The 5 Stans of Central Asia

Arrival in Ashgabat early in the morning. Meet at the airport and further group transfer to the hotel. Accommodation and rest.

After breakfast meet the local guide. Today we make a day trip to Nohur village, located in Kopetdag Mountains – here we visit tribal cemetery and pilgrim site; get acquainted with the local craftsmen, specializing in silk weaving. En route to Nohur village – visit Turkmenbashi mosque-

mausoleum and Kow-Ata underground lake. Return to Ashgabat in the evening.

Overnight in Ashgabat

After breakfast start of the half-day sightseeing tour around the city. Visit National Museum of Turkmenistan, Nissa ancient fortress (UNESCO Heritage site), Independence Park and Neutrality Arch.

After lunch transfer to the most unique site in Central Asia – Darwaza burning gas crater. Arrival in Darwaza before sunset. Enjoy barbeque dinner near the burning gas crater; watch and make photos of the crater during the nighttime. Return to Ashgabat (slow driving after dark). Arrival at the hotel before or just after midnight.

Overnight in Ashgabat

After breakfast meet the guide and further transfer to the airport; flight to Mary.

Upon arrival – transfer to visit the ancient city of Merv, which is also included into the list UNESCO Heritage Sites. Exploring the region.

Further transfer to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities. Meet Uzbek team of guide and driver and further transfer to Bukhara.

Overnight in Bukhara

After breakfast start of the guided sightseeing tour around Bukhara: Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo Khauz Mosque, Ark Citadel, Po-i-Kalyan Complex (Kalyan Minaret and others), Ulugbek Madrasah, Abdulaziz-Khan Madrasah. After lunch visit Lyab-i Hauz Architectural Ensemble, Kukeldash Madrasah, Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah, domed shopping arcade.

Overnight in Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Samarkand which will take around 5 hours. On arrival – start of the sightseeing tour in Samarkand. Visit the main pride of the city – Registan Square, most famous square in Central Asia (Ulugbek Madrasah, Sher-Dor Madrasah, Tilla-Qori Madrasah); and Gur-e Amir Mausoleum, Tamerlane’s final resting place.

Overnight in Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet the guide; continuation of the city tour in Samarkand. Visit Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Ulugbek Observatory. After lunch visit Afrosiab museum and settlement, Saint Daniel’s tomb and Silk paper workshop.

Overnight in Samarkand

After early breakfast we take a day trip to Tajikistan – the important part of ancient Sogdiana.

In the morning – transfer to the land border with Tajikistan. Border formalities. Meet Tajik guide and driver and drive to the region of Seven Lakes. The Seven Lakes are located in the west of Fann mountains; each of them has its own color. At the last of Seven Lakes – Khozorchashma Lake we enjoy a picnic. After lunch drive to Penjikent. Sightseeing in Penjikent includes visiting of the following sites: Rudaki Museum, local Bazaar and mosque. Further visit ancient Penjikent which was a major Sogdian city and was destroyed by Arab conqueror.

By the evening – return to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel. Road transfer to Tashkent. On arrival – start exploring the capital city of Uzbekistan. Visit Minor white Mosque, Independence Square, Amir Timur Square and Tashkent metro. Accommodation at the hotel in the evening.

Overnight in Tashkent

After early breakfast transfer to the railway station for further transfer to Kokand by train (modern carriages, normal speed, seated places).

On arrival in Kokand – one of the ancient cities of Fergana valley, start the city tour. Visit Palace of Khudayar Khan, Mausoleum of Modari Khan, Juma Mosque.  After lunch transfer to the land border with Kyrgyzstan. Border formalities. Meet Kyrgyz team of guide and driver and further transfer to Osh.

Overnight in Osh.

After breakfast meet the guide and start the city tour in Osh. Visit Suleiman Mount, one of the main shrines of the Islamic world in Central Asia. On the mount visit to a historical museum, located in the main cave. After that walk up the hill and watch a little mosque of Babur, The Great Mogols Dynasty founder, and take a bird eye’s view of the city.

After lunch transfer to the airport and flight to Bishkek. On arrival – short sightseeing tour and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel in Bishkek.

After breakfast meet the guide and start the city tour in Osh. Visit Suleiman Mount, one of the main shrines of the Islamic world in Central Asia. On the mount visit to a historical museum, located in the main cave. After that walk up the hill and watch a little mosque of Babur, The Great Mogols Dynasty founder, and take a bird eye’s view of the city.

After lunch transfer to the airport and flight to Bishkek. On arrival – short sightseeing tour and transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel in Bishkek.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet the guide and driver and drive to the second largest alpine lake in the world – Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way visit the ruins of the ancient city Balasagyn and Burana tower. Upon arrival accommodation at the hotel and rest.

Overnight in Issyk-Kul 

Breakfast at the hotel. Start driving to Karakol. On the route visit the museum of Petroglyph’s in Cholpon-Ata and museum of the famous Russian explorer of Central Asia N.M. Prjevalsky. Upon arrival city tour in Karakol. Visit a Dungan mosque(19century), a unique construction built in Chinese style with no nails used. Also, see the wooden Russian Orthodox Cathedral of The Holy Trinity built at the end of the 19th century.  Walk around the central bazaar to feel the real life of the city.

Overnight in Karakol

Early breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Karakol at 08:00. Transfer to the land border with Kazakhstan. Border formalities. Further transfer to Almaty. En route visit spectacular Charyn Canyon. The Charyn Canyon is located in the Charyn National Park about 215 km east of Almaty and approximately a 3 hour drive via the A 351 and A 352.  The Canyon has been described as the Grand Canyon’s little brother. The Canyon itself is approximately 150 km long, and, in places up to 300 meters deep. One area of particular interest is an area of 2 km called the Valley of Castles, due to the pillars and rock formations forming imposing, almost man-made structures.

Arrival in Almaty by the evening.

Overnight Almaty

In the morning, start of the sightseeing tour about Almaty (10 hours). Visit the following places: the Green Bazaar, Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame. Next visit of the Kok-Tobe hill with the tallest TV tower in the world. Short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway.

After lunch transfer to the most beautiful lakes, located in the surroundings of Almaty – Big Almaty Lake. Arrival to the Lake and slight hiking in the surroundings. En route visit to “Sunkar” Falcons’ Farm to watch the show with hunting birds.

Overnight in Almaty

Transfer to the International airport of Almaty. Departure from Kazakhstan.