Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan Tour | 2

Tour itinerary: Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan

Season: all the year around

Days: 14 | Nights: 13

14-day tour is a great chance to explore the natural and historical places of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan with family and friends. These two countries have many unique cultural and historical features. It is an extended version of classic 14-day tour so you are welcome to choose the one ideal for you.

Day 1

Tashkent

Flight to Tashkent.

Arrival in Tashkent International Airport named after Islam Karimov, first President of Uzbekistan.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal and meet the staff holding a sign “ANUR TOUR” or with your name on it.

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

Arrival in the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva

Early breakfast at the hotel.

06:00 Transfer to the local airport.

07:25 Flight to Urgench by HY51.

08:55 Arrival in Urgench Airport.

Come out of the terminal and meet with our driver.

Transfer to Khiva (30 км) hotel to drop off the bags. Standard hotel check-in at 14:00.

Meet the guide at the lobby.

Start walking excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Ichan-kala (translated as “Inner town”). Ichan-kala - the largest Museum in the open air in Central Asia consisting of :

- 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,

- Minaret and Islam-Khoja Madrassah;

- Mosque and Jami Minaret.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Khiva – Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

07:15 Transfer to the train station.

08:23 Train Khiva - Bukhara (as per train schedule) OR transfer by car (475 km, 7 hrs).

13:35 Arrival in Bukhara.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver.

Transfer to the hotel.

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

Day 4

Bukhara

Breakfast in the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.

Start WALKING sightseeing program in Bukhara (5-6 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 survived 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);

- There are three trading domes or so-called covered bazaars Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon and Toki Zargaron preserved from the XVI 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;

- Visit Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so called Kosh (pare) madrassas opposite each other with 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 I century BC where one can feel the history of the great fortress covered in beautiful legends and myths.

Optionally can be added by request:

Visit to Samanids mausoleum (IX century), a monument of early medieval architecture.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight.

Day 5

Bukhara – Gijduvan – Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the driver at the hotel.

Transfer to Samarkand, en- route visiting 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 the ceramic items of Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan.

By request, a master-class of painting ceramics, suzani embroidery, and traditional bread baking.

Continue to Samarkand.

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

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Samarkand – Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby.

Start sightseeing program in Samarkand (6 hours):

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

- Continue to the famous Registan Square – heart of Samarkand and 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 15 Century;

- Shahi Zinda Necropolis – unique complex of Mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) of the Muslim saint Abbas ibn- Kussam;

- Ulugbek’s Observatory – the finest astronomical centers in medieval world was built by order of Ulugbek, an outstanding scholar and astronomer;

- Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

16:30 Transfer to train station in Samarkand.

17:28 Departure for Tashkent by high-speed train "Afrosiyob".

19:44 Arrival in Tashkent.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7

Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the hotel lobby.

Start sightseeing tour of Tashkent (5-6 hrs) visiting old and new parts of the city:

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

- Tashkent striking clock, one of the major symbols of Tashkent.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: 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, 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 a 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 VII century (original Quran Othman). Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts pilgrims and visitors all over the world.

- 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 where people come for trades. The bazaar 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 oriental tiled bazaar from different souvenir shops with ceramics, handicraft works, carpets and jewelry, the whole pavilion full of delirious fruits to the finest textiles and colorful fabrics.

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

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8

Tashkent – Kokand – Fergana

Breakfast at the hotel.

07:00 Transfer from hotel to Tashkent train station.

08:07 Departure for Kokand by train.

12:11 Arrival in Kokand.

Come out of the terminal and meet the guide and driver.

Kokand (mentioned as Khavakand or Kokan derived from a tribal name) is an ancient city that due to 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 as one of the most important pre-border points.

Start sightseeing tour around Kokand visiting :

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

- Norbut-Biy Madrassah, the largest madrassa in Kokand. The madrassa was built in XVIII century by captured architects as well as the famous Bukharian architect Usto Muhammed Salih Kasim , so the design and construction is quite typical to some monuments of 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 khan family were buried.

- Rishton (50 km west of Fergana) famous all over the world for its pottery that is decorated according to ancient tradition that is more than 800 years. 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 Rustam Umarov where visitors are welcome to observe the finest Rishtan ceramics in wonderful hand made and painted tea sets and lagans and beautifully decorated jugs and vases.

Transfer to Fergana.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 9

Fergana – Andijan

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.

Continue sightseeing in Fergana valley:

- Fergana is a relatively young city that was founded as a strategic fortified point in Turkestan in 1876 during tsarist period of the region. The town was initially called as New Margilan, further in soviet period renamed as Fergona in 1924. Nowadays, Fergana is a flourishing beautiful town and despite its young history became the central point of Fergana valley.

- Visit Ahmad Al-Fargoni monumental complex ;

- Continue to Margilan. Margilan (“Marg” from Persian green grass, “lon”- “place“) was inhabited settlement in Fergana valley since IV-III Centuries BC, the town was well known for its crafts and finest silk fabrics from the Great Silk Road period up to now.

- Said-Ahmad Hodji Madrassah where craftsmen produce original silk carpets,

- Silk factory Yodgorlik where visitors are welcome to observe the process of silk manufacture with traditional decoration “ikat”.

Transfer to Andijan to visit

- Bobur Literary museum with unique collection of literary works of Zahiriddin Muhammad Bobur , an outstanding ruler and the founder of Mogol Empire,

- Art and Literature Museum,

- Memorial park complex on the Bog-I Shamol named after Zahiriddin Muhammad Bobur is one of the most beautiful places in Andijan, popular among the locals and the visitors of the city.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10

Andijan – Osh – Bishkek

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 Mountain. Suleiman Too (Suleiman is the prophet Solomon - Suleyman in Quran, “Too “is “mountain”). The museum is the only UNESCO sight of 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 name. The locals and pilgrims believe every spot of the mountain is sacred and come here to follow the rituals and pray for better life and good health; couples come 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 to the city and surroundings.

- Osh Bazaar, a colorful bazaar with more than 2000 years history, plays an important role in the Great Silk Road as a major landmark. Nowadays, along the visitors may take a walk around and enjoy shopping in the shops of national clothes, embroidery, handicrafts and souvenirs.

- Main Square with Lenin statue. Kyrgyz people are very respectful to the history of Soviet period and kept the monument to Lenin in main cities as the country major developments were made during soviet time.

15:30 Transfer to local airport.

16:45 Flight Osh - Bishkek.

17:25 Arrival in Bishkek Airport.

Meet the driver and transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 11

Bishkek – Issyk Kul

Breakfast at the hotel.

09.00 Transfer to the Issyk-Kyl lake (~ 2 hours, 260 km) en-route visiting:

- Burana Tower (11th-century minaret) was the vertical dominant of the ancient city Balasagun, the north capital of the Turkic lingual state of the Karakhanids and nearby open-air museum with its collection of ancient bal-bals, carved stone figures used as monuments.

The tower was originally 45 m but because of the great earthquake, part of the minaret was destroyed and its height was reduced to 25 m. There are many beautiful legends about this place and it is interesting to learn more.

- Issyk-Kyl lake is one of the most wonderful lakes in the world, located in the north-eastern part of the Kyrgyz Republic. Issyk Kul is translated as “Hot Lake” and is considered as one of "the pearls of Central Asia". Due to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. There are many activities that entertain people on the beach: windsurfing, scooters, aqua parks, parachutes and rides on boats and ships. In winter there are also spots of alpinism where people enjoy incredible landscapes.

After traditional lunch, leisure time, and light walking at the lakeshore.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12

Issyk Kul – Karakol

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Karakol en-route visiting

- 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.

Arrival in Karakol, start light sightseeing tour visiting

- 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.

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

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13

Karakol – Bishkek

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Bishkek, light 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. By request, light hiking tour to go on a top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panorama view of the gorge.

Arrival in Bishkek in the afternoon.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14

Bishkek

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Bishkek sightseeing tour visiting:

- Ala Archa Natural park (~35 km from Bishkek, ~ 40 min)

Take an easy walk high up to observe the view of mountains and rich Kyrgyz nature, spectate birds and animals living their lives, watch how cold water of Kyrgyz rivers falling down the mountains, and continue its way among ancient trees and gorge itself.

Time to explore the area, take photos, and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful nature views.

Have a delicious lunch at the guesthouse in Tokmak village.

Transfer to back to Bishkek.

Start walking city tour around Bishkek visiting:

- Oak Park, the city center. It is known also 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 Kyrgyz garrison and a military band.

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

- Visit the colorful central bazaar and TSUM (Department Store).

Transfer to Manas International Airport.

Evening departure flight from Bishkek.

End of the tour.

Book it!

- - Accommodation in standard twin-shared rooms;

- All transfers as per program by comfortable tourist class transport as per road conditions including transfers to-from airports, train stations, and borders;

- English-speaking professional licensed local guides in Uzbekistan (6 standard excursions), English speaking escorting guide in Kyrgyzstan;

- Meals: breakfasts in hotels;

- Single entry tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums, and nature fees as per program;

- Train tickets Khiva- Bukhara by standard train (economy class) OR transfer by car;

- Train tickets Samarkand – Tashkent (economy class) by tourist train “Afrosiab”/”Sharq”, Tashkent – Kokand by standard day train (economy class).

- Internal flight Osh - Bishkek (economy class).

- Tourist tax per person.

- - International flights to Tashkent, Tashkent – Bishkek, from Bishkek;

- internal flight Tashkent - Urgench (economy class, price subject to change);

- Photo/video fees (professional camera);

- E-visa to Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan e/visa (if required);

- Meals: lunches and dinners, except those specified under “Tour Price Includes”;

- Uzbekistan: Transport and guide service for free time/free days (can be added by request) and after the standard city tours; transport for walking tours in Khiva and Bukhara;

- Personal travel/medical insurance, portage, tips, personal expenses and other services not specified under “Tour Price Includes”.

- Check-in 14.00, checkout time 11.00. No early check in/ late check out is included, unless indicated;

- Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English;

- All the changes in the basic itinerary, timing for transfers depending on the international flight departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed;

- Please note that the train trip/s can be replaced for transfer/s by car depending on train tickets availability and trains schedule;

- After the date of publication, any changes in hotel, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may influence the tour prices;

- Anur Tour is not responsible for the force majeure occasions (weather conditions during the tour, repairing-reconstructing works at some parts of roads, government restrictions).