Central Asia Silk Road Tour

Arrival in Bishkek. Proceed for a city tour in Bishkek. Sightseeing of Bishkek includes following: visit to Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Ploshad Ala-Too (Ala-Too square), the History Museum, walking tour in Bishkek, National philharmonic and many others places upon your request. It is not a real city tour without visiting real central-Asian Bazaar! Overnight in hotel 3*

Breakfast at hotel and at 0900 Transfer to the Issyk Kul Lake, en route visit Burana Tower 1200 Lunch in Kyrgyz family not far from Tokmok city included. Continue on driving to Issyk Kul Lake through Boom Canyon. Visit petroglyphs of Paleolithic era and local museum in Cholpon Ata. Upon arrival check in to hotel, 1930 Dinner at local restaurant on your own. Overnight in Tri Korony 3* or similar hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel Transfer to Grigorevka Gorge. Lunch break. And PM return to Bishkek, overnight in Asia Mountains hotel or hotel or Discovery 3* Dinner is on your own.

Morning excursion to Ala Archa national park. Lunch at local restaurant and afternoon transfer to Almaty. It is the capital city of Kazakhstan located 240 km from Bishkek. Overnight in Otrar or Kazjol hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Start sightseeing in Almaty at 0900, Panfilov Park Zenkov Wooden Cathedral, St.Nicholas Cathedral, National Musical Instruments Museum, Central State Museum, Green Bazaar and enjoy a Panoramic view at observatory. Overnight in Otrar hotel.

Morning transfer to Almaty airport at 8 AM. Flight number KC 131 (Air Astana) 1105AM– 1200PM, Almaty -Dushanbe . Meeting in the airport. Sightseeing the Dushanbe city: Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan. Dushanbe means "Monday" in Tajik (Persian Language), site of a village that originally was a popular Monday marketplace.Situated at the confluences of two rivers, Varzob and Kofarnihon.

Tajikistan United Museum – includes the exhibits on history, natural history and art. Museum of ethnography – professional showcase of 20 th century Tajik art. The collection includes pottery, carpets, cloaks, embroidery, jeweller, musical instruments, woodwork and more. Sleeping Buddha. Monument Somoni and park Rudaki Hissar fortress 30km outside of

You will see Fan Mountains – a popular tourism and mountain climbing area in Tajikistan. There are about 100 passes in height from 3200 to 5060 m (Mirali). The Fan Mountains are the highest part of Zeravshan range with 11 peaks above 5,000 m with sharp fantastical pointed forms. In the bosom of these mountains are about 30 lakes, the largest of which are Iskandarkul, and the most beautiful and picturesque, famous for the unique play of colors - Kulikalon.
Drive to Marguzor lake, located near Nofin village , Penjikent, accommodation in a guest house and enjoy lake view and short hiking. Overnight.

After breakfast in the guest house, drive to Penjikent town. One of the ancient cities of the Central Asia Khujand has been known since the 7th century. In the 19th century after the Russian intrusion Khujand became the center of district of rapid industrial development. Sightseeing the city: museum, western market Panjshanbe and mausoleum Shayh Muslihiddin. Afternoon transfer to Penjikent. Overnight in Penjikent.

In the morning visit ancient ruins of Panjikent settelment of 1-6 Centuries AD. It was one of the main sities of Sogdian and Bactrian empire and destroyed in 7 centuries by Arabs. Afternoon drive to Uzbekistan border 50 km. Arrive in Samarkand, check in to hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel .0900 Full day sightseeing of Samarkand Visit Registan Square, the center of Samarkand with 3 madrasah of 15-17 Centuries, Bibi Hanum mosque of 14 Century and Siab Bazaar of Samarkand where you can spend your time for shopping of dry fruits, Samarkand bread, sweets, spices. Shahi Zinda complex, the holy necropolis of Kusam Ibn Abbas and the mausoleums of Temur’s relatives and generals. Ulugbek’s observatory of 14th Century and Gur Emir, the tomb of Amir Temur, his teacher, sons and grandsons. Also visit Afrasiyob Museum/Central bazaar of Samarkand-Siyob and taste Non (bread) made only in Samarkand, overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel 0830 Depart Samarkand for Bukhara with stop at city Shakhrisabz (140 km, 2,5 hrs) Upon arrival to Shakhrisabz, visit Ak – Saray/Kok Gumbaz Mosque, PM continue to Bukhara (another 290 km, 4,5 hrs) Upon arrival to Bukhara, accommodate at the hotel. Evening you enjoy walking tour of Bukhara, the centre of the old town with shops, craft workshops, galleries, mosque and madrasah, café and restaurants. Overnight

2nd option: Take a morning fast train to Bukhara and skip Shahrisabz. 1045-1220. Afternoon you will have a walking tour in old Bukhara.

After breakfast proceed for a full day sightseeing. Bukhara is main religious center of Islamic world as it was the main education center of Islam after invasion of central Asia in 7th century. There are more than 100 s of mosques and madrasa preserved.
Visit Samanid’s Dynasty Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo – Khauz Mosque, The Ark Fortress – Citadel, Kalon Complex – consists of minaret, Mosque and Madrasah, Magoki Attori Mosque, Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan madrasahs, Lyabi Khauz complex is the most populated and crowded center of the old town. Upon request, we may arrange seats for Folk and costumer show in old madrasah.

Full day of sightseeing in Bukhara 0900 Visit Chor Minor memorial/ former summer palace of Bukhara Emir Said Olimkhan , Sitora – Mokhi – Khosa. Museum of Decorative Applied Art Afternoon we drive to Gijhduvan to visit Abdulla’s pottery house and enjoy a cup of tea with the master. Back to Bukhara. Overnight

0830 After breakfast depart to Turkmenistan border Upon arrival to the border point go through custom procedures and continue on to drive directly to Mary via Turkmenabat, on the way cross the Floating Bridge and transfer to Mary. Overnight in Mary 4* hotel.

In the morning visit to the Ancient Merv (UNESCO). Merw is one of the ancient ruins of central asia and was a big city with sity walls built up in the hill. There we will explore the 9th C Greater and Lessor Kyz Kala, the Two Askhars, then climb up Alexander the Great's Erk Kala, and visiting the 12th C Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum. Wonderful 3 hour visit. Upon return to Mary, visit to History museum of Merv region. Transfer to airport for evening flight to Ashgabat, (ETD 1920h ETA 2000h) . Transfer to hotel in Ashgabat, Grand Turkmen hotel.

Ashgbat is called as the city of love Ashk Abad but the modern city looks like a white marble city . There are also many grandious national monuments. City tour includes visits of Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Park, Neutrality Arch, Ahalteke horse stables, Nissa (UNESCO) site which was the city of Parthians. National Museum. Overnight in hotel.

Morning at leisure. Transfer to Karakum desert, visit Erbent desert community on the way. Set up camp and enjoy Shish Kebab cooked in open air and sleep in Tents. The crater look gorgeous especially at night. Dinner in Camp near Gas crater.

Drive to Dashoguz. Visit Kunya Urgench (UNESCO) on the way. Transfer to the border post for border crossing. Meet your Uzbek guide and driver after Uzbekistan customs and head to Khiva. Overnight in Khiva, in Ichan kala or outside.

Today we will enjoy open air city museum Khiva. Khiva was the center of Khorezm khanate after Kunya Urgench was destroyed by Mongols. and the city was formed after 14-15 century as the capital of the Khanate. Visit all mosques, madrasah and workshops in Khiva. The hotel is located in the old city. The main and well known crafts of Khiva is wood carving and cilk carpet weaving whcih you can see it in workshops. Evening take flight to Tashkent at around 2100, arrive at 2240, overnight

Tashkent is the capital city of Uzbekistan and it was the center of Turkistan in 17-19 centuries and located in the cross road of Great Silk Road.
It has now modern and old town with madrasah of 16 th century, Uthman Koran of 7 century and biggest bazaar Chorsu. The modern city can offer you museums, galleries, theatre and shopping of souvenirs. Metro of Tashkent is unique and it is worth to visit as one of the main architectural treasure of Soviet era.

Transfer to international airport of Tashkent for your flight home. End of services.