Day by day itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Tashkent Uzbekistan (Monday)
Upon arrival at Tashkent international airport you will be met by our guide and transferred to your hotel, the rest of the day is free at Leisure. Overnight in Uzbekistan 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 Malika hotel (BD)
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 Malika hotel (BD)
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 Sasha and Son’s or Devon Begi hotel. (BD)
Day 05: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 Sasha and Son’s or Devon Begi hotel. (BD)
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 Malika Prime Hotel or Similar (BD)
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. Overnight in Malika Prime Hotel or Similar (BD)
Day 08: Samarkand- Penjikent Fann Mountain (Tajikistan)
In the morning we drive to Uzbek Tajik border crossing at Penjikent, after border formalities meet your Tajik guide and drive to visit the Seven Lakes (80 km) through the settlement of Sarazm the UNESCO World Heritage site. Seven lakes of Marguzor is located in the west of Fan Mountains; each of them has its own colour which varies from calming turquoise to mesmerizing purple. Today you will have a chance to hike around the mountain. After picnic lunch return to Penjikent. Afternoon visit the Penjikent museum and local market.  Overnight at Sugd hotel in Penjikent. (BD)
Day 09: Penjikent – Iskandar Kul Lake – Dushanbe
In the morning drive to Dushanbe, en-route we stop at Iskandar Kul Lake, explore around the Lake after lunch continue driving to Dushanbe. Overnight at Atlas hotel in Dushanbe. (BLD)
Day 10: Dushanbe visit
In the morning we visit Hissar Fortress, houses which remains of the palace of the Bukhara Emirate Becks. Its thick walls once guarded a pool, garden, and palace, while the fortress itself opposed a noisy market and caravanserai. What remains today is a portion of the wall and the gate towers, representative of the 18th and 19th century style. The area has been inhabited since antiquity and features an 8th century mosque, but it was the emirs who inhabited the fortress and the Silk Route traders that made Gissar a center of commerce and learning .You will also have an opportunity today to visit Old Medressa (Madrasai Kuhna, 16^th– 17^thcentury) and its museum and Madrasai Nav (17^th-18^th century) and the Caravan Saray. Later city tour includes visit the Museum of National Antiquities with exhibits primarily from Tajikistan’s pre-Islamic civilizations: the Greek, Bactrian, Buddhist, Hindu, and Zoroastrian periods. The most notable piece in the museum is the largest, fifteen-hundred-year-old reclining Buddha statue. Later enjoy strolling around the big Ismoili Somoni Monument – the forefather of Tajik nation, erected in the Main Square and Rudaki Park in the center of city as well. Try the taste of Tajik tea and hot bread in public teahouses – called Choikhona – most of which are decorated in traditional, colourful Tajik style.
Overnight at Atlas hotel in Dushanbe. (BLD)
Day 11: Kalaikum
Today we start our journey toward the Pamir over the mountain pass to Kalaikum which is half way to Khorog. Overnight at Guest house (BD)
Day 12: Khorog
Drive to Khorog which is the capital of (GBAO) Gorno- Badakhshan along the Panj River which form the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Overnight at Lal hotel in Khorog. (BD)
Day 13: Khorog
In the morning visit Khorog’s bazaar, museum and botanical gardens the rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight at Lal hotel in Khorog. (BD)
Day 14: Ishkashim Wakhan Valley
Today we drive to Wakhan valley. En-route we stop at Garm Chashma (Hot spring) Garam Chasma is the Pamirs’ most popular open-air hot spring pool for the locals.
Later visit the ruins of Kah Kahah fortress dated back from Kushan period 4^th Century AD. Later, drive to Bibi Fotima hot spring for walk around the village and in the afternoon. Overnight homestay (BD)
Day 15: Langar
In the morning visit a small museum of local astronomer and poet Sufi Muboraki Wakhoni. Later drive to nearby village Vrang where on a cliff-side pitted with caves, stands a Buddhist complex dating from 4th-7th centuries, reminders of the ancient pilgrim caravans that passed through the region. Continue driving to Langer, afternoon walk around the village and meet the locals, or if you are energetic optional hike up the hill to see the petroglyph site above the village, which involves a fair physical effort to reach. These images carved into the rocks high above the village depict goats, caravans, horses. Overnight in home stay (BD)
Day 16: Murghab
In the morning, visit local shrine Mazor-I Shoh Qambar-I Oftob (Master of Sun). Afterward, we drive along the Pamir River via the Khargoshi pass (4344m) to Murghab.
Murgab is the highest village in Tajikistan. It is located at an altitude of 3600 meters. The town lies at the junction of the Pamir highway (that connects the region with Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan) and the main road linking Tajikistan with China through the Kulma pass.
Overnight at Guesthouse in Murghab. (BD)
Day 17: Sary Tash (Kyrgyzstan)
In the morning we drive along the Pamir Highway to Saray Tash, en-route we stop at Karakul Lake with a beautiful view of the Lake and surrounding Mountain peaks. After lunch drive to Kyzyl-Art Pass (4,280 m) border crossing. After border formalities, meet your Kyrgyz guide and descend to Sary-Tash. Overnight in guesthouse (BD)
Day 18: Irkeshtam Pass to Kashgar (China)
In the morning transfer to Irkeshtam border crossing into China. The drive is quite scenic with the Pamir Mountains on your right-hand side. After Kyrgyz border formalities, you will need to walk with your luggage to the Chinese border post where they will help you put you trucks to cross the neural border area to get to the Chinese immigration. (Please have some small Change of money in hand to give it to the truck drivers) Here you will be met by our Chinese guide and transfer to Kashgar, the location of the Great Game, is an ancient and popular trading stop on the Silk Road Overnight in Qini Bagh hotel New Building (BD)
Day 19: Kashgar Free day
Full free day at leisure after big Pamir Adventures.
Overnight in Qini Bagh hotel New Building (B)
Day 20: Day trip to Karakul Lake
Day trip to Karakul Lake along the famous Karakorum Highway. The scenery along the way is magnificent. We will be stopping at the Lake where you can enjoy the breathtaking viewsof the Muztagh-ata Mountain. After lunch, free time to enjoy the area. Later return to Kashgar for overnight in Qini Bagh hotel New Building (BD)
Day 21: Kashgar Sunday Market
This day is planned to coincide with the famous Sunday market in Kashgar where everything from carpets, blankets, foods, horses, donkeys, sheep and even camels are for sale. A wonderful assortment of people come from all over the region; the population of the town swells by 100,000! This is truly one of the most incredible bazaars in Asia, and a photographer’s paradise. After the market visit Eidgah Mosque, Abakh Hoja Tomb and the old town.
Overnight in Qini Bagh hotel New Building (BD)
Day 22: Depart Kashgar
Our service will end with airport transfer (B)

** If you would like to extend your trip in China or Pakistan we can customise it according to your request.**