UZBEKISTAN & KYRGYZSTAN

Tour operates: April until October

No of days: 16 nights 17 days

Tour cost from: 2000 US Dollar

Route: Tashkent-Urgench-Khiva-Bukhara- Shakrisabz-Samarkand-Ferghana valley-Osh-Bishkek-Issyk kol-Karakol-Arashan Valley

Transport: Private busses, flight

Guides: Fully escorted by an experienced guide through out the tour in both country

Tour starting point: Tashkent

Ends: Bishkek

Guaranteed departure: Daily- Minimum 2 people required

Day 01 Arrival in Tashkent

Today we arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Overnight in Tashkent Hotel (D)

Day 02 Tashkent-Urgench Khiva

Morning flight to Urgench and transfer to Khiva, Depending on the flight schedule, possibly half day sightseeing of Khiva city

Overnight in Khiva hotel (BLD)

Day 03 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.

Overnight in Khiva at hotel (BLD)

Day 04 Khiva - Bukhara

Our drive to Bukhara is through the arid setting of the Kyzyl Kum Desert. Along the way we stop for some refreshments and see how humans have survived over the centuries in this unforgiving landscape. With buildings spanning 1,000 years of history and a thoroughly lived-in city centre that hasn't changed much in two centuries, Bukhara is one of the best places in Central Asia to catch a glimpse of pre-Russian Turkestan. Most of the city centre is an architectural preserve and includes a massive royal fortress, plenty of former Madrassas, a number of ancient public baths and the remnants of a once-vast market complex. There are over 140 protected buildings in the city.

Overnight in Bukhara at hotel (BLD)

Day 05 Bukhara: City Tour

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 massive fortress, The Ark, 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 a ancient madrassa long time gone. It was built in 1809 and has more in common with Indian art styles than local. Its name comes from Tajik although the towers you can see are not actually minarets but simply decorative towers.

Overnight in Bukhara at hotel (BLD)

Day 06 Bukhara - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand

We depart early for Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane, where we tour Ak-Saray Palace, Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, House of Meditation and the Crypt of Timur, a man who changed the course of history and made a signfigant difference to Central Asia. There's little left of Timur's Ak-Saray Palace except bits of the gigantic, 40 m (98 foot) high entrance covered with gorgeous filigree like blue, white and gold mosaics, but it's staggering to try and imagine what the rest of this glorious summer palace must have looked like. We continue later to Samarkand. 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.

Overnight in Samarkand at hotel (BLD)

Day 07 Samarkand: City Tour

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 Afrosiab and the Historical Museum of Uzbek Culture and Art, with the wooden coffin of Tamerlane and a large copy of the Koran.

Overnight in Samarkand at hotel (BLD)

Day 08- Samarkand-Tashkent

In the morning we drive along the scenic road as it winds along the eastern spurs of the Pamir Ranges to Tashkent.

We continue on a city tour of Tashkent visiting mosques and madrassas (Islamic schools) housing craft work shops and dating from the 14th century. We visit the Kukeldash Medressa, a grand 16th century academy undergoing restoration and the History Museum of Uzbekistan and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Overnight at hotel in Tashkent (BLD)

Day 09 Fergana valley

Drive by car through Kamchik Mountains pass to the beautiful green Fergana Valley, en route visit Kokand and the Museum in the Fort of the Last Ruler (Khudayor Khan) and see a collection of exhibits related to the times of the Last Ruler's regime. We also visit Museum Norbuta - Bia madrassa and Modarikhon mausoleum. Overnight at Asia hotel or similar (BLD)

Day 10 Ferghana valley Dostuk border – Osh

Morning sightseeing of Ferghana later transfer to  Dostuk Kyrgyz/Uzbek border. In the afternoon lunch at local restaurant (IF NOT TOO LATE AFTER BORDER IMMIGRATION) Visit Osh market which is one of the ancient markets in Central Asia. Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 11 Osh-Bishkek

Morning sightseeing of Osh, Visit museum on the Suleiman Takht (Solomon Throne), later at about 12:00pm we drive to the airport for domestic flight to Bishkek. In the afternoon  we visit the State Historical Museum and have an opportunity to wander around the city center. Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 12 Bishkek – Korumdu, Issyk Kul Lake, 290 kms

Drive to Issik kul lake. En route we visit Burana tower of 11th century and explore the Cholpon-Ata rock carvings created between 2nd millenium BC and 6 century AD. Lunch at local restaurant of Balikchi town. Dinner and Overnight in Hotel (BLD)

Day 13 Free day in Issyk Kul. 60kms

Excursion to Aksuu gorge (formely Grigoryevka gorge). Hiking to a small alpine lake and exploration of alpine meadows. Picnic lunch around the small lake. Dinner and Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 14 Korumdu – Karakol.  120kms

Drive to Karakol, one of the first towns of the Russian Cossak settlements in late 19th century. En-route we visit Przevalski (Russian great explorer in late 19th century) Memorial Museum.  After lunch, sightseeing of Karakol. We visit the museum, Dungan Pagoda type of mosque, Orthodox wooden Church. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 15 EXCURSION TO ALTYN-ARASHANVALLEY 70 kms

Full day exploration of Altyn-Arashan valley. Swimming in thermal spa. Today we will have an experience on the Russian Military Mountain Truck. Picnic lunch.  Overnight in hotel  (BLD)

Day 16 Karakol - Bishkek

We retrun to Bishkek along the southern coast of the lake. Lunch en-route. Farewell dinner at local restaurant of Bishkek. Folk concert during dinner. Overnight in hotel (BLD)

Day 17 Onward flight

Trip will end with airport transfer (B)

Tour cost premium class

Hotels

Tashkent: Tashkent Palace

Khiva: Asia hotel

Bukhara: Bukhara Palace

Samarkand: President Palace

Ferghana: Asia hotel or Club 777

Osh: Pekin hotel

Bishkek: Ak-Keme

Issyk kul: Karven-Issykul, 4 Seasons or Aurora

Karakol: Green Yard

Tour cost Tourist class

Hotels

Tashkent: Poytaht

Khiva: Malika

Bukhara: Zargaron

Samarkand: Malika prime

Ferghana: Asia hotel or club 777

Osh: Barak-Ata or CBT

Bishkek: Club-Dostuk

Issyk Kul: Hotel SINEGORYE

Karakol: Green Yard

TOUR COST INCLUDES

• All domestic transportation and transfers, domestic flights mentioned in the itinerary. 

• Twin sharing accommodation at hotel mentioned above

• Meals full board 

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

• Fully escorted by our local English speaking tour guide

• Visa letter support

TOUR COST EXCLUDES

• Visa Fees. 

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

• Optional activities 

• Meals not mention above 

• Personal expanses 

• Single supplements 

• Tips for Guides and drivers

Note other language speaking guides are also available on request: French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese.