Day1 – Almaty to Almaty
- Almaty. Arrival in Almaty. The tour starts with sightseeing in central part of Almaty. You will know more about history and development of the Southern capital of Kazakhstan and see its major attractions. You will visit a popular place for townpeople – the Green Bazaar*. Then the tour will continue in one of the oldest Almaty parks – Panfilov Park, where one of the most beautiful wooden building in the world – Zenkov Cathedral is located. You will also visit the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame. After exploration of sport, cultural and business areas of the city you will get to the Medeo Gorge, well known due to the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam. Next destination is the Kok-Tobe hill where the tallest TV tower in the world is located (if to count from the sea level) and where you will get by the picturesque winding mountain road. In Kok-Tobe Park you can stroll along the winding paths of the park. The tour ends with the short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway. Overnight is in a hotel. * The Green Bazaar does not work on Monday.
Day2 – Almaty to Bishkek
- Almaty – Issyk Lake – Almaty – Bishkek. The tour route to one of the most beautiful gorges of Trans-Ili Alatau – Issyk Gorge lies along the Kuldja tract, where hundreds of years ago the trade caravans travelled. On the way you will visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “ISSYK”, where you will see the expositions dedicated to the history and culture of the Saka period, including a copy of Golden Man and golden items, ancient ceramics, weapon, elements of horse equipment, as well as the model of Saka burial mound. Then the tour route will take you to an altitude of 1756 meters above sea level, to the beautiful mountain lake Issyk, located in the valley with the same name. On the lake you will enjoy the majestic beauty of its turquoise water surface and the Issyk Gorge, as well as listen to the details of the natural disaster of 1963. Also at the lake you will have a picnic and free time for recreation at nature. After it we will drive back to Almaty, and further to Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan. The road takes 4-5 hours. Night is in a hotel.
Day3 – Bishkek to Bishkek
- Bishkek – Ala Archa – Bishkek. The first half of the day is dedicated to a guided tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic, and many others places of interest. In the afternoon we will visit Ala Archa gorge. It is a Natural Park. At the Soviet Time only V.I.P. people had permission to go for a walk here. The Ala Archa gorge is on a spur of the Tien Shan mountain range. It is just 45 km from Bishkek. You can have a short hiking tour to see a panoramic view of the gorge. Afterwards we return to Bishkek. This overnight will be in a hotel.
Day4 – Bishkek to Тамга, Тамга, Киргизия
- Bishkek – Burana – Issyk Kul southern shore – Tamga. In the morning you will start your journey to celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world. The lake is called “the pearl of Central Asia”. You can come up to the lake and to see mountains all around it. On route you will visit Burana Tower (an 11th century minaret) and an open air museum of Balbals (stone warriors). After having taken a traditional lunch (not included), we continue our way to the lake. We will have a break in Bokonbaevo village, where we will visit a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (traditional way of nomads hunting). Then we transfer to Tamga village. Night is in a homestay.
Day5 – Тамга, Тамга, Киргизия to Ozero Sonkel’, Киргизия
- Tamga – Son Kul Lake. After breakfast we start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan – Son Kul Lake. This lake is surrounded by mountains and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level. Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation. Herders of the Naryn region come to the lake to use it as a pastureland. After our arrival, you will be free to explore and enjoy the virgin nature of the lake and its surroundings. Night is in nomadic collapsible dwellings – yurts. They are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings.
Day6 – Ozero Sonkel’, Киргизия to Bishkek
- Son Kul – 33 parrots pass – Bishkek. In the morning we will start our way towards Bishkek via a picturesque pass named Teskei Torpok (3, 133 m) or 33 parrots as locals call it. It present amazing winding road from the top down to the valley. Then we stop in Kochkor village a local family will show you how our national felt carpets are made. You can even learn the art of felt making and create your own carpet together with them! You will have a chance to make your own picture with a help of colored wool and then all together we will beat it in a special way to get a nice felt carpet. After it is transfer to Bishkek. Night is in a hotel.
Day7 – Bishkek to Osh
Bishkek – Osh. In the morning we will transfer you to the airport for a flight to the city of Osh. In Osh city you will have a walk and will get to visit a famous and special place – Suleiman Mountain. Suleiman Too (Solomon’s Mountain) is situated in the city center and it is considered a place of pilgrimage for local Muslims, because according to the legend, biblical prophet Solomon (Suleiman, in the Koran) was buried at the foot of it. It is not a real city tour without visiting our Asian Bazaar. We will show it to you today and you will be able to take a lot of photos there. Night is in a hotel.
Day8 – Osh to Khujand
- Osh – Guliston – Khujand. Today we will drive to Tajik border. The road runs over mountains and high passes. On the way you will drive via Batken region famous for its apricot trees and unique flower called Aigul. Your Tajik driver will meet you at the other side. Khujand is the second largest city of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley. The population of the city is 149,000. It is also the capital of the northernmost province of Tajikistan, now called Sughd. You will visit in the afternoon a Cultural Palace of Khujant. At this place the first president of Tajikistan was chosen. Also we will go to see Central Mosque that is situated in the middle of the city. Night is in a hotel.
Day9 – Khujand to Panjakent
Khujand – Penjakent. In the morning we will drive to Penjakent via pass Shahriston (3 378 m). The city of Penjakent (“five villages”) is located in Khujand area of Tajikistan in a picturesque Zeravshan river valley. Quite possibly the five villages started the history of this remarkable city which originated in the 5th-8th centuries AD. Penjikent of that time was one of the most important cultural and crafts centers of Sogd. It was even named “Central Asian Pompeii”. It was a superbly fortified well-organized city with a ruler’s palace, two temples, markets, rich dwelling houses decorated with numerous paintings, wooden and clay statues of ancient gods. The ruins of this ancient city were found only in the last century. Today the tourists can see the remains of dwelling houses and office buildings, the citadel with the palace, the house of craftsmen, and fire worshipers church. Night is in a hotel.
Day10 – Panjakent to Samarqand
- Penjakent – Jartepo – Samarkand. In the morning is transfer to Uzbek border. Arrival to to Samarkand. City tour in Samarkand: Samarkand is situated in the valley of the river Zerafshan. It is the second largest city of Uzbekistan and is of the same age as the city of Babylon or Rome. Today you will visit its most outstanding sights such as Registan square, Shakhi-Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanum Mosque. Registan Square, a complex of three fascinating Madrasahs dating back to 15-17th centuries, is the main highlight of Samarkand that no person can stop admiring its beauty and majesty. Architectural complex of Shakhi-Zindeh represents a big collection of mausoleums dating back to 11th-15 centuries being a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bibi Khanum Mosque was built in honor of favorite Tamerlane’s wife, after his successful campaign in India. Overnight is in a hotel.
Day11 – Samarqand to Bukhara
Samarkand – Bukhara. Morning train transfer to Bukhara. Today you will have a full day city tour in this fascinating city. At first, you will visit the most ancient citadel in Bukhara dating back to the 4th century named Citadel Ark, which served as a palace for several dynasties of Bukhara Empire. Then you will see Samanids mausoleum, a real masterpiece of architecture of 9th -10th century. Then the tour continues to Chashma Ayub, meaning Job’s well and Bolo-Hauz mosque, known also as the mosque of forty columns built in honor of Bukhara governor Abu-Fayud Khan. Then you have a chance to walk along the shopping domes and visit one of the most famous madrasahs of Bukhara called Nodir Divan Begi which is also a part of Lyabi House Ensemble, famous central sightseeing of Bukhara. The tour will end with visiting Poi Kalon complex, the unique sample of architectural art of Bukhara. It consists of three structures built in the 12th – 16th centuries: Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. Night is in a hotel.
Day12 – Bukhara to Khiwa
- Bukhara – Khiva. Early in the morning, we will have transfer to a fascinating city of Khiva. With its more than 140 architectural monuments, Bukhara is a “town museum” dating back to the middle Ages. The city consists of narrow streets, green parks and gardens, historical and architectural monuments belong to different epochs, but locate very close to each other. The road from Bukhara to Khiva goes through famous Kizilkum desert. On the way we will enjoy the view to Amu Darya river, the deepest river in Central Asia, formed by the confluence of the Panj and Vakhsh in Tajikistan) and flowing into Aral Sea. Upon arrival in Khiva, you will have free time. Night is in a hotel.
Day13 – Khiwa to Khiwa
- Khiva. Today you will have a wonderful sightseeing tour in the oldest city of Uzbekistan. It will be inside of Ichan-Qala, the inner city in Khiva rounded with strong walls. Centuries old sound buildings, palaces, mosques, Madrasahs, Mausoleums, Minarets, Caravan-Sarais and Bathhouses transformed Ichan-Qala into unique city-monument. Ichan-Qala consists of over 400 traditional dwelling houses and about 60 architectural monuments. In 1969 Ichan-Qala was designated a historical and architectural conservation area. The most remarkable sites in it are the Kunya-Ark fortress dating back to 17th century, found by Muhammad Arang Khan, Kalta Minor minaret and Tash Khouvli palace, an incredible sample of Khorezm architectural mastership of 1830s. Night is in a hotel.
Day14 – Khiwa to Дарваза Гас Кратер, Darvaza, Туркменистан
- Khiva – Shavat – Kune Urgench – Darwaza. Transfer to Shavat border checkpoint between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Meet group at the Turkmen-Uzbek border. Drive to the North of Turkmenistan, to Kone Urgench an architectural monuments, Capital of Khorezm was between X-XII centuries. This historical park includes: the Mausoleum of Najm al-Din al-Kubra, Tyurabek Khanum, Il-Arslan, Tekesh Ibn Hadzhibey, the highest minaret in Central Asia Kutlyg Timur. After, we drive to the Gas Crater Darvaza which is located to the North of Ashgabat, in high comfortable SUV JEEP, stop in a small nomadic village and in the evening we will observe the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater. Picnic style dinner (Barbeque) and overnight is at the tent.
Day15 – Дарваза Гас Кратер, Darvaza, Туркменистан to Ashgabat
Darvaza – Ashgabat – Nisa – Ashgabat. After breakfast we will continue our way to the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. Ashgabat is a relatively young city, in 2013; the city was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s highest concentration of white marble buildings in the world. In the afternoon, visit “Nisa”, under UNESCO site heritage. Nisa was once the Capital of the Parthian Empire, explore the remnants of one of the most important cities and the capital of the Parthian Empire, a major power between the III millennium BC – III millennium AD. Continue with “Gypjak” Mosque and Turkmenistan’s first Presidents mausoleum. Night is in the hotel.
Day16 – Ashgabat to Ashgabat
- Ashgabat – Airport. In the morning is transfer to airport.
