We will meet tourists at the hotel in Dushanbe, give a brief briefing on the tour programme, and then head to Kulyab and then to Qal'ai Khumb, Darvaz.

On the way to Kulyab we will visit the Hulbuk Fortress (165 km from Dushanbe). Along the way, panoramic views of rural settlements, manicured fields and gardens, and the spurs of the Khatlon Mountains open up, vividly demonstrating the natural diversity of southern Tajikistan. If conditions are favourable, a stop at the Nurek Reservoir ("Blue Sea") and a short detour to purchase local dried fruit (optional) are possible.

From the 9th to 11th centuries, the Hulbuk Castle was strategically located in the heart of one of Central Asia's most significant cities. It served as the official residence of Shah (King) Khutalon and was fortified by a substantial salt hill, a notable landmark due to its importance as a source for one of the three prized commodities traded along the Silk Road, along with gold and horses. During the rule of the Bajurids, who were vassals of the Samanids, Hulbuk flourished as a central hub for trade and travel in Khutalan. The city's strategic location saw it as a pivotal point for trade, connecting Bukhara to Badakhshan and India via major trade routes.

The name of the city is believed to originate from the Tajik "kulob" signifying “lake". The city of Kulyab was established 2,700 years ago and was situated along a significant trade route, the Great Silk Road. This strategic location fostered robust trade, economic, and cultural ties with numerous countries in the East and West.During the Middle Ages, Kulyab served as the seat of the Kulyab khanate, a subdivision of the Bukhara Khanate. It was an important political, economic, and cultural center.In the 17th and 19th centuries, 40 poets lived and worked in Kulyab, including the renowned Hastily (Abdurakhman Khoja), Haji Husaina Kangurti, Bismil, and Shohin

The Complex of Mir Saeed Ali Hamadoni is located in the centre of Kulyab. This historical monument dates back to the XI-XV centuries of our era. Historical sources indicate that two major Silk Road trade routes passed through the ancient city of Kulyab. The mausoleum's strategic location on one of the major trade routes of the Silk Road underscores its historical and cultural significance. Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (1312–1385 CE) was a prominent Sufi Muslim saint of the Kubrawiya order, who played a significant role in spreading Islam in the Kashmir Valley of northern India. Throughout his life, Hamadani was addressed honorifically as the Shāh-e-Hamadān ("King of Hamadan"), Amīr-i Kabīr ("the Great Commander"), and Ali Sani ("second Ali").

After lunch we will continue our journey to Qal'ai Khumb, Darvaz (from Kulob - 169 km, 1200 m above sea level).

The ancient town of Karon is located in the village of Ruzvai, at an altitude of 1,700 metres above sea level on the mountain Zogik. Karon is a naturally inaccessible and protected area. Its grandeur and size have led scholars to hypothesize that it was once a royal city and a place of nobility, where the king, his relatives, troops, and servants resided. Historical sources mention the existence of the town of Karon city in medieval times. However, this site was not recognised as a historical and cultural heritage site or a tourist attraction until recently. In 2012, Tajik and Russian archaeologists unearthed fragments of a five-story fire temple, water and wind temples, a windmill, and a fragment of a book (presumably a Zoroastrian sacred book of Avesta) at the site. Here we will have to climb to an altitude of 2700 metres above sea level, the route length is only 3.6 km (40 minutes); ascent/descent - 500 metres.