CENTRAL ASIA HIGHROAD
(FIVE STAN TOURS )

Tour operates: May until October

No of days: 23 nights 24 days

Tour cost from:  US Dollar

Route: Ashgabad-Marv-Bukhara-Samarkand-Penjikent-Iskandarkol Lake-Dushanbe-Kalikum-Khorog-Langar-Murghab-Kizil Art pass-Sarai Tash-Osh- Bishkek-IssykKul Karakol-Almaty.

Transport: Private busses, domestic flight

Guides: Fully escorted by an experienced guide in each country

Tour starting point: Ashgabad

End Point: Almaty

Guaranteed departure: Daily- Minimum 2 people required

Day by day itinerary:

Day 01- Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)

On arrival at Ashgabat international airport you will be met by our guide and transfer to the hotel the rest of the day is free at leisure

Overnight hotel (D)

Day 02- Ashgabad sightseeing

Full day sightseeing in Ashgabat with visiting the National Museum of History & Ethnography of Turkmenistan, visit Tolkuchka bazaar, Continue to Old Nisa - ancient Parthian settlement and the Spiritual Mosque of Turkmenbashi

Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 03- Marve

Today we drive to Merv on the way stop to visit the archaeological excavations at Anau, a Bronze Age settlement.

Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 04- Marve-Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

Morning sightseeing of May visit the ancient ruins of Merv which came under Persian, Greek, Sassanian and Moslem rule and from the 11th century was the capital of the Seljuk Turks, who controlled an empire stretching from Afghanistan to Egypt. In the 13th century Merv was destroyed by the Mongols leaving only the ruins of these numerous civilizations, later visit the History Museum, Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum and Kys Kala, later cross the Uzbekistan border to Bukhara

Overnight in Bukhara (BLD)

Day 05- Bukhara

Full day sightseeing of Bukhara including Samanid Mausoleum, Chor Minor, Poli-Kalon Ensemble, Kaylon Minaret: at 47m the 2nd tallest in Central Asia; the Ark Fortress, Bolo-Hauz Complex and Labi-Hauz Ensemble. 
Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 06- Bukhara

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

Day 07- Samarkand via Shakhrisabz

Trave to Samarkand 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 later drive to Samarkand.

Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 08- Samarkand

Full day sightseeing of Samarkand’s Guri-Emir Mausoleum, Rukhabad Necropolis (XV c.), Registan Complex (XVII c.), Bibi-Khanum Cathedral Mosque (XV c.), Ulugbek Observatory (XV c.), Shakhi-Zinda Mausoleums Ensemble and Siyab bazaar.
Overnight in hotel. (BLD)

Day 09- PejikentIskandarkulLake (Tajikistan)

In the morning cross the Uzbek Tajik border to Penjikent, visit republican historical-ethnographic museum of Abuabdullo Rudaky Penjikent a major Sogdian city is dating back to 5th century and was destroyed with Arab conquerors in 8th century. Presently the ruins are excavated and you can see different teams of archeologists still working on sites. 

Later drive to Iskandar kul Lake Lake Iskandar Kol (Alexander's Lake). Enjoy a walk by the lake to the spectacular waterfall.

Overnight at Guest house (BLD).

Day 10- Dushanbe

Free morning to walk around the Lake later drive over Anzob pass 3372 M to Dushanbe the capital of Tajikistan

Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 11- Dushanbe

In the morning, visit Hissor Fort, formerly capital of Eastern Bukhara province. The site has two madrassas (18th-19th centuries), visit to the bazaars and museums.

Overnight at hotel (BLD)

Day 12- Kalaikum

Today we start our journey toward the Pamir over the mountain pass to Kalaikum which is half to Khorag.

Overnight at Guest house (BLD)

Day 13- Khorag

Drive to Khorag which is the capital of (GBAO) Gorno- Badakhshan along the Panj River which form the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 14- Khorag

In the morning visit Khorog's bazaar, museum and botanical gardens the rest of the day is free at leisure in the evening you will be invited to a local family for traditional Pamiri dinner

Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 15- Langar

Drive to Langer via Iskashim the gateway of Wakhan valley, we will stop by hot spring at Garmchashma, including the opportunity to bathe in the sulphurous waters,

Overnight at Langar home stay (BLD)

Day 16- Murghab

Drive to Murghab en-route with stunning scenery

Overnight home stay (BLD)

Murghab means ( "river of the birds") in Persian language the capital of Murghob district in the Pamir Mountains of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Tajikistan. It is the highest town in Tajikistan at 3,650m above sea level. It located at the junction of the Murghab River and the Pamir Highway. The Pamir Highway goes north to Sary-Tash and on to Osh in Kyrgyzstan and southwest to the region's capital Khorog.

Day 17- Sarai Tash (Kyrgyzstan)

Cross Kyzyl-Art Pass (4,280 m), which forms the border with Kyrgyzstan and descend to Sary-Tash and Osh. (Change vehicles in Sary-Tash). Overnight in a guesthouse.

Day 18- Osh-Bishkek

Drive to Osh visit Suleyman Mountain, Baburs house, History Museum, Rabat Abdullah Khan Mosque and Mausoleum, Osh Bazaar. Later transfer to airport for flight to Bishkek and overnight in hotel (BLD).

Day 19- Bishkek-IssykKulLake

Morning city tour of Bishkek  later drive to Issyk-Kul . Visit an open air museum of petroglyphs dated to 3rd century AD to 14th century AD. Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 20- IssykKulLake

Full free day to enjoy the stunning view of the Lake or take an optional boat ride. Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 21- Karakul

Drive to KarakulHalf  day  sightseeing  of  Karakol:  visit Russian Church (1885),  Dungan  mosque  (1910), the museum and grave of Prjevalskiy - Great  Russian  explorer  of  Asia. After lunch. Drive 40km to Djety-Oguz valley. Walking and drive back to Karakol overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 22- Almaty (Kazakhstan)

Drive to Almaty On the way visit Charyn canyon after picnic lunch drive to Almay.

Overnight at hotel (BLD)

Day 23- Almaty

Almaty city tour, visit the Zenkov Cathedral, one of the worlds tallest all wood buildings and the Central State Museum, after lunch, ascend the Kok-Tube Mountain by capable railway. Return to Almaty to visit the unique national museum of Kazak Musical Instruments.

Overnight at Hotel (BLD)

Day 24- Onward flight

The tour concludes with transfers to the airport (B)