The Best of the Five Stan 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: Ahalteke horse stables, Ertogrul Ghazi Mosque, Lenin monument, Russian bazaar, 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 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 make photos of the crater during the nighttime.

Transfer further to Dashoguz (slow driving after dark). Arrival at the hotel before or just after midnight. 

Overnight at the hotel.

 breakfast, dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Meet the guide and drive to historical site Kunya Urgench (UNESCO), explore historical park with Kutlug Timur minaret, Mausoleum Turabek Khanum, Mausoleum Tekesh, Mausoleum Il Arslan Caravan-saray gateway. Afterwards transfer to Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border post Shavat.

Arrival time at the border: 14:00 pm. 

Border formalities; change car and guide and further transfer to Khiva. Accommodation at the hotel on arrival. Rest and overnight. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Guided sightseeing tour around Khiva: Ichan Kala (historical inner city), Pakhlavan Mahmud Complex, Kunya-Ark Fortress, Islam Hajji Madrasah & Minaret. 

After lunchtime: Tash Khauli Alakuli Khan Palace, Juma Mosque, Muhammad Aminkhan Minaret & Madrasah, and Avesta Museum. 

During the sightseeing, we will have a chance to participate in a bread-making class held by the Khorezmian baker and taste the results.

Return to the hotel in the evening and rest.  

 breakfast 

Transfer across the famous Kyzyl-Kum desert and along the Amudarya River to Khiva.

Accommodation at the hotel on arrival. 

In the evening, we will make a slight walk in the old city to feel the fairy of Bukhara. Visiting the souvenir shops and workshops.

Overnight at the hotel.

 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.

After sightseeing – participation in a culinary master class on cooking Bukhara plov. A professional chef oshpaz, who is specializing in cooking plov, will reveal culinary secrets and will tell and show how an authentic Bukhara plov is made. This will be a dinner entertainment for all participants. Dinner with tasting of Bukhara plov at a national house.

Overnight at the hotel.

Return to the hotel for rest and overnight. 

 breakfast, dinner 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will continue exploring Bukhara and visit the out-of-town sites, located 20 min driving from the city – Sitorai-Khosa, the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara and Bahautdin Nakshbandi complex.  

After lunchtime, transfer to the train station for further transfer to Samakrand by train (15:00-16:43). 

Accommodation at the hotel on arrival. Evening walk at Registan Square and enjoy the light show. Overnight in Samarkand. 

 breakfast

Start the city tour after breakfast. Sightseeing in Samarkand includes the most impressive square in the entire Central Asia – the Registan Square (madrasah of Ulugbek, Sher-Dor madrasah, Tilya-Kori madrasah), Gur-e Amir mausoleum – necropolis of the Timurids.

After lunch continuation of sightseeing in Samarkand: Bibi-Khanym mosque, architectural ensemble Shah-i-Zinda, Ulugbek observatory.

In the evening, we will enjoy a beautiful performance of national costumes at El-Merosi Theater. 

Return to the hotel and rest. 

 breakfast

In the morning we make transfer to the land border with Tajkistan. Border formalities. Meet Tajik team of the guide and driver and further transfer in-depth of the Tajik lands.

Furst we will visit the ruins of the ancient settlement of Sarazm (UNESCO heritage site), visit the local museum and make a further transfer to visit incredible Marguzor lakes – each lake has its own color, name and story. The car will be with you till the 6-th lake and then make a hike to the seventh. Lunch will be arranged at the 4th lake at a national house. After that return to Penjikent. Accommodation at the hotel and rest.    

 breakfast, lunch

After breakfast we will make a transfer to the capital of Dushanbe. The road will be amazing – via Anzob mountain pass and the “Istiklol” tunnel, which was in the stage of construction during several years. We may experience several seasons during this transfer. On arrival in Dushanbe – lunch. Accommodation at the hotel, rest and overnight. 

 breakfast

After breakfast meet the guide and start of the city tour in Dushanbe. Visit the following sites: Tajikistan United Museum, including exploring the famous Buddha in Nirvana – one of the most valuable exhibits of museum; Botanical garden; Oriental Bazaar. 

After lunchtime, transfer 30 km out of the city to visit the ruins of the ancient Hissar Fortress of 18th century; two plain madrasahs of 18th and 19th centuries and mausoleum of 16th century. Return to the hotel and overnight.

 breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. 

After breakfast we continue the tour to Khujand, the small city in the Fergana valley. The road will lie through 2 mountain passes – Anzob pass and Shakhristan pass.

On arrival start the city tour. Visit Republican Historical-Ethnographic Museum, Timur-Malik Fortress, Archaeological Museum, Mosque and Madrasah of Shaikh Muslihiddin, Payshanba Bazaar.

Transfer to the hotel and rest. 

 breakfast 

Breakfast at the hotel. 

After breakfast we continue the tour to Khujand, the small city in the Fergana valley. The road will lie through 2 mountain passes – Anzob pass and Shakhristan pass. On arrival start the city tour. Visit Republican Historical-Ethnographic Museum, Timur-Malik Fortress, Archaeological Museum, Mosque and Madrasah of Shaikh Muslihiddin, Payshanba Bazaar.

Transfer to the hotel and rest. 

 breakfast

After breakfast transfer to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities. 

Meet Uzbek guide and driver on the Uzbek side and proceed driving to Tashkent – the capital city of Uzbekistan. 

Arrival by the lunch time. Accommodation at the hotel and rest. In the afternoon – start the city tour in Tashkent. Today we will explore the new city, including visiting of Independence Square and Amir Temur Square and Statue. Return to the hotel for rest and overnight. 

 breakfast 

Breakfast at the hotel. Contunue the city tour. We will visit the old part of the city and the religious complex Khasti Imam, consisting of Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Barak Khan Madrassah, Muy-Mubarak Mosque – the storehouse of the well-known Koran of Khalif Osman and gold hair of prophet Muhammad; Dzhuma-mosque of Khodja Akhrar Vali, Kukeldash Madrassah and Chorsu Oriental bazaar. 

Transfer to the airport for further flight to Bishkek. On arrival – accommodation at the hotel and overnight. 

 breakfast

After breakfast, we will visit Ala-Archa Gorge located 45 km from Bishkek. The gorge lies within the national park on a spur of the Tien Shan Mountain range. It is a wonderful place for hiking, enjoying fresh crystal air, fabulous scenery, and tranquility.

Afterward, we will return to Bishkek 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.

Transfer to the hotel, rest. 

 breakfast 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Kochkor village. 

En route we will visit to the ruins of the medieval Balasagyn city with its famous Burana tower. Once it was one of 3 capitals of Karakhanid Empire and one of the most developed cities during the golden ages of the Great Silk Road. Also watch a collection of Balbals, Turkic ancient tombs. 

Proceed driving. The final stop for today will be in Kochkor village – the center of felt production in Kyrgyzstan. 

Accommodation at the local hotel OR a guesthouse. Dinner and overnight. 

After breakfast, we will visit the local Kyrgyz family to enjoy the master class on making traditional felt rugs. 

After that, we will continue exploring the beauty of Kyrgyzstan driving further along the Southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake and making several stops en route. The first one will be at Bokonbayevo village, which the inhabitants are famous for breeding wild predator birds. Demonstration of a hunting falcon. Lunch in a traditional Kyrgyz yurt. 

Next stop for a guided tour will be at the Fairytale (Skazka) canyon – this gorge is formed of colorful hardened clay and resembles fairytale castles. Easing hiking with a guide to explore the beauty of the site. 

The final today’s stop will be in Karakol – a small town located at the Eastern end of Issyk-Kul Lake. 

Accommodation at the hotel and rest. 

 breakfast, lunch 

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy free morning. 

In Karakol we will visit today: Dungan Mosque and Orthodox Cathedral. Later visit the museum of N. M. Przhevalski, the outstanding Russian explorer of Asian continent.

After lunchtime, we will make a short trip to Djety-Oguz gorge, which is translated from Kyrgyz language as “Seven Bulls”, and named so because of the red rocky sand formations covered with forests of Tien Shan spruces. Easy hiking in the gorge along the winding Djety Oguz mountain river. 

Return to Karakol and rest.

 breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Karakol and proceed to the land border with Kazakhstan – the last country to visit in our list. 

Border formalities. Meet the Kazakh team of guide and driver and proceed driving to Kaindy lake – the highlight of Kazakhstan that is famous for its origin. The lake appeared after a strong earthquake in 1911, when the coniferous forest was flooded after the landslide. The water at the lake is cold and, therefore, trees are still well preserved until now and can be seen through the clear water. Once we pass off-road area and stop by the slope, you are going for walking until Kaindy lake, where fascinating view of the lake opens from top of the hill.

After exploring the area, we drive further to Kolsay lakes region. On arrival – accommodation at the guesthouse for rest and overnight. 

 breakfast, lunch, dinner 

After breakfast at the guesthouse, we will proceed further to Almaty via Charyn National Park. 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 in 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 skating rink, and Shymbulak Mountain resort. Take a cable car to 3200 meters altitude to enjoy breathtaking landscapes. 

In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner at the local restaurant in Almaty. 

Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

 breakfast, dinner

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

 breakfast