Amazing Central Asia
FOR 22 Days and 21 Nights
Kazakhstan- Astana, Almaty cities / Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek, Osh / Uzbekistan – Fergana Valley, Rishtan, Kokand, Margilan / Tadjikistan – Khujand, Penjikent / Uzbekistan – Samarkand, Bukhara / Turkmenistan – Mary, Ashgabat, Darvaza / Uzbekistan – Khiva, Urgench, Tashkent city End of the Tour.
DETAILED
PROGRAM
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
| Day | Program | Meals/hotels |
|---|---|---|
|
Day 1 Kazakhstan
Astana |
Upon arrival to Astana guide and driver will meet you at the
airport and transfer to city. Visit main square with Baiterek
and other meaningful buildings.
Overnight in hotel. |
Kazzhol Park |
|
Day 2
Astana – Almaty |
After breakfast transfer to airport to pick your flight to
Almaty. Upon arrival visit Shymbulak ski base. By cable car go
up to Talgar pass 3200m. Admore atunning Tian Shan
mountains.
Overnight in hotel. |
B
Kazzhol Park /
Raavah 4* |
|
Day 3
Almaty |
After breakfast head for sightseeing tour of Almaty. Visit
historical museum, Republic square, Panfilov park with
Zenkov cathedral, Green bazaar and Arbat.
Overnight in hotel. |
B
Kazzhol Park /
Raavah 4* |
|
Day 4
Almaty – Bishkek
300 km |
After breakfast drive to Bishkek via Kordai border. Evening in
leisure at the hotel. |
B
Novotel 4* |
|
Day 5 Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek |
After breakfast transfer to Ala Archa National park. Take a
beautiful walk along the river. Enjoy the nature.
In the afternoon visit main Ala Too square with monument of
Manas, Oak park and Victory square.
Overnight in hotel. |
B
Novotel 4* |
|
Day 6
Bishkek – Osh |
After breakfast transfer to airport to pick your flight to Osh.
In the afternoon visit Sulaiman mountain, museum and
bazaar.
Overnight in hotel. |
B
Classic 4* |
|
Day 7
Osh – Fergana |
After breakfast transfer to Dostyk border with Uzbekistan
Fergana.(2hours 40min) |
B |
| Included: | Not included: |
|---|---|
|
Accommodation in single rooms – 6
nights
|
|
DAY 7 | Uzbekistan, Fergana Dustlyk border – Rishtan – Margilan - Kokand
Arrival to Uzbekistan Dustlyk border. Customs and passport control on both sides, cross the border, meet Uzbek local guide and driver. Departure to Rishtan – (40 min) the province which is famous for its ceramics. Visit the house of potter Said, learn about the process of making pottery and enjoy tea (green or black) served alongside local sweets. Continuation to Margilan 55 min (49.1 km). The visits begin with the “dehkan bazar” market (Farmer’s Market) or the Sunday market (Kuntepa Bazar), here the market stands out from the markets of other Uzbek cities for its particularity with both the products and the sellers. In this bazaar the main attraction is not so much the goods, but the naturalness and spontaneity of the Uzbek sellers and buyers – most of whom are dressed in traditional clothing -; even the endless ceremonies of pleasantries and long drinks of tea are a strong point of this weekly meeting; Arrival to Margilan Yodgorlik Silk Factory artisan workshop. In 1983 a group of silk producers from Margilan decided to escape the grips of the industrial market and concentrate on preserving the traditional methods of Central Asian spinning; thus they founded the Yodgorlik Silk Factory. In this artisan workshop the number of employees has risen to two thousand in the last five years, everything is done according to ancient instructions, and auspicious incense perfumes the looms daily. The factory collects silkworms fed exclusively on mulberry leaves from hundreds of families in the area, before boiling them and unrolling them into kilometers and kilometers of pure thread. Customers pay up to three times the normal price for a roll of handcrafted silk if it comes from Yodgorlik, because this is where the real khanatlas (batik and ikat) is found.
Departure to the Fergana Valley, Kokand city 1 hr 34 min ( 77.0 ) The fertility of the soil and the climate suitable for agriculture were already famous in Greek times, since the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, because they guaranteed 240 days of harvesting per year; for about two millennia this region has borne the name golden valley. In an area of 22,000 square kilometers, equal to one twentieth of the surface area of Uzbekistan, 8 million people are concentrated, that is to say almost a third of the entire Uzbek population: the valley of Fergana is the most densely populated region of Central Asia. Fergana is substantially based on agriculture, waterways and canals built by man support the massive production of cotton, as well as silk (mulberry is the most widespread tree in Fergana) produced through sericulture; furthermore, most of the fruit and vegetables consumed in Uzbekistan come from the cultivations of the Fergana valley: the grapes of this region are abundant and particularly ta sty. Arrival in Kokand city in the evening ( Dinner) Overnight at the hotel in Kokand, Uzbekistan
DAY 8 | Uzbekistan - Kokand – Tajikistan – Khodjent
Breakfast at the hotel Kokand – the second important city after Fergana, which was the capital of Kokand Khanate in the 19th century. Visit to the Palace of Khan Khudayarkhan and the public park dedicated to the poet Muqumiy (1851-1903); the Juma (Friday) mosque built by Omar Khan between 1809 and 1812, was closed throughout the Soviet period, reopened after restoration in 1989 and converted into a museum a few years ago. After lunch transfer to Uzbekistan -Tajikistan border Andarkhan (46.7 km, 1 h). Customs and passport control on both sides, cross the border, meet Tajik local guide and driver. Drive to Khujand. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Khujand, Tajikistan Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included
Day 9 | Tajikistan, Khodjent – Panjakent city (280 km 5-6 hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel Drive to –Khodjent city Sightseeing of Khodjent, Oriental Bazaar, Museum of archeology and fortification Shikh Muslihiddin mosque and mausoleum (XVII-XIX cc) PM. Lunch at local restaurant. Drive to Pendjikent city Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Panjakent, Tajikistan Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included
Day 10 | Tajikistan – Panjakent Famous Seven Lakes
Breakfast at the hotel Drive to –to Seven Lakes (80 km, 1.5-2h.) After lunch drive to Panjakent. Sightseeing in Panjakent: Rudaki Museum, local Bazaar and a mosque. In the evening transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Panjakent, Tajikistan Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner included
DAY 11 | Tajikistan – Panjakent – Uzbekistan - Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Tajikistan – Uzbekistan border Jartepa (20 km, 48min) Tajikistan
|
Price includes: |
|
|
Price does not
include: |
|
| City | Hotels | Number of nights |
|---|---|---|
|
Panjаkent |
Panjakent Plasa 3+* or Rudaki 3* |
2 |
|
Khujand |
Hotel Parliament 4* www.Pph.tj
Khujand Delux 4* http://khujand-deluxe.tj or |
1 |
Uzbekistan – Samarkand city Upon arrival at the customs and passport control on both sides, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. At the point, our guide/driver will be waiting for you with sign with your name. Drive to Samarkand city (41.0 km, 55min ) Samarkand was once the capital of vast empires that stretched across Asia, and was a center of knowledge and science. Samarkand is the same age as Babylon, Athens and Rome. Located in the oasis of the Zarafshan River, in the heart of the Central Asian region, it is one of the oldest cities in the world. Founded in the 5th century BC. it was piously subdued by the Persians; conquered by Alexander the Great who, according to legend, married Roxana right here, and said of Samarkand “Everything I have heard about this city is true, except for the fact that it is more beautiful than I could have imagined” plundered by the Mongol hordes of Gensis Khan
It was Tamerlane who rebuilt it and enriched it with palaces so splendid that it gained immortal fame. In 2001 UNESCO included the city in the list of World Heritage Sites. Samarkand is a true “threshold of paradise”, it bears a magical and somewhat mysterious name, an invitation to travel for artists and dreamers, it has retained its blue glass-enamelled domes, its brightly colored walls and mausoleums which constitute the treasure of Central Asian architecture. Visit to Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel, followed by a drive to Konigil village (Paper factory) to learn about the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry trees. Lunch ( Samarkand palov) (Optional ) Overnight at the Hotel in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
DAY 12 | Uzbekistan – Samarkand city
Breakfast at the hotel. The whole day dedicated to visiting the capital of the empire of Timur the Lame, with its twenty-five century history. The visit begins from the Gur-Emir mausoleum (15th century) – which means “the tomb of the Emir” where Tamerlane and his followers are buried. The mausoleum was built by order of Tamerlane for his nephew Mukhammad Sultan, who in practice was supposed to be his successor, who died prematurely in 1403. Registan Square, “Royal Square”, is the symbol of Samarkand (14th – 17th century) , the largest square limited on three sides by imposing madrassas built over two centuries: Ulug Beg, Sher –Dor the “madrassa of the Lions” and Tilla-Kori, decorated with dazzling majolica that testifies to the evolution of architecture of the Temurids. We continue with the mosque of Bibi-Khanum (15th century), the largest of his time in Central Asia, which Tamerlane dedicated to his favorite wife using the loot after having sacked the city of Delhi India. Nearby is the lively oriental bazaar Siab.
In the afternoon, the visits continue with the necropolis of the Shahi Zinda nobles, which means of the “living king”, the ancient funerary monument of the Tamerlane dynasty, the most important complex of the Islamic Middle Ages that has survived to us where it is very probable that there is the tomb of Caliph Qusam Ibn Abbas, cousin of the prophet Muhammad, around whose tomb the cemetery complex was formed over the centuries. Dinner a traditional Uzbek home. A friendly meeting with members of the Uzbek family and participation in the preparation of the chief Uzbek dish-Palov. (Optional) Overnight at the Hotel in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
DAY 13 | Uzbekistan – Samarkand – Bukhara city
Breakfast at the Hotel Departure to Bukhara by fast train Afrosiyob (01:43 hrs) at 10:32am Arrival to Bukhara at 12:15pm and sightseeing out of city Bukhara is the city of poetry and fairy tales, in Sanskrit it means “monastery” and this city was once a large commercial center on the Silk Road. It is located in an oasis of the Kizilkum desert east of the Amu-Darya and on the lower reaches of the Zeravshan River. It is one of the oldest cities in the world: the foundation dates back over 2,700 years. Its importance derives from its geographical position, a crossing point of the caravan routes that connected Arabia to India and ancient Cathay (China). In the 12th century its religious prestige in Islam was great with important families of scholars and Muslim dignitaries, the “Ali burkan” who governed it. Conquered by Gensis Khan in 1220, it remained a Mongol possession until the end of the 15th century. In 1500 it was invaded by the Uzbeks and became the capital of the house of the same name which in 1868 came under Russian rule. In 1920 the Bukhara Soviet People’s Republic was formed in Bukhara and from 1924 it was part of the Uzbekistan RSS until the birth of the independent Uzbek State in 1991: today it is one of the major centers of industry and economy and the largest city of Central Asia. In 1993 its historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The Polo brothers, Matteo and Nicolò, at the time of their first journey to the East, still without Marco, were forced to remain besieged for three long years in this city which they described thus “you arrive at a city called Bukhara, which is great and noble very much. Here there is a market where all the expensive goods of India and China are sold, with many precious stones, with many thick and good fabrics, and there are also abundant spices. In short, there is such a coming and going of goods in that place that it is a wonderful thing to behold. On every market day all the squares are overflowing with men. Everything is peddled. The merchants are numerous and the goods abundant.” It has remained the same as it was at that time! The visits begin with the Chor Minor “four menarets” complex, one of the most fascinating and original buildings in Bukhara built to the design of the Tadj – Mahal in India. Bukhara – the Sitorai-Mokhi-khosa Palace was the summer palace of the last emir from the 19th century. Particularly magnificent: the White Hall with stucco work and mirrored glass. Drive to the gravesite of Bakhauddin Nakshbandi, founder of an influential Sufi brotherhood. At this important pilgrimage site we hear about the “Way of the Teachers”, its religious principles and the dervishes who spread the teachings. The Fayzulla Khodjaev House Museum provides information about trade in the 19th century. Transfer to the Hotel – check in – (Free Time) Overnight at the hotel in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
DAY 14 | Bukhara - Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel The visits begin with the Samanid mausoleum (10th century) built in the period of Ismail Samani (892-907) to celebrate the founder of their dynasty buried inside with some descendants, a very ancient example of refined architecture; the Chashma Ayub mausoleum – the 12th century Job’s Fountain; next to the basin in front of the entrance to the Ark is the Bola-Hauz mosque (1712), the official place of worship of the emir of special beauty; Ark citadel (18th- 19th centuries) – a royal city within the city, center of the state organization of Bukhara. In the afternoon the visits continue with the main symbol and landmark of the city: the Kalyan Minaret “the great minaret” 47 m high. with the nearby Kalyan Mosque , connected to the minaret by a small bridge above; the Mir-Arab madrassa – Koranic school that functions to this day; in Bukhara there is one of the oldest mosques in Central Asia – the Mogaki-Attari (10th- 12th-16th century) spared with the high Kalon minaret from the destructive fury of Genghis Khan; we pass through Lyabi – Hauz , the main square and the quietest place in the city in the shade of ancient mulberry trees, built around a basin in 1620, where, in the 20th century, in the garden in front of the madrassa, the monument of legendary folk character Khodja Nasriddin. (Lyabi-hauz, means “around the pool” in Tajik and constitutes the vital hub of the city) To the east of the statue there is the Nodir Divan – Beghi madrassa (1622), initially built as a caravanserai. To the north, there is the Kukeldash madrassa (1568-1569), the oldest and largest building in the Lyabi-Hauz complex; In the evening free time Overnight at the hotel in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
DAY 15 | Bukhara – Farap - Mary – Turkmenistan
Breakfast at the hotel (Early morning) Drive to Turkmen/Uzbek border by name is “Alat” Our representative will meet you at the Turkmen/Uzbek border “Alat” at 9:00 Drive to Mary (280km, 5h due to bad road conditions). You will see all the major buildings of Mary the downtown. You will also visit Mary Bazaar to see a variety of local products and the Russian Orthodox church (one of the oldest in Turkmenistan). Overnight in Mary in Turkmenistan
DAY 16 | Mary - Ashgabat
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Merv to explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum. After sightseeing, drive to Mary. Flight to Ashgabat (40 min). Arrival in and Overnight at the hotel
DAY 17 | Ashgabat – Darvaza - Ashgabat
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, drive to visit the Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. The Turkmen Carpet Museum is one of the cultural centres of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 carpet exhibits, including rare ones, are exhibited. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet to wear keys, as well as the world’s largest hand carpet with a total area of 301 m², which was woven in 2001, and in 2003 it was added to the Guinness Book of Records. Afternoon drive to Darvaza burning Gas Crater (4h) which is one of the top international tourist destinations. The area is rich in natural gas. Burning for more than 50 years, Darvaza Gas Crater shines like a pearl in the middle of Karakum desert. Besides Darvaza Gas Crater, you will also see water and mud craters. One of the most vivid and addictive features of this trip is the fresh air of the desert and experiencing the nomadic life in person. At night, while the light of the Gas Crater hits the sky, you will have barbecue for dinner. This unique landscape in the world will fascinate you and you will want to come again. Drive back to Ashgabat (4hrs)
DAY 18 | Ashgabat
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Horse Stable in Anew to see a national pride of Turkmen people – Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began to breed Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great, and Darius: I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are beautiful horses on the farm. Per superstition, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon. Afternoon you will have an Ashgabat city tour. In 2013 the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat a “white marbled city” – here you can see the biggest number of structures in the world made out of white marble. You will see the Wedding Palace, the modern “Yildyz” Hotel, the Ferries Wheel, the Constitution Monument, the Arch of Neutrality, the Monument and Park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat Sports and Housing facilities. Overnight at Hotel.
DAY 19 | Ashgabat – Dashoguz
Breakfast at the hotel. Flight to Dashoguz. Transfer to the Turkmen/Uzbek Border Checkpoint to cross into Uzbekistan.
| Service includes: | Service does not include: |
|---|---|
|
|
Notes:
1. Due to the changing conditions of some roads & traffic it might take slightly more or less time
to drive than the mentioned driving time in the program
2. Flight times are subject to change by Turkmenistan Airlines, hand language 5kg, baggage 20kg
per person, if the baggage is overweight you pay between 2-3$ per kg).
3. If the traveller stays more than 3 working days in Turkmenistan, the travel agency will register
and stamp your passport on a local Tourist Board.
4. An express PCR test for Covid-19 will be taken upon arrival. It costs between 33-35 USD.
5. Breakfast box in case of very early morning departures.
DAY 19 | Uzbekistan – Khorezm region/Khiva
The Silk Road also ran through Khiva, starting in 300 BC. BC connected the Mediterranean with East Asia and, in addition to silk, spices, incense, porcelain, wood and Rose oil was transported west. According to legend, the caravans rested at a well that one of Noah’s sons had dug. The masterfully restored old town is still completely surrounded by its city walls. We go on an exploration tour between mosques, madrassas and mud houses with numerous ceramic workshops. Why is the famous Kalta Minor minaret with colorful glazed tile decoration so short? A local specialty are the imaginative plant and star ornaments, as we find them on the fortress’s summer mosque. We enjoy the panoramic view from the battlement. In the Juma Mosque of the former palace, we are enchanted by 213 artistically carved columns, some of which are over 1000 years old. One of the most important buildings in Islamic Central Asia is dedicated to a poet: the fantastically decorated Pahlavon Mahmud mausoleum with a turquoise blue dome visible from afar is reminiscent of the 13th century doctor and poet. We are with a family for dinner guests – and talk about everyday life in this surprisingly open Muslim country. Khiva – we continue our exploration of Khiva: In the Tash Hauli Palace with its three inner courtyards we admire tile decorations and artistic carvings and hear about the former harem. We continue to the Alla Kuli Khan Madrasah, to the caravanserai at the east gate of the city and to the Nurullabay Palace. Completed in 1912, it served as the residence of the last Khan of Khiva. In the evening is free time. Overnight at the hotel in Khiva
DAY 20 | Khiva /Urgench airport – Tashkent city/ Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel in Khiva Departure to Urgench airport at 13:30 (31.6 km) 41min Flight to Tashkent departure at 15:55 – Arrival to Tashkent at 17-45 (1h 50min) Overnight at the hotel in Tashkent
DAY 21 | Tashkent – Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel Whole day dedicated to visiting the old city: Tashkent is an ancient city on the Silk Road. Little remains of its past due to an earthquake that destroyed it in 1966 and above all due to the creation, in the Soviet era, of an urban plan developed since 1916. The result is that today’s Tashkent has the typical physiognomy of a city of Eastern Europe, with monumental administrative buildings, immense parks and enormous condominium-dormitories that inevitably hark back to the years of the Stalinist regime. We begin with a visit to the Kast-Imam complex which refers to a group of buildings including the Kafal Shashi mausoleum, the mausoleum built in the 16th century on the tomb of Abubekr Mukhammad, the Barak Khan madrassa, founded in the 16th century by a descendant of Tamerlane, the Muyi Mubarak madrassa to which is attached a library with religious texts including what is believed to be the oldest existing Koran, marked with the blood of Caliph Osman himself, murdered in 655. The visits continue with the Chorsu bazaar , is a huge open-air oriental market with a variety of fruit-vegetables and dried fruits and teeming and fragrant spices. We continue with the Courage monument which is dedicated Earthquake in 1966 in Tashkent, Cosmonauts, Alisher Navoiy, Mustaqillik metro stations, Independence Square ,Grieving mother memorial complex, Duke Romanov Palace, Amir Temur Park, Alisher Navoiy theatre. In the evening free time. Overnight at the Hotel in Tashkent
DAY 22 | Tashkent – Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel
Departure to the Tashkent International airport and flight back to your Home Sweet Home.
|
Price includes: |
|
|
Price does not
include: |
|
| City | Hotels | Number of nights |
|---|---|---|
|
Kokand |
Asmald Hotel |
1 |
|
Samarkand |
Konstantin plaza |
2 |
|
Bukhara |
Emerald, Sahid Zarafshon |
2 |
|
Khiva |
Arslon boutique, Darvaza, Grand Vizir hotel |
1 |
|
Tashkent |
Unique hotel or Maxwell |
2 |
Notes:
1. Due to the changing conditions of some roads & traffic it might take slightly more or less time
to drive than the mentioned driving time in the program
2. Flight times are subject to change by Silk Avia Airlines, hand language 5kg, baggage 20kg per
person, if the baggage is overweight you pay between 2-3$ per kg).
3. Breakfast box in case of very early morning departures.
Total price in USD per person: 6,540 USD
Never Ending Journey
Our Moments
Our Gallery section offers a vibrant glimpse into the beauty and charm of Uzbekistan. Explore stunning images of iconic landmarks, breathtaking landscapes, and cultural moments captured during our tours. Each photo showcases the rich history, architecture, and daily life, giving you a taste of the unforgettable experiences that await. Dive into the visual journey and feel inspired for your own adventure!
