The Five Stans of Central Asia Tour

Arrive in Ashgabat early in the morning, where you'll be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in and rest. After breakfast, meet your local guide and set out to explore the dazzling capital of Turkmenistan. Wander through the lively Sunday Bazaar, see the graceful Akhal-Teke horses, and admire the striking Ertogrul Ghazi Mosque. Continue to Ashgabat's landmarks, from the Lenin Monument and Independence Park to the monumental Rukhnama and the futuristic Neutrality Arch. Don't miss the giant Ferris Wheel and the Magtymguly Monument, symbols of the city's blend of tradition and modernity. Return to the hotel in the evening.

Ashgabat

Overnight: Ashgabat

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, continue your discovery of Ashgabat with visits to the Earthquake Monument and the Soviet War Memorial Complex. After lunch, set out on an exciting drive through the Karakum Desert to one of Central Asia’s most extraordinary sights — the Darvaza Gas Crater, famously known as the "Door to Hell." Arrive before sunset to watch the fiery crater come alive as night falls. Enjoy a traditional barbecue dinner under the desert sky, with unforgettable views and photo opportunities of the glowing flames. Afterwards, return to Ashgabat with a slower night drive, arriving at your hotel around midnight.

Ashgabat, Darvaza Gas Crater

• Ashgabat → Darvaza Gas Crater (300 km)
• Darvaza Gas Crater → Ashgabat (300 km)

Overnight: Ashgabat

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Mary. Upon arrival, drive to the ancient oasis city of Merv, once one of the great centers of the Silk Road and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the impressive ruins and learn about the city’s fascinating past. Later, continue by road to the Farap land border with Uzbekistan. After completing border formalities, meet your Uzbek guide and driver and transfer onwards to the legendary city of Bukhara. Check in at your hotel on arrival. Rest and overnight in Bukhara.

Bukhara

• Ashgabat → Mary
• Mary → Bukhara (385 km)

Overnight: Bukhara (Hotel)

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, begin your guided sightseeing tour of Bukhara, one of the most atmospheric Silk Road cities. Highlights of the morning include the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the unique Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, the elegant Bolo-Khauz Mosque, and the mighty Ark Citadel, once the residence of Bukhara’s rulers. Continue to the iconic Po-i-Kalyan Complex with its towering minaret and visit the beautiful Ulugbek and Abdulaziz-Khan Madrasahs. After lunch, stroll through the historic Lyab-i Hauz Ensemble, the Kukeldash and Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasahs, and the bustling domed bazaars where silk, spices, and handicrafts have been traded for centuries. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a traditional local home and taste Uzbekistan’s most beloved dish — plov (pilaf).

Bukhara, Poi Kalyan, lyabi-hauz-ensemble

Overnight: Bukhara

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, continue exploring Bukhara with visits outside the city: the ornate Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa Palace, the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, and the spiritual Bahautdin Naqshbandi Complex, dedicated to the founder of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. After lunch, drive to Samarkand, the dazzling capital of Tamerlane’s empire. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and take an evening walk at the breathtaking Registan Square, where you can enjoy the enchanting light show.

Bakhauddin Naqshband Mausoleum​, Registan, Sitori-i Mokhi Khosa palace

• Bukhara → Samarkand (280 km)

Overnight: Samarkand

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Today is dedicated to exploring the legendary city of Samarkand, one of the crown jewels of the Silk Road. Begin at magnificent Registan Square, framed by the three grand madrasahs: Ulugbek, Sher-Dor, and Tilla-Qori. Visit the awe-inspiring Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the resting place of Tamerlane, and view the Rukhabad Mausoleum from outside. After lunch, continue to the grand Bibi-Khanym Mosque, stroll through the atmospheric Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, and end the day at the fascinating Ulugbek Observatory, once one of the most advanced in the medieval world.

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

Overnight: Samarkand

Meals: Breakfast

After an early breakfast, depart for a full-day excursion to Tajikistan, once the heart of ancient Sogdiana. Cross the border and meet your Tajik guide and driver before continuing to Penjikent. Here you’ll explore the Sarazm ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back over 5,500 years, visit the Rudaki Museum, and wander through the lively local bazaar. Later, journey into the Fann Mountains to discover the famous Seven Lakes, a chain of stunning alpine lakes where the colors shift with the changing light — from deep blue to shimmering turquoise. Today you’ll visit six of them, pausing for a traditional lunch at a local family home near the fourth lake. In the afternoon, return to the border with Uzbekistan and drive back to your hotel in Samarkand.

Haftkul – Seven lakes, Panjakent, Sarazm

• Samarkand → Panjakent (120 km)
• Panjakent → Samarkand

Overnight: Samarkand

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, transfer to the train station for your scenic journey on a train from Samarkand to Tashkent (08:05–11:54). Upon arrival in Tashkent, the vibrant capital of Uzbekistan, enjoy a guided walk through the city center. Tashkent is a fascinating blend of wide modern boulevards, Soviet-era landmarks, and a charming Old Town with winding alleys and bustling bazaars. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time to relax or explore on your own.

Tashkent

• Samarkand → Tashkent

Overnight: Tashkent

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Tashkent, a city that carries both the energy of modern Central Asia and the charm of its historic past. Visit the elegant Minor White Mosque, the grand Independence Square, and the lively Amir Timur Square. Don’t miss a ride on the Tashkent Metro, famous for its beautifully decorated stations. After lunch, transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight to Bishkek, the laid-back capital of Kyrgyzstan. Surrounded by the snow-capped Tian Shan mountains, Bishkek is known for its leafy parks, Soviet-era boulevards, and welcoming atmosphere.

Bishkek, Tashkent

• Tashkent → Bishkek

Overnight: Bishkek

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning meet your local guide and head out of the city to Ala-Archa National Park, a stunning alpine gorge in the Tian Shan mountains. Enjoy the crisp mountain air, beautiful views, and an easy hike surrounded by pine forests and rocky peaks. Return to Bishkek in the afternoon for a city tour. Visit Ala-Too Square, watch the changing of the guard at the flagstaff, and see the statue of Lenin, the Freedom Monument, and the grand Monument to Manas the Great.

Ala Archa, Bishkek

Overnight: Bishkek

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Bishkek with your guide and driver, traveling towards the magnificent Issyk-Kul Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. On the way, stop to explore the ruins of the ancient city of Balasagyn and climb the Burana Tower, a remnant of the Silk Road era. Continue the drive through mountain landscapes until you reach the shores of Issyk-Kul. Check into your lakeside hotel and rest, with time to enjoy the scenery.

Burana Tower, Cholpon Ata

• Bishkek → Cholpon Ata (280 km)

Overnight: Cholpon Ata (Lakeside resort)

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, drive along the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul towards Karakol. En route, stop in Cholpon-Ata to see the open-air museum of ancient petroglyphs and later visit the museum dedicated to Nikolay Prjevalsky, the famous Russian explorer of Central Asia. Upon arrival in Karakol, enjoy a city tour: visit the colorful Dungan Mosque (19th century), a unique wooden structure built without nails in Chinese style, and the striking Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral. Take a walk through the lively central bazaar to experience local life. In the afternoon, transfer to the breathtaking Djeti-Oguz Gorge, where dramatic red cliffs form the famous “Broken Heart” and “Seven Bulls” rock formations.

Cholpon Ata, Jeti Oguz, Karakol

• Cholpon Ata → Karakol (150 km)

Overnight: Karakol

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart Karakol at 09:00 and drive to the Kazakhstan border. After completing formalities, continue your journey towards Almaty. On the way, stop to visit the spectacular Charyn Canyon, often described as the “little brother” of the Grand Canyon. Stretching 150 km in length and plunging up to 300 meters deep, the canyon offers breathtaking views. The most famous section is the Valley of Castles, where dramatic rock formations resemble ancient fortresses carved by nature itself. Enjoy lunch en route and continue to Almaty, arriving in the evening.

Almaty, Charyn Canyon

• Karakol → Almaty (380 km)

Overnight: Almaty

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy a full-day tour of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest and most vibrant city. Begin with the colorful Green Bazaar, then stroll through Panfilov Park to see the striking wooden Zenkov Cathedral and the moving Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame. Next, ride up to Kok-Tobe Hill, crowned by the tallest TV tower in the world. Take in panoramic views of the city before descending by the famous Almaty cableway. After lunch, head into the mountains: visit Medeo, the world’s highest ice-skating rink, and continue to Shymbulak Ski Resort. Ride the cable car up to 3,200 meters above sea level for unforgettable alpine views.

Almaty, Kok Tobe Mountain, Medeu, Shymbulak

Overnight: Almaty

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time, transfer to Almaty International Airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast