One journey, five countries, and the entire sweep of the Silk Road — from the peaks of Kyrgyzstan and the steppes of Kazakhstan to the ancient cities of Uzbekistan, the mountain valleys of Tajikistan, and the deserts and marble city of Turkmenistan.
Arrive at any time. Standard check-in at hotel after 14:00.
Free time on your own.
Welcome meet with the guide and group at 14:00.
Briefing about the itinerary & travel plan. City tour in Bishkek.
Welcome Dinner in the traditional restaurant where you can taste the national Kyrgyz cuisine.
Meals included: dinner
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Note: it is highly recommended to book an extra night at the hotel, as most flights to Bishkek arrive late at night or early in the morning.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Our journey begins with a visit of the Burana Tower, an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the north part of Kyrgyzstan. The tower with funerary monuments, earthworks, remains of the castle and three mausoleums – that’s all what last out of the ancient Balasagyn town that was founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.
Lunch in the Iskra village with Dungan family, the ethnicity of Chinese Muslims who had to flee China. You taste their national cuisine.
Then departure to Issyk Kul, the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and one of the deepest in the world. We drive you to the hotel located on the lake shore.
First location at Issyk-Kul lake is visit the petroglyph museum. The 42 hectares of the museum are dotted with stones, tombs, balbals and various petroglyphs dated from the 2nd millennium BC until the 4th century AD.
Free time. You can rest on the beach and swim in the lake.
Dinner in the restaurant.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Lakeside Resort
Breakfast in the hotel.
Boat trip at the Issyk Kul lake, the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and one of the deepest in the world.
On the way, in the village of Bokonbaevo, stop with a local eagle hunter and his bird of prey. Eagle hunting is one of the ancient traditions of nomads.
Dinner and overnight stay in yurt camp.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt Camp
After breakfast, visit Skazka canyons, which translates from Russian as Fairytale. There you can find rocks of surprising shapes and sizes. A real skyscraper or an animal may appear in front of you.
Then go towards Barskoon gorge famous for its waterfalls.
One of the best known is Tears of a Leopard. Here you find the monument for the first cosmonaut Yu. A. Gagarin, who was very fond of this place and rested in the nearby Tamga military sanatorium.
Drive to Jeti Oguz. The name of the gorge is symbolic and means “seven bulls” in Kyrgyz because there are seven giant red-brown rocks resembling furious bulls standing together. You can take a walk here and enjoy the beautiful landscapes.
When we get to Karakol, we will visit its famous sights, such as the Russian Orthodox cathedral and Dungan mosque.
For dinner, you can order the typical dish of this region ¨ashlan fu¨, Dungan traditional cuisine.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Breakfast at the hotel, followed by departure toward to border.
Border Crossing (Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan)
Ready for a one more stamp in your passport?
After completing border formalities, meet your Kazah team and continue the journey into Kazakhstan, enjoying the changing landscapes along the way.
On the way we visit Charyn Canyons, one of the most impressive natural landmarks in Kazakhstan. We will explore the canyons dramatic landscapes, walk along the viewpoints, and enjoy the unique rock formations often compared to a “smaller Grand Canyon.”
Continue the journey toward Almaty. The road passes through scenic steppe and mountain landscapes.
Arrive in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Breakfast at the hotel.
Discover the charm of the city with a light walking tour through its main highlights. Visit Republic Square, stroll through Panfilov Park, and see the beautiful Zenkov Cathedral. Explore the lively Green Bazaar, where local colors, aromas, and flavors create a vivid atmosphere of everyday life.
Then, we go to Kok Tobe, the highest point in the city. It is famous for its panoramic view of the city from all directions. To reach the Kok Tobe hill, we take a cable car ride which starts near Hotel Kazakhstan and goes over some of the oldest parts of Almaty and the magnificent fruit growing gardens. Once you reach the Kok Tobe hill, you would see the famous 372 meters high TV Tower which is visible from far and offers great views of the mountains and the city plus a few attractions at the top. Dinner at the local restaurant.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Breakfast in the hotel.
Drive to airport for our flight to Tashkent.
Border Crossing (Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan)
Ready for a one more stamp in your passport?
Welcome by our team. Transfer to hotel. (Standard check in time 14:00).
Start your tour in the city’s historic heart, visiting the Khast-Imam Complex. Within the complex, you will see the Barak-Khan Madrasa, the Tilla-Sheykh Mosque, and the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum.
New Part of the City
Afterward, explore the dynamic and modern side of Tashkent. Begin at Independence Square, one of the largest public squares in the world and a symbol of Uzbekistan’s sovereignty and independence. Next, pay homage to the sacrifices made during World War II at the Memorial to the World War II Victims. Continue to the Monument of Courage, commemorating the devastating 1966 earthquake.
Continue exploring the legacy of Amir Temur, the renowned Central Asian conqueror and statesman, at the Amir Temur Museum and Square. Learn about his life and achievements and admire the impressive statue that honors his enduring influence on the region.
Return to the hotel for overnight stay
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to train station at 07:30 and take train to Samarkand at 08:30
Arrive to Samarkand at 10:55
Places to visit:
Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meet our driver at 09:00 and transfer to Jartepo-Sarazm border.
Border Crossing (Uzbekistan-Tajikistan)
Ready for a one more stamp in your passport?
About 10:00 meeting with local team and transfer to the Marguzor lakes.
On the way we visit Sarazm excavation and Sarazm museum (5500 years old, UNESCO Heritage) and old central market in Penjikent.
Drive along the lakes and villages, exploring the area, photo stops during the way.
16:30 Arrival back to the border.
Meet with Uzbek team at the border and transfer to hotel in Samarkand.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3*
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to train station at 09:00 and take train to Bukhara at 10:00
Arrive to Bukhara at 11:45
After excursion transfer to the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: hotel 3*
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the Farab border at 08:00am.
Border Crossing (Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan)
Ready for a one more stamp in your passport?
Turkmen local team will meet you at the border.
Transfer to Merv (255km, 5h) to explore Ancient Merv, one of the most important capitals of Islam, alongside Baghdad, Cairo, and Damascus. Sightseeing of ancient Merv includes Greater Kyz Gala & Lesser Kyz Gala (VI-VII), Complex of Askhabs (VIII-XIV), Erk Gala (VI BC), Gyaur Gala (IV BC), Hoja Yusup Hamadani complex, Sultan Sanjar mausoleum, Muhamed Ibn Zeid mausoleum.
After sightseeing, drive to Mary (35km, 40min).
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: hotel 4*
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, we drive to Ashgabat (360km, 4h).
Upon arrival Ashgabat, you will have a city tour. In 2013 the Guinness Book of Records named Ashgabat a “white marbled city” – here you can see the biggest number of structures in the world made out of white marble. You will see the Monument and Park of Independence, main flagpole of Ashgabat, Arch of Neutrality, the Constitution Monument, the Ferris Wheel, the Wedding Palace and enjoy a panoramic view of Ashgabat from the top of the hill, the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 4*
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, visit the National Museum of History & Ethnography. The museum has a rich collection of ancient artefacts from Turkmenistan. More than 500,000 exhibits are displayed here. It has 9 halls, each dedicated to a certain period or theme. The Hall of Ancient History presents a collection of flint tools from the Mesolithic era (approximately 50,000 years B.C.), used by prehistoric people in Western Turkmenistan, along with Neolithic ceramics and ornaments from the earliest human settlements along the northern slopes of the Kopet-Dag.
Then, drive to visit Nissa fortress – the Sanctuary of Parthian Kings. UNESCO declared the fortress a World Heritage Site in 2007. The ruins of the ancient settlement of Nissa are located 18 km from Ashgabat, in the village of Bagyr.
On the way back to Ashgabat, visit the Turkmenbashi Ruhi Mosque and Mausoleum, which was the largest mosque in Central Asia when it was built.
Then, drive to visit the Horse Stable to see the national pride of the Turkmen people—Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began breeding Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great and Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are over 35 beautiful horses on the farm.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 4*
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, drive to visit “Altyn Asyr” Oriental Bazar (opens on Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun) – Jygyldyk, located 20km to the north of Ashgabat. It is one of the world’s largest open bazaars, filled with colourful rugs, jewellery, carpets, silk, and national Turkmen costumes, and animals in other parts.
If the “Altyn Asyr” bazaar is closed, alternatively, you can visit Gulistan Bazaar, also known as the Russian Bazaar by local people, which is the oldest covered market and a must-visit for any traveller to Ashgabat.
Then afternoon we drive to the Darvaza Gas Crater (276km, 4h), one of the most popular international tourist destinations. The region is abundant in natural gas, and the Darvaza Gas Crater has been burning for over 50 years, making it shine like a pearl amid the Karakum desert. Apart from the Darvaza Gas Crater, you will also have the opportunity to witness water and mud craters. One of this trip’s most captivating and intriguing aspects is the fresh desert air and the chance to experience the nomadic way of life firsthand.
At night, while the Gas Crater’s light illuminates the sky, you will camp in the Turkmen national yurt or in private tents and have a barbecue for dinner.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt Camp
Picnic-style breakfast in Darvaza.
Drive to Ashgabat (276km, 4h).
Upon arrival Ashgabat, free time for shopping and getting prepared.
Your guide and transfer will be included.
End of service with drop off to the Ashgabat International Airport.
Departure.
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: —
