The Five Stans of Central Asia Tour

Arrival in Ashgabat early in the morning. Meet at the airport and further group transfer to the hotel. Accommodation and rest.

After breakfast, meet the local guide and start exploring the capital city of Turkmenistan. We will visit today: Sunday bazaar, Ahalteke horse stables, Ertogrul Ghazi Mosque, Lenin monument,
Independence Park, Rukhnama monument, Neutrality Arch, Ferris Wheel and Magtymguly Monument. Return to the hotel. Overnight. 

breakfast

After breakfast, we continue exploring Ashgabat and visit the Earthquake monument, Soviet War memorial complex.

After lunchtime, transfer to the most unique site in Central Asia – Darwaza burning gas crater. Arrival in Darwaza before sunset. Enjoy barbeque dinner near the burning gas crater; watch and photograph the crater glow during the night time.

Return to Ashgabat (slow driving after dark). Arrival at the hotel around midnight. Overnight at the hotel.

breakfast, dinner

After breakfast meet the guide and further transfer to the airport; flight to Mary. Upon arrival – transfer to visit the ancient city of Merv, which is also included in the list UNESCO Heritage Sites. Exploring the region around the ancient site.

Further transfer to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities. Meet Uzbek guide and driver team and further transfer to Bukhara. Accommodation at the hotel on arrival. Rest and overnight.

 breakfast

After breakfast start of the guided sightseeing tour around Bukhara: Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo Khauz Mosque, Ark Citadel, Po-i-Kalyan Complex (Kalyan Minaret and others), Ulugbek Madrasah, Abdulaziz-Khan Madrasah.

After lunch visit Lyab-i Hauz Architectural Ensemble, Kukeldash Madrasah, Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah, domed shopping arcade. Dinner at the local national house (tasting Uzbek pilaf also known as plov). Return to the hotel for rest and overnight.

breakfast, dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we continue exploring Bukhara and visit the out-of-town site, located in 20 min driving from Bukhara – Sitorai-Khosa, the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara.  

After lunchtime, transfer to Samarkand. Accommodation at the hotel on arrival. Evening walk at
Registan Square and enjoying the light show. Overnight in Samarkand.

breakfast

After breakfast start of the guided sightseeing tour around Samarkand: visit Registan Square (Ulugbek Madrasah, Sher-Dor Madrasah, Tilla-Qori Madrasah), Gur-e Amir Mausoleum (Tamerlane’s sepulcher), Rukhabad Mausoleum (from the outside); after lunch visit Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Ulugbek Observatory. Return to the hotel. Rest and overnight.

breakfast 

After an early breakfast, we take a day trip to Tajikistan – an important part of ancient Sogdiana. In the morning, transfer to the land border with Tajikistan. Border formalities. Meet the Tajik guide and driver and start the sightseeing tour in Penjikent. We will visit Sarazm ruins (UNESCO heritage site) – one of the ancient settlements in Central Asia with a 5500-year civilisation; the museum of Rudaki and the local bazaar.

After that, proceed to the region of Seven Lakes – seven water mirrors full of mountain riverside drops. Each lake looks different whenever the sun changes its position. Colours may vary from deep blue to indie colour ripple. Most of them are cold to swim even in summer. These lakes belong to the Fann Mountains system. Today we will visit 6 lakes and enjoy lunch at the national house located at the 4th lake.

Drive back to the border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities and return to the hotel in Samarkand.
Rest and overnight.

breakfast, lunch

After breakfast, we will have some free time to explore the local Siab bazaar. After that, continue sightseeing and visit the Afrosiab museum and settlement, Saint Daniel’s tomb and Khujum carpet factory.

Transfer to the train station and further transfer to Tashkent by train. Accommodation at the hotel on arrival and rest.

breakfast

Tashkent is the flavourful capital of Uzbekistan: it carries in itself both the modern infrastructure and the preserved cozy Old Town and monuments. After breakfast, we start the sightseeing tour in Tashkent: Visit Minor white Mosque, Independence Square, Amir Timur Square and Tashkent metro.

Transfer to the airport after lunchtime for a further flight to Bishkek. On arrival, accommodation at the hotel and overnight.

breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet the local Kyrgyz guide. Today we will visit Ala-Archa National Park to enjoy the local nature and an easy hike in the park. 

After that, return to the city and visit the main sights of Bishkek: the central Ala-Too Square, flagstaff (and changing of the guard), statue of Lenin and Freedom Monument, Monument to Manas the Great. Overnight in Bishkek.

breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet the guide and driver and drive to the second largest alpine lake in the world – Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way visit the ruins of the ancient city Balasagyn and Burana tower. Upon arrival accommodation at the hotel and rest.

breakfast 

Breakfast at the hotel. Start driving to Karakol along the Eastern shore of Issyk-Kul. En route, visit the museum of Petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata and museum of the famous Russian explorer of Central Asia N.M. Prjevalsky.

Upon arrival city tour in Karakol. Visit a Dungan mosque (19century), a unique construction built in Chinese style with no nails used. Also, see the wooden Russian Orthodox Cathedral of The Holy Trinity built at the end of the 19th century. Walk around the central bazaar to feel the real life of the city.

Transfer to the Djeti-Oguz Gorge on the northern slopes of the Terskey Ala-Too Ridge, viewing red rocks "Broken Heart" and "Rocks of Seven Bulls". Huge dark green woods spread over red sandstone mountain slopes and create an incredible color contrast. Return to Karakol, check in at a hotel.

breakfast

Early breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Karakol at 08:00. Transfer to the land border with Kazakhstan. Border formalities. Further transfer to Almaty.

En route visit spectacular Charyn Canyon. The Charyn Canyon is located in the Charyn National Park about 215 km east of Almaty and approximately a 3 hour drive via the A 351 and A 352. The Canyon has been described as the Grand Canyon’s little brother. The Canyon itself is approximately 150 km long, and, in places up to 300 meters deep. One area of particular interest is an area of 2 km called the Valley of Castles, due to the pillars and rock formations forming imposing, almost man-made structures. Arrival to Almaty by the evening. Accommodation and overnight.

breakfast, lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, the sightseeing tour in Almaty (10 hours). Visit the following places: the Green Bazaar, Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame. Next visit of the Kok-Tobe hill with the tallest TV tower in the world. Short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway.

After lunch, transfer to Medeo – the world highest rink and Shymbulak – mountain resort. Take a cable car to 3200 meters altitude to enjoy breathtaking landscapes. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

breakfast 

Transfer to the International airport of Almaty. Departure from Kazakhstan.

breakfast