4 Stan Family Tour - 3

Flight to Tashkent.

Evening arrival at Tashkent International Airport (ETA 18:00)

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim.

Please come out of the terminal, the driver meets at the exit with a sign “ANUR TOUR” .

Transfer to the hotel. 

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

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.

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; 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 Start sightseeing tour in Penjikent, visiting :

- Museum of Rudaki – As Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu-Abdallah Rudaki, the forefather of Persian poetry. Before lunch, visit the local bazaar and mosque.

- The Sarazm Museum (UNESCO World Heritage).

- The archaeological site of the ruins of old Penjikent - a walled intercity (2500 years ago) - was once a Sogdian trading city on the Silk Road. Today, only ruins are left owing to the fact that the main construction material was clay bricks.

14:00 Transfer to the Tajik - Uzbek border post Jartepa,

Migration formalities ( border crossing usually takes about 30 min-1,5 hr).

The driver will meet you at the Uzbekistan side of the border. Transfer to Samarkand.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Continue the sightseeing tour in Samarkand (6 hours), visiting:

- 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;

16:30 Transfer to the railway station in Samarkand.

17:28 Departure for Tashkent by train "Afrosiyob"/ "Sharq".

19:44 Arrival in Tashkent.

The driver meets you at the terminal exit/ meeting zone with a sign " ANUR TOUR".

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

09:00 Meet the guide at the hotel. Transfer to Centre of Islamic Civilization.

It is suggested to be at the complex about 20 – 15 min before the start.

10:00 Start excursion with audio guide in Centre of Islamic Civilization – the unique complex that is listed in the Guinness World Records as the largest complex devoted to the Islamic civilization.

The Centre presents the historical connection of pre-islamic history, the cultural value of Islam religion in the history and science renaissance, and the ways how islam became the uniting source for weaving traditions into modern tendencies and innovative development of the region. The complex exhibits precious artefacts, the unique items of household, historical costumes and applied arts, the wall of history, informative panels, so-called “time-capsules” and the key sight is the Holy Koran Book of the VII century (original Quran Othman). 

A standard visit to the complex with audio guide takes about 2 hrs, the audio excursions are arranged in Uzbek, Russian and English languages. Please note it is highly recommended to book the entrance tickets in advance.

12:30 Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

15:20 Morning flight Tashkent- Bishkek by HY 777

17:30 Arrival at Manas International Airport.

The driver meets with a signboard ANUR TOUR at the exit of the terminal/ meeting zone.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Bishkek sightseeing tour visiting:

- Ala Archa Natural Park (~35 km from Bishkek, ~ 40min). Easy hiking and photo stops in Ala Archa gorge.

Start walking a city tour around Bishkek, visiting:

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

- The State History Museum is a perfect display of the Kyrgyz people and the history of the country of Kyrgyzstan.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.  

Transfer to Chon Kemin with sightseeing en route:

- Photo stop near Chunkurchak Gorge, easy hiking. 

Lunch in the guesthouse. 

Afternoon arrival in Chon Kemin, possible photo time or horse riding in the surroundings ( extra). 

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

Breakfast at the guesthouse.

Transfer to Issyk Kul lake, 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 (traditional eagle hunting);

- Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon and enjoy an easy hike among the impressive, colorful red rocks.

Evening arrival in yurt camp. Dinner and overnight in yurts.

Breakfast at the yurt camp.

09:00 Transfer to Karakol with sightseeing en-route.

- Jeti Oguz gorge is famous for its red rocks formations that have the name Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. One can see there the Broken Heart Mountain, one of the most popular places among locals and visitors, the valley is also known as Valley of flowers.

On arrival in Karakol, start sightseeing in Karakol:

- Przhevalski memorial, who was a Great Russian Explorer of 19th century.

- 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 had Muslim religion. The construction was made of bricks and wood and decorated with various ornaments.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Meet the driver, transfer to Kazakstan passing the border post "Kegen". Border passing formalities usually take 30 min - 1 hour. Please note: while passing the border one needs to be ready to handle all the luggage across the border by him/herself.

Transfer to Kaindy gorge to exploring most beautiful places of Kazakhstan. Because some part of the road is off-road and very shaky part, there will be change the transport for old off-road vehicles for transfer from the foot hill to Kayindy gorge.

On arrival in Kayindy, take a hiking tour from the gorge to Kayindy lake.

-Kaindy lake (Birch Lake) is situated among magnificent pine forest 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 blocked the valley by the natural dam, and the water has flooded the valley.

The water of the lake is very cold, that is why the needles of the flooded trees are well-preserved and clearly visible through the transparent surface of the water, and dry stems of fir trees overlook the water surface.

Transfer to Saty Village. Dinner and overnight in guesthouse. 

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Start sightseeing around Almaty:

- Panfilov Park. The name of the Panfilov Park comes after 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. 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.

- Kok tobe cableway.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Almaty International Airport.

Morning departure flight from Almaty. End of the tour