Central Asia in Depth tour

Arrival to Bishkek early in the morning. Meet our staff at the airport and proceed further transfer to the hotel for accommodation and rest. After breakfast start of the sightseeing tour in Bishkek.

Visit the central Ala-Too Square, Bishkek flag pole (and changing of the guard), statue of Lenin and Freedom Monument, Philharmonic Hall, monument to Manas.

Free afternoon. Rest and overnight. Resting longer during the morning time is also possible, the city tour can be taken also in the afternoon.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet our guide at the lounge and check out from the hotel.

Transfer to Issyk-Kul lake. On the way we visit Burana Tower – an architectural and archaeological monument (X-XI centuries). We continue to Cholpon-Ata along the northern shore of Issyk Kul lake – the second largest alpine lake in the world after the Lake Titicaca in South America. Accommodation and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast transfer to Karakol (a small town in the eastern part of Issyk-Kul) and sightseeing tour there on arrival. Visit Przhevalski museum, a wooden Orthodox Russian church and impressive wooden Dungan mosque, built without metal nails by the Dungan people.

After lunch transfer to Jety-Oguz Gorge (25 km) with its famous red rocks, The Broken Heart and The Seven Bulls. Drive back to Karakol. Accommodation at the hotel and rest. 

Breakfast. Morning transfer from Karakol to the Southern shore of the lake, towards Skazka canyon. Sightseeing in the picturesque canyon. Lunch en route at a local guesthouse or café. Proceed to 

Bokonbaevo village, whose inhabitants have been famous for breeding birds of prey since ancient times. Demonstration of falconry (optionally).

Transfer to Kochkor village, the handicraft center of Kyrgyzstan, where the authentic traditions of felt production have been preserved intact. Accommodation and dinner at the guesthouse.

After breakfast at the guesthouse we will have an opportunity to watch a master-class on making tranditional felt carpets – shirdak. The creation and decoration of shirdak is one of the most difficult Kyrgyz folk crafts, it is included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Return to Bishkek. Accommodation at the hotel and rest.

Morning transfer to the airport for further flight to Osh. On arrival – meet the local guide and visit the main sights of the city – the local bazaar and Sulayman Too mountain.

After that transfer to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities. Meet Uzbek guide and driver and proceed further into the Fergana valley. En route to Fergana visit a small town of Margilan – the silk production center of Uzbekistan. Visit the local silk factory and watch the process of adras and khan-atlas production. On arrival in Fergana – accommodation at the hotel for overnight

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Rishtan, one of the centers of ceramics in Uzbekistan. Visit the Center of Ceramics, acquaintance with the masters and their crafts. Demonstration of ceramic pottery making process. Further transfer to Kokand, the former capital of the Khanate of Kokand (18-19 cc). Sightseeing in Kokand: Khudoyar-Khan Palace and Djami Mosque. 

Proceed to the raiway station in Kokand to carch a train to Tashkent (17:33-21:45). 

Accommodation at the hotel on arrival, rest and overnight.

Breakfast and start of the guided sightseeing tour around Tashkent.

Today we visit first 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, the State Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan, Kukeldash Madrassah and Chorsu Oriental bazaar. 

In the afternoon explore the new city, including visiting of Independence Square, Amir Temur Statue and Minor White mosque, and ride the Tashkent metro. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

After breakfast transfer to to the raiway station and further transfer to Bukhara by a high-speed train (07:30-11:20).

On arrival – start the sightseeing tour in Bukhara. Visit Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, local bazaar, Bolo Khauz Mosque, Ark Citadel with Zindan prison, Po-i-Kalyan Complex (Kalyan Minaret and others), Miri Arab madrassa, Magoki Attori mosque and Mosque Ulugbek Madrasah. Return to the hotel. Rest and overnight.

Free morning. At 11:00 meet the guide 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 lunch time transfer to Samarkand by road. On arrival – accommodation at the hotel and rest. Later in the evening – visit Registan square in the colorful lights. Overnight in Samarkand. 

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.

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.

First 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 increadible 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. Rest and picnic at the shore. After that – return to Penjikent. Accommodation at the hotel and rest.   

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 seveal years. We may experince several seasons during this transfer. On arrival in Dushanbe – lunch. Accommodation at the hotel, rest and overnight.

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 lunch 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 at the hotel. Check out before 12:00.

Transfer to the International airport for departure