Central Asia 4-stan tour - 2

Flight to Tashkent.

Arrival at Tashkent International Airport (ETA 01:00 am).

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. The driver meets with a signboard “ANUR TOUR” at the exit of the terminal.

Transfer to the hotel. Extra night. Resting time after the flight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

12:00 Meet the guide at the lobby and start the Tashkent sightseeing tour (5 hrs.):

- Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square, was renamed on August 31, 1994, after Amir Timur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: The State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi, built in 1947, is one of the best opera theaters in the world that performs both classical and national repertoires. 

- Independence Square, the main square of Uzbekistan, reflects the past, present, and future of the country. There are fountains standing for the life energy of the Uzbek people, the Cabinet and the Senate, and the “Eternal Flame" in honor of soldiers who died during the Second World War.
- Earthquake Memorial, the composition is devoted to the tragic date of the earthquake in Tashkent on April 26, 1966, and is erected in the approximate place of the earthquake epicenter. Residents still come to the monument to honor those people who took part in the reconstruction of Tashkent;

- Khast Imam Square – a religious center of the city consisting of the Barakkhan madrasah; Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, the Library of Islamic Literature with the Holy Koran Book of the 7th century (original Quran Othman). Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts pilgrims and visitors from all over the world.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four water”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of the old city in the bazaar where people come for trades. The bazaar's beautiful blue dome, built in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, is often depicted in postcards and international magazines and became one of the major sights of interest both for locals and guests – one can see the oriental tiled bazaar from different souvenir shops with ceramics, handicraft works, carpets, and jewelry, the whole pavilion full of delicious fruits to the finest textiles and colorful fabrics.

- Tashkent Metro (the first line was launched in 1977) with beautiful train stations, each decorated in a thematic style with traditional ornaments and special lighting.

Transfer to the hotel. 

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Takeaway breakfast

05:30 Transfer to Tashkent Airport / Terminal 3. 

07:00 Flight Tashkent -  Urgench by HY 51.

08:30 Arrival at Urgench Airport.  

The driver will meet you at the exit of the terminal with a signboard ANUR TOUR. 

Transfer to Khiva, drop off the bags at the reception. Standard hotel check-in is at 14:00.

Meet the guide in the lobby. Start the walking excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Itchan-Kala (translated as “Inner Town”), the largest Museum in the open air in Central Asia:

- Ata-Darvaza, 

- Kunya- Ark;

- Madrassah of Muhammad Rahim Khan;

- Madrassah of Muhammed Aminhan;

- Kalta Minor,

- the Palace of the Allakulihan Khan of Khiva;

- Tash Hauli, where the harem of 40 concubines was;

- Caravanserai and Tim Allakulihan;

- Mausoleum of Seyd Allaudin,

- Islam-Khoja Madrassah - was built in 1908 by Islam-Khoja, the prime minister of Khan. The minaret is a symbol of the country and is an early example of the architecture of the 14th century.

- Mosque and Jami Minaret.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer from Khiva to Bukhara by car (475 km, 7 hrs) via the Kyzylkum Desert. 

Arrival in Bukhara. Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the afternoon/evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby. Start walking sightseeing program in Bukhara (5 hrs):

- Ensemble Lyabi Hauz (Nadir Divanbegi Madrassa, Khanaka, Kukeldash Madrassa, and the monument of Khodja Nasreddin);

- Magoki Attari Mosque is one of the oldest mosques to survive in Bukhara from the time before the Mongolian invasion.

- Abdullakhan’s Tim, with numerous handicraft shops of souvenirs, ceramics, national clothes, and carpets;

- Caravanserai Sayfuddin (the Center of Handicraft Development of Bukhara);

- Trading domes, or so-called covered bazaars, Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon, and Toki Zargaron, preserved from the 16th century, and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry, and money exchange. Nowadays, visitors can purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets.

- Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas, or so-called Kosh (pair) madrassas, opposite each other with the distinctive style of facade ornamental decoration;

- Poi Kalon Square with Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Mir Arab Madrassa – the heart of Bukhara, a monumental complex that impresses the imagination;

- Ark Fortress – the oldest citadel, dating back to the 1st century BC, where one can feel the history of the great fortress covered in beautiful legends and myths.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning at leisure in Bukhara, 

11:00 Transfer to Samarkand, en route visiting the famous Gijduvan pottery workshop where visitors are welcome for a tour around the workshop and observe the process of ceramic making and painting.

The owners demonstrate the stages of making ceramics, from turning the potter’s wheel to making paints from natural ingredients, decorating the ceramics in a distinctive style, drying, and firing.  Take a tour around the museum hall of ceramic masterpieces with a unique collection of ceramic items from Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan. 

By request ( as extra), ceramic painting master class.

Continue to Samarkand.

Arrival in Samarkand in the afternoon, check in at the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide and driver. Start Samarkand sightseeing: 

– Gur Emir Mausoleum – a burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants, decorated with gold ornaments and considered as one of the most significant places in the world;

– Continue to the famous Registan Square – the heart of Samarkand and a real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture—which consists of three grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor, and Madrassa Tilla Kori.

– Bibi Khanim Mosque – the biggest medieval building in the city, which was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in the 15th century;

– Samarkand bazaar Siyab.

Transfer to the hotel.
Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Continue sightseeing program in Samarkand (6 hours):

- Shahi Zinda Necropolis – a unique complex of mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) belonging to the Muslim person named Saint Abbas ibn-Kussam;

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to the border Jartepa. Border crossing ( visa/ passport control usually takes 30 min- 1,5 hr).

Meet the guide and driver at the Tajikistan part of the border.

- Visit the Sarazm (UNESCO World Heritage) museum.

Take an off-road trip to pristine lakes located in the Fann Mountains; locals call the lakes Haftkul ( Seven lakes) or Marguzor , after the name of the largest and most beautiful lake. 

 Every lake has its own name:  Nezhigon  (or Mizhgon),  Soybean, Gushor,  Nofin,  Hurdak,  Marguzor,  Hazorchashma. Six of the lakes are of dammed origin, besides Lake Hazorchashma.

The difference in level between the upper and lower lakes is 692 meters

Please note there are some shaky/ bumpy parts of the road, and there is a mountainous, narrow track with photo stops.

Lunch at the guesthouse ( traditional meals).

Transfer to Penjikent.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

09:00 Transfer to the camp "Artuch", via the Fann Mountains.

Take short stops en route to observe the beautiful views. 

- Artuch is a town in north - west Tajikistan. It is located in Sugd, not far from the Kulikalon Lakes. The mountaineering tourist base "Artuch" is located in the heart of the Fann Mountains (2200 m) in the valley of the river Artuč, the land is covered with alpine meadows where the spring river Chil Chashma originates.

The camp was opened in 1971 and was the site of various climbing camps and events.

After lunch, one can have a light warm-up walk around Artuch; the place is beautiful and is great for photographing.

Back to the cottage camp.

Overnight.

Camp- style breakfast.

09:00 Start hiking tour to Lake Chukurak.

- Chukurak Lake is located at a height of 2455 m. There is a pass Chukurak  (3160 m.), near the lake, with a great observation point; ascent there from Kulikalon Lakes will take about  3-4 h of relaxed hiking.  

- Descent to Lake Chukurak will take 1,5 - 2 hours  through the picturesque gorge covered with wild fir-tree woods, where one can take a donkey ride.

Lakes are located in a small gorge where you can stay for the night.

- On the bank of the second blue lake, there are small observation platforms. From Lake Chukurak, two trails pass down to the camp "Artuch" and upward to pass Guitan (2600 m.). 

Back to the camp.

Resting time in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

Camp-style breakfast.

09:00 Transfer to Khujand with short photo stops en route.

Khujand, the second largest city and one of the oldest cities in Tajikistan, was the furthest point Alexander the Great reached in Central Asia, so the city was named Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Furthest).

Start sightseeing tour in Khujand:

- Pushkin Square with Kamoli Khudjandi Square;

- Timur Malik’s fortress and the Sugd museum;

- Muslihiddin memorial complex;

- Panjshanbe Bazaar (the name "Panjshanbe" comes from the Persian language meaning “Thursday”) is one of the oldest markets in Tajikistan. The Silk Road routes passing through Khujand had always made Panjshanbe crowded with merchants and travelers.

- Arbob Palace.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Transfer to the border post Patar/Andarhan.

Border crossing to Uzbekistan (takes about 30 min-1, 5 hr).

The guide and driver meet at the Uzbekistan side of the border with a sign "ANUR TOUR".

Transfer to Kokand (approx. 40 min. drive).

Kokand (mentioned as Khavakand or Kokan, derived from a tribal name) is an ancient city that, due to its favorable location, was one of the convenient fortified points of caravan routes in the Great Silk Road. Nowadays, Kokand is a modern town at the crossroads of Tashkent, Fergana Valley, to Andijan, and the other route to Khujand (Tajikistan), and is considered one of the most important pre-border points.

Start a sightseeing tour around Kokand, visiting:

- Khudoyar-Khan Palace of the 19th century is listed in the world heritage of UNESCO and, at present, houses the Kokand Regional History Museum that exhibits a unique collection of more than 3000 artifacts from ancient, khanate, and tsarist periods of the region.

- Norbut-Biy Madrassah, the largest madrassa in Kokand. The madrassa was built in the 18th century by captured architects as well as the famous Bukharian architect Usto Muhammed Salih Kasim, so the design and construction are quite typical of some monuments of the 18th century in Bukhara.

- Modari Khan Mausoleum (Modari-Khan means Mother of Khan)  was built in 1825 by order of the widow of Umarkhan,  famous poetess Nodira, to honor the tomb of her mother-in-law. Since then, the mausoleum became the family mausoleum where most of the female members of the khan family were buried.

Transfer to Rishton. 

- Rishton (50 km west of Fergana) is famous all over the world for its pottery that is decorated according to an ancient tradition that is more than 800 years old. Masters hand down their trade secrets from father to son. The unique red clay ceramic masterpieces are decorated with naturally made ultramarine, turquoise, and azure ornaments known as blue glaze "ishkor".

- Workshop of the famous potter Said Akhmedov Rustam: visitors are welcome to observe the finest Rishtan ceramics in wonderful handmade and painted tea sets, lagans, and beautifully decorated jugs and vases.

Resting time in the evening. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse. 

Breakfast at the guesthouse.

09:00 Transfer to Andijan, en route stop in Margilan:

- Margilan (“Marg” from Persian green grass, “lon”- “place“) was an inhabited settlement in the Fergana Valley since the 4th-3rd centuries BC, the town was well known for its crafts and finest silk fabrics from the Great Silk Road period up to now.

-  The silk workshop of Sobirjon Ota, where visitors can have a tour around the house and observe the process of silk manufacture with traditional decoration “ikat”.

- Ahmad Al-Fargoni monumental complex in Fergana. Fergana is a relatively young city that was founded as a strategic fortified point in Turkestan in 1876 during the tsarist period of the region. The town was initially called New Margilan and, later, in the Soviet period, renamed Fergona in 1924. Nowadays, Fergana is a flourishing, beautiful town, and despite its young history, it has become the central point of the Fergana Valley.

Transfer to Andijan.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to the Uzbek- Kyrgyz border, Dostyk (ETA 09:00)

Border crossing formalities (40 min- 1, 5 hrs depending on the customs formalities and tourist flow). Meet the guide and driver.

Transfer to Osh,

 Start sightseeing tour in Osh, the oldest city in Kyrgyzstan, visiting

- Suleiman Too (Suleiman is the prophet Solomon - Suleyman in the Quran, “Too “is “mountain”). The museum is the only UNESCO site on the whole mountain, with many sacred places in caves and paths. It is quite unusual – the museum with rare artifacts is located in the largest cave of the mountain. Besides, there are several caves, rocks, and niches, each with its own name. The locals and pilgrims believe every spot of the mountain is sacred and come here to follow the rituals and pray for a better life and good health; couples come to pray to be blessed with a child. It is believed that every spot of the mountain is sacred. There is a watching platform with beautiful panoramic views of the city and surroundings.

15:30 Transfer to Osh Airport

16:45 Flight Osh - Bishkek.

17:25 Arrival at Bishkek Airport. 

Meet the driver and transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

09:00 Start Bishkek sightseeing tour visiting:

- Oak Park in the city center. It is also known as Dubovy Park - today it is one of the favorite places among locals and tourists in Bishkek. 

- Ala-Too Square is the central square in Bishkek. It serves as a place for state events and celebrations. Philharmonic Hall – situated at the top of Rose Alley.

- Statue of Manas (Manas is a legendary Kyrgyz hero and the classic centerpiece of Kyrgyz literature).

- Victory Square: in the centre, one can see the Victory monument, a memorial that was completed in 1984. Usually, the main festival events are held in Bishkek at the eternal flame on Victory Square, where a guard of honor, forces of the Kyrgyz garrison, and a military band are posted.

Transfer to the yurt camp near Issyk Kul with nature sightseeing en route.

- Burana Tower was the vertical dominant of the ancient city Balasagun, the northern capital of the Turkic linguistic state of the Karakhanids, and the small nearby museum with its collection of ancient bal-bals, carved stone figures used as monuments. 

-  Eagle show in Bokonbayevo;

-  Issyk-Kul,  translated as “Hot Lake,” is one of the most beautiful lakes in Central Asia. Due to the salty water, Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. 

Enjoy your stay and the real experience of nomadic life in the yurt camp. Dinner and overnight in a yurt.

Breakfast at the yurt camp

Transfer to Karakol, en route nature sightseeing:
-  Skazka (Fairytale) canyon;
- Jety Oguz gorge photo stop and easy hiking.

On arrival in Karakol, start an overview sightseeing visit:

- The wooden Russian-Orthodox church.

- Dungan mosque is one of the most famous places in Karakol town. The most interesting thing is that it is built without a single metal nail. More than 100 years ago, there was a Chinese master who lived in this town. Dungans are people from China who practice the Muslim religion. The construction was made of bricks and wood and decorated with various ornaments.

- Museum of N.M. Przhevalski (Russian explorer of the Asian continent).

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to Kegen-Karjyra border, border passing formalities ( luggage/ visa/ passport control usually take 40 min - 2 hrs).

Transfer to one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan, Kaindy Gorge ( off-road part of the trip)

-Kaindy Lake (Birch Lake) is situated among magnificent pine forests at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and is famous for its origin. It was formed in 1911 due to the powerful earthquake that triggered the landslide that blocked the valley by the natural dam, and the water flooded the valley.

The water of the mountain lake is very cold, and the stems of fir trees overlook the crystal lake surface like a flooded forest. Take photo stops in Kayindy Gorge and at the observation platform of the lake. The green slopes, fresh air, and stunning azure lake create the enchanting atmosphere of Kayindy National Park. 
Please note that Kayindy Gorge is located in the pre-border area, at the posts, visitors will need to have their passports/IDs.

Transfer to Saty village.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Sightseeing around Almaty includes visiting:

- Panfilov Park. The name of Panfilov Park comes from the heroes of Panfilov. There is a big monument in commemoration of the heroic actions made by 28 Almaty soldiers who died in 1941 near Moscow.

- Zenkov Cathedral. The Zenkov Wooden Cathedral is one of the eight unique wooden buildings in the world. It is one of the few buildings to survive the 1911 earthquake, despite the fact that it is built entirely of wood and constructed without nails.

- National Musical Instruments Museum. In the Museum of Musical Instruments, one can find various national musical instruments, the oldest of which is from the 17th century.

- Medeu, the world's largest speed skating rink, is known as Medeo. At the end of the gorge, there is a ski resort, Shymbulak, situated at an altitude of 2.200 m above sea level. It is one of Central Asia's top skiing spots, where one can take a cable car funicular to the Shymbulak Ski Resort.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to Almaty International Airport.

Morning departure flight from Almaty.

End of the tour.