Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan Tour | 2

Meet the driver at the hotel in Tashkent.

06:00 Transfer to the local airport.

07:25 Flight to Urgench by HY51.

08:55 Arrival at Urgench Airport.  

Come out of the terminal and meet with our driver.

Transfer to Ayaz-kala archeological sights.

- Ayaz-kala and Toprak-kala, the fortresses of the Kushan period of Ancient Khorezm, which used to be mighty border forts protecting the residents from raids of nomadic tribes.  The forts were built in ~4th-7th century BCE, during the ages when Khorezm achieved its independence. The fortresses are located on the hills quite close to each other, and visitors are welcome to have a short overview tour in the monumental forts that are currently drowning in sand.

Transfer to the yurt camp.

Lunch at the camp.

Leisure and resting time in the evening.

By request, take a camel ride.

Enjoy beautiful sunset views and a starry sky at night.

Dinner and overnight in the yurt.

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.

Free time in Bukhara, morning at leisure.

Afternoon transfer to Samarkand, en route visiting the famous Gijduvan pottery workshop, where visitors are welcome for a tour around the workshop and to 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 ( extra), a master class of painting ceramics and suzani embroidery.

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 one of the most significant places in the world;

– Continue to 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 Khanum 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.

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.

10:00 Transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake sightseeing en route:

- Issyk-Kul is called "the pearl of Central Asia". Due to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. Arrival at Issyk-Kul, accommodation in the hotel on the North Shore of the lake.

- Easy hike near the lake. Issyk Kul 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”. 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.

- Visit a place with ancient pictures on stones - petroglyphs, where you can see a panoramic view of the Issyk Kul Lake. Shamans made these petroglyphs and told people that this place was the middle of the world. The stones are in the same place, waiting for the visitors to reveal their secrets.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Easy hiking in the mountains enjoying the beauty of the mountain slopes here one can also see beautiful Tien-Shan spruce. There are three beautiful lakes with crystal clear water in the valley. Lower Lake is located at the lower part of the gorge, Middle Lake is at pasture At-Djailoo, and the most beautiful of the three lakes – Upper Lake is located 6 km from the Middle Lake. 

Green mountain slopes covered with beautiful poppies, mountain river, picturesque mountain landscapes, all this certainly make unforgettable impression

Arrival in Karakol.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Jeti Oguz gorge.

- Jeti Oguz gorge is famous for its red rock formations, that have the name Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. One can see Broken Heart Mountain there, one of the most popular places among locals and visitors. By request, a light hiking tour to go on a top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panoramic view of the gorge.

- Continue to Bokonbaevo village, to stop for a local eagle-hunting show. The eagles are fed to hunt hares and foxes (a traditional way of nomadic hunting). After the excursion, transfer to Bishkek.

Arrival in Bishkek in the afternoon.

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.