Central Asia Discovery Five Stan Tours
(Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan)!

Tour operates:  April until October

No of days:  17 nights 18 days

Tour cost from:  2820 US Dollar

Destinations:  Almaty-Issyk Kul-Karakul-Bishkek-Tashkent-Samarkand–Penjikent-Bukhara-Khiva-Urgench Kunya-Ashgabad

Accomodations: All comfortable accommodations with private facilities

Transport:  Private air conditioned transport, economy class domestic flights mentioned in the itinerary

Guides:  Fully escorted English speaking local guides in each country

Tour start:  Almaty

End Point:  Ashgabad

Guaranteed departure:  Daily- Minimum 2 people required

Day by day itinerary:

Day 1: Almaty Kazakhstan

On arrival at Almaty, transfer to the hotel followed by a city tour. We visit the Zenkov Cathedral, one of the world’s tallest all wood buildings and the Central State Museum. After lunch, ascend the Kok-Tube Mountain by cable railway. Return to Almaty to visit the unique National Museum of Kazak Musical Instruments.

Overnight in Hotel (LD)

Day 2: Almaty

Day trip to Charyn Canyon; an interesting natural phenomenon located in southern Kazakhstan. Its likeness to the famous Colorado landmark means it has been dubbed 'the Grand Canyon's little brother.' Nearly 50-miles long and extending 300 to 1,000 feet high, locals often refer to this unusual giant rock sculpture as Dolina Zamkov ('Valley of the Castles').

After a picnic lunch you have free time to walk around. Later return to city.

Overnight in hotel (BLD)

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

In the morning drive to Issyk Kul Lake via Bishkek. Free afternoon to explore around the Lake. Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 4: Cholpon-Ata- Karakol

Today we drive to Karakul and visit the Preshevalsky Museum, dedicated to the memory of Nikolai Michailovich Preshevalsky, an enthusiastic explorer accredited for his excellent works on flora and fauna of the Issyk-Kul region. He was also known for breeding a tiny horse on the steppes of Tibet, which later came to be known as the Preshevalsky Horse. This afternoon we visit some Russian style houses. (BLD)

Day 5: Karakol - Bishkek

Travel from Karakol to Bishkek via Djety-Oguz Rocks, Southern Coast of Lake. En route we stop at Burana tower and Ak-Beshim Buddhist ruins dating back 5-6th centuries. It was referred to by the Buddhist monk, Tripitaka (602-644).(BLD)

Day 6: 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 07: 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 Tombouctou. 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 (BLD)

Day 08: 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, 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 (BLD)

Day 09: Day trip to Penjikent (Tajikistan)

Day trip to Penjikent (Tajikistan) for half a day of sightseeing. We visit the Republican historical-ethnographic museum of Abuabdullo Rudaky then continue driving to the lake located in Fan Mountains (2 hours). Picnic and free time on a beautiful bank of Mountain Lake.

Return to Penjikent. On the way, we visit ruins of ancient Panjikent located within 5 minutes drive of modern Penjikent. Penjikent is a major Sogdian city is dating back to 5th century and was destroyed by Arab conquerors in 8th century. Presently, the ruins being excavated and you can see different teams of archeologists working on sites.

Return to Samarkand for overnight in hotel (BLD).

Day 10: 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 centres of the Russian/British Intelligence Services in the 19th Century.

Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 11: 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. Our tour of the Uzbek capital includes the Barak Khan Seminary, Kukeldash and Abul Khassim Medressas, and the Uzbek Museum of Applied Arts. 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 (BLD)

Day 12: Bukhara

Full free day to enjoy the old city or time for shopping

Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 13: Khiva drive

Drive to Khiva. Half day city tour of Khiva

Overnight in hotel BLD)

Day 14: Khiva

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 wrestled 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.

Overnight in Khiva at hotel (BLD)

Day 15: Kunya-Urgench- Dashoguz (Turkmenistan)

We cross the border at Dashhoguz. After border formalities we will continue to Kunya Urgench, whose ruins are protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Visit Kunya Urgench historical site (Mausoleums of Turebek-Khanym, Sultan Tekesh, Sultan Il Arslan, Najmad-din-Kubra, Sultan Ali. Discover the Kutlug Timur minaret and Kyrk Molla. Later return to Dashoguz to visit Izmukshir.

Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 16: Ashgabad flight

Flight to Ashgabad . Arrival & check in the hotel. City tour of Ashgabat visiting the National Museum of History & Ethnography of Turkmenistan.

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

Drive to Bakharden underground lake. En-route visit Private Akhal Teke stud farm.

Transfer to the airport for onward flight (BL)

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.

10 April, 15 April, 28 April
07-May, 13-May, 27-May
1-Jun, 15-Jun, 29-Jun
3-Jul, 10-Jul, 18-Jul-27 Jul
6-Aug, 12-Aug, 26-Aug
9-Sep, 16-Sep, 22-Sep, 30 Sep
1-Oct, 15-Oct, 22 Oct