Grand Tour Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan

Explore Khiva with your guide. Walk in Ichan-Kala architectural complex (12th-19th century), the residence of the last khan, including mausoleum of Ismail Khoja, Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Kunya Ark (16th-17th century), Kalta Minor minaret, Tash Khovli Palace (19 century). Dinner. Overnight in hotel of Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Bukhara through the famous Kyzylkum desert along the Amu Darya River. Lunch on the way. Arrival in Bukhara. Free time, visit souvenir shops and workshops. Night at the hotel.

Breakfast. Tour of the city: Citadel Ark (4 c. BC), Samanid Mausoleum (9th-10th centuries), Chashma Ayub (14th century), Bolo House mosque (early 20th century), Kompoul bazaar, Nadir Diwan Begi madrasah, Lyabi House complex (14th-17th century), Kalyan minaret. Dinner in a traditional Uzbek house. Night at a hotel in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Samarkand (about 5 hours). Upon arrival – the beginning of a tour of Samarkand: the most famous square in Central Asia – Registan Square with 3 madrasahs: Ulugbek, Sher-Dor, Tilla-Kari. Visit Guri-Emir mausoleum – the tomb of Tamerlan. Towards evening – hotel accommodation, rest.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with a guide and continuation of Samarkand tour: Bibi-Khanum mosque, Shahi-Zinda architectural ensemble, Ulugbek observatory. Lunch in a national house of Samarkand. After lunch: a visit to the ancient settlement and museum of Afrosiab, the mausoleum of St. Daniel and a paper workshop. In the workshop you will see the traditional production of unique silk paper. Return to the hotel, rest.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Tashkent. Upon arrival – Tashkent city tour: a visit to Independence Square, Amir-Timur Square, Tashkent metro. In the evening accommodation in the hotel, rest.

After early breakfast – transfer to the railway station where a train (modern cars, seating) will take you to Kokand. It is one of the ancient cities of Ferghana Valley. Upon arrival – a tour of Kokand: Khudoyar Khan Palace, Madari Khan mausoleum, Jami mosque. After lunch – transfer to Dustlik checkpoint. Uzbek-Kyrgyz border crossing. Meeting with a local guide and driver on Kyrgyz side. Transfer to Osh. Upon arrival – hotel accommodation, rest.

After breakfast – a meeting with a guide and tour of Osh: Suleiman Mountain is one of the major Muslim shrines in Central Asia. Visit the city historical museum, located inside the mountain, in caves. Walk up the hill, see the small Babur mosque. From the slopes of Suleiman Mountain, stunning panoramas of Osh open – you can see the whole city from a bird’s eye view. After lunch – transfer to the airport. Flight to Bishkek – the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival – short excursion and transfer to the hotel, rest.

After breakfast – meeting with a guide and transfer to the second largest mountain lake in the world – Issyk-Kul. On the way, a visit to the Tower of Burana (XI-XII centuries) and the ruins of the medieval city of Balasagun, which was the northern capital of Karakhanid Kaganate. Upon arrival – hotel accommodation, rest.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the city of Karakol. On the way, a visit to the petroglyph museum in Cholpon-Ata and the museum of the famous Russian traveler N.M. Przhevalsky. Upon arrival – a tour of Karakol: Dungan Mosque (XIX century), Russian Orthodox Church. Walk in the central bazaar. Hotel accommodation, rest.

Early breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Karakol at 08:00. Transfer to the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border, border formalities. Further transfer to Almaty. On the way, a visit to the most picturesque Charyn Canyon – one of the most famous sights of Kazakhstan, located in the Charyn National Park (about 215 km east of Almaty). The canyon is called the « younger brother » of the Grand Canyon in America – it is smaller in size, but no less grandiose in character. The most dramatic part of the canyon – « Valley of Castles » – is 2 km long: here you will see sheer cliffs of the most bizarre forms, clay stone walls, towers, arches and columns. Continue the trip to Almaty. Arrival in Almaty in the evening, hotel accommodation, rest.

After breakfast in the hotel – the beginning of a tour of Almaty (10 hours): Green Bazaar, Panfilov Park, wooden Zenkovsky Cathedral, Memorial of Glory « Feat, » with the Eternal Flame. Next, a visit to Mount Kok-Tobe, where the Koktobe TV tower is located. Here you can enjoy a beautiful view of Almaty. Descent from the mountain to the city center on the famous Almaty cable car with a panoramic view from the booth windows. After lunch, transfer to the high-mountain Big Almaty Lake, located at an altitude of 2511 m in the Ile-Alatau National Natural Park. Upon arrival – easy hiking around the lake. Return to Almaty, on the way visit falconry nursery « Sunkar, » located in the Big Almaty Gorge. Show featuring birds of prey. Transfer to the hotel. Night at Almaty hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for international flight home.

End of the programme.