Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

Day 1​​:  Arrival in Almaty, pick up and transfer to hotel, overnight.

At 9 AM Proceed for a city tour in Bishkek. Sightseeing of Bishkek includes following: visit to Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Ploshad Ala-Too (Ala-Too square), the History Museum, walking tour in Bishkek, National philharmonic and many others places upon your request. It is not a real city tour without visiting real central-Asian Bazaar!

Day 2: Almaty city tour

Visit Panfilov Park, Zenkov wooden cathedral, St.Nicholas cathedral, the National Musical Instruments museum, Almaty’s Green bazaar, panoramic view at observatory. Overnight Almaty.

Day 3: Almaty – Bishkek (250 kms)

After breakfast depart Almaty and drive to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan via a newly-built highway. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon sightseeing tour in Bishkek. It’s a gateway to the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountains and Ala Archa National Park, with glaciers and wildlife trails. The city’s arts scene encompasses the monumental State Museum of Fine Arts and the colonnaded Opera and Ballet Theater. The vast, central Ala-Too Square features the Manas monument, honoring the hero of the Kyrgyz Epic of Manas. Overnight Bishkek.

Day 4: Bishkek – Grigorevka Gorge – Cholpon Ata

Drive to Lake Issyk Kul (240 kms), one of the world’s largest mountain lakes at 1607 metres. After arrival, drive to Grigorevka gorge full of lush green alpine meadows and fir trees, then do an easy hike in the gorge. Next stop is in Cholpon Ata where you will be able to visit the petroglyphs lying under the open sky. Overnight Cholpon Ata.

Day 5: Issyk Kul – Bishkek (240 km) – Tashkent flight

Issyk Kul – Bishkek (240 km) – Tashkent flight Return to Bishkek visiting Burana Tower en route. The Burana Tower is a large minaret in the Chuy Valley in northern Kyrgyzstan. It is located about 80 km east of the country’s capital Bishkek, near the town of Tokmok. The tower, along with grave markers, some earthworks and the remnants of a castle and three mausoleums, is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, which was established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. An external staircase and steep, winding stairway inside the tower enables visitors to climb to the top. Evening flight to Tashkent at 1840-1900, meet and transfer to hotel in Tashkent.

Day 6: Tashkent

Depending of the day of the week, catch a morning or evening 90-minute flight to Tashkent. Transfer to Tashkent hotel. Proceed for city tour: visit Hasti Imam square, Mui Muborak library with Osman Koran of 7 c, Barakhan Madrasa, Chorsu bazaar, Applied Arts museum, Independence square and Tashkent metro. Overnight.

Day 7: ​​Tashkent-Samarkand by fast train Afrosiab at 0800-1010

Early breakfast in the hotel and transfer to railway station for fast Train to Samarkand. Upon arrival start your city tour in Samarkand. Visit Gur Emir mausoleum, Registan square and Siab Bazar, Bibi Hanum mosque. Day 8: Full day city tour of Samarkand. You will visit Shahi Zinda complex, Afrosiab museum with wall painting of 7 C and other ancient artifacts found at the site dating back to 6 century BC up to 20 Century AD. Also visit Ulughbek observatory and your visit to Konigil Silk paper workshop will finish your sightseeing. Enjoy Sound and Light Laser show at Registan after 2100 (if available). Overnight Samarkand.

Day 8: Samarkand – Urgut-Samarkand

Today we will show one of the famous Urgut bazar of Uzbekistan, located 40 km from Samarkand. You will discover local market with food stuff, embroidery of Suzane and other craft works. After the market you wil return to Samarkand and visit Konigil village where locals revived the production of Samarkand Silk paper made of Mallberry tree. Afernoon free on your own to explore more. Overnight.

Day 9: Samarkand – Bukhara via Shahrisabz (80 kms +290 kms)

Drive to Bukhara via Shahrisabz, another UNESCO world heritage site. Short city tour of Shahrisabz, visit Ak Saray ruins, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Juma mosque, Jahangir’s mausoleum. Shahrisabz is also famous for its embroidery Suzane which is different than other regions of Uzbekistan and you will be able to purchase local craft works from local masters on site. After lunch, continue driving to Bukhara and you will arrive in Bukhara later evening and have free time for little walk and exploration of the city. Your hotel is located in the old town. Overnight Bukhara.

Day 10: Bukhara: Full day walking city tour of Bukhara.

Bukhara is the pearl of Asia and it was the center of Education and Islamic culture in the medieval ages. Still in the city there are many mosques, madrasa and mausoleums. Visit Ismael Samaniy mausoleum, Chashmai Ayub, Bolo Hauz mosque. Ark Fortress, dating back to 1st century AD and 20 century, it was the royal residence of Bukhara Emir. Kalyan mosque and minaret, Mir Arab Madrasa, Taki Zargaron, Ulughbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasa, Tim Abdullakhan, Taki Telpakfurushon, Magaki Attari mosque, Nadir Divan Begi Hanaka and Madrasa and Chor Minor. Overnight Bukhara.

Day 11: Bukhara – Mary (380 kms): Leave early to drive to the Turkmenistan border.

You will be transferred to the border and pass through both customs, visa formalities and meet your Turkmenistan guide and driver at Turkmenistan customs. Between two countries there is a neutral zone and you can use Shuttle bus from one side to the other. Continue driving to Mary, and oasis in the Karakum desert. Overnight Mary.

Day 12: Mary – Merv – Ashgabat: Drive to Bairamaly (25 kms).

Sightseeing in ancient Merv, founded in the 6th century BC and one of the most important cities along the Silk Road. Return to Mary and visit the museum. Catch afternoon flight to Ashgabat.

Day 13: Ashgabat-Darwaza gas crater 300 km

It’s known for its white marble buildings and grandiose national monuments. To the northwest, the sprawling Ruhy Mosque has a vast gilt dome. The central Artogrul Gazi Mosque is modeled on Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. Examples of traditional weaving are displayed at Turkmen Carpet Museum. The Wedding Palace is a series of star-shaped tiers topped by a giant golden globe​.​Sightseeing in Ashgabat including the National Museum of History and Ethnography of Turkmenistan, old Nisa, the ancient Parthian settlement, and the Anau ruins. Afternoon drive to Darwaza gas crater, arrival at night, dinner and overnight in Yurt.

Gas crater it is also known as Hell’s gate where in 1970s they discovered huge reserve of natural gas and the crater is till buring since 70s.

Day 14: Darwaza Gas Crater Khiva 300 km

Early morning 50-minute flight to Dashoguz. then drive to Kunya Urgench. Visit Kunya Urgench historical sites: mausoleums of Turebek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmad-din-Kubra, Sultan Ali. View the Kutlug Timur minaret and Kyrk Molla, Izmukhir. Return drive to Dashoguz. You will cross the border, the procedure is the same as you did when you crossed from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan. At Uzbekistan side, where your Uzbek driver will meet you and transfer you to Khiva. Overnight.

Day 15: Khiva –Tashkent flight

Full day visit of Khiva: Ark Fortress, Ichan kala, Madrasah Muhammad Aminkhan, Madrasa Muhammad Rahimkhan, Kalta Minor, wood workshop, carpet Workshop, Pahlavan Mahmud mausoleum, Shergazikhan madrasa, Juma mosque and Minaret, Tash Hauli palace, Caravanserai and bazaar. Evening after 8 PM transfer to airport of Urgench for your flight to Tashkent. 2120 departure, Arrival at 2230. Transfer to hotel.

Day 16: Departure. Transfer to airport for return flight home End of Services.