5 Stans Tour – Central Asia

Meeting at airport, transfer to Almaty

Almaty City tour

First part of the tour passes through the central part of Almaty and covers many sights. A walk here allows you to see the old buildings of the city and cathedrals that are steeped in history, take a walk through the famous Almaty park and city squares. Visit Kok Tobe

Lunch

Second part of the tour will introduce you to one of the world’s largest alpine complex for winter sports – Medeo. Here you can go ice skating, make memorable photos with a falcon, dressed in Kazakh national clothes, or just take a walk around the complex. And above Medeo is the Shymbulak ski resort, which is climbed by cable car.

Dinner 18:00

Accommodation: 3* hotel Mildom Premium in Almaty, Meal: BLD

Breakfast at hotel

Transfer to Charyn canyon, explore destination

Transfer to Saty village

Lunch at guesthouse

Explore Kolsai Lake, free time

Accommodation: Guesthouse Alban or similar in Almaty, Meal: BLD

Breakfast at guesthouse

Transfer to Kegen border post

Cross the border on foot

Lunch picnic in nature

Transfer to Karakol

Visiting Dungan mosque, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Bugu Bazaar

Dinner at local Dungan family

During dinner, see folklore show from local musical band

 Accommodation: 3* hotel Madanur, Muras or similar in Karakol, Meal: BLD

Breakfast at hotel

Transfer to Jeti Oguz

Explore destination: Broken heart scale, Jeti Oguz Rocks, walking or horse riding to Maiden Braid waterfall according to your wishes.

Visit Barskoon valley, the place where golden Mind Kumtor. Easy hike(1 hour) to one of the 4 watrefalls in Barskoon, See the monument for Yuri Gagarin-the first cosmonaut.

Lunch at yurt café in Barskoon

Stop at Skazka canyon and Explore destination

Transfer to Kaji Say

Time providing at Issyk Kul Lake beach

Dinner at guesthouse in Kaji Say

 Accommodation: Art Hotel Al Hayat in Kaji Say, Meal: BLD

Breakfast at guesthouse

Transfer to Bishkek city

Stop at Bokonbaevo village to see Eagle hunting show

Stop at Kizil Tuu Village for lunch at local family and see yurt assembly show

In Tokmok visit Burana tower

Upon arrival at Bishkek, dinner at local restaurant

 Accommodation: 3* hotel Alpinist or similar, Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast at hotel

Short Bishkek city tour (Ala Too Square, Oak Park, Panfilov Park, Honor Guard Changing ceremony)

Lunch at local restaurant

Visiting Ala Archa National Park

Transfer to airport for flight Bishkek-Osh

Flight Bishkek-Osh

Dinner at local restaurant in Osh

Accommodation: 3* Hotel Silk Way or similar at Osh. Meal:BLD

Breakfast at hotel

Osh city tour.

According to legend, Osh was constructed by King Solomon and has served as the first place where the merchants of the West met the merchants of the Far East. For centuries it has served as a key position on the legendary Silk Road.

The tour guide will take you for a visit to the holy Suleiman – Too Mountain. This UNESCO Cultural Legacy Site has served as a pilgrimage site for 1500 years. The main visitors are women because they believe that visiting and praying at the mountain will increase their chance of giving birth to healthy children, an ancient Silk Road tradition.

We will then visit a museum located within the bowels of the earth, and proceed to visit the local Jayma Bazaar. If time permits we will then visit the Russian Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, and the central square of Osh – home to the world’s greatest statue of Lenin, some 25 meters in height.

Lunch at Osh

Transfer to border with Uzbekistan

Cross the border on foot

Transfer to Kokand through Andijan (3 hours).

Dinner at Kokand

Accommodation: 3* hotel Asmald Palace or similar in Kokand. Meal:BLD

Breakfast at hotel

Sightseeing tour in Kokand

Lunch

Transfer to border with Tajikistan

Note: you will cross the border Tajikistan-Uzbekistan on foot.

Meeting in Tajik border, transfer to Khujand

Dinner and rest

Accommodation: 3 * hotel Sogdian or similar in Khujand, Meal: BLD

Breakfast in the hotel.

Drive to Istaravshan city, Local Bazar, City sights.

Drive to Penjikent, city tour: Sarazm – ancient town sights, Lunch in a local tea house

Transfer to border with Uzbekistan, border cross on foot

Drive to Samarkand city, have dinner and rest.

Accommodation: 3 * hotel “ Arba”, “Zilol Bakht” or similar in Samarkand, Meal: BLD

Breakfast in the hotel.

Sightseeing tour in Samarkand, Visit Registan square, Excursion in Bibi Khanum Mosque which ones were the biggest Mosque in Central Asia, Walking tour of the Siab Bazar located near Bibi Khanum.

Lunch and dinner in Samarkand

Lunch, dinner at local cafes

Accommodation: 3 * hotel “ Arba”, “Zilol Bakht” or similar in Samarkand, Meal: BLD

Breakfast in the hotel.

Transfer to train station

Samarkand-Bukhara train (planning 8:08-10:46), subject to change

Upon arrival at Bukhara, Lunch

Sightseeing tour in Bukhara: The Ark Citadel (XVIIe – XXe c), Bolo-Khaouz Mosque (1712), Ismail Samani Mausoleum (IXe – Xe ss), Chachma Ayub Mausoleum. Then visit the Poi Kalyan complex. The minaret is one of the rare monuments that survived the destructive wrath of Ghengis Khan who destroyed most of the monuments of Central Asia. After, visit of trade domes Toki-Zargaron; Trade Dome Toki-Sarafon and Toki-Tilpak Furushon; Magok-Attor Mosque, Lyabi Khouz square.

Dinner

Accommodation: 3 * hotel “Caravan”, “Devon Begi” or similar in Bukhara, Meal: BLD

Breakfast in hotel

Then transfer to the border post Farap. Cross the border around 2h. With your invitation letter you will be able to get your Turkmenistan visas at the border.

Please note: Depending on the number of people waiting to cross the border you will need to wait up to one or two hours, also be prepared to be thoroughly searched.

Meet up with the guide and transfer to Turkmenabad (2 hours from Alat)

Upon arrival in Turkmenabat, Lunch in Turkmenabat, short city tour in Turkmenabat, including a visit to the city centre, pass by the central square, and theatre.

Transfer to the railway station. Train to Ashgabad 19:20. Overnight at train.

Dinner

Accommodation: Train. Meal: BLD

8:30 arrive at Ashgabad by train. Short sightseeing tour (3-4 hrs) in Ashgabat. The tour includes a visit to the National Museum of History, the Arch of Neutrality, and the Independence Park.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Ashhabad

Drive to Darwaza (270 km, 5h) via water crater and Erbent desert community. Opportunity to visit Altyn Asyr Gundogar Bazaar in the north of Ashgabat. Arrival in Darwaza

Accommodation in the yurts. Camp dinner and overnight in yurts (two people per yurt). Meal: BLD

Camp-style Breakfast in the hotel. Discover the burning gas crater. Transfer to the border with Uzbekistan Dashoguz-Shavat (270 km, 5h)

Cross the border(around 1 h)

Lunch

Sightseeing tour in Khiva: Mukhammad Amin Khan and Kalta Minor (XVIIIe c), Kunya-Ark (ancient fortress) (XVIIe – XIXe c); Mukhammad Rakhim Khan Madrasa (XIXe c.); Said Allaoutdin Mausoleum (XIVe c.); Jami Mosque with 212 wooden columns (XVIIIe c); Tash Khali, the second residence of khans of Khiva (XIXe c.); Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum (XIVe – XXe c); Islam-Khodja ensemble (beginning of the XXe s); bazaar; woodcarvers workshops.

Dinner in Khiva

Accommodation: 3* hotel “Grand Vizir”, “Malika” or similar in Khiva, Meal: BLD

Breakfast

Transfer to Urgench for flight to Tashkent (9:20-12:00) subjest to change

Arrive in Tashkent

Lunch

Walking tour to Alisher Navoi Ballet and Opera House. Built by Japanese prisoners of war and designed by Shusev, the same architect who built Lenin’s tomb, the architecture of this opera is a skilled mix of a number of influences that characterize Uzbekistan: Islamic art is combined with classicism, which leads to beautiful results – with a neo-classical façade, topped with stalagmites, Moorish style.

Then, visit Independence Square and The Tashkent Tube (Metro).

Visits of Friday Mosque and Kaffol Shoshi Mausoleum, Kukeldash Madrasah.

Visit the Museum of Decorative Arts. One of the most interesting museums in Tashkent is the Museum of Decorative Arts with an extensive collection of ceramics, carved wood, textiles, carpets, metalwork, and other handicrafts.

Dinner

19:00 Transfer to the airport for flight home

Flight 22:00