fany: 

Dushanbe - pass Anzob - settlement Marguzor – mountaineering camp "Vertical" - lakes Alaudin - lake Iskanderkul - Dushanbe.

Distance of route: 407 km.
Season: from June 1th till September, 30th.
  Best time for tour: July - August.
Pax in group:  from 1 up to 10 person.
Duration of tour: 4 days, 3 nights.

The detailed program of foot travel to lakes Alaudin:

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Day 1. Dushanbe - mountaineering camp "Vertical" of 2635 meters above sea level (178 km).
Transfer: Dushanbe - pass Anzob (90 km). The road up to pass Anzob goes along the river Varzob. On a way a stop on pass Anzob, short walk and photographing of vicinities. From road the surprising and unique landscape of mountains of Ghissar mountains. 
Transfer: pass Anzob - settlement Sarvoda – mountaineering camp "Vertical" (88 km). A way from settlement from Darvoda up to mountaineering the Vertical of 33 kilometers. We pass a small colliery - now here extract coal for local residents. Kishlak Psrud which will be further on our way, was stretched on some kilometers on gorge. Last settlement in gorge kishlak Marguzor from it up to camp remains 21 kilometer. After settlement Marguzor the road rises on a mountain streamer. Local residents of kishlaks for the summer leave in a zone of the Alpine meadows with pets - goats, sheeps and cows. Houses of inhabitants are combined from a stone and covered by clay. Arrival in maountaineering "Vertical", accommodation in cottages camp. Free time, walk in vicinities. A dinner, overnight.
Day 2. Mountaneering camp "Vertical" - lakes Alaudin of 2 780 meters above sea level (15 km).
Breakfast. Hiking: mountaineering camp "Vertical" - the Big lake Alaudin (1 hour). From mountaineering camp in to lake the good track is laid. The gorge Alaudin of lakes from the south surrounds a snow mountain ridge with the highest tops and set of glaciers. Ascentions on peaks Chapdara and Chimtarga from here begin.
Above lakes Alaudin a huge wall top Politehnik of 4241 meters above sea level towers, southern-to the east from peak Politehnik the mountain-beauty Chapdara of 5049 meters above sea level, on the right towers, peak Adamtash of 4579 meters above sea level in the distance towers. On a way we pass by the Lower and High lakes Alaudin. Lake Lower Alaudin on the river Chapdara it is passable on the right, the lake High Alaudin is in a deep stony bowl and the track passes on the right and left coast of this lake.
Cascade Alaudin of lakes has other name - Chapdara. Lakes concern to river basin Psrud. On coast of lakes grows juniper a wood. Lakes depth up to 16,5 meters. Water of the sated color very transparent. The further transition to the Big lake Alaudins.
In a northwest part of lake there is a green glade where it is possible to put tents. Here is tea bar forester Ali. Following tea bar it is located at the lake. On the opposite party of lakes there is a small peninsula, this very beautiful place for camp. In east part of the Big lake Alaudin there is East lake Alaudin in it the river Chapdara runs.
These are surprising lakes on beauty. The river follows from the Big lake Alaudin. Walks in vicinities Alaudin a valley in which lakes are located. At desire it is possible to rise on low pass Zierat of 3320 meters above sea level or to make rise on pass Fluorite of 2900 meters above sea level. The ascention on top Fluorite of 3200 meters above sea level from which the kind on all Alaudin and Kulikolon a valley and a wall of peak Mirali will open is possible. The lunch-picnic. After walk returning in mountaineering camp Vertical. Arrival in mountaineering camp, a dinner and overnight.
Day 3. Mountaineering camp "Vertical" - settlement Sarvoda - lake Iskanderkul - kishlak Saratog - valley Saratog (94 km).
Breakfast. Transfer: Mountaineering camp "Vertical" - lake Iskanderkul (84 km). Arrival on a pearl of mountains Fany - lake Iskanderkul (Alexander lake). The lake is in mountains Zeravshan of a ridge in mountain area Kuhistan on a slope Ghissar a ridge, has tectonic, glacial an origin.
Many legends are connected with this lake, according to one of them, Alexander the Great has ordered to block the river proceeding there. The lake is at height of 2195 meters above sea level, the area of a water mirror of 3,4 square kilometers, length of 3,2 kilometers, width of 2,9 kilometers, the maximal depth of 72 meters.
The mountain rivers run into lake - Sarytag, Serima and Khozormetch. For winter Iskanderkul all freezes, in the middle of lake there is the narrow tape of pure water formed by a jet of a undercurrent. The lake, is mentioned, in descriptions of a campaign of Alexander the Great and to these the antiquity of lake proves to be true. The level of this lake gradually decreases, to what coastal stones on slopes of mountains surrounding lake testify. Walk on 38-ми a meter falls and five springs Panchashma.
Transfer: Lake Iskanderkul - kishlak Sartog - valley Sartog (8 km). A lunch in kishlak Saratog in the national house. Walk on valley Saratog. The gorge Saratog is in an environment of mountains Fany, the kind on peak Chimtarga of 4955 meters above sea level from here opens. From kishlak Saratog our way goes along the river Karakul fur up to a mouth of the river Dukdon, further we rise upwards on the river Dukdon in a direction of pass Dukdon. On a way on pass we shall see tremendous landscapes of mountains Fansy. Returning in kishlak Sartog. A dinner in the Tadjik house with national kitchen, a overnight in the guest house.
Day 4. Kishlak Saratog - city Dushanbe (120 km).
Breakfast. Transfer: kishlak Sartog - lake Iskanderkul - pass Anzob (30 km). On a way a stop on pass Anzob, short walk and photographing in vicinities. From road the surprising landscape on mountains of Ghissar mountains opens, the road from pass Anzob goes along the river Varzob.
Transfer: pass Anzob - Dushanbe (90 km). In front of Dushanbe we pass picturesque gorge Varzob, here it is a lot of vacation spots, hotels, cafe and restaurants.

Note:
Author program of Alexander Petrov. Copying and introduction -  from the sanction of the author  petrovsra@mail.ru

Alexander Petrov
photos.