4 STAN tour - 5

Flight to Almaty.

Morning arrival at Almaty International Airport (ETA 02:00 am).

Migration formalities usually take 30 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal, the driver meets with a sign “ANUR TOUR”.

Transfer to the hotel. Arrival at the hotel. Extra night.

Resting time after the flight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Transfer to Charyn Canyon. Sightseeing in the "Valley of Castles".

Charyn Canyon is a natural complex, unique in its kind, not only in Kazakhstan but also worldwide. It was formed during the Paleogene and resembles the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in North America, although inferior to it in size. The height of the steep slopes of the canyon is up to 150-300 meters. Extraordinary dissection of the terrain is striking: the numerous ravines form a dense, chaotic network. Wind and water have created the beautiful "Valley of Castles", where you are always surrounded by the fancy towers composed of sedimentary rocks. The length of the valley is more than 2 km, width is 20-80 meters. For millions of years the nature has been creating a unique architecture, erecting magnificent castles carefully and slowly.

Transfer to Kolsai Lakes, easy hiking near Kolsai Lake 1 (1800 m above sea level).

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the guesthouse.

Exploring one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan, Kaindy Gorge.  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 lake is very cold; as a result, 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, like the masts of the submarine squadron. It is impossible to describe in words all this mystical splendor of the lake.

Afternoon transfer to Almaty.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to Bishkek by car (250 km ~ 4-5hrs) to the border post "Korday". Migration formalities ( visa/ passport control usually takes 30 min~2 h).

Please note: while passing the border, one needs to be ready to handle all the luggage across the border by him/herself (~300 m).

Continue to Bishkek.

Arrival at the hotel, check-in.Short time to rest.

In the afternoon, start a Bishkek walking tour visiting:

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

09:00 Start Bishkek countryside sightseeing tour visiting:

- Ala Archa National Park (40 km from Bishkek one way);

- 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. 

16:40 Transfer to the airport.

18:40 Evening flight to Tashkent by HY 780 (1,5 hrs).

19:00 Arrival at Tashkent International Airport.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal, the driver meets with a sign “ANUR TOUR”.

Transfer to the hotel. As Tashkent airport is not far from the city center, the transfer will not take a long time (usually 20 – 40 minutes, depending on the hotel location).

Arrival at the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel

08:00 Meet the driver in your hotel in Tashkent, transfer to the Uzbek-Tajik border "Oybek" (~100 km)

Border-passing formalities: visa and passport control usually take 30 min - 1,5 hr.

Meet the driver and guide on the Tajikistan side of the border and transfer to Khudjand (70km, 1h.) – the center of the Sugd region of Northern Tajikistan.

Khujand was the furthest point Alexander the Great reached in Central Asia. The city was named Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Farthest), and it became one of the important entrepôts on the great Silk Road.

Start sightseeing in Khujand: 

- Pushkin Square with Kamoli Khudjandi Square;

- Timur Malik’s fortress and the Sugd Museum of Archeology and Fortification; 

- Muslihiddin memorial complex;

- Panjshanbe bazaar, with its distinctive decoration of the facade, is the central market in Khujand.  Panjshanbe is translated as “Thursday” in Persian,  meaning the main bazaar days were traditionally on Thursdays.

- Arbob Palace.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to Marguzor, the famous seven lakes - seven wonderful water mirrors full of mountain riverside drops. Each lake looks different whenever the sun changes its position. Colors may vary from deep blue to an indie color ripple. Most of them are cold to swim even in summer. These lakes belong to the Fann Mountains system.

On the western edge of the Fan Mountains in the valley of the river Shing, there are seven lakes, six of which are of dammed origin, besides the lake Hazorchashma. Lakes are called Marguzor, but each lake has its own name: Nezhigon, Soybean, Gushor, Nofin, Hurdak, Marguzor, Hazorchashma. The difference in level between the upper and lower lakes is 692 meters. Easy hike at the lakes.

Transfer to the land border Jartepa.

 Afternoon transfer to border post Jartepa (ETA 16:00). Border crossing usually takes 30 min-1 hr. Please note that while passing the land borders, one needs to be ready to handle all the luggage across the border by him/herself.

Meet the guide and driver at the Uzbek part of the border. Transfer to the hotel in Samarkand.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start sightseeing in Samarkand ( 6 hr)

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

- Registan Square – heart of Samarkand and a real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture, the ensemble of grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor, and Madrassa Tilla Kori; 

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

- Shahi Zinda Necropolis – a unique complex of mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) of Abbas ibn Kussam.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to the railway station in Samarkand.

09:44 Departure for Bukhara by speed train "Afrosiyob"/”Sharq”.

11:25 Arrival in Bukhara. 

Come out of the terminal, the driver meets with a signboard “Anur Tour”. Transfer to the hotel to drop off the luggage.

Meet the guide and start walking sightseeing in Bukhara (5 hours):

- 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 even for money exchange. Today as well, one can enjoy and purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets;

- Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas 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 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.

Free day in Bukhara.

Optionally (can be added as extra) a countryside tour in Bukhara, visiting:

– Samanids mausoleum (9th century), a monument of early medieval architecture.

– Bakhauddin Naqshbandi mausoleum (the founder of Naqshbandi Sufi Spiritual order), located near Bukhara, the memorial complex of Bakhauddin Naqshbandi is considered one of the most significant religious places of Bukhara that attracts many visitors.

– Sitora-i Mokhi-khosa Palace - the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara.

14:40 Transfer to the railway station in Bukhara.

16:16 Departure for Tashkent by high-speed train "Afrosiyob"/"Sharq".

20:30 Arrival in Tashkent.

* If the train tickets from Bukhara to Tashkent are not available, the train transfer can be replaced with an evening flight from Bukhara to Tashkent.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver. Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.  Start sightseeing tour of Tashkent (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 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, and 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.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Take-away breakfast/ Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

Morning departure flight from Tashkent.

End of the tour