Silk Road trip: Tour 4

 Silk Road trip: Tour 4

Day 1: Almaty
Welcome to Silk road tour! Travelers will be met at the airport and have Almaty Grand tour in central areas for 5-6 hours. We will explore the Southern capital of Kazakhstan. It is great chance to see main sites and highlights! Then we will travel to Green Bazaar and enjoy shopping! Travelers will have an opportunity to find anything they want according to taste and budget! Afterwards visit Almaty parks as Panfilov Park, where you can get impress of the most outstanding wooden buildings in the world as Zenkov Cathedral. We will visit the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame which are devoted to the recollection of the fighters who perished fighting for freedom and independence of Kazakhstan. In the afternoon we will travel to famous Medeo Gorge and see the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam. The next destination is the Kok Tobe hill where you can see the tallest TV tower in the world is located. The tour will end by the famous Almaty cableway. Afterwards transfer to a hotel for sleep.

Day 2: Almaty - Issyk - Almaty
We will travel to the famous Issyk Lake. It will take about 7 hours. On the way you will see astonishing gorges of Trans Ili Alatau - Issyk Gorge is situated along the Kuldja tract. Here you are going to learn more about burial mounds of Saka period, where the famous "Golden Man" found. Today it is a symbol of Kazakhstan. Then visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum Reserve "ISSYK" belonging to the history and culture of the Saka period as well as a copy of Golden Man and golden items, ancient ceramics, weapon, horse equipment and others. Find the model of Saka burial mound. Guests will pass by 1756 meters above sea level and see the most striking mountain lake Issyk found about 10,000 years ago because of natural collapse. Transfer to a hotel for sleep.

Day 3: Almaty - Bishkek
Early in the morning we will travel to Bishkek. When we arrive, we will have a city tour and visit the Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala Too Square, the National Arts Museum, National Philharmonic and other interesting places of wonder. The tour will be continued visiting Asian Bazaar where you can bargain and get fresh fruits and vegetables. Overnight is in a hotel. 

Day 4: Bishkek - Burana - Issyk Kul northern shore
The tour will start by travelling to the well-known Issyk Kul Lake. You will be awestruck by celestial mountains! Issyk Kul Lake is pondered to be the second largest alpine lake in the world of 1608 m. above sea level and also called "the pearl of Central Asia". The lake is never getting freeze! On the way you will have the opportunity to visit the ancient Burana Tower of 11^th century and an open-air museum of Balbals or stone warriors devoted to heroes who died protecting their Motherland. Later on, we will drive to Cholpon Ata city where you can see ancient stone inscriptions (f 800 B.C.). In general, they were made by shamans 2000 years ago as well as see the local ethnography museum.  Overnight is in a hotel.

Day 5: Issyk Kul - Grigorievskoye - Semenovskoye - Karakol
Guests will drive to Semenovskoye and Grigorievskoye. They are connected in the end. You enjoy on attractive park inside as well as mountains and green meadows. See the lakes changing their colors time by time. We will drive along the northern shore of the lake to Karakol city and have the opportunity to visit the Dungan mosque made in Chinese style without metal ligaments, also an old wooden Orthodox Church. Rest is in a guesthouse.

Day 6: Karakol - Skazka - Bokonbaevo
The next destination of our tour will start by driving to Jeti Oguz gorge or Seven Bulls. There are seven red rocks situated in a row. See the Broken Heart Mountain and spend 20 minutes and see the good-looking panoramic views of the gorge. We will continue our tour via the southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul. It is 4 km from the village of Tosor to the Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon. You will be awe-struck by the red sand formation in different forms. Then we will drive to Bokonbaevo village and meet with a local eagle-hunter or bertutchi. Your night is in nomadic dwellings - yurts.

Day 7: Bokonbaevo - Kyzyl Tuu - Bishkek
Today we will drive to Bishkek city. On the route you will have the opportunity to visit Kyzyl Tuu village and take a part in yurt workshop. Nomadic stacking dwellings - yurts are made of a wooden skeleton and covered with felt coverings. On arrival to Bishkek city, overnight is in a hotel.

Day 8: Bishkek - Osh - Khudjand
Early in the morning you will have the flight to Osh city. On arrival we will visit Suleiman Mountain. Suleiman Too or Solomon's Mountain. It is situated in the city center and also remnants to be the place of Muslim pilgrimage. According to the legend, there was the biblical prophet Solomon (Suleiman) who was buried at the foot of this mountain. We will drive to Tajik border. You will be met by Tajik guide at the other side and then drive Khujand city which is the second largest city of Tajikistan located at the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley with the population of 149,000. In addition. It is the capital of the northernmost province of Tajikistan. Today it is called Sughd. In the second half of the day you will visit a Cultural Palace of Khujant where the first president of Tajikistan was elected. Later on we will drive to Central Mosque. Overnight is in a hotel.  

Day 9: Khudjand - 7 lakes - Penjikent
We will drive to the Fannsky Gory (Fann Mountains) and have a hiking. On the route you will drive to the Seven Lakes (Marquzor Lakes). It is about 60 km south of Panjakent. Have a short hiking trip and take vibrant photos. It is important to note that you will find 7 lakes which are placed on different altitudes. We will continue drive to Penjikent. The astonishing city of Penjakent or five villages is situated in Khujand area of Tajikistan in a beautiful Zeravshan river valley. This valley is originated in the 5^th -8^th centuries AD. Penjikent city is one of the most significant cultural and crafts centers of Sogd and also named "Central Asian Pompeii". It is ruled palace of two temples, markets, rich dwelling houses ornamented with frequent paintings, wooden and clay statues of ancient gods. Find dwelling houses and office buildings, the citadel with the palace, the house of craftsmen, and fire worshiper's church. Night is in a hotel.

Day 10: Penjikent - Jartepo - Samarkand
We will travel to Jartepo border checkpoint at 10am. You will be met by Uzbek driver who transfers you to City tour in Samarkand. The city of Samarkand is situated in the valley of the river Zerafshan. It is the second largest city of Uzbekistan like Babylon or Rome. Travelers will have a city tour and visit Registan square, Shakhi Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanum Mosque. Registan Square contains of three fascinating Madrasahs which were found in the 15^th -17^th centuries. Shakhi Zindeh entails of a large collection of mausoleums found in the 11^th -15^th centuries as well as encompassed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bibi Khanum Mosque constructed in honor of favorite Tamerlane's wife, after his successful trip in India. Rest is in a hotel.

Day 11: Samarkand - Gijduvan - Bukhara 
The morning will start by driving to Bukhara. On the route you will have a break at Gijduvan village where can have an opportunity to visit famous private pottery workshop. Gizhduvan is considered to be the home for the sixth generation of potters from Narzullayevs family and sanctified Gijduvan school ceramics all over the world. It is very well-known among travellers. You are going to see geometric pattern of different colors as green and blue. We will continue drive to Bukhara. In addition, you can visit memorial complex of Al Bukhary. Al Bukhary was an Islamic scholar, who established the hadith collection known as Sahih al Bukhari, detected by Sunni Muslims as one of the most reliable Hadith collections. Overnight is in a hotel.

Day 12: Bukhara
You are going to have a great city tour and visit the most ancient citadel in Bukhara of the 4^th century named Citadel Ark. The citadel combined several dynasties of Bukhara Empire. The next destination is visiting Samanids mausoleum of the 9^th -10^th century. We will drive to Chashma Ayub or Job's well and Bolo Hauz mosque. The mosque is known for forty columns built in honor of Bukhara governor Abu Fayud Khan. You can walk along the shops and find the most famous madrasahs of Bukhara as Nodir Divan Begi, which belongs to Lyabi House Ensemble. The tour will be continued visiting Poi Kalon complex where you can see three constructions built in the 12^th - 16^th centuries as Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. Rest is in a hotel. 

Day 13: Bukhara - Khiva
In the morning we will travel to Khiva city and see more than 140 architectural monuments belonging to the Middle Ages. Enjoy seeing thin streets, green parks and gardens, sites and highlights. We will see astonishing road from Khiva to Bukhara which goes via famous Kizilkum desert. You can see a beautiful view to Amu Darya river as the deepest river in Central Asia and formed by the confluence of the Panj and Vakhsh in Tajikistan flowing into Aral Sea. Overnight is in a hotel.  

Day 14: Khiva
We are glad to present the city tour in the oldest city of Uzbekistan. You will see inside of Ichan Qala, the inner city in Khiva which is curved with strong walls. Also, you can see sound buildings, palaces, mosques, Madrasahs, Mausoleums, Minarets, Caravan Sarais and Bathhouses altered Ichan Qala into unique city. Ichan Qala has over 400 traditional dwelling houses and about 60 architectural monuments. It is important to note that in 1969 Ichan Qala opened a historical and architectural conservation area. There is the Kunya Ark fortress originated in the 17^th century and made by Muhammad Arang Khan, Kalta Minor minaret and Tash Khouvli palace which a great sample of Khorezm architectural mastership of 1830s. Overnight is in a hotel.  

Day 15: Khiva - Shavat - Kunya Urgench - Darwaza
Today we will travel to Shavat border. You will meet the group at Shavat and Dashoguz border of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and then drive to the architectural monuments as Kone Urgench, Khorezm capital 10^th -12^th centuries. Visit the Mausoleum of Najm al Din al Kubra, Tyurabek Khanum, Il Arslan, Tekesh Ibn Hadzhibey and the highest minaret in Central Asia Kutlyk Timur. In addition, you will visit famous Gas Crater - Darwaza or Door to Hell. Night is in a tent.

Day 16: Darwaza - Ashgabat
We will drive to Ashgabat. Travelers will have a city tour in the capital of Turkmenistan. We will visit new parks, fountains and statues of the great men of antiquity, also visit Carpet Museum, the Park 10 years of Independence as well as the World of children's fairy tales. Overnight is in a hotel.   

Day 17: Ashgabat - Mary - Merv
The tour will begin by travelling to Mary city. We will visit Annau. The ancient ruins found in the 15^th century in Seyit Jamal ad Din Mosque. See Abiward or Abi ward (an ancient Sassanid city in modern-day Turkmenistan. It is significant to note that archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Abiward have been made in the last century of about 8 km west of the Kahka station in an area of 12,000 m2. The central part of the area is about 60 feet high and 700 feet round. We will travel to Mary city and visit ideal Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). It is one of the most visited places among travellers as well as played a significant part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2 000 years. See mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammed ibn Zeyd of the XII century. Rest is in a hotel.

Day 18: Mary - Ashgabat
The tour will start by travelling to Ashgabat. We will visit the famous Russian bazaar, Lenin Monument, Ertugrul Gazi mosque and get impress of them. In the evening, you will have the city tour. Rest is in a hotel.

Day 19: Ashgabat
In the morning we will visit the "Ancient Nisa". It is the national park of the Parthian kings protected by UNESCO. See the mosque "Ruhy" and the Mausoleum of the first President of Turkmenistan. Then we will drive to horse farm and ride along gorges. On the route you will visit Saparmyrat Hadji Mosque in Gokdepe. Night is in a hotel.

Day 20: Flight
Transfer to international airport of Ashgabat.

 

Transport in Kazakhstan:
02 pax - Sedan economy
04 pax - Minivan
06-10 pax - Minibus

Transport in Kyrgyzstan:
02 pax - Mitsubishi Delica
04-10 pax - Mercedes Sprinter

Transport in Tajikistan:
02-04 pax - Hyundai Starex
06-08 pax - 2 cars: Hyundai Starex
10 pax - 3 cars: Hyundai Starex

Transport in Uzbekistan:
02 pax - Sedan
04-06 pax - Minivan
08-10 pax - Minibus

Transport in Turkmenistan:
02 pax - Sedan
04-08 pax - Minibus
10 pax - Bus

 

Service includes:
- Transport
- Accommodation:
Almaty - "Kazakhstan" Hotel 3*
        Bishkek - "Discovery" 3* or "Garden" 4*
Issyk Kul - "Karven" Resort
Karakol - "Karagat" Hotel 4* or "Green Yard" Guesthouse
Bokonbaevo - Yurts (4 pax in 1)
Khujand - "Firuz" Hotel 4*
Penjikent - "Umariyon" Hotel 3*
Samarkand - "Ideal" Hotel 3*
Bukhara - "Porso" Hotel 3*
Khiva - "Old Khiva" Hotel 3*
Darwaza - Tents with dinner
Ashgabat - "Menzil" Hotel 3*
Mary - "Merv" Hotel 3*
- Visa support to Turkmenistan
- Provision of mineral water
- Bishkek-Osh flight tickets
- English speaking guide in Turkmenistan

           
Service does not include:
- Visa
- Full board
- Travel insurance
- Migration tax (12 $)
- English speaking guide
- Museum admissions
- Use of cameras on monuments for additional payment

Note: Availability of 2 photos (5×6)  for each traveller in order to be presented at the points of entry.