Beyond TAJIKISTAN Border That Was CLOSED FOR 20 YEARS (Panjakent, Haft-Kul (Seven Lakes), Sarazm)

While using Samarkand, Uzbekistan as my base to explore the country, I realized that just 50 km away lies another country, where the landscape and customs are very different, yet it shares the same Tajik ethnic group, living at the crossroads of the Silk Road.
So, I decided to take two full days to explore the western Pamirs, including the Zarafshan Mountain Range, where the small city of Panjakent is nestled in a valley. The southern part of the range features the Fann Mountains, which I visited on my first day - exploring Haft-Kul (Seven Lakes), with its fantastic scenery and people who have lived there since medieval times.
After visiting all seven majestic lakes and the villages of Shing and Marguzor, I returned to Panjakent to spend my second day discovering its life, history, and people - along with the food, including shurbo, shashlik, and qurutob!
I ended my trip at one of the oldest settlements in Central Asia - Sarazm Ancient City - and the old city of Panjakent, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Join me for this short yet unforgettable journey back in time to Tajikistan!

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:30 Jartepa Border Crossing
1:29 Where am I going?
2:05 Checkpoint Stop at Shing Village
3:26 The Turquoise Beauty (Lake 1)
4:16 Getting Higher (Lake 2)
5:29 Walking Through the Rocks (Lake 3)
6:24 The Longest Lake (Lake 4)
7:14 The Cutest Lake (Lake 5)
7:55 Driving on the Seabed (Lake 6)
8:56 Hiking Through the Valley (Lake 7)
12:51 The Most Authentic Tajik Dinner
13:54 Bustling Panjakent Bazaar
15:42 The 14th Century Mosque
16:24 Walking Along Rudaki Street
17:29 Mind-blowing Empty Museum
18:16 Lunch by the Most Important River
19:34 Thousands-Year-Old Ruins of Old Panjakent
21:14 The Oldest Place in Central Asia? (Sarazm)
22:17 Why Is Tajikistan So Special?

Music:
Yinon Muallem - Istanbul Beat
Aiyo - Skywards
Sada Trio - Nakaroz
Torii Wolf - Five Below (Ooyy Remix) (Instrumental Version)
Dew Of Light - A Travelers’ Gloom
Ajwaa - Newlies
Silver Maple - We Are Giants
Damma Beatz - Spotlighter

Filmed on:
November 17-18, 2023

Filmed with:
DJI Osmo Action 3
iPhone 13 Pro

Edited with:
Final Cut Pro
RØDE NT1 5th Generation