5 Stan Quick Tour

Our representative will meet you at the International Airport of Ashgabat. Transfer to the Hotel. Rest time till lunch, then you can explore Ashgabat city tour. In 2013 the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat “white marbled city” – here you can see the biggest number of structures in the world made out of the white marble. You will see Presidential Palace, Ruhyyet Palace, Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferries Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat Sports and Housing facilities, the Earthquake and victims of WWII Monuments. Overnight at the hotel.

Ashgabat

Overnight: Ashgabat (Hotel)

After breakfast visiting the Earthquake and victims of WWII Monuments, Nissa UNESCO and Turkmenbashi mosque-mausoleum. Transfer to Gas Crater (4.5-hour drive, due to bad road conditions) dubbed by locals as “The Door to Hell”. The Darwaza area is rich in natural gas. While drilling in 1971, Soviet geologists tapped into a cavern filled with natural gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed, leaving a large hole with a diameter of 70 meters. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. Geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today. In the evening watch the spectacular and fascinating view of the gas crater. BBQ dinner. Return to Ashgabat. Arrival to the hotel before or just after midnight. Overnight in the hotel.

Ashgabat, Nisa, Darvaza Gas Crater

• Ashgabat → Darvaza Gas Crater
• Darvaza Gas Crater → Ashgabat

Overnight: Ashgabat (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Mary. Upon arrival to Mary, explore ancient Merv – “Queen of the world”, was one of the most important capitals of Islam along with Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum. Transfer to the Farap border. Border formalities on both sides, then drive to Bukhara to follow your trip to Uzbekistan. Overnight in the hotel.

Merv

• Ashgabat → Mary
• Mary → Bukhara

Overnight: Bukhara (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast and start exploring the Old City of Bukhara. Highlights of the walking tour will include: the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasa, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasa, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrasas, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums, and various trading domes. In the evening National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa. Overnight at the hotel.

Bukhara, lyabi-hauz-ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor Minor, Poi Kalyan, Ulugbeg Madrasah​ Bukhara, Ark of Bukhara, Bolo Hauz Complex​, Samanids Mausoleum​, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum​

Overnight: Bukhara (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning. At 11 meet with your guide and visit the out-of-town site, located in 20 min driving from Bukhara- Sitoria-Khosa, the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara. Then transfer to the railway station and departure to Samarkand by a high-speed train. On arrival accommodation in the hotel and rest.

Sitori-i Mokhi Khosa palace

• Bukhara → Samarkand

Overnight: Samarkand (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast and city tour will begin with a visit to the spectacular Registan Square, followed by the Gur Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Explore Gur-e Amir and Rukhabad Mausoleum (from the outside). After lunch visit the Bibi Khanum Mosque, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Ulugbek Observatory. Return to the hotel and rest.

Registan, Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Mausoleum​, Shah i Zinda, Ulugbek Observatory

Overnight: Samarkand (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Uzbek – Tajik border (40 km). Arrival at Uzbek – Tajik border pass. Pass the border. Meet by Tajikistan staff and transfer to Penjikent (~50 km, 30 min). Arrival and start the excursion program in Penjikent. – Sarazm ruins – one of the ancient settlements in Central Asia with a 5500 – year civilization. In 2010 Sarazm was added to the list of Human Heritage by UNESCO. – Museum of Rudaki – As Penjikent is a birthplace of Abu-Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian Poetry. Before lunch, we’ll visit the local bazaar and mosque. Continue drive to Seven Lakes. Transfer to Marguzor, the famous seven lakes – seven wonderful water mirrors full of mountain riverside drops. Each lake looks different whenever the sun changes its position. Colors may vary from deep blue to indie color ripple. Most of them are cold to swim even in summer. These lakes belong to Fann Mountains system. On the western edge of the Fan Mountains in the valley of the river Shing there are seven lakes, six of them are dammed origin, beside the lake Hazorchashma. Lakes are called Marguzor, but each of the lakes has its own name: 1. Nezhigon (other references Mizhgon), 2. Soybean, 3. Gushor, 4. Nofin, 5. Hurdak, 6. Marguzor. Lunch in homestay near 4-lake (Nofin). The difference in level between the upper and lower lake – 692 meters. Afternoon border crossing BP “Jartepa” to Uzbekistan (takes about 30 min-1 hr), meet the driver at Uzbekistan side of the border (16:30). Transfer to Samarkand hotel.

Sarazm, Panjakent, Panjakent History Museum (Rudaki Museum), Haftkul – Seven lakes

• Samarkand → Panjakent (90 km)
• Panjakent → Haftkul – Seven lakes
• Haftkul – Seven lakes → Samarkand

Overnight: Samarkand (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast and start transfer to the Tashkent. Arrival in the afternoon and start city tour by visiting the Minor white mosque, Independence Square, Amir Timur Square and Tashkent metro. Transfer to the hotel for check-in and rest. Overnight in the hotel.

Tashkent, Tashkent Independence Square, Amir Temur Square, Tashkent metro

• Samarkand → Tashkent

Overnight: Tashkent (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the railway station for the train to Kokand (4 hours). On arrival lunch at the local Shinam Chaykhona and tasting the traditional Kokand pilaf with pistachios. After lunch visit the Palace of Khudayar Khan and the Juma (Jami) Mosque. Then visit a pottery workshop in Rishtan, where the local master makes unique ceramic works. Also visit of candy shop. Transfer to the land border with Kyrgyzstan. Border formalities. Meet your Kyrgyz guide and driver and transfer to Osh. En route to the hotel- evening sightseeing tour in Osh. Overnight in the hotel.

Kokand, Khudayar Khan Palace, Rishton, Osh

• Tashkent → Kokand
• Kokand → Osh

Overnight: Osh (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast meet the guide and start city tour in Osh. Visit Suleiman Mount and historical Museum, located in the main cave. After that walk up the hill and watch a little mosque of Babur. The Great Mogols Dynasty founder, and take a bird eye’s view of the city. After lunch transfer to the airport and flight to Bishkek. On arrival short city tour and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in the hotel.

Osh, Sulaiman Too, Bishkek

• Osh → Bishkek

Overnight: Bishkek (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast drive to Cholpon Ata by the Northshore of the Issyk-Kul lake-the second largest alpine lake in the world. Visit Burana Tower, which was part of the ancient city of Balasagun (11th to 13th centuries) and is now a UNESCO World Heritage. Continue to Cholpon -Ata. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel.

Burana Tower, Issyk Kul Guide, Cholpon Ata

• Bishkek → Cholpon Ata (280 km)

Overnight: Cholpon Ata (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Start driving to Karakol. On route visit the museum of Petroglyph’s. Upon arrival to Karakol visit the museum of the famous Russian explorer Of Central Asia N.M. Prejvalsky, visit Dungan Mosque (19 century) and 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. Overnight in the hotel.

Cholpon Ata, Cholpon Ata petroglyphs museum, Karakol, Przhevalsky Museum, Karakol Dungan Mosque, Karakol Orthodox cathedral

• Cholpon Ata → Karakol

Overnight: Karakol (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

After early breakfast depart from Karakol and drive to the Land border with Kazakhstan. Border formalities. Transfer to Almaty. On the way visit Charyn Canyon. The Charyn Canyon is located in the Charyn National Park and has been describes as the Grand Canyon’s little brother. The Canyon itself is approximately 150 km long, and, in places up to 300 m deep. Walking excursion along canyon and enjoy its beautiful view. Continue to Almaty and arrival by the evening. Overnight in the hotel.

Charyn Canyon, Almaty

• Karakol → Almaty

Overnight: Almaty (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel and city tour around the center of Almaty. Visit to Republic Square and Monument of Independence. Walk via old city center (today: Square Astana) to the 28 Panfilovtsev Park. Along the Avenue of memory obelisks with names of 28 fighters of the 1075th regiment of the 316th shooting division, accepted unequal battle with German tanks in the winter of 1941 are established during fight for Moscow), Zenkov Cathedral (monument of cult architecture of Christians in Kazakhstan). Moreover, you could visit the Museum of Musical Instruments, Abai Theater, Green Market. Next visit of the Kok-Tobe hill with the Almaty TV tower. Short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway. After lunch, transfer to Medeo. Take a cable car to 3200 m altitude to enjoy breathtaking landscapes. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in the hotel.

Almaty, Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral), Almaty Green Bazaar, Kok Tobe Mountain, Medeu, Shymbulak

Overnight: Almaty (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast