The Five Stans of Central Asia
tour in 15 days

After breakfast meet the local guide. And start the city tour with visits Sunday bazaar, Ahalteke horse stables, Ertogrul Ghazi Mosque, Lenin monument, National Museum, Independence Park, Rukhnama monument, Neutrality Arch, Ferris Wheel and Magtymguly Monument. Transfer to the hotel, overnight. 

 breakfast

After breakfast continue visits Earthquake monument, Soviet War memorial complex, Nissa (UNESCO) and Turkmenbashi mosque-mausoleum. 

Arrival in Darwaza before sunset. Enjoy barbeque dinner near the burning gas crater; watch and make photos of the crater during the nighttime. Return to Ashgabat (slow driving after dark). Arrival at the hotel before or just after 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 into the list UNESCO Heritage Sites.
Exploring the region.

Further transfer to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities. Meet Uzbek team of guide and driver 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).  Return to the hotel for rest and overnight.

 breakfast, dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. 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. 

Further transfer to the railway station and transfer to Samarkand by a high-speed train. 

On arrival – accommodation at the hotel and rest. 

 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 early breakfast we take a day trip to Tajikistan – the important part of ancient Sogdiana. In the morning – transfer to the land border with Tajikistan. Border formalities.

Meet Tajik guide and driver and drive to the region of Seven Lakes. The Seven Lakes are located in the west of Fann mountains; each of them has its own color. At the last of Seven Lakes – Khozorchashma Lake we enjoy a picnic. After lunch drive to Penjikent.

Sightseeing in Penjikent includes visiting of the following sites: Rudaki Museum, local Bazaar and mosque. Further visit ancient Penjikent which was a major Sogdian city and was destroyed by Arab conqueror. By the evening – return to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities and transfer to the hotel. Rest and overnight.

 breakfast, lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Road transfer to Tashkent. 

Arrival by the lunch time. On arrival – start exploring the capital city of Uzbekistan. Visit Minor white Mosque, Independence Square, Amir Timur Square and Tashkent metro. Accommodation at the hotel in the evening. Overnight in Tashkent. 

 breakfast

Kokand – “Dustlik” land border – Osh by road (195 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the railway station for further transfer to Kokand by train (4 hours) 

On arrival in Kokand – lunch at the local Shinam chaykhona and tasting the traditional Kokand pilaf with pistachios.  After lunch visit the Palace of Khudayar Khan and Jami mosque. 

Continuation of the city tour, visit the European part of the city, Juma Mosque and watch the pottery – the local master here makes unique ceramic works of the Kokand style. You will also visit a workshop where the most popular candy of Uzbekistan is produced – halva (tasting of halva). 

After that – transfer to the land border with Kyrgyzstan.

Border formalities. Meet Kyrgyz team of guide and driver and further transfer to Osh. En route to the hotel – evening sightseeing tour in Osh. 

Accommodation at the hotel. Rest and overnight.

 breakfast, lunch 

After breakfast meet the guide and start the city tour in Osh. Visit Suleiman Mount, one of the main shrines of the Islamic world in Central Asia. On the mount visit to a 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 sightseeing tour and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation and overnight at the hotel 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. On the route visit the museum of Petroglyph’s 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. Accommodation at the 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 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 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