The Five Stans

Arrival at Ashgabat airport according to flight schedules. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Formalities/Night at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, the day is dedicated to visit the capital Ashgabat (city of love), founded in 1818. After the earthquake of October 6, 1948, the city was completely rebuilt. Visit of the Independence Park, the Arc of Neutrality, the National Museum of History which presents a beautiful collection of objects.

Lunch in a local restaurant. You continue the visits of the Nisa site 18 km from Ashgabat in a Bagir village and visit the Mausoleum – mosque of Turkmenbashi (1st president of the country) in Kipchak.

Return to Ashgabat. Dinner. Night at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Ak Altyn Hotel or similar)

Morning airport transfer to Mary at 09:35-10:15.

Arrive in Mary and transfer east of Mary 32 km to visit Merv (UNESCO), you will learn the
history and cultures of several cities. The oasis was part of the empire of Alexander the Great. Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala which was occupied for 1500 years, throughout the Parthian and Sasanian periods and the early Islamic period. Sultan Kala, Kyz Kala, the Mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammad Ibn Zeyd are preserved monuments that directly reflect the life of the whole Orient at various stages of its existence. In 1999, the National Historical and Cultural Park of “Ancienne Merv” was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Back to Mary. Visit of the History Museum and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Transfer to the hotel and overnight.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Mary Hotel or similar)

Departure in the morning at 7:00 am, direct route to the  Farap border post / Route to Bukhara.

After arrival and border formalities, you will be met by the driver and guide and transferred to the city of Bukhara (ca. 1,5-2h).

On arrival you will have short city tour. The city tour begins with a visit to the mausoleum of Ismail Samani, the founder of the Samanid dynasty in the 9th century. Next to the oriental bazaar is a visit to the Chashma Ayub mausoleum with “holy water”. As the next attraction visit the Bolo Hauz Mosque or Mosque “with 40 Columns” from the 18th century.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Amulet Hotel or similar)

After breakfast we visit former palace of the former emirs of Bukhara.

We continue our visit to the Poi Kalon Complex with the Karakhanid Minaret Kalon, Kalon Mosque and Miri Arab Medrese, which has been in operation since the 16th century. The Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Medresses let you get even more impressions with their beauty.

On the road, we will see the old trading vaults and hammam as well. Then we will come to the Labi Hauz complex with three buildings. This is the most popular place not only by tourists, but also by locals. Old Jewish synagogue and doll’s workshop are recommended for viewing.

In the afternoon you will be taken to the train station, where you will take a train to Samarkand.

Meals included: breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Zilol Baxt Hotel or similar)

After breakfast, we start sightseeing tour from the mausoleum of Amir Timur or Tamerlane, where he and his family are buried. Then we go to the famous Registan Square with three madrasses from the 15th and 17th century. This is a landmark of Samarkand. Registan was and is the main town of Samarkand today.

We continue our visits to the Bibi Khanum Mosque from Timur’s reign with the bazaar and the necropolis of Shachi Zinda, where the mausoleum of Kusam ibn Abbas from the 10th century is located, as well as the mausoleums from Timur’s and Ulugbek’s reign.

Then we drive to the Ulugbek Observatory, where he built the first observatory in the Orient.

Meals included: breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Zilol Baxt Hotel or similar)

In the early morning you will be taken to the train station, where you will have a train to Tashkent.

Upon arrival, we begin the sightseeing tour. The first attraction will be Hazrati Imam religious complex, where you will visit the 16th century Mausoleum of Kaffal Ash Shashi, Barakchan Medrese, which is now an art workshop center, Tilla Sheikh Mosque. The main point will be Medrese Muyi Muborak, where you will see the genuine 7th-century Holy Quran book by Chalif Osman and many other Koran books in other languages. The visit to the complex ends with a visit to the mosque Hazrati Imam.

Our next destination will be Bazar Chorsu – the biggest bazar in Tashkent, where you will enjoy oriental atmosphere with smell of spices and fresh fruits. Not far from the bazar we will visit the Medresse Kukeldash, one of the functioning madrasas in Tashkent.

In the Museum of Applied Arts you can get acquainted with Uzbek art, customs and traditions.

Then we visit Independence Square and Amir Timur Square.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Bek Hotel or similar)

In the morning after breakfast transfer to the Uzbek-Tajik border Oybek /Fotekhobod.

Upon arrival and border formalities, you will be met by the driver and guide on Tajikistan side of the border. Continue our trip to Dushanbe city through Khujand city, Shakhristan and Anzob passes (tunnels) and along Varzob gorge.

Our visits on the way: Museum of Antiquity in Khujand and city center.

Departure to the Dushanbe city. Upon evening arrival in Dushanbe, accommodation in hotel.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 4* (Taj Palace Hotel or similar)

Today we will spend the day exploring Dushanbe.

Dushanbe (means Monday) is a relatively new city that was formed in 1925 on the site of a small village Dushanbe, place of the large bazaar on Mondays. During the Soviet period, the city was called Stalinabad (1929-1961) Political, Cultural, Educational and Financial Center of the
Republic of Tajikistan.

We visit National museum of Tajikistan; Flagpole (165m); Hissar fortress (30 km from Dushanbe); Hissar museum; Central bazar; City center, Dusti square; Ismail Somoni monument.

Overnight in Dushanbe.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 4* (Taj Palace Hotel or similar)

In the morning transfer to the international Dushanbe airport for taking a *flight to Almaty. Arrival at the airport in Almaty where you will be met by driver and bought to the capital.

We go towards Medeo gorge where the highest mountain sports complex at an altitude of 1691 meters is located. Medeo is often a favorite place for the residents of Almaty on weekends.

Then we return to Almaty where we visit Zenkov Cathedral, one of the most beautiful, magnificent architectural monuments in the city.

After 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 fruitgrowing 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.

Overnight in the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel 4* (Kazzhol Almaty Hotel or similar)

*The flight can be changed, and the program with its price accordingly. The flight Dushanbe – Almaty is operated 3-4 times a week at different times depending on the day.

After breakfast, we drive to Charyn Canyon.

Charyn canyon is located in the national park. It is considered the little brother of the Grand Canyon in the United States. The erosion made by the Charyn River has created dramatic and impressive landscapes.

When you arrive, you will admire the great panorama and you will walk down to the bottom of the canyon to walk about 2 km in the labyrinth of the Valley of the Castles.

Then we drive towards Saty village. Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Guesthouse (Maria Guesthouse or similar)

Note: Guesthouses in Saty are simple and have shared WC and shower.

After the breakfast we go to the famous Kolsay lakes. We visit the first lake.

Kolsay lakes are one of the most beautiful places of Kazakh nature. They are located at 1800, 2250 and 2700 meters above sea level. They are distinguished by a unique watershed mountain landscape, consisting of three natural zones, and a variety of rare plants and animals.

Then departure to Kegen border post between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Transfer from the
border post to Karakol.

Arrival in Karakol. For dinner, you can order the typical dish of this region ¨ashlan fu¨, Dungan traditional cuisine.

Overnight in hotel.

Meals included: breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel or similar)

After breakfast, we go towards Jeti Oguz gorge. 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.

Along the way, we 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. You can do short hiking in the canyons.

In Bokonbaevo we meet an eagle hunter with his bird of prey (option). Eagle hunting is one of the ancient traditions of nomads.

Dinner and overnight in yurt.

Meals included: breakfast 

Accommodation: Yurt camp
Optionally: eagle hunting

After breakfast, we head to the Tar Suu village located in Chon Kemin Valley, known for its beauty and the rich diversity of animals and plants.

On the way we can stop in the small village Kyzyl Tuu (option). Here you will see how the Kyrgyz family makes the yurts and you try to set up with help of local people the real Kyrgyz yurt. This family is engaged in this unique art from generation to generation.

Upon arrival in Chon Kemin, you go for a walk in the village to explore the lifestyle of the local people.

Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Meals included: breakfast 

Accommodation: Guesthouse (Kemin Guesthouse or similar)
Optionally: yurt show, horse riding

Breakfast in the guesthouse. Departure to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek city.

Along the way, we visit Burana, located about 80 km from the capital. The tower with funerary monuments, earthworks, remains of the castle, and three mausoleums – that’s all that last out of the ancient Balasagyn town founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.

When we arrive in Bishkek, we can visit the local market and buy some souvenirs.

Before dinner, it is possible to visit the heart of the city, Ala- Too Square and enjoy a walk in the Oak Park, one of the favorite places of local people.

Overnight in hotel.

Meals included: breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel or similar)

Transfer to airport. Departure.