Day 1, Bishkek. Pick up from airport on arrival (pls advise time & flight)
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! Overnight in hotel 3*
Day 2, Bishkek to Issyk Kul Lake 240 km 3 hrs direct road
Breakfast at hotel and at 0900 Transfer to the Issyk Kul Lake, en route visit Burana Tower 1200 Lunch in Kyrgyz family not far from Tokmok city included. Continue on driving to Issyk Kul Lake through Boom Canyon. Visit petroglyphs of Paleolithic era and local museum in Cholpon Ata. Upon arrival check in to hotel, 1930 Dinner at local restaurant on your own. Overnight in Tri Korony 3* or similar hotel.
Day 3, Issyk Kul Lake / Bishkek 240 km, 3 hrs drive
Breakfast at the hotel Transfer to Grigorevka Gorge. Lunch break. Grigorevka gorge (60 km, 1,5-2 hours) full of lush green Alpine meadows and fir trees, easy hike in the gorge. Here, from the end of Sep until the end of September there is a collection of yurts, which offer a wide range of services. After return to Bishkek, overnight in Asia Mountains hotel or hotel or Discovery 3* Dinner is on your own.
Day 4, Bishkek to Almaty 250 km
Morning excursion to Ala Archa national park. Lunch at local restaurant and afternoon transfer to Almaty. It is the capital city of Kazakhstan located 240 km from Bishkek. Overnight in Otrar or Kazjol hotel.
Day 5, Almaty city tour
Breakfast in the hotel. Start sightseeing in Almaty at 0900, Panfifilov Park Zenkov Wooden Cathedral, St.Nicholas Cathedral, National Musical Instruments Museum, Central State Museum, Green Bazaar and enjoy a Panoramic view at observatory. Overnight in Otrar hotel.
Day 6, Flight to Dushanbe from Almaty
Morning transfer to Almaty airport at 8 AM. Flight number KC 131 (Air Astana) 1105AM– 1200PM, Almaty -Dushanbe . Meeting in the airport. Sightseeing the Dushanbe city: Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan. Dushanbe means “Monday” in Tajik (Persian Language), site of a village that originally was a popular Monday marketplace.Situated at the conflfluence of two rivers, Varzob and Kofarnihon. Tajikistan United Museum – includes the exhibits on history, natural history and art. Museum of ethnography – professional showcase of 20 th century Tajik art. The collection includes pottery, carpets, cloaks, embroidery, jeweler, musical instruments, woodwork and more. Sleeping Budda. Monument Somoni and park Rudaki Hissar fortress 30km outside of city – the remains o fan18th century fortress, occupied until 1924 is located in 30 km west of Dushanbe. Drive to Dushanbe for overnight.
Day 7, Khujand (Leninabad)
You will see Fan Mountains – a popular tourism and mountain climbing area in Tajikistan. There are about 100 passes in height from 3200 to 5060 m (Mirali). The Fan Mountains are the highest part of Zeravshan range with 11 peaks above 5,000 m with sharp fantastical pointed forms. In the bosom of these mountains are about 30 lakes, the largest of which are Iskandarkul, and the most beautiful and picturesque, famous for the unique play of colors – Kulikalon. A fast flflouring Iskandar-darya river flflows from the lake, forming a marvelous and gorgeous waterfall, so called the “Fan Niagara” that falls from the height 38 meters. Drive to Istarafshan. Istaravshan is a museum city, the ancient center of trade and crafts, one of the most ancient cities of the Central Asia. In 2002 Istaravshan turned 2,500 years old. The city was founded in the sixth century B.C. by a Akhemenid king Cyrus who fortifified the settlement by means of three wall lines and a citadel. In the second -seventh centuries B.C. the ancient sentiment Mugteppa was located on the territory of Istaravshan. Mugteppa was the residence of the local aristocracy who erected there numerous palaces distinguished by original expressive architecture. The evidence of that was found in Bundzhikat (Kala and Kakh-Kakh) and Chil’khudzhra settlements which had fortifified structures with palaces and cult buildings decorated with paintings and carved panels. For example in Bundzhikat the archaeologists found the painting with the image of a she-wolf feeding two babies – the symbol of contacts between the West and the Orient. During the years of Arabian sovereignty Istaravshan became a province Arabian Caliphate. Drive to Khujand city. Evening walk in the central park.
Day 8, Khujand (Leninabad) / Penjikent 300 km
Khujand is the capital of northern Tajikistan and the second largest city in the country. The city’s history dates back to ancient times. In the opinion of historians legendary city of AlexanderEskhata (Alexandria Extreme) was constructed by Alexander the Great on the place of the present Khujand (the 5th century BC) and become the city of highly developed culture, important commercial and crafts center. Khujand stands at the entrance to the fertile Fergana Valley. Owing to this it was one of the main centers of the Great Silk way and enjoyed prosperity and richness. One of the ancient cities of the Central Asia Khujand has been known since the 7th century. In the 19th century after the Russian intrusion Khujand became the center of district of rapid industrial development. Sightseeing the city: museum, western market Panjshanbe and mausoleum Shayh Muslihiddin. Afternoon transfer to Penjikent. Overnight in Penjikent.
Day 9, Penjikent to Samarkand 70 km
In the morning visit ancient ruins of Panjikent settelment of 1-6 Centuries AD. It was one of the main sities of Sogdian and Bactrian empire and destroyed in 7 century by Arabs. Afternoon drive to Uzbekistan border 50 km. Arrive in Samarkand, check in to hotel.
Day 10, Samarkand city tour
Breakfast at the hotel .0900 Full day sightseeing of Samarkand Visit Registan Square, the center of Samarkand with 3 madrasah of 15-17 Centuries, Bibi Hanum mosque of 14 Century and Siab Bazaar of Samarkand where you can spend your time for shopping of dry fruits, Samarkand bread, sweets, spices. Shahi Zinda complex, the holy necropolis of Kusam Ibn Abbas and the mausoleums of Temur’s relatives and generals. Ulugbek’s observatory of 14 Century and Gur Emir, the tomb of Amir Temur, his teacher, sons and grand sons. Also visit Afrasiyob Museum/Central bazaar of Samarkand-Siyob and taste Non (bread) made only in Samarkand, overnight.
Day 11, Samarkand-Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel 0830 Depart Samarkand for Bukhara with stop at city Shakhrisabz (140 km, 2,5 hrs) Upon arrival to Shakhrisabz, visit Ak – Saray/Kok Gumbaz Mosque, PM continue to Bukhara (another 290 km, 4,5 hrs) Upon arrival to Bukhara, accommodate at the hotel. Evening you enjoy walking tour of Bukhara, the center of the old town with shops, craft workshops, galleries, mosque and madrasah, café and restaurants.
Overnight
Day 12, Bukhara city tour
After breakfast proceed for a full day sightseeing. Bukhara is main religious center of Islamic world as it was the main education center of Islam after invasion of central Asia in 7th century. There are more than 100 s of mosques and madrasa preserved. Visit Samanid’s Dynasty Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo – Khauz Mosque, The Ark Fortress – Citadel, Kalon Complex – consists of minaret, Mosque and Madrasah, Magoki Attori Mosque, Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan madrasahs, Lyabi Khauz complex is the most populated and crowded center of the old town. Upon request we Sep arrange seats for Folk and costumer show in old madrasah.
Day 13, Bukhara
Full day of sightseeing in Bukhara 0900 Visit Chor Minor memorial/ former summer palace of Bukhara Emir Said Olimkhan , Sitora – Mokhi – Khosa. Museum of Decorative Applied Art Afternoon we drive to Gijhduvan to visit Abdulla’s pottery house and enjoy a cup of tea with the master. Back to Bukhara. Overnight
Day 14, Bukhara to Mary 380 km 6 hrs
0830 After breakfast depart to Turkmenistan border Upon arrival to the border point go through custom procedures and continue on to drive directly to Mary via Turkmenabat, on the way cross the Floating Bridge and transfer to Mary. Overnight
in Mary 4* hotel.
Day 15, Mary to Ashgabat by flight
In the morning visit to the Ancient Merv (UNESCO). Merw is one of the ancient ruins of central asia and was a big city with sity walls built up in the hill. There we will explore the 9th C Greater and Lessor Kyz Kala, the Two Askhars, then climb up Alexander the Great’s Erk Kala, and visiting the 12th C Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum. Wonderful 3 hour visit. Upon return to Mary, visit to History museum of Merv region. Transfer to airport for evening flflight to Ashgabat, (ETD 1920h ETA 2000h) . Transfer to hotel in Ashgabat, Grand Turkmen 4*.
Day 16, Ashgabat city tour
Ashgbat is called as the city of love Ashk Abad but the modern city looks like a white marble city . There are also many grandious national monuments. City tour includes visits of Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Park, Neutrality Arch, Ahalteke horse stables, Nissa (UNESCO) site which was the city of Parthians. National Museum. Overnight in hotel.
Day 17, Transfer from Ashgabat to Darvaza 300 km
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Karakum desert, visit Erbent desert community on the way. Set up camp and enjoy Shish Kebab cooked in open air and sleep in Tents. The crater look gorgious especially at night. Dinner in Camp near Gas crater.
Day 18, Darwaza to Khiva drive 400 km trip
Drive to Dashoguz 350 km. it is the neighboring city of Turkmnenistan to Uzbekstan and next destination is the old city Kunya Urgench which means old Urgench. New Urgench is located now in Uzbekistan and it is the center of Khorezm region. Visit Kunya Urgench (UNESCO) heritage on the way to Khiva. We will visit mausoleums of Turabek Khanum, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il-Arslan, Najmuddin-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Discover the Kutlug-Timur Minaret and Kyrk Molla Hill. Return to Dashoguz. Transfer to the border post for border crossing. Meet your Uzbek guide and driver after Uzbekistan customs and head to Khiva. Overnight in Khiva, in Ichan kala or outside.NOTE: if you are tired you can skip Kunya Urgench trip and drive directly to Uzbekistan border to Khiva.
Day 19, Khiva city tour and then fly to Tashkent ar night 2255-0005
Today we will enjoy open air city museum Khiva. Khiva was the center of Khorezm khanate after Kunya Urgench was destroyed by Mongols. and the city was formed after 14-15 century as the capital of the Khanate. Visit all mosques, madrasah and workshops in Khiva. The hotel is located in the old city. The main and well known crafts of Khiva is wood carving and silk carpet weaving which you can see it in workshops. Evening take flight to Tashkent at around 2100, arrive at 2255-0005, overnight in
Tashkent.
Day 20, Tashkent city tour
Tashkent is the capital city of Uzbekistan and it was the center of Turkistan in 17-19 centuries and located in the cross road of Great Silk Road. It has now modern and old town with madrasah of 16 th century, Uthman Koran of 7 century and biggest bazaar Chorsu. The modern city can offer you museums, galleries, theatre and shopping of sovenirs. Metro of Tashkent is unique and it is worth to visit as one of the main architectural treasure of Sovet era.
Day 21, Departure.
Transfer to airport for your return flflight home by —. End of Services.
