• Panjakent - Begin the day by departing from the Uzbekistan/Tajikistan border (1 hour). After crossing both borders, meet the driver and guide to travel to the historical and picturesque city of Panjakent in the Zerafshan Valley. Panjakent, located in the Sughd province of Tajikistan along the Zeravshan River, has a population of 33,000. It was once an ancient town in Sogdiana, with the ruins of the old town situated on the outskirts of the modern city. The Sarazm Important Bird Area is located downstream on the tugay-vegetated floodplain of the river.

• Republican Museum of History and Local Lore of Rudaki - Rudaki, the founder of Tajik-Persian classical literature from the 9th-10th century, was born and buried in the village of Panjrud. He was the most renowned poet of the Samanid State during the 9th-10th centuries AD. In 2008, Tajikistan’s government officially celebrated Rudaki’s 1150th anniversary, and today, many places, streets, and universities are named in his honor. In the late afternoon, after exploring Panjakent, return to the Tajik/Uzbek border and proceed to Samarkand. Cross the border and drive to Samarkand, where the driver will meet you for a transfer to the final destination in Samarkand city. End of the tour.

• Sarazm Archaeological Site - UNESCO WHS - Ancient Sarazm
  This site was excavated in the 1970s when a local resident, while working in the field, discovered an axe and decided to keep it. Later, upon visiting a museum, he noticed a similar item and showed it to archaeologists. Since then, the Sarazm settlement has been excavated as one of the earliest well-developed Bronze Age settlements in Central Asia. In 2010, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Government of Tajikistan officially celebrated the 5500th anniversary of Sarazm in October 2020.

• Bottled water
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Professional Certified Guide

• Lunch
• Dinner
• Other

Penjikent is a historical city situated in Tajikistan. It serves as the final Sogdians’ ancient city from 5-8cc AD in Zerafshan Valley with a rich historical past, located along the renowned Great Silk Road. It was destroyed during the Arabs invasion in 7-8 cc AD. Known as the birthplace of Rudaki, the premier esteemed modern Tajik poet of the 10th Century.
In this single-day journey, you’ll explore Ancient Sarazm (a world heritage site classified by UNESCO, dating back to the Bronze Age- 5500 years), the remnants of ancient Panjakent, the local marketplace, and a tour of the Rudaki museum.

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