Combined tours in Central Asia is a comprehensive and eventful trip for those who want to see everything at once.
You will get acquainted with the nature, culture, architecture of each of the visited countries. In Uzbekistan, your imagination will be struck by the monuments of architecture of the most ancient religious cultures of Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. In Kyrgyzstan – enjoy the rich natural landscapes, its magnificent lakes, see ancient rock paintings in Chopon-Ata. Kazakhstan will introduce you not only to its main attractions, but also to its modern culture and architecture. In Turkmenistan, you will travel through the Karakum desert, see a burning gas crater in Darvaz, nicknamed “the Gates of Hell”, get acquainted with the traditions of carpet weaving of famous Turkmen carpets. Here, in Turkmenistan, is the homeland of purebred Akhal-Teke horses – horses of exceptional pedigree and beauty, of which there are only about 2 thousand in the world.
Thus, as part of a combined tour of Central Asia, you will visit all countries of the region, and a diverse tour program will allow you to see all the most interesting!
Day 1 Arrive to Almaty
Upon arrival Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan, meet & greet by the local guide after entry formalities and transfer to downtown hotel. Assistance with check-in and then time to retire. Overnight in Almaty.
Day 2 Almaty
Today we start our city sightseeing of Almaty – visit Panfilov Park, Zenkov wooden-constructed Cathedral, St.Nicholas Cathedral, National Musical Instruments Museum, National Archeological Museum, Central State Museum, Almaty’s Green Bazaar. Lunch & dinner at local restaurant. Overnight hotel.
Day 3 Almaty – Karakol
Early start – drive to Karakol via Karkara from Almaty. Today we will cross the border and enter into Kyrgyzstan. After Customs and Immigration, drive ahead to Karakol, enjoy the magnificent landscapes on the way. Lunch enroute and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at Guest House.
Day 4 Karakol
Today we will travel in 4WD’s and drive to Altyn Arashan (3014mt), one of the most beautiful gorges in Kyrgyzstan, full of fir trees and huge Alpine meadows. On arrival to the top of gorge, free for bath at hot springs, easy hiking at the gorge then back to Karakol and start city sightseeing of Karakol, visit the Dungan Mosque, the Russian Orthodox church made without a single nail, Bazaar. Dinner and overnight at Guest House.
Day 5 Karakol – Tamga
After breakfast get ready for drive to “Jety Ogyz”, the gorge of Broken Heart and the Gorge of “Seven Red Bulls” as it appears from a distance. The gorge is full of fir trees, and Alpine meadows. Then drive ahead to Barskoon gorge, visit the waterfalls, then drive to Tamga for dinner and overnight at Guest House.
Day 6 Tamga – Bishkek
Drive to Bishkek along the south shore of the lake Issykkul (the world’s second biggest mountain lake), enroute visit the Burana Tower XII BC, which was once the capital of Karakhanid’s dynasty. See the Balbals here lying under the open sky with different faces. On arrival to Bishkek start city sightseeing of Bishkek, visit the Museum, the bazaar, the Park Panfilov, dinner at local restaurant. O/N Hotel.
Day 7 Bishkek – Tashkent
Morning transfer to airport for flight to Tashkent. Upon arrival and settlement at the hotel, city tour in Tashkent, old and modern sights. Dinner and overnight.
Day 8 Tashkent – Samarkand
Drive to Samarkand. After arrival, lunch. Check-in to the hotel. Visit Ulugbek Observatory, Afrosiyab. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Samarkand
The trip to the magnificent monuments of the Medieval Architecture of the Timurids Epoch: The Registan Square, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, the Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, the Bibi Khanum mosque. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Bukhara
Drive to Samarkand via Shakhrisabz ( 320 km, 4hrs). Tour of Shakhrisabz: Visit Ak Saray Palace, Kuk Gumbaz, Gumbazi Saidon, Khazrati Imam mosque, Mausoleum of Jakhangir (Temurlan’s son). Lunch. Continue drive to Samarkand. Check-in to the hotel for overnight.
Day 11 Bukhara
Full day in Bukhara: visit Kalyan Minaret and Poi Kalyan Mosque, Miri Arab madrassah, Toki Zargaron Dome, Ulugbek and Abdullazizkhan madrassah, Toki Telpak Furushon Dome, Magoki Attory mosque, Toki Sarafon Dome, Lyabi Hauz complex. Continue sightseeing in Bukhara: Ark fortress, Bolo House mosque, Ismail Samoni Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum and bazaar. Overnight.
Day 12 Bukhara – Mary (Turkmenistan)
Drive to Farab border. Meeting at the border. After border formalities, drive to Chardjou (45 km) for lunch. Afterwards continue drive to Merv (260 km): visiting the Erk Kala, Gyaur Kala, Sultan Kala, Bayram Khan Kala, Abdullakhan Kala, Sultan Sanzhar and Ibn Zaid Mausoleums, Ruins of Muslim Mosque, Buddhist Temple, Grand & Little Kyz Kalas. Drive to Mary (32 km). Visiting & Excursion in United Museum of History Excursion. (The Museum was arranged in the past merchant house constructed in the beginning of XX century. Museum has the rich collection of findings from Margush and Merv, exhibits from nomad life of turkmen tribes, musical instruments, arms). Accommodation at “Sanzhar” hotel overnight.
Day 13 Mary – Merv
After breakfast, a full day visiting the suburbs of Merv: Town Fortress “Child Burdzh”, Ruins of Nestorian Church – 5th-6th century. Signal (Alarm) Tower – Arab period Caravan Saray – “Gobekly” (richest in Central Asia). Lunch in Mary. Mausoleum of Talkhatan Baba – was untouched by Mongols, real masterpiece of Seldjuk Architecture presents all architectural styles of that period. Return to Mary and to hotel for overnight.
Day 14 Merv – Ashgabat
After breakfast at hotel, drive to Ashgabat (350 km), enroute visiting the: Mausoleum of Abu Said ((Leader in Suffism ,10th century), extra 90 km. Upon arrival in Ashgabat, lunch. Check in hotel. Visit to “Old Nissa”, The residence of Parthian Kings, III century B C – III cent. AD. Northern and Central or Southern architectural complexes – former treasury house, wine storage chamber, workshops, other household buildings and latter – Round Hall, Square hall, Tower Temple. Hotel overnight.
Day 15 Ashgabat – Tashauz
After breakfast, drive to Bakharden underground lake Kov Ata. Picnic lunch in Kov-Ata. Return drive to Ashgabat. Enroute visit the Geok Tepe Mosque. A visit to Ertogrul Gazi Mosque. Evening flight to Dashoguz. Check-in hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 16 Tashauz – Kunya Urgench – Urgench-Khiva
After breakfast drive to Kunya Urgench for excursion. Visiting the Kunya Urgench – Capital of Khorezm: Mausoleums of Turabek Khanym, Il Arslan, Tekesh, Najmeddin Kubra, Sultan Ali Minaret of Kutluk Timur, also the remains of second minaret.Caravan Saray Kunya Urgench Museum. Lunch in Kunya Urgench. Return drive to Dashoguz border. Border crossing. Drive to Khiva. Hotel accommodation overnight.
Day 17 Khiva
Full day tour in Khiva: Ota Darvaza, Kalta Minor, Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrassah, Kunya Ark (with panoramic view of Khiva), Mukhammad Rahim Khan Madrassah, Pahlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Islam Khoja Minaret and Madrassah, Juma Mosque, Tash Hovli (Harem). Overnight.
Day 18 Khiva – Urgench – Tashkent
Am flight to Tashkent, settlement in hotel. After lunch, half day city tour: visit Amir Temur Square, Courage Monument, Hasti Imam Complex, Chorsu bazaar, Kukeldash madrassah, Applied Art Museum, People’s Friendship Square and Abul Kasim Madrassah (handicrafts workshops), overnight.
Day 19 Tashkent
Departure day, Transfer to Airport for International flight.