Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan Tour - 17 Days

Arrival in Bishkek. Transfer to the hotel. We visit Victory Square, Dobovy Park, the central square Ala-Too, historical Museum, the National Philharmonic Hall, bazaar, where you can get to know the culture and people in Kyrgyzstan. Lunch in a local Restaurant. In the afternoon we drive to Chok-Tal. On the way to the Chok-Tal we visit the Burana Tower (11^th c.) and an open air Museum of Balbans (stone warriors). Check-in to the hotel in Chok-Tal. Dinner at local Restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel free Time at Issyuk-Kul Lake. Lunch at the local restaurant and afternoon we drive to Kochkor. We cook together with the Family and eat with the family. Overnight at the family.

After breakfast we will drive on to Kochkor (110 km). We will take a walk in the village and visit a family wool weaving mill. In the afternoon we drive over the 3448 m high pass to the Song Kul lake (105 km). Our hike at Song Kul Lake (2 hours). Dinner and overnight stay in the yurt (it is about getting to know the nomadic life).

After breakfast in the Yurt we drive to Bishkek (305 km). On the way to Bishkek we will have lunch. From Bishkek you fly to Osh. In Osh check in at the hotel, dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in 3-star hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and afterwards sightseeing in Osh. We visit the oriental bazaar in Osh and the Suleiman-Too (Mount of Solomon). The Suleiman-Too is considered a holy mountain in Kyrgyzstan and was 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 with illustrations of humans, animals, dragons, sun and moon as well as geometrical shapes were found, which date back to 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 (Andijon). After the border formalities we change the means of transport and we do city tour in Andijan. We continue our journey to Fergana, sightseeing and we drive to Margilan. On arrival check into the hotel. Dinner in a local tearoom. 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 named “Yodgorlik”, which continues centuries-old tradition. We will also visit the bazaar in Margilan. For lunch we will have lunch in a traditional tearoom in Margilan. Afterwards we drive to Rishtan. In Rishtan almost 90% of the ceramics offered in Uzbekistan are produced and the ceramics production in Rishtan has been passed on from father to son for about 800 years. We visit a ceramic craftsmen family in Rishtan. We will learn how to produce ceramics in the traditional way. We drive on to Kokand>/strong>. The city of Kokand, with its almost 200 000 inhabitants, is the junction for 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 about seventy meters 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. Furthermore, we will visit the Juma Mosque built from 1809 to 1812 and the Medresse Amin-Beg. Also worth seeing are the necropolis Dakhma-i-Shokhon, the Modari-Mausoleum and the Hamza-Museum. In the afternoon we go by train back to Tashkent. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast city tour in Tashkent. Tashkent , the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan, lies in the northeast of Uzbekistan and is with over two million people the largest metropolis in Central Asia . While visiting historical sights of the Capital, you can also enjoy the modern side of the city. The city offers modern Hotels, Restaurants, Theatres, Cinemas, Operas, Disco, Oriental Bazaars, of course also a thousand years old History to look back on. During the city tour we will visit Barak Khan Medrasah (building ensemble from the 15-17 c.), the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum (built in the 16 c. and rebuilt in the 19 c.), the mosque Khojah Akhror (1404-1490, Khojah Akhror was a Sheikh of the Naqshbandi Order). Afterwards we will visit the Medrese Kukaldosh (16th century), the traditional Chorsu-Bazaar . Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast we drive by Train “Afrosiyob” to Samarkand and check into the hotel. Samarkand (540 000 inhabitants, 2019) has also been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The history of the city goes back over 2500 years. Visitors are fascinated by the walls of the legendary Afrasiyab, the capital of the ancient empire Sogd (9th century B.C.), which can still be found in the north of Samarkand today. Not for nothing Samarkand is called a jewel of the earth. Our journey in Samarkand begins at the famous Registan (sand place), whose construction was already started during the Timurid period and completed in the following three hundred years. Sightseeing of three Medressen of the Registan – the Ulugbek-Medresse (built 1417-1420), the Sher-Dor-Medresse (1619 – 1636) and the Tillo-Kori-Medresse (1646 – 1660). For lunch you will be offered traditional Uzbek dish Pilav. Depending on your wishes you can also order something else (our recommendation: try at least once the traditional dish Pilav in Samarkand, it is only prepared for lunch). In the afternoon we visit the legendary Timurid mausoleum Guri Amir (XIV-XV century). Dinner with an Uzbek family. Overnight stay in 3-star hotel.

Breakfast at hotel. Visit the Bibi Hanum Mosque and Medresse (14th century) and we will be told the legends connected with the buildings. Afterwards we will 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. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in 3-star hotel.

After Breakfast we drive to Bukhara (270 km). In Bukhara 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 will visit Lyabi-Khauz Complex (14-17^th c.) and Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah. Dinner at Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah along with traditional folklore Program. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After Breakfast at hotel we will visit Citadel Ark (4^th c. BC), Bolo-Khauz Mosque (beginning of the 20^th c.), Samanides Mausoleum (9-10^th c.), Chashmai Ayub (14^th c.), 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. After Lunch we will drive to Khiva (480 km). While driving through the Desert Kysyl-Kum (Red Sand) you experience the unique expanse of desert landscape in Central Asia. The Kysyl-Kum Desert is about 200 000 square kilometres and it partly lies in the territories of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It is covered with red sand from which the Name of the Desert derives. On the way to Bukhara we make a short stop at the teahouse “Bukhoro-i-Sharif”, where you can have lunch or just relax and drink tea. Dinner at a local Restaurant in Khiva. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After Breakfast we will visit the historical city “Ichan Qala”. Dinner with live folklore Music in the old city Ichan Kala. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan border. After the border formality we will drive to Kunya Urgench. In Kunya Urgench we will visit the historical monuments Ak Kala (15-17^th c.), Gurganj, Komplex ibn Khadjib (14-16^th c.). Lunch at the local restaurant. In the afternoon we drive to the Darvaza – Gate to Hell, a wonder of Nature. Overnight stay in the tent at Darvaza.

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

After breakfast Transfer to the Airport and we fly to Mary. In Mary we visit the ruins of Alexandria (Antiochia) and region Margush: Sultan Kala (10-11^th c.), Erk Kala (7^th bc.), Gyaur Kala (III^th bc.), Karavansaray Dandanakan (MA.), Kyz Kala (8-12^th c.), Mausoleum Askhabov (15^th c.), Mausoleum Sultan Sanjar (12^th c.) and Muhammad ibn Said (12^th c.) mosque-mausoleum. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.

After breakfast excursion to ancient Merw, then Transfer to the Airport and we fly to Ashgabat. We visit the Strong Historical Museums, Ahal-Tekin Horse Farm and the ruined city of Nisa. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel.