Beautiful mountains and blue domes
From 1820 euro
Group size: 4 - 16 persons
Guaranteed departure from 4 persons
Day 1 Bishkek
Arrival in Bishkek. Transfer to the hotel. Time for rest. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Bishkek – Issyk-Kul
Transfer from Bishkek to Issyk-Kul Lake (260 km). On the way stop to see Burana Tower, the remnant of the ancient city Balasagun (11-13th centuries). Next stop is an open air museum of petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata. There will be an excursion in open-air art gallery of stone carvings dating back to 500 BC – 100 AD. The petroglyphs depict wolves, long-horned ibex, goats, horses, snow leopards, sacrifices and some hunting scenes. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner.
Day 3 Issyk-Kul – Karakol
Transfer to Karakol (150 km). On the way, you will visit an open air museum of petroglyphs (5th century BC – 8th century AD). City tour in Karakol that includes visits to Prjevalsky museum, Wooden Orthodox Church, Dungan mosque in Chinese style. Dinner with an Uigur or a Dungan family to learn multi-ethnic culture of Kyrgyzstan; these families moved to Karakol from China in 1869. Overnight in the guest house.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner.
Day 4 Karakol – Jety-Oguz – Kochkor
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
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 Kumys - 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
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
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
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).
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours.
Day 9 Khiva – Bukhara
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.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours.
Day 10 Bukhara
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.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours.
Day 11 Bukhara – Samarkand
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. Continue 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.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours.
Day 12 Samarkand
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.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours.
Day 13 Samarkand – Tashkent
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.
At 16:30 transfer to the railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing at 17:30 (300 km, 2 h 10 m) and arriving in Tashkent at 19:40. Pick-up and transfer to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours.
Day 14 Tashkent – departure
Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.
- Accommodation in hotels 3* based on double/twin room breakfasts included;
- Transportation throughout the tour by confortable transport;
- Sightseeing with an English speaking guide in each city;
- Entrance tickets to the sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class tickets for flights Bishkek-Tashkent, Tashkent-Urgench, Urgench-Bukhara;
- Economy class ticket for train Bukhara-Samarkand-Tashkent;
- Dinner with folklore show program at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasah in Bukhara, farewell lunch in Samarkand;
- International flights;
- Consular fees for visa;
- Meals- lunch and dinner;
- Supplement single 180 euros
