Heart of Central Asia
Five Stan Tours

Day by day itinerary:

Day 1: Almaty Kazakhstan

On Arrival at Almaty airport you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel.Sightseeing of Almaty city,including the Zenkov Cathedral, one of the world's tallest wood buildings and the Central State Museum.After lunch,ascend the Kok-Tube Mountain by railway.Return to Almaty to visit the unique National Museum of Kazak Musical Instruments.

Overnight in Hotel(LD).

Day 2: Almaty

After breakfast, we drive to Medeo. Medeo is a picturesque valley located 15 km above Almaty. Besides beautiful nature there are some other attractions to see, one of which is the world's largest speed skating rink know as Medea. The other one is a dike; a fine piece of engineering created to protect the city from mud floods. The dike's collector has an impressive capacity of 6.000.000 m of water. Our last stop is at the end of the gorge where there is a ski resort Chimbulak, situated at an altitude of 2.200 m above sea level. It is one of Central Asia's top skiing spots. The ski season lasts from November to April. Later return to your hotel for Overnight (BLD)

Day 3: Almaty-Charyn Canyon Karakul (Kyrgyzstan)

Drive to Karakul. En-route we visit Charyn canyon where you will have chance to walk around after picnic lunch. We cross the border to Karakul. Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Overnight in Huts at Fairy Meadow (BD)

Day 4: Karakol-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 Jeti 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. Later return to Karakul for overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Overnight in Huts at Fairy Meadow (BD)

Day 5: Karakul–Cholpon-ata Issyk-Kul

In the morning drive to Aksuu (Grigoryevka) Canyon for a hike around the canyon. Later, visit some rock petroglyphs dated to 3rd century AD to 14th century AD.

Overnight in a Hotel (BLD)

Day 06: Issyk-Kul-Chon-Kemin

Today we drive to Chong-Kemin valley situated in a lush green pine area and explore the area by foot. In the evening, experience true Kyrgyz hospitality with a traditional Vodka party dinner.

Overnight at Ashu Guest house (BLD)

Day 07: Chong Kemin-Bishkek-Chychkan Gorge

Drive to Bishkek via Burana Tower, the remains of Karakhanid minaret. Enjoy a city tour of Bishkek. We continue driving toward Chychkan Gorge over Too-Ashuu pass to Susumayer valley to admire the beautiful scenery.

Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 8: Bishkek Osh

In the morning, we leave Chychkan Natural Reserve to Osh. En-route we stop at Toktogul reservoirs and ancient minaret and mausoleums in Uzgen town. Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 9: Osh-Ferghana valley (Uzbekistan)

Half day sightseeing of Osh city including the famous Osh Bazaar. Later, transfer to Dostuk border between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 10: Ferghana-Tashkent

In the morning explore the Ferghana valley includes visit of Yodgorlik Khan Atlas Silk Factory, here you will see acquaint self with the manufacturing processes of silk, starting from unreeling cocoons till their painting. The complex Kaftarlik with a mosque and minaret, portal-dome mausoleums and original pigeon loft has been maintained. Later drive to Tashkent via Kokand, visit includes; Museum in the Fort of the Last Ruler - Khudayor Khan and see a collection of exhibits related to the times of the Khan's rule. Museum Norbuta - Bia madrassa and Modarikhon mausoleum.

Overnight in Hotel (BLD))

Day 11: Khujand-Istrafshan (Tajikistan)

Transfer to the Uzbek Tajik border at Oybek to Khujand. After lunch we continue to drive to Istrafshan and visit the well preserved old town of Istarafshan, a maze of small alleys that wind through neighborhoods of shady, mud walled Central Asian homesteads. Sights include the fifteenth century Kuk Gumbaz Mosque, the Hafz-i-Sangin Mosque and the eighteenth century Hazrat-i-Shah Mosque and mausoleum complex. Later return to Khujand.

Overnight in hotel (BD)

Overnight in Qingi Bagh Hotel, Friendship block (BD)

Day 12: Khujand-Tashkent

Morning city tour of Khujand including a visit to the ancient part of Timurmalik fortress, museum and Panjshanbe market. Later in the afternoon transfer to Oybek border to Tashkent

Overnight in hotel (BD)

Day 13: 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 14: 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 15: 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 Green Yard Hotel (BD)

Day 16: 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 17: Tashkent-Urgench Khiva

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

Overnight in Hotel (BD)

Day 18: 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 19: 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 20: 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)

Day 21: Ashgabad Sightseeing

Visit Tolkuchka Bazaar and continue to Old Nisa, the ancient Parthian settlement and the Spiritual Mosque of Turkmenbashi.

OOvernight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 22: 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).

Tour cost and Dates

We guarantee all tour departures for a minimum of 2 passengers. In order to confirm your booking we will need a non-refundable deposit of 400 USD per person. The final invoice will be sent to you 4 weeks before the tour departure, the final cost dependent on the final group size.If the following dates or the described itinerary does not meet your travel needs, please write to us, we can arrange a customized tour for you.

If the following dates or the described itinerary does not meet your travel needs, please write to us, we can arrange a customized tour for you.

Tour Departures 2012

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

Tour cost premium class

No of Pax.	2	3-5	6-9	10-14	Single Supplement
Price in US Dollar per person	$4925	$4380	$3600	$3230	$910

Tour cost tourist class

No of Pax.	2	3-5	6-9	10-14	Single Supplement
Price in US Dollar per person	$4525	$3985	$3120	$2785	$620

Hotels

Places	Premium class hotels	Tourist Class hotels
Almaty	Otrar hotel	Kazool hotel
Chong Kemin	Ashu Guest house	CBT Guest house
Issyk-Kul	AThree Caroona hotel deluxe	Three Caroona hotel
Karakul	Green Yard hotel	Elite Guest house
Chychkan	Oson Hotel	Kok Bel Hotel
Osh	Sunrise Hotel	CBT Guest house
Ferghana valley	Club 777 or Asia	Club 777
Tashkent	Radisson Blue	Le Grand Plaza or Uzbekistan hotel
Khujand	Sugd hotel	Home stay
Samarkand	Samarkand Plaza or Asia	Malika Prime
Bukhara	Asia hotel or Manori Kalon	Malika hotel
Khiva	Asia hotel or Malika Khivek	Malika Classic
Dashoguz	Uzboy	Margush
Ashgabad	Grand hotel	Paytagt

Tour cost includes

All private transfers in air-conditioned cars, van and bussed depends on the group size, domestic flights.

Twin sharing accommodation at hotels mentioned above with private facilities Guest houses and home stays with communal facilities Meals half board: Key (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner

All the sightseeing tours as described in the itinerary and entrance fees

Fully escorted by an experienced local English speaking guides in each country

Visa support letters if required

Tour cost excludes

Visa Fees.

Expenses in hotels such as laundry, telephone and room service, etc.

Optional activities

Meals, Lunches

Personal expanses

Single supplements

Tips for Guides and drivers

Early check in hotels and late checkout.

***If you would like to customize your trip please write to us we are more than happy to arrange your trip according to your request