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Central Asia on Silk Road Tour

17 days
16 nights

Rates

Dates

Rates:

USD
EUR

PER PERSON:

$ 6,900.00 (double occupancy)

Dates:

ALL YEAR ROUND

Hotels:

Bishkek - 2 nights: B hotel / Asia Mountains or similar
Issyk-Kul - 1 night: Raduga / The Try Korony or similar
Karakol - 1 night: Matsunoki / 78 Hotel / Green Yard or similar
Kochkor - 1 night: Mira guest house
Son-Kul - 1 night: Yurt (2 people in one yurt)
Tashkent - 1 night: Navruz / Grand Capital / Praga or similar
Samarkand - 3 nights: East Star / Royal / Platan or similar
Bukhara - 2 nights: As-Salom / Minzifa Boutique / K.Komil or similar
Khiva - 1 night: Erkin Palace / Orient Star or similar
Penjikent - 2 nights: Sugd / Umariyon
Dushanbe - 1 night: Serena / the Rumi or similar

 

Included:

Accommodation based on double room sharing with daily breakfast
Transportation and all transfers throughout the tour
Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides
Entrance tickets to the sights as per itinerary
Economy class ticket for flights:
Bishkek-Tashkent
Tashkent-Urgench
Urgench-Bukhara
Economy class ticket for train Bukhara-Samarkand* 
Meals – per itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
A felt carpet workshop 
Kyrgyz folklore show in Kochkor
Eagle hunting show in Bokonbaevo
Kyrgyz folklore show in Karakol
Horse game “Ulak-Tartysh” in Tokmok in Kyrgyzstan

Itinerary:

The Silk Road was a huge part of the development of Central Asia, and this Central Asia on Silk Road Tour is a great way to relive this period in history. Architecture, culture, traditions and cuisine take the forefront in this tour as you travel through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Head out on the best tour for exploring Central Asia and the Silk Road, and discover this corner of the world. All in all, Central Asia on the Silk Road tour is the best tour for exploring the history and culture of this region, with excursions to all of the major sites and some of the lesser-known gems of Central Asia.

Day 1  : Arrival in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

Sightseeing in Bishkek

Arrival to Bishkek, transfer to the hotel. Time to rest.

In the afternoon, sightseeing tour of Kyrgyzstam capital Bishkek: Kyrgyz National Philharmoniс, Statue of Manas, Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Victory Square, Museum of Fine Arts and Osh market. 

Overnight in Bishkek.

Day 2  : Bishkek – Burana – Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan)

Burana Tower, Kyrgyz traditions, lunch hosted by a local family.

After breakfast, leave Bishkek and drive towards Issyk-Kul Lake.

Our firts stop is at Burana Tower, a remnant from ancient city Balasagun dating back to 11-13th centuries.

After visit to Burana tower, you will learn some Kyrgyz traditions, one of them being Kyrgyz national horse game “Ulak Tartysh” (goat pulling). Ulak-tartysh (or kok-boru) is a fight between two teams of riders for a goat carcass. You will watch the game and have lunch in the local Kyrgyz family.

Continue to Cholpon-Ata.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel, located near Issyk-Kul Lake (B, L, D)

Day 3  : Issyk-Kul – Cholpon-Ata - Karakol (Kyrgystan)

Open-air museum of petroglyphs, Karakol sightseeing, dinner with a local family, Kyrgyz music and traditions

Transfer to Karakol (150 km / 93 miles). En route, visit  an open air museum of petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata. The museum dates back to 500 BC – 100 AD. The stones petroglyphs depict wolves, long-horned ibex, goats, horses, snow leopards, sacrifices and some hunting scenes. Also you can visit museum of local lore.

When you reach Karakol, enjoy a sightseeing tour with visits to Prjevalsky museum, Wooden Orthodox Church, Dungan mosque in Chinese style. Kyrgyzstan is a multiethnic country and during this tour you will have a chance to get acquainted with its diverse culture.

Today you will have a dinner in Uigur or Dungan family with Kyrgyz national music and songs. These nations came to Kyrgyzstan from China and live in Karakol since 1869.

Overnight in the guest house (B, D)

Day 4  : Karakol – Jety-Oguz – Kochkor (Kyrgystan)

Seven Bulls Gorge, Eagle Hunting Show, Kyrgyz dinner with folklore show.

Transfer to Kochkor along the Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way you will stop at the Jety-Oguz (Seven Bulls) Gorge. You will learn why it is called Seven Bulls and explore the Broken Heart rock.

After lunch transfer to Bokonbaevo where you will see an eagle hunting show. Continue driving to Kochkor while enjoying the best views on the Issyk-Kul Lake.

There will be a Kyrgyz folkloric dinner show with Kyrgyz national music and songs.

Overnight in a family run hotel (B, L, D)

Day 5  : Kochkor – Son-Kul (Kyrgyzstan)

Nomadic life and traditions: horses, camels, yaks, eagles, Kyrgyz food, overnight in yurts.

Transfer to Son-Kul (120 km/75 miles). Son-Kul is one of the highest lakes in Kyrgyzstan (3016 m above sea level) and the best place to experience a nomadic life. You will have a chance to ride a horse, see edelweiss flowers, camels, yaks, golden eagles, and learn how local women make Kymyz - Kyrgyz national drink made from mare’s milk. This is a remote mountain lake situated on a treeless, high mountain plateau (3016 m) where shepherds bring the livestock in the summertime, set up yurts – round portable nomadic dwelling. In this magnificent place you can see hundreds of herds and a lot of different yurts.

Overnight in the yurt camp (B, D)

Day 6  : Son-Kul – Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

Felt carpet workshop

After breakfast transfer to Bishkek. On your way, visit a felt carpet workshop in Kochkor village. Lunch en route.

Overnight at the hotel (B, L)

Day 7  : Bishkek – Ala-Archa Gorge – Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

Hiking in the mountains

After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel. Transfer to the Ala-Archa National Park (40 km/25 miles), an alpine gorge with the fast-flowing Ala-Archa River, surrounded by tall, snow-covered peaks with steep-sided, forested mountain slopes. Enjoy hiking in the gorge.

In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport. Flight to Tashkent at 18:35 (6:35 pm). Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Tashkent hotel (B)

Day 8  : Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva (Uzbekistan)

Tashkent sightseeing

After breakfast, a sightseeing tour of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. We start with exploring the Old City: visit Khast-Imam Complex, where the world-famous Quran, a holy book that belonged to Caliph Uthman, has been preserved. The complex comprises Barak-Khan Madrasah, Tillya Sheykh Mosque, Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Continue to Chorsu Bazaar. Then, ride the Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit the Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square.

You will be transferred to the domestic airport in the late afternoon and take the evening flight to Urgench, departing at 18:40 (6:40 pm). The flight is 1 hour and 40 minutes. Arrive in Urgench at 20:20 (8:20 pm) and transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 35 min).

Overnight at the hotel in Khiva (B)

Day 9  : Khiva – Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

Sightseeing in Khiva

After breakfast, we take you on a sightseeing tour in Khiva. You will visit the Ichan-Qala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Ichan-Qala Fortress visit Sayeed Alauddin Mausoleum, Arab-Mukhamadkhan Madrasah, Oq-Masjid Mosque, Madrasah of Hodjan Berdi-biya, Shirgazikhan Madrasah, Abdullakhan Madrasah, Juma Mosque, Allakulikhan Madrasah, Tosh-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islom-Khoja.  

In the evening, transfer to the domestic airport. Flight to Bukhara leaves at 21:00 (9:00 pm) and arrives at 22:00 (10:00 pm). Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. 

Overnight at the hotel in Bukhara (B)

Day 10  : Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

Sightseeing in Bukhara, dinner with a folk show

After breakfast, start on a walking sightseeing tour in Bukhara.
Visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Dinner and a National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasah.

Overnight at the hotel in Bukhara (B, D)

Day 11  : Bukhara - Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

Sightseeing in Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, you will visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, a unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Head to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis.

Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train (1.5 hours) transfer in the afternoon. Arrive in Samarkand and check in to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel in Samarkand (B)

Day 12  : Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

Sightseeing in Samarkand

After breakfast, Samarkand sightseeing tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum – the mausoleum of Amir Timur, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory.

Free time in the afternoon.

Overnight at the hotel in Samarkand (B)

Day 13  : Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

Sightseeing in Samarkand, tradition of paper making in Samarkand

After breakfast, continue sightseeing tour in Samarkand. You will visit Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Afrasiab Museum, and the Tomb of Saint Daniel.

Then, drive to Konigil village to explore the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Farewell lunch in Samarkand.

Free time in the afternoon.

Overnight at the hotel (B)

Day 14  : Samarkand – Seven Lakes – Penjikent (Tajikistan)

Uzbekistan/Tajikistan border crossing, Seven Lakes, sightseeing in Penjikent

Early morning transfer to Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border Jartepa (50 km/31 miles/1 hour). Customs and passport control are on both sides. Cross the border and meet your Tajik local guide and driver to Seven Lakes (80 km/50 miles/1.5-2h).

Haf Kul - seven lakes of different colors in the mountains of Tajikistan: 1. Mijgon, 2. Soya, 3. Hushyor, 4. Nophin lakes (2139m.a.l), Khurdak, 6.Marguzor, 7.Hazorchashma lakes (2400m a.s.l.). Picnic at the lake.

After lunch, drive to Penjikent. Sightseeing in Penjikent: Rudaki Museum, as Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian Poetry. Visit the ancient Penjikent ruins of old Sogdian town founded in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples, and a city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins.

Overnight at the hotel  (B, L, D)

Day 15  : Penjikent – Iskandarkul – Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

All day - nature in Tajikistan

Drive to Dushanbe via Iskanderkul Lake. According to the legend, Lake Iskanderkul was named after Alexander the Great, known as Iskander in the East. People say that Alexander the Great's path to India passed by this lake.

Lunch at the traditional homestay "Dilovar".

Afterward, you will stroll around the lake, explore Five Springs and Zmeinoe (Snake) Lake, and walk to a 38 m high waterfall that local people compare to Niagara and call Fanskaya Niagara (Niagara of Fan). Drive to Dushanbe.

Overnight at the hotel in Dushanbe (B, L, D)

Day 16  : Dushanbe (Tajikistan)

Sightseeing in Dushanbe

Start sightseeing in the capital of Tajikistan. Visit a lovely Botanical garden with many old trees. The National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan (closed on Mondays) includes exhibits on history, natural history, and art (Buddha in Nirvana is one of the most valuable exhibits of the museum), Ismail Somoni Monument, the Building of National Spirit, Rudaki Prospect and the Main Mosque of Dushanbe.

Overnight at the hotel in Dushanbe (B, L, D)

Day 17  : Departure from Dushanbe

After breakfast, transfer to the airport (B)