Trip Highlights
- Samarkand and Bukhara : two of the greatest cities on the Silk Road
- Kyrgyzstan’s spectacular mountain scenery
- Issyk Kul Lake is the second biggest alpine lake in the world
- Burana Tower minaret from XI century, from Karakhanid Empire.
Countries: Uzbekistan – Kazakhstan
Duration: 11 days
Tour descriptoin
Price in USD
Arrive in Tashkent. Transver to the hotel. Rest. Afternoon walk in modern Tashkent: Independence Square, Amir Timur Square, theatre of ballet and opera after Alisher Navoiy.
Meal: -/L/D
Take a morning train to Bukhara. Bukhara city also called “holy” or “blessed”. Monuments of ancient architecture in Bukhara are unique. Bukhara had been one of the most important trade centers on the Great Silk Road during many centuries, that is why there are majority of caravanserais and covered bazaars, which attract tourists till our days. Today we will have a short excursion across the old town: Nadir Devonbegi, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrasas.
OPTIONAL Folk and oriental fashion show program will be organized in Nodir Devonbegi madrasah. Such a show in a historical place will immerse you in the atmosphere of Shekherezada’s tales
Meal: B/L/D
Morning excursion: Precious stone of the treasure of Central Asia is Samanids Mausoleum (9-10th cc.) which impresses by its ornament and brickwork. Visit Ark Citadel, trading domes, Poyi Kalon ensemble and other architectural monuments of great architectors of their time are located here in Bukhara.
Today we will visit a local family, where we will have a cooking class of traditional uzbek meal – plov.
Meal: B/L/D
After breakfast drive to Samarkand via Gijduvan city, where we will visit a potter workshop. The head of family, a potter of 6th generation, will introduce us Gijduvan ceramics production process.
Continue to Samarkand. Samarkand is one of the ancient cities in the world, contemporary of Athens, Roma and Babylon. Samarkand is more than 2500-years old. On the East Samarkand calls as “precious pearl”, appearance of the earth”. Afternoon excursion:
Guri Emir Mausoleum. Guri-Emir mausoleum and burial vault of Timurids dynasty from far away remembers a blue tulip with closed turquoise petals.
Meal: B/L/D
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion along the city: Registan Square is a heart of Samarkand. The square appeared many times before the Mongols invasion (18th century) as a place of city artisans and tradesmen crowding. The word Registan means, “place on the sand”.
You will also see Bibi-Khanum mosque (15th c.), Shakhi Zinda complex and Ulugbek observatory.
Later drive to Konigil village, where we will visit Meros paper-factory. We will have opportunity to observe hand-made paper production process.
OPTIONAL Degustation of local wine in Khovrenko winery
Meal: B/L/D
After breakfast drive to Tashkent. Afternoon excursion: Barak-Khana-madrasah, Mausoleum Kaffal Chachi and Siyaab Bazaar. Afternoon flight to Almaty. Upon arrrival meet with the guide and driver. Transfer to the hotel Check in. Dinner. Overnight at the Hotel
Meal B/L/D
After breakfast city tour in Bishkek. During the city tour you will visit Oak park where is the open air museum of Sculptures, Philarmanic Hall, Ala- Too Square, Monument to Manas. Afternoon transfer to Ala Archa National park. Walking there. Landscapes of foothill steppes and mountain forests, where more than 600 species of higher plants grow, including 70 species of trees and shrubs, about 50 species of medicinal plants, a lot of honey plants and tannins. Dinner at the local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.
Meal: B/L/D
After breakfast transfer to Tamga along the south shore of Issyk Kul Lake. Issyk-Kul — (in Kyrgyz “hot lake”) is the second largest (after the Caspian) salt lake in the world, located at an altitude of 1609 m. On the way visit Burana Tower, a place on the Great Silk Road dated to 11th century. Besides the tower you will see the ruins of ancient city called Balasagyn, an excursion to the museum dedicated to this place. Photo stops on the way. Upon arrival possible to swim in the lake. Dinner and overnight at the yurt camp.
Meal: B/L/D
Have breakfast and then transfer to Karakol.
On the way visit Jeti-Oguz, a picturesque gorge, which is famous not only for its coniferous forest, flower clearings and beautiful view, but also with red and sandy formations which are called «Seven Bulls» and «Broken Heart».
Arrival in Karakol. Have lunch and then check-in at the hotel.
In the afternoon you will have a city tour of Karakol and visit local sightseeings like the Dungan Mosque and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Dinner in a locak restaurant or by local family (Russian, Dungan, Uigur, Kyrgyz or Uzbek)
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals B/L/D
Early breakfast Transfer to Bishkek along the norht shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way visit Petroghliphs in Cholpon Ata. Many of the drawings are made in the Saka-Scythian style: images of hunters, hunting scenes with the participation of tamed snow leopards. Later on visit Burana tower minaret from XI century. Upon arrival to Bishkek shopping before dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals B/L/D
After breakfast transfer to airport. Take a flight home
- 2-3 pax - 2120 USD
- 4-5 pax - 1708 USD
- 6-7 pax - 1502 USD
- 8-9 pax - 1362 USD
- 10-12 pax - 1306 USD
- 12-13 pax - 1346 USD
- Meals full board (B/L/D)
- Guide
- Entrance fees
- Twin/double room accommodation
- Mineral water during the tour (one liter a day per person)
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- International and domestic flight tickets
- Porter service in hotels and airport
- Personal expenses of the clients
- Any deviation from the program
- Single room accommodation
OPTIONAL EVENTS: Folk show in Nodir Devon Begi (Bukhara) -$10 p.p. Local wine tasting in Samarkand — $15 p.p.
The price of the tour does not include the cost of international and domestic flight tickets. But if you want, we can organize international flight tickets with TURKISH AIRLINES via Istanbul, AIR ASTANA via Nur-Sultan or AEROFLOT via Moscow.
Flight tickets:
Flight tickets with TURKISH AIRLINES via Istanbul: is 650-900 EURO per person
Flight tickets with AIR ASTANA VIA NUR-SULTAN: is 650-900 EURO per person
Flight tickets with AEROFLOT via Moscow: is 650-900 EURO per person
Tashkent – City Palace 4* or similar (1 night)
Bukhara – Omar Khayyam 4* or similar (2 night)
Samarkand – Registan Plaza 4* or similar (2 nights)
Bishkek – Plaza Hotel 4* or similar 2 nights
Tamga – Yurt camp
Karakol – Karagat 4* Hotel or similar