Central Asia in two Weeks - 15 Days

Arrival in Almaty, transfer to the hotel. After breakfast at the hotel city tour in Almaty: the Holy Ascension Cathedral (also called Zenkov or Svyato-Voznesensky Cathedral), the highlights of Al Farobiy Street, Central State Museum, the Green Bazaar, the Central Mosque and the Presidential Palace. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast (early at 7.00 am) we drive to Charyn Canyon (220 km – 3 hours). Charyn Canyon is considered the second largest canyon in the world after Colorado Canyon. On arrival our Walking in the Canyon (3 hours). For Lunch Picnic at the river Charyn (flowing crystal clear water). After Picnic our Walking on the Canyon (2 hours). In the late afternoon we drive back to Almaty (220 km). Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast we drive to Bishkek (250 km). In Bishkek we visit Victory Square, Dobovy Park, the Central Square Ala-Too, Historical Museum, the National Philharmonic Hall and the Bazaar, where you can get to know the Culture and People of Kyrgyzstan. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to Cholpon-Ata. On the way to Cholpon-Ata we visit the Burana Tower (11th century) and the Stone Warrior Museum in the open air. In Cholpon-Ata hike at the Issyk Kul Lake (3 hours). Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we continue to Bishkek (280 km). Dinner at a local restaurant in Bishkek. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to the Airport and we fly to Osh. According to legend, the city of Osh was founded by King Solomon. We visit the oriental Bazaar in Osh and the Suleiman-Too (Mountain of Solomon). The Suleiman-Too is considered a holy mountain in Kyrgyzstan and has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. In some caves and on rock walls on the mountain, especially on the eastern slope, more than 100 Petroglyphs (rock carvings) with representations of humans, animals, dragons, sun and moon, as well as geometric shapes, were found, dating from the time of the first settlement in the Middle Bronze Age. Solomon, known to Christians in the Bible as the King of Israel, is considered a prophet in the Koran and is said to have been buried at the foot of the Mountain. Lunch at a local restaurant in Osh.In the afternoon we drive to the border crossing Osh – Andijan. After the border formalities we will change the means of transport and we will do sightseeing in Andijan. We continue to Fergana, sightseeing and we drive to Margilan. On arrival we check in at the hotel. Dinner in a local tea-room. Overnight stay in a 2-star hotel.

After breakfast we visit Margilan, one of the oldest and industrial city of Uzbekistan. Margilan has always played an important role in the history of the Silk Road. In Margilan we visit historical-traditional Silk Factory called “Yodgorlik”, which continues centuries-old tradition. We also visit the Bazaar in Margilan. For lunch we will have lunch in a traditional tearoom in Margilan. Then we drive to Rishton. In Rishton almost 90% of ceramics offered in Uzbekistan are produced and the production of ceramics in Rishton has been passed on from father to son for about 800 years. We visit a family of ceramic craftsmen in Rishton. We will learn how to produce ceramics in the traditional way. We drive on to Kokand. The city of Kokand, with its almost 200 000 inhabitants, is the junction of the Silk Road. Kokand was once the capital of the Khanate of the same name and experienced its heyday in the 19th century. Lunch at the local restaurant. In Kokand we visit the palace of Hudayar Khan, built between 1833 and 1873, with its seventy meter wide and infinitely colorful facades. The facade of the palace is decorated with numerous colours and ornaments. The decoration is a testimony to the traditional folk art of this region, the ceramic distillery. We also visit the Juma Mosque, built between 1809 and 1812, and the Medresse Amin-Beg. Also worth seeing are the necropolis of Dachma-i-Shochon, the Modari mausoleum and the Hamza museum. In the late afternoon we continue our journey to Khujand. In Khujand check in at the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel we will visit the historic city of Khujand, which was founded by Alexander the Great in 329 BC. We visit the Museum of Archaeology, the Sheikh Muslimiddin Mosque and the Payshanba Bazaar, the largest bazaar in Tajikistan. In the late afternoon we will drive to Istaravshan and visit the city. We continue to Panjakent and on the way we have a picnic break at the waterfall “Fan Niagara”. Dinner at a local restaurant in Panjakent. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast visit of old Panjakent, the “Pompeii” of Central Asia, excavation area with its temple and house ruins, former palaces and necropolises, Rudaki Museum, bazaar and handicrafts. Then we drive to Samarkand (70 km). We visit in Samarkand the three Medressen of the Registan – the Ulugbek-Medresse (built 1417-1420), the Sher-Dor-Medresse (1619 – 1636) and the Tillo-Kori-Medresse (1646 – 1660). The legendary Timurid mausoleum Guri Amir (XIV-XV century) enchants the viewer with its golden interior decoration. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

Breakfast at hotel. You will enjoy hearing some legends while visiting the Bibi-Chanum Mosque and the Medresse (XIV century). We visit the traditional oriental Siyab Bazaar. Near the Siyab bazaar there is an ensemble of Shohi-Zinda (the living king, “IX.-XIV century), one of the world’s most famous group of mausoleums, which fasinate you with its beautiful architecture. Next we will visit the famous Ulugbek Observatory (1428-1429 which was built on one of the hills of Chupanata). The observatory was a unique design in his time. We will drive to Bukhara (270 km). Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast we will visit Poyi Kalon Ensemble consisting of Kalon Minaret (12^th c.), Kalon Mosque (12^th C.), Miri Arab Madrasah (16^th C.), domed bazaars Toqi Zargaron (15^th C.), Toqi Telpak-Furushon (16^th C.) and Toqi Zaroffon (16^th C.). Continue we visit Lyabi-Khauz Complex (14^th-17^th C.) and Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah. Dinner at a local restaurant and then live Folklore in the Medresse Nodir Devon Begi. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel.

After breakfast we visit Citadel Ark (4^th c. BC), Bolo-Khauz Mosque (beginning of the 20^th c.), Samanides Mausoleum (9^th-10^th c.), Chashmai Ayub (14^th c.). Lunch at local city restaurant in Bukhara. Afternoon we visit: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Complex, summer residence of the last Emir (ruler) of Bukhara, Bakhouddin Naqshbandiy Memorial Complex, Chor Bakr (19^th c.) and Chor Minor.

Lunch at a local Restaurant. After Lunch drive Bukhara → Khiva (480 km). During the drive through the desert Kysyl-Kum (red sand) you will experience the unique expanse of a desert landscape in Central Asia. The Kysyl-Kum desert is about 200 000 km² and belongs to the territories of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. There you will find the red sand from which the desert gets its name. Khiva, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. Khiva, with about 89 500 inhabitants (as of 2017), is located in the northwest of Uzbekistan, west of the Amudarya river, on the old Silk Road. Since 1967 Khiva is museum city and in 1997 Uzbekistan celebrated the 2500th anniversary of the city. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast we visit the historical City Ichan Kala. Dinner with live music in the historical city of Khiva. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast we drive to the border crossing Uzbekistan → Turkmenistan. After the border formalities we drive on to Kunya-Urgench. We visit the historical monuments like Ak Kala (15-17 c.), Gurganj (Gurgandsh), Gyaur Kala , Complex Ibn Khadjib (14-16 c.), Mausoleum il Arslan (12 c. ), Mausoleum Tyurabek Khanum (14th century), Minaret Kutlug Timur (11th century), Mausoleum Najmiddin Kubro (Nadshmiddin Kubro 14th century) and many other historical places. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we drive to Darvaza – Gate to Hell, a wonder of nature. Dinner and overnight in a tent at Darvaza.

After the breakfast at Darvaza we drive to Ashgabat. In Ashgabat we visit modern side of Ashgabat and ruined city Anau (archaeological excavations from V-III century B.C.). Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.