Central Asia Discovery
Five Stan Tours

Tour operates:  April until October

No of days:  17 nights 18 days

Destinations:  Almaty- Chong-Kemin valley-Issyk Kul Lake-Karakul-Djety Oguz-Bishkek -Tashkent-Khujand-Samarkand-Bukhara-Khiva-Dashoguz-Darvaza-Ashgbad

Accomodations: All comfortable class accommodation with private facilities

Transport:  All private air conditioned transport

Guides:  Fully escorted English speaking local guides in each country

Tour start and end point:  Almaty or Ashgabad

Guaranteed departure:  Daily- Minimum 2 people required

Day by day itinerary:

Day 1: Almaty Kazakhstan

Upon arrival at Almaty airport you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Later a city tour of Almaty visiting the Zenkov Cathedral  (one of the world's tallest all wood buildings) and the Central State Museum.  After lunch, ascend the Kok-Tube Mountain. Return to Almaty to visit the unique National Museum of Kazak Musical Instruments. 
Overnight in hotel (D)

Day 2: Chong Kemin (Kyrgyzstan)

Today we drive to Chon-Kemin Valley after border formalities at the Korday border crossing. In the afternoon, we explore the village. In the evening, experience true Kyrgyz hospitality with a traditional Vodka party dinner .
Overnight at Ashu Guest house (BD)

Day 3: Almaty-Issyk-Kul lake Cholpon-Ata

In the morning drive to Issyk Kul Lake. In the afternoon relax by the Lake or visit nearby villages.
Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 4: Cholpon-Ata- Ak-Suu-Karakul

In the morning drive to Karakul, en-route we visit Aksuu (Grigoryevka) gorge for an opportunity for a short hike and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Later return to Karakul.
Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 5: Karakul – Djety Oguz

Half day sightseeing of Karakul, visiting the Russian Church (1885), Dungan mosque (1910) and the Museum and grave of Prjevalskiy, the Great Russian explorer of Asia. After lunch, we drive to impressive Djeti Oguz gorge, the Gorge of 7 Red Rocks. This is the most beautiful gorge in Kyrgyzstan, here you have a chance to hike around the canyon or take an optional horse ride.
Overnight in Typical Kyrgyz Yurt (BLD)

Day 6: Djety Oguz- Bishkek

Drive to Bishkek via Burana Tower, the remains of Karakhanid minaret. Later return to Bishkek afternoon city tour of Bishkek city, including Victory square, Russian Orthodox Church, Osh market, Ala-Too Square and the History Museum.

Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 07: Bishkek flight to Tashkent

Depending on the flight schedule, transfer to the airport for flight to Tashkent. Later, a city tour of Tashkent including a visit to the Museum in the Fort of the Last Ruler - Khudayor Khan, Museum Norbuta - Bia madrassa and Modarikhon Mausoleum.
Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 08: Khujand day trip (Tajikistan)

Transfer to the Uzbek Tajik border at Oybek to Khujand after border formalities sightseeing of Khujand including a visit to the ancient part of Timurmalik fortress, museum and Panjshanbe market. Later in the afternoon return to Tashkent
Overnight in hotel (BD)

Day 09: Samarkand

Drive to Samarkand for a half day city tour. For most people Samarkand is as mythical as Atlantis or as remote and legendary as Timbouctou. The sublime larger-than-life monuments of Timur, the technicolour bazaar and the city's long, rich history work a special kind of magic. On arrival we'll visit the old bazaars for which this exotic city is famous for.
Overnight in a hotel (BD)

Day 10: Samarkand sightseeing

Samarkand, sometimes called the ‘Rome of the Orient' was already flourishing when Rome and Babylon were founded. During the course of our full day tour we visit the famous Registan Square, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Mausoleum of Tamerlane and the Observatory of Ulughbek; the site where Uleg Bek, grandson of Tamerlane, made some of the greatest achievements of the pre-telescope era of astronomy in the 15th century. We also visit the regal mausoleums of Shah-I Zinda, site of Central Asia's most sacred Islamic shrine, the massive mosque of Bibi Khanym, and the adjacent colourful market. You can purchase Samarkand's famous bread which Alexander the Great unsuccessfully tried to have duplicated back home in Greece, or try some of the region's local produce, from grapes to the world's tastiest melons of multiple varieties. Our afternoon tour covers the Afrosiab Museum, located on the site of ancient.
Overnight in hotel (BD)

Day 11: Bukhara via Shakhrisabz

Travel to Bukhara via Shakrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. We visit Tamerlane's palace Ak Sarai, the Kok Gumbaz mosque, Mausoleum of Jehangir (Tamerlane's grandson) and Tamerlane's Mausoleum. Bukhara is one of the centere of the Russian/British Intelligence Services in the 19th Century.
Overnight in hotel (BD)

Day 12: Bukhara

Today we explore the old quarter on foot. Bukhara is an ancient city with its bustling "trade domes," active mosques, and the Kalyan Minaret ("tower of death"), one of Central Asia's tallest. We'll stroll around the streets and visit the old town center where old men with long white beards gossip for hours while drinking tea. Bukhara has been designated a World Heritage Site; the resulting restoration of some of the mosques, constructed in the 11th to 15th centuries, to make them appear as if they were built yesterday. There are even some structures still standing that date back to Zorastrian times 2,500 years ago.
We also visit The Ark, a large fortress with the Emir's open-air throne room and the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani, an intricate and beautiful 10th century brick structure that is nicely preserved. We'll also venture to the outskirts of Bukhara and visit the summer palace of the last emir, built by a Russian Czar with grand halls and a harem. We will also see Char Minar, a gate of an ancient madrassa long time gone. It was built in 1809 and has more in common with Indian art styles than local.

Overnight in hotel (BD)

Day 13: Tashkent-Urgench Khiva

In the morning drive to Khiva, later half day city tour of Khiva

Overnight in Hotel (BD)

Day 14: Khiva: City Tour

Legend has it that Khiva was founded when Shem, son of Noah, discovered a well here. The town certainly existed by the 8th Century, as a minor fort and trading post on a Silk Road branch to the Caspian Sea and the Volga. In the early 16th century, Khiva was made capital of the Timurid Empire, becoming a busy slave market and pivot of the khanate for the next three centuries. Until Russia finally wrested the region from Timurid grasp in the 19th century, even the boldest hearts feared encounters with these fierce tribesmen and their desert territory. Khiva is an ancient walled city and looks much like it did in centuries past. It is one of the few sites in Central Asia where one can easily imagine life during the time of the emirates. We will spend the morning wandering its maze of ruins and great mosques. Later, a tour of this living museum including the Ichon-Qala gates, Muhammad Amin and Rakhim Khan's Medressas, Tosh-Khovli Palace, Islom-Huja Medressa and Minaret. Dinner will be served at Toza Bogh Palace (Summer residence of Muhammad Rahim Khan II).
Overnight in Khiva at hotel (BD)

Day 15: Dashoguz- Kunya Urgench

Drive to Kunya Urgench through the Kara Kum Desert to the ruins of ancient capital. We cross the border at Dashoguz and continue driving to Kunya Urgench. We visit the Kunya Urgench historical site, where the mausoleums of Turebek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmad-din-Kubra and Sultan Ali are located. Discover the Kutlug Timur Minaret & Kyrk Molla. Later return to Dashoguz. Visit Izmukshir.
Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 16: Dashoguz-Darvaza Flaming Crater-Ashgabad

Free morning, later in the afternoon we drive to Darvaza flaming Gas Crater or the ‘mouth of hell’. En-route we visit a Nomad village located in the Karakum desert.
Enjoy the amazing views with picnic dinner. Later we return to Ashgabad
Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day17: Ashgabad Sightseeing

Visit Tolkuchka bazaar. Continue to Old Nisa - ancient Parthian settlement and the Spiritual Mosque of Turkmenbashi.

Overnight in the hotel (BLD)

Day 18: Onward flight

Depends on the schedule of your flight, if time permits today we will drive to the Bakharden underground lake via the Private Akhal Teke stud farm.

Our service will end with airport transfer (BL)

13-April, 20 April, 27 April
04-May, 11-May, 25-May
01-June, 08-Jun, 15-Jun, 22-Jun
06-Jul, 13-Jul, 20-Jul, 27 Jul
10-Aug, 17-Aug, 31-Aug
07-Sep, 14-Sep, 21-Sep, 28-Sep
05-Oct, 12-Oct, 19-Oct