4 Stan Culture Tour -1

Flight to Ashgabat

Early morning arrival at Ashgabat International Airport (ETA 02:00 am)

Migration formalities usually take 1 to 2 hr: PCR test, visa/passport control, and baggage claim. Please come out of the terminal, the driver meets with a signboard with your name.

Transfer to the hotel. Extra night.  

Resting time after the flight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

11:00 Meet the guide at the lobby. Start sightseeing in Ashgabat visiting:

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that is considered the highest building in the country),

- Neutrality Arch - a unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun;

- National Museum with an exposition from Ancient Merv and Nissa. 

-Turkmenbashi Mosque – Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 000 people). There are beautiful fountains and a garden near the mosque. 

- A trip to ancient Nissa (18km from Ashgabad) that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation of the I millennium BC).

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the Ashgabat airport.

06:40 Morning flight to Mary.

07:10 Arrival in Ashgabat.

Transfer to Mary en route to the Ancient Merv (UNESCO).

 Sightseeing in  the historical park, visiting

- Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum,

- Mohammed bin Said Mausoleum,

- Medieval castles – “Kesk” fortresses (6-7 centuries);

- History museum of the Merv region.

17:20 Transfer to the Mary airport.

19:20 Evening flight to Ashgabat.

20:00 Arrival in Ashgabat.

Transfer to the hotel. Check in at the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning at leisure.

By request, visit Ahalteke horse stable. 

Afternoon transfer to the Darvaza crater and change from the asphalt road to the Karakum Desert track ( off-road).

In 1971, geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with natural gas. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn the gas. Geologists hoped the fire would go out in a few days, but it has been burning ever since. Locals have named the cavern The Gate - Darvaza. The views are impressive, especially at sunset and night, when the mild sunlight and burning crater evoke incredible and ambiguous feelings. 

Camp-style dinner and overnight stay in yurts.

Camp-style breakfast.

Transfer from the Darvaza gas crater to the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border post Dashoguz/Shavat by car (5 hours). Please note that some parts of the road are off-road desert tracks. 

Border formalities on both sides of the land border, visa/ passport control, usually take 1.5-3 hr.

The driver will meet at the Uzbekistan side of the land border.

Transfer to Khiva.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby. Start the walking excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Ichan-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 Muhammad 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 the 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 Continue walking sightseeing in Khiva:

- Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum;

- Nurullabay palace.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to border post Jartepa (about 1 hr drive). Border passing formalities (passport / visa control). Border crossing usually takes 30 min-1 hr.

10:00 Start sightseeing in Penjikent:

- Museum of Rudaki with large exposition of artefacts from old Penjikent. Penjikent is a birthplace of famous poet Abu-Abdallah Rudaki. 

- Ancient Penjikent – the ruins of the old Sogdian town founded in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins

- Sarazm museum (UNESCO) – one of the most ancient settlements in Central Asia. In 2010 Sarazm was added to the list of Human Heritage by UNESCO. 

Lunch at the local café.

16:00 Transfer to border post Jartepa. Border passing formalities (passport / visa control). Border crossing usually takes 30 min-1 hr.

The driver meets at the Uzbekistan land border. Transfer to the hotel.

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. 

10:00 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.

- 11:00 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.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four waters”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of the old city in the bazaar.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

07:10 Transfer to the railway station in Tashkent.

08:10 Departure for Kokand by train.

12:29 Arrival in Kokand.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver and guide, who will wait for you with a tablet "ANUR TOUR".

Start sightseeing tour around Kokand visiting :

- Khudoyar-Khan Palace of 19th century is listed in the world heritage of UNESCO, at present days houses 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 XVIII 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 XVIII 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, short overview visit teh famous ceramic workshop.

Transfer to Fergana.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Meet the guide at the hotel. Start sightseeing in Fergana and Margilan:

- 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.

- Ahmad Al-Fargoni monumental complex.

- 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.

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

Transfer to Andijan.

On arrival in Andijan, transfer to the hotel.

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 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.

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

- Skazka (Fairy tale) Canyon and enjoy an easy hike among the impressive red rocks;

- 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.

09:00 Transfer to the Green Chon Kemin Valley; en route, visiting:

- Grigorievskoe gorge, easy hiking around beautiful mountains.

- Ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.). These petroglyphs were made more than 2 000 years ago by shamans. They depict wolves, long-horned ibex, goats, horses, snow leopards, sacrifices, and some hunting scenes.

- Light sightseeing in the beautiful Chon Kemin Valley to enjoy leisure and relaxing time, fresh air, and the breathtaking nature of Chon Kemin Green Valley.

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

Breakfast at the guesthouse. 

Morning at leisure in Chon Kemin, possible photo time or horse riding in the surroundings ( extra). 

Transfer to Bishkek with sightseeing en route:

- Photo stop near Chunkurchak Gorge, easy hiking. 

Lunch in the guesthouse. 

Transfer to Bishkek.

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.

Transfer to Manas International Airport.

Morning departure flight from Bishkek.

End of the tour.