Your Itinerary
DAY 1 - ARRIVE IN ALMATY (KAZAKHSTAN)
On arrival in Almaty your local guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel, where you have some time at leisure. Today enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Almaty. Highlights include Panflilov Park, Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame, Zenkov Russian Cathedral constructed entirely from wood. Next explore the bustling Zelyony (Green) Bazzar, before ending this fascinating day by taking the mountain road to Kok Tibe Hill, where you can enjoy panoramic city views of Almaty.
DAY 2 - DRIVE TO CHARYN CANYON & KARAKOL (KYRGYZSTAN)
Today we drive south and cross the Karakara border into Kyrgyzstan. Stop off at Charyn Canyon, a natural counterpart of the Grand Canyon of the river Colorado in the USA, 80km long and 200 -300 metres in depth. Erosion and weathering have left bizarre shapes like fantastic sculptures and exposed the many colours of the earth. Continue driving through stunning alpine mountain scenery and skirting around the eastern side of Lake Issy Kul to the small town of Karakol. The town of Karakol was founded in the 19th century and is situated at the foot of Terskey Ala-Too mountain range. The town has about 65,000 inhabitants and is the administrative center of IssykKul region. Explore the town which is full of Russian Style cottages, the Chinese Dungan Mosque, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, built all of wood in 1985, and walk around the main bazaar. Overnight in Karakol.
DAY 3 - TOUR OF KARAKOL & JETY OGUZ CANYON
This morning go with your local guide on a tour of Karakol. See the Russian Style cottages, the Chinese Dungan Mosque, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, built all of wood in 1985m and walk around the main bazaar. Later drive to Jety-Oguz Canyon, a magnificent gorge of red rocky formation. Its name means Seven Bullas and refers to the shapes that can be seen among the eroded rocks. On a walk through the area you can visit nomadic families in their yurts and hike to a waterfall.
DAY 4 - EXPLORE ALTYN ARASHAN GORGE
Today head out to another rugged gorge – the canyon of Kyrgyzstan Aksuu in the Altyn Arashan valley. Once there explore on foot; there are a number of walks that can be done. You might like to visit the Seagull nest, a hot spring in the shape of the nest or walk along the canyon and head up high for spectacular views of this wild landscape. Stop for a picnic lunch during your walk and in the afternoon head back to Karakol.
DAY 5 - DRIVE OVERLAND TO BISHKEK
After breakfast drive to Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The road journey skirts along the northern shore of Lake Issy Kul as you pass through stunning mountain scenery. On arrival in Bishkek check-into your hotel. This afternoon you may wish to wander around Osh Bazzar, before enjoying a farewell dinner and folklore show at a local restaurant.
DAY 6 - FLY TO TASHKENT (UZBEKISTAN)
This morning transfer to the airport with your local guide for a flight to Tashkent. Upon arrival you will be met by your private driver and guide who will then drive you through the bustling capital to your centrally located hotel. After lunch you will explore the Old Quarter of Tashkent with the impressive Khast Imam Complex and see Barak Khan Madrasah, Till Sheikh Mosque and mausoleum of Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi. There is also time to wander around Chorsu Bazaar, before taking the Metro to the city centre and walk around Tamerlanes’s central square, Independence Square and visit the Museum of Applied Arts.
DAY 7 - FLY TO KHIVA & DISCOVER DESERT CITADELS
After breakfast take a short flight to Urgench where you will be driven to the ancient desert citadels on the edge of the Kyzyl-Kum Desert. The fortresses of Toprak Kala and Ayaz Kala, which date back to the 1st century AD are set in splendid isolation and the latter has magnificent views over a nearby lake. Look around the ruins and enjoy the dramatic scenery with your guide before driving on to Khiva and checking into your hotel.
DAY 8 - WALKING TOUR OF MEDIEVAL KHIVA
Khiva, a delightful, small walled city, is often overlooked on tours through the region but its labyrinth of side streets and small squares have a very particular charm that evokes the centuries of history the city has witnessed. Stroll through the main gate Ota-Davaza and some of the highlights include Madrassah of Mukhamad Amin-Khan, Kalta-Minor Minaret, the Emir’s Palace and Harem as well as the Kunya Ark or old citadel where the Emir lived. In the afternoon visit the Friday Mosque with its 200 carved wooden pillars, the Tash Khauli Palace – built as a royal palace in the 19th century – and a local silk carpet workshop. Finally visit a local silk carpet workshop, currently under UNESCO sponsorship. Overnight in the hotel.
DAY 9 - TRAIN TO BUKHARA
This morning transfer to Khiva train station and board the train number 50 to the mystical city of Bukhara, through the extensive Kyzl Kum or Red Sand Desert. You will be tracing the route of the ancient Silk Road which followed a similar route across the desert from Khiva to Bukhara. On arrival in Bukhara you will transfer to your hotel.
DAY 10 - GUIDED TOUR OF BUKHARA
One of the great trading cities along the Silk Road, Bukhara’s layout and architecture bring its past to life and make for a truly fascinating visit. A full day tour through the narrow streets of the old Bukhara, where you will have the opportunity to explore the main sites with your local guide. Visit the stunning Chor Minor Madrassa, the Ark Citadel, residence of the Emirs of Bukhara and the Zindan prison in which two 19th century British officers were kept before being executed in the Registan Square. Continue to Bolo-Khauz Mosque, the Ismael Samani Mausoleum dating from the 10th century. Highlights also include Kalyan Square with its great minaret, Miri Arab and a mix of ancient mosques and trading domes.
DAY 11 - TRAVEL TO SHAKHRISABZ & SAMARKAND
Drive to Shakhrisabz, Tamerlaine’s birthplace, a pleasant provincial town located in a small valley surrounded by the Pamir Mountains. Enjoy fantastic views from the portal of Tamerlaine’s Arksarai Palace and visit his mausoleum, a unique architectural structure as there is no such type of crypt in the entire Middle and Middle East. After lunch in a local family house, drive to Devil Plateau (Shaitan Djiga), an extensive plateau of granite slabs stretching from the creeks of Mirankul. Huge boulders are scattered around and with a small amount of imagination, you can see faces bent in pain, bizarre animals and monsters turned into stones. Then travel to the nearby mountain village Tersac to have tea in a village and learn about traditional Uzbek life. Continue to Samarkand and overnight.
DAY 12 - CITY TOUR OF HISTORICAL SAMARKAND
The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world’s cultures. It was Tamerlaine’s capital and contains some of Asia’s most stunning architecture. On today’s full-day tour, visit the ancient settlement of Afrosiab and its museum as well as Ulugbek’s observatory and Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlaine for his favourite wife. Later, see Gur Amir, the mausoleum of Tamerlaine and of course the famous Registan Square, which has extraordinary blue tiled madrassas, minarets and shimmering mosaics on three sides. No trip to Samarkand would be complete without a stop at the colourful Oriental Bazaar-Siya
DAY 13 - MORNING IN SAMARKAND & TRAIN TASHKENT
Your second day of excursions include the Shah-i-Zinda mausoleum complex, where a medieval street is lined with sparkling blue coloured tombs and mausoleums on each side that were built in the 14th and 15th century. After some leisure time transfer to the city’s train station where you will board the ‘Afrosiab’, the passenger train that departs late afternoon train for Tashkent. Taking the train is one of the most comfortable and convenient ways to travel to Tashkent. On arrival you will be met at the station and driven to your hotel.
DAY 14 - DEPART TASHKENT
This morning we will ensure you are taken to the airport in good time for your onward flight.
-
DETAILS:
This itinerary costs from £2995 per person B&B based on 2 sharing and including all private transfers but not international flights.
You can get flights from £750 per person return and do ask us for advice. Alternatively we can book the flights for you but a booking fee may apply.
What's included?
INCLUDED:
- Prices start from £2995 per person
- 15 nights accommodation on B&B basis
- Accompanied by an English speaking guide throughout.
- Private vehicle and transfers
- Internal flights (three)
- All entrance fees for excursions
- Lunch on Days 4 & 11
- Dinner on Days 5
- Local taxes
- Meals for guides and drivers
- All trips are ATOL protected or ABTA bonded to ensure you are financially protected
