Seven Lakes (Haft Kul)

The Seven Lakes (Haft Kul) in the Fann Mountains are among the most beautiful natural landscapes accessible from Dushanbe. A chain of seven lakes connected by a mountain valley, each at a higher elevation than the last, the trail through them is a classic two-to-three day walk from the road head at Padrud.

The lower lakes are accessible in a day hike; the upper lakes require camping or using local homestays in the villages along the way. The trail is well-trodden by trekking standards for the region, and local guides are available at the trailhead. From Dushanbe, the journey to the trailhead takes four to five hours by road via the Anzob Tunnel.

things to do sight
A story
Each of the Seven Lakes has a different color — ranging from pale turquoise to deep emerald to an almost opaque milky white — due to varying mineral concentrations, depth, and the angle of surrounding glaciers feeding into them. Local legend says each lake corresponds to a level of paradise. The highest, Alaudin, is surrounded by peaks exceeding 5,000 meters, and in midsummer the reflections of snow-capped mountains in the still water make the place feel genuinely otherworldly.