Natural & historical wonders of Central Asia
From 3230 euro
Group size: 4 - 16 persons
A unique journey along the Pamir highway will take you to one of the most protected places on the planet. On land there are only two places where the road runs through the mountains at an altitude of 4000 meters. You will see the high Pamir Mountains, rivers and lakes, will meet with the local population - Pamiris, who preserved their culture and traditions. The route passes through three Central Asian republics: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgystan. It is full of contrasts and exotic.
Day 1 Bishkek – arrival (KYR)
Arrival to Bishkek early in the morning, transfer to the hotel. Rest.
At 12:00 sightseeing tour: visit Kyrgyz National Philharmoniс, Statue of Manas, Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Victory Square, Museum of Fine Arts and Osh market. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Bishkek – Burana – Issyk-Kul (KYR)
Breakfast. At 08:00 start the trip from Bishkek. First, stop at Burana Tower, which is left from ancient city Balasagun (11-13th centuries). After visit Burana tower, you will have a chance to watch Kyrgyz national horse game “Ulak Tartysh” (goat pulling). Ulak-tartysh (or kok-boru) is a fight between two teams of riders for a goat carcass. Lunch in the local Kyrgyz family.
Transfer to Cholpon-Ata. Dinner and overnight at the hotel, located near Issyk-Kul Lake.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Day 3 Issyk-Kul – Karakol (KYR)
Transfer to Karakol (150 km). On the way stop in an open air museum of petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata. There will be an excursion in open-air art gallery of stone, said to date from 500 BC – 100 AD, they depict wolves, long-horned ibex, goats, horses, snow leopards, sacrifices and some hunting scenes. Also you can visit museum of local lore.
Continue driving to Karakol. City tour in Karakol: visiting Prjevalsky museum, Wooden Orthodox Church, Dungan mosque in Chinese style. Kyrgyzstan is a multiethnic country and during this tour you will have a chance to get acquainted with different nations and cultures. Today you will have a dinner in Uigur or Dungan family with Kyrgyz national music and songs. These nations came to Kyrgyzstan from China and live in Karakol since 1869. Overnight in the guest house.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner.
Day 4 Karakol – Jety-Oguz – Kochkor (KYR)
Transfer to Kochkor along the Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way visit to Jety-Oguz (Seven Bulls) Gorge. You will learn why it is called Seven Bulls and explore Broken Heart rock. After lunch transfer to Bokonbaevo where you will see an eagle hunting show. Continue driving to Kochkor. One of the best views on the Issyk-Kul Lake is guaranteed. There will be a Kyrgyz folkloric dinner show with Kyrgyz national music and songs. Family run accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Day 5 Kochkor – Son-Kul (KYR)
Transfer to Son-Kul (120 km). Son-Kul is one of the highest lakes in Kyrgyzstan (3016 m above sea level) and the best place to experience a nomadic life. You will have a chance to ride a horse, see edelweiss flowers, camels, yaks, golden eagles, and learn how local women make Kymyz - Kyrgyz national drink made from mare’s milk. This is a remote mountain lake situated on a treeless, high mountain plateau (3016 m) where shepherds bring the livestock in the summertime, set up yurts – round portable nomadic dwelling. In this magnificent place you can see hundreds of herds and a lot of different yurts. Dinner. Overnight in the yurt camp.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
Day 6 Son-Kul – Bishkek (KYR)
After breakfast transfer to Bishkek. On the way, in Kochkor village you will visit a felt carpet workshop. Lunch on the way. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Bishkek – Ala-Archa Gorge – Tashkent (KYR/ UZB)
At 10:00 the guide and driver will meet you at the hotel. Transfer to the Ala-Archa National Park (40 km). You will be in the alpine gorge through which the fast flowing Ala-Archa River runs, flanked by tall, snow-covered, peaks with steep-sided, forested, mountain slopes. Hiking in the gorge. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Tashkent at 18:35. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 8 Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva (UZB)
After breakfast start guided sightseeing tour in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. You will start with exploring the Old City. Visit Khast-Imam Complex, where the world famous Quran, holy book that belonged to Caliph Uthman, has been preserved. The complex consists of Barak-Khan Madrasah, Tillya Sheykh Mosque, Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Continue to Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to walk through Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and visit Applied Arts Museum.
Transfer to domestic airport, evening flight to Urgench departing at 18:40 (1093 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrival in Urgench at 20:20, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 35 min). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours.
Day 9 Khiva – Bukhara (UZB)
After breakfast sightseeing tour in Khiva. Visit Ichan-Qala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Ichan-Qala Fortress visit Kunya-Ark, Sayeed Alauddin Mausoleum, Arab-Mukhamadkhan Madrasah, Oq-Masjid Mosque, Madrasah of Hodjan Berdi-biya, Shirgazikhan Madrasah, Abdullakhan Madrasah, Juma Mosque, Allakulikhan Madrasah, Tosh-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islom-Khoja. At 19:00 transfer to domestic airport flight to Bukhara at 21:00 arriving in Bukhara at 22:00. Arrival in Bukhara, transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours.
Day 10 Bukhara (UZB)
After breakfast start walking sightseeing tour in Bukhara.
Visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Dinner and a national show at Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours.
Day 11 Bukhara – Samarkand (UZB)
Breakfast. Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Head to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. In the afternoon take the high-speed Afrosiyob train 15:52-17:20 or overland transfer. Arrive in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours.
Day 12 Samarkand (UZB)
After breakfast, Samarkand sightseeing tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum – the mausoleum of Amir Timur, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours.
Day 13 Samarkand (UZB)
Breakfast. Continue sightseeing tour in Samarkand. You will visit Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Farewell lunch in Samarkand. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours.
Day 14 Samarkand – Seven lakes – Penjikent (UZB/ TAJ)
Early morning transfer to Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border Jartepa (50 km, 1 h). Customs and passport control on both sides, cross the border, meet Tajik local guide and driver to Seven Lakes (80 km, 1.5-2h). Haf Kul - seven lakes of different colors in mountains of Tajikistan: 1. Mijgon, 2. Soya, 3. Hushyor, 4. Nophin lakes (2139m.a.l), Khurdak, 6.Marguzor, 7.Hazorchashma lakes (2400m a.s.l.). Picnic at the lake.
After lunch drive to Penjikent. Sightseeing in Penjikent: Rudaki Museum, as Penjikent is a birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian Poetry. Visit the ancient Penjikent ruins of old Sogdian town founded in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 15 Penjikent – Iskandarkul – Dushanbe (TAJ)
Drive to Dushanbe via Iskanderkul Lake. According to the legend, the Lake Iskanderkul was named after Alexander the Great, known as Iskander in the East. People say that Alexander the Great's path to India passed by this lake. Lunch at the traditional homestay "Dilovar". After, you will stroll around the lake, explore five springs and Zmeinoe (Snake) Lake, walk to 38 m high waterfall that local people compare to Niagara and call Fanskaya Niagara (Niagara of Fan). Drive to Dushanbe. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 16 Dushanbe (TAJ)
Start sightseeing in the capital of Tajikistan. Visit the Botanical garden, a very beautiful garden with many old trees, and a favorite place of Tajik people, National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan (closed on Mondays) that includes exhibits on history, natural history and art (Buddha in Nirvana is one of the most valuable exhibits of the museum), Ismail Somoni Monument, the Building of National Spirit, Rudaki Prospect and the Main Mosque of Dushanbe. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 17 Dushanbe – departure (TAJ)
Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to Dushanbe Airport. End of the tour.
- Accommodation in hotel 3* based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Transportation throughout the tour by confortable transports;
- Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
- Full board : lunch and dinner;
- Entrance tickets to the sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class ticket for flights Bishkek-Tashkent, Tashkent-Urgench & Urgench-Bukhara;
- Economy class ticket for train Bukhara-Samarkand;
- Dinner with folklore show program at Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah in Bukhara, farewell lunch in Samarkand
- International flights;
- Visa support letter for Uzbekistan visa;
- Visa support letter for Tajikistan tourist visa;
- Consular fees for visas;
- Supplement single 380 euros;
