Road to Samarkand

Travel overnight to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival early morning, transfer
approximately 30 minutes to your hotel. Your room will be ready for check in at this
early hour.
The remainder of the day is at your leisure to rest before a 3pm meal and welcome
meeting at a local restaurant.
After the meeting, take a city tour and visit Ala Too Square, the White House and
Oak Park.
Some tour members may wish to stay in the hotel to rest for the entire day. Please
notify your local National Escort if you wish to do this.

This morning, drive 1 hour south to Ala Archa National Park where you will stop at
the park’s base camp. Within this time you will rise from 750m to 2100m above sea
level.
From here, your guide will take you on a 1-hour leisurely hike through the National
Park whilst you take in the picturesque scenery of snow-capped mountains and
freshwater rivers. Although this is a gentle hike, you will need to climb some hills
and slopes and walk over uneven ground at altitude.
All participants who take part in this activity must be able to complete it
independently, otherwise you will need to wait on the bus.
Return to Bishkek where you will have a free afternoon.

This morning, visit the 12th Century Burana Tower and enjoy the breath-taking
views along the road as you continue another 3 hours to Cholpon-Ata, located at
the northern shore of Lake Issyk Kul. Explore a large open-air collection of
petroglyphs of ibex, wolves and deer etched into glacial stone that date back to the
8th century
Afterwards, cruise on Lake Issyk Kul and view the stunning, alpine scenery. It can
get cold on the 1-hour cruise, so we recommend you bring a warm jacket

Continue this morning with a 3-hour drive to the town of Karakol and check in for a
two-night stay.
First visit the picturesque Semenov Gorge to enjoy a gentle hike at the gorge for
approximately one hour in duration. You will need to climb some hills and slopes
with moments of walking over uneven ground. Visit the Kyrchyn Jailoo ethnic village
and arrive in Karakol in the early afternoon and check into your hotel.
This afternoon visit the interesting Przhevalsky Museum and examine the region’s
diverse religious influences with visits to the striking Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
and the Chinese mosque. All touring this afternoon is at a comfortable pace.

Rise early and travel to the outskirts of town for the unforgettable Karakol Sunday
Animal Market.
In the afternoon, travel to the Valley of Flowers and Jety-Oguz Gorge where you can
enjoy a light hike through the magnificent canyon of red sandstone. Sightseeing in
the canyon involves 1 hour of leisurely walking on a bush track. Although this is a
gentle hike, you will need to climb some hills and slopes and you will be walking
over uneven ground at altitude. If you take part in this activity, you must be able to
complete it independently. Alternatively, you can wait on the bus.
In Jety-Oguz visit a yurt and have a cup of tea or the Kyrgyz national beverage.
Later, visit Irdyk village to see a local mosque and enjoy a home-cooked dinner with
a local Dungan family. Learn the fascinating story of why this Muslim Chinese group
immigrated to the region 140 years ago, how they made the area their home, and
how families today keep their traditional culture and cuisine alive

Visit Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairy Tale Canyon. This canyon was named so
due to its bizarre rock formations, including depictions of snakes, dragons and
hippopotamuses.
Continue around 2 hours to Bokonbaevo Village and watch a demonstration of
Eagle Hunting. Return to your vehicle for your 3-hour journey with breath-taking
views as you make your way to Naryn.

Arrive at the Tash Rabat's historic caravanserai set in a peaceful valley setting
where the only habitation is a series of seasonal yurt-camps. The scenery in this
valley is some of the finest you will encounter in Kyrgyzstan. The altitude here is
3,200 metres so do prepare accordingly.
After visiting Tash Rabat, you will return to Naryn for your overnight stay.

Transfer to Kochkor this morning, the centre of Kyrgyz national felt handicrafts.
Visit a local workshop in Kochkor and see the manufacturing of the traditional
Kyrgyz wool carpets, called ‘shyrdak’. Explore a small local market in the centre of
the village and visit a local co-op that provides training for local women in traditional
handicrafts.
Continue to Ashu Village where you will spend the night.

Some areas of Kyrgyzstan look as if artists have sculpted and painted nature. This
is especially true on the drive between Kochkor and Chong Kemin National Park.,
where the latter is set in a quiet valley with small villages surrounded by magnificent
mountains and a fir forest. You will enjoy a walk along the foothills of these
mountains as well as witnessing life in the nearby village. Finish your excursion with
a walk to a fabulous viewpoint of the valley below.
In the afternoon, proceed to Bishkek airport to catch a flight to Tashkent. On arrival,
you will check in at your hotel and enjoy dinner.

In the morning, journey back in time exploring Tashkent’s town sights; Barak Khan
Madrassah, Kukeldash Madrassah and Tila Shaikh mosque and their archives –
known for rare copies of the Koran. Stop at Chorsu Bazaar – the oldest market in
Tashkent.
In the afternoon you will be invited to the workshop of a famous family of ceramists
in Uzbekistan - Akbar and Alisher Rakhimov. Here you will learn about their
pastime.

In the morning you will drive to Samarkand, where on arrival you will check in at the
hotel.
No name is so evocative of the Silk Road as Samarkand. It is one of the oldest
existing cities in the world and the oldest of Central Asia. Built on the site of
Afrosiab, which dated from the 3rd or 4th millennium B.C., Samarkand was known
to the ancient Greeks as Marakanda, and ruins of the old settlement remain north of
the present city.
You will have a half day tour of Samarkand to see the famous Registan Square
which was for many centuries the heart of Samarkand. See the three beautiful
madrassahs: the Ulug-Bek Madrasah built in the 15th century; the Tillya-Kori
Madrasah built in the 17th century, and the Sher-Dor Madrasah, also built in the
17th century.
Please note that you will be travelling for around 6 hours today.

This morning we continue exploring Samarkand to see Gur Emir, the mausoleum of
Tamerlane, the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times - the chief Friday Mosque
called Bibi-Khanum - the Siab Bazaar and Shahi Zinda Necropolis.
Later in the afternoon we also see Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel, which is a
unique burial place of the saint, revered in all three world religions: Judaism, Islam,
and Christianity
You have the remainder of the day at leisure

In the morning you will visit Ulugbek’s observatory, constructed by Ulugbek
(Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Later see the ancient settlement
of Afrosiab.
Following your tour of Afrosiab, you will head to Konigil Village to visit a papermaking workshop. Try your hand at the unique method of paper making, which
involves cleaning tree branches from the bark, polishing paper with a stone and
painting on it. Afterwards, you will enjoy lunch in the courtyard of the paper making
mill.
After lunch transfer back to Samarkand and spend the remainder of the day at
leisure.
Desti

This morning you will travel the 2 hours to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of the Great
Amir Timur (Tamerlane), located approximately 90km south of Samarkand. Explore
the city, visiting sites such as the remnants of Ak-Sarai Palace, Dorus Tilavat
cemetery and Kok-Gumbas Mosque.
Return to Samarkand this afternoon.
Please note that coaches are not allowed on the route to Shakhrisabz. Instead, you
will travel in cars (3 passengers per vehicle).

In the morning you will check out of the hotel and make your to Bukhara. En route,
you will visit Gijduvan town which is a centre of famous handmade ceramics. Here
you will see the fascinating process of making these ceramics as well as witnessing
local life in this small town.
Arrive in Bukhara this afternoon and check into your hotel, where you have the
remainder of the day is at leisure.

Today you have a full day exploring fabulous Bukhara. This incredible city, one of
the most famous names of medieval Islam, is home to hundreds of registered
monuments. On today's tour we visit some of the main highlights as well some
lesser known sights along the way. Bring a fully charged camera battery.
Today's sightseeing includes Lab-i-khauz ensemble - modern centre of traditional
Uzbekistan, Madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga and Mogaki Attari
Mosques, Poi Kalon Minaret and Mosque, see Madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek
Madrassah.
After lunch you will visit the Ark of Bukhara, Balakhauz Mosque and the
Mausoleums of Ismail Samanid and Chashma Ayub.
We will also visit Hunarmand UNDP Assisted workshops near Lyabi-Hauz. We
to see block printing, metal chasing, suzani embroidery, carving and gold
embroidery.
Women should bring a scarf from home, as you are required to cover your head at
some attractions today. Photo fees may be payable at most attractions you will visit
in Bukhara, approximately USD7 in total.

Continue your sightseeing of Bukhara with an out-of-town excursion to visit the
Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of the former Emir of Bukhara where
you can see unique mixture of traditional Russian style of architecture harmoniously
mixed with local oriental traditions. The famous white hall decorated with carved
alabaster resembles the halls of Petergof Palace in the suburb of St Petersburg.
Continue with an excursion to Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum, a famous Sufi
spiritual leader of this region in the 14th century. Bahouddin Naqshband's cult was
highly venerated among folks. The rulers, too, paid a considerable attention to this
architectural ensemble.
You have the afternoon at leisure for your own exploration

Set out for Khiva in the early morning across the famous Kyzyl Kum desert ("Red
sands").
During this journey, watch in awe as the scenery changes from saksaul trees to the
Amudarya riverbank. we will make several photo stops to see the desert flora and
fauna. Upon arrival check into your hotel for a two-night stay.
Please be aware that you will be travelling for around 7 hours today. There will be
adequate time for toilet breaks and photo stops.

Khiva is made for walking. It is compact, well maintained, lived in and basks in
beautiful desert light..
Participate in this leisure walking tour and see all the major sights of the Ichtan
Kala, the citadel. The truncated Kalta Minor Minaret, the Kurkna Ark Fortress, the
Madrassah Rakhimkhon, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud and Islam Khodja
Minaret - from the latter you will see the entire town beneath you and the desert
beyond. The ravages of modern development have been largely kept away from the
citadel itself, much to your advantage.
In the afternoon we will see the Friday Mosque and the 19th century Tash Hauli
Palace, including the harem.

This morning you will transfer 1 hour to Urgench airport for your flight to Tashkent.
Tashkent is one of the oldest and largest cities in Central Asia and has been the
Uzbek capital since 1930. The city is very much a showpiece of Soviet and postSoviet architecture.
Upon arrival in Tashkent we visit the Museum of Applied Arts, Mustakillik Square
,Amir Temur Square and the famous Tashkent Metro, opulently decorated with local
marble and granite like an underground palace.
You have the remainder of the day at leisure.

This morning you will transfer to Tashkent Airport for your onward journey back to
the UK.