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.
The route of this group tour unites two neighboring Central Asian republics – Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. A large section of one of the main branches of the Great Silk Road passed through the territory of these countries – from China and India through the cities of the fertile Fergana Valley, and then through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva to Europe and the Arab countries. Samarkand is still called the “heart” of this trans-Eurasian system of caravan routes, along which knowledge, culinary recipes, religions, ideas and innovations circulating between East and West circulated.
During a tour of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, you will visit many ancient cities with their grandiose preserved architecture, picturesque valleys and highlands of the Pamirs, the hot desert of Kyzylkum and the beautiful Issyk-Kul Lake, surrounded by the peaks of the Tien Shan. Such unexpected contrasts are quite common on this diverse land.
Day 1 Tashkent
Arrive to Tashkent’s airport at TBA from TBA, meet and greet service (COMPANY SIGN for meeting), transfer to hotel. After passport and customs controls you will be met by your guide/driver.
Depart airport to hotel. Check in, rest.
Short tour in Tashkent in the afternoon: Museum of Applied Arts, Amir Temur square, city fountains and modern monuments.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 Tashkent – Khiva
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for flight to Urgench (according to time table), flight, and arrival to Urghench, transfer to Khiva (30km), settlement at the hotel. City tour around Ichan-Kala architectural complex (12-19th c.), the Residence of the last Khan including Ismail Khodja Mausoleum, Mohammed Amin Khan madrassah, Kunya-Ark Castle (16-17th c.), Kalta Minor tower, Tash-Hovli Palace (19th c.), Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum(14-18th cc.), Juma Mosque (10th c.) Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 Khiva – Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel.
Road trip to Bukhara via desert Kyzyl-Kum along Caravan road 6-7 hrs). Arrival Bukhara. Hotel accommodation. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel
City tour in Bukhara: Citadel Ark (4th c. BC), Samanides Mausoleum (9-10th c.), Chashma Ayub(14th c.), Bolo-Hauz Mosque (beginning of the 20th c.), Coumpol bazaar, Medreseh Nodir-Divan-Beghi, complex Lyabi-Khauz (14-17th c.), Minaret Kalon (12th c.), Kalyan Mosque (12th c.), Medreseh Miri Arab (16th c.).Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 Bukhara – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Shakhrisabz (290 km, 4 hrs). City tour: ruins of Ak-Saray Palace (14-15th c.), Dor-ut Saodat complex (Khazratiy Imam Mosque (14th c.), Jahongir mausoleum (14th c.), Dor-ut Tillavat complex: Gumbazi-Seiidan, Kok Gumbaz Mosque (15th c.) Continue to Samarkand (110 km, 2 hrs). Hotel accommodation. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day city tour in Samarkand: Registan square – Medreseh Ulughbek (15th c.), Medreseh Shir-Dor (17th c.), Medreseh Tilla-Kori (17th c.), Ulughbek Observatory (15th c.). Excavations and museum of the ancient city of Afrosiab, Architectural complex Shakhi-Zindeh (11-15th c.), Mausoleum Guri Emir – Tamerlane’s Tomb (14-15th c.), Bibi-Khonum Mosque. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 Samarkand – Tashkent
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit Imam Al Bukhariy Memorial complex. Drive to Tashkent. Hotel accommodation. Time at leisure. Evening performance at A. Navoi theater (opera or ballet), if available.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 Tashkent – Fergana
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning drive to Ferghana via Kokand thru Kamchik Pass (where they can stop for photos shouting and short walk): visit Khudayar Khan palace, Mir Mosque, Dahmai Shahon Mausoleum. Transfer to Rishtan to see private pottery workshop. Drive to Ferghana. Settlement at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 Fergana – Osh
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan check point “Dustlik”, border formalities, crossing the neutral territory (600m), meeting with Kyrgyz partners, continue the drive to Osh, accommodation in a guest house, Sightseeing Osh , town with 3000 years history, visit Sulaiman Gora and the very colorful Bazaar, Overnight.
Day 10 Osh – Bishkek – Issyk-Kul
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning flight to Bishkek, arrival to Bishkek, on arrival to airport transfer to city, start short city sight seen of Bishkek, visits of Oak Park, Central Square, Philharmonic, Museums, laterwards transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake (4 hours), on the way stop to see Burana tower, which is left from ancient city Balasagyn
(XI – XIII), continue driving to Issyk-Kul(the World’s second biggest mountain lake), arrival to Issyk-Kul , accommodation in the hotel at the North coast of Issyk-Kul Lake and overnight.
Day 11 Issyk-Kul – Semenovka Gorge – Karakol
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit to Petroglyphs or the rock carvings, then drive ahead to Semenovka Gorge, full of lush green trees and Alpine meadows, free for Horse riding, easy hiking in the gorge, later drive ahead to Karakol, on arrival to Karakol, start city sight seen, visit the Dungan Mosque, the Russian Orthodox church made without a single nail.
Day 12 Bishkek
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning drive to Jety Ogyz, the gorge of Broken Heart and the Seven Red Bulls as it appears from a distnace, full of fur trees and Alpine meadows, so many legends exists about this most beautiful gorge, afterwards drive to Bishkek along the Southern shore of lake Issykkul, overnight in Bishkek.
Day 13 Bishkek
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport, flight for the next destination.
Period: April – October