Kaleidoscope of Central Asia

Arrival in Bishkek. Transfer to the hotel. Early check-in incl. breakfast. In the afternoon city tour. Arrival in Bishkek. Transfer to the hotel. Early check-in incl. breakfast. Afternoon city tour. Visit to the Osh Bazaar. The bazaar in Kyrgyzstan is a famous place for selling and buying food. Local farmers come to the bazaar early in the morning to sell the produce grown on their farms. Visit the Ala-Too Square, the Oak Park, the Art Museum and the monuments of Manas the Great.

Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay

Transfer to Son Kul Lake (350 km). On the way visit the Burana Tower – remains of the ancient city of Balasagyn from the XI century. Lunch in a local café. Visit to a felt carpet workshop where you can buy souvenirs.
Nestled in the heart of the Tien Shan Mountains, Son Kul Lake offers an incomparable escape into the majesty of nature. Situated at an altitude of 3,016 meters, this tranquil alpine lake surrounded by rolling meadows and towering peaks promises a breathtaking experience for any traveler.

Dinner and overnight stay in the yurt camp.

Full day on Son Kul. Possibility for hiking or horseback riding on the surrounding hills.

Dinner and overnight stay in the yurt camp

Transfer from Son Kul Lake over the Kara Keche Pass to the valley of the Kokomeren River. Continue along the picturesque gorge to the Susamyr Valley and the Chichkan Gorge (260 km).
Located in the heart of the Tien Shan Mountains, the Chichkan Gorge attracts adventure seekers and nature lovers with breathtaking landscapes and exciting activities. This spectacular gorge in western Kyrgyzstan promises an unforgettable escape into the wilderness. The Chichkan Gorge beckons with its rugged beauty and exciting activities. Whether you are looking for adventure, tranquillity or a deep connection with nature, this hidden gem of Kyrgyzstan promises an experience you will remember forever. Discover the lush flora and observe a variety of bird species and elusive animals such as deer and mountain goats. The Chichkan Gorge is a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife watchers.

Dinner and overnight stay at the guesthouse.

Osh (207,000 inhabitants), situated on the south-eastern edge of the Ferghana Basin (870-1110 m above sea level), is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. There was already a large settlement here in the first century BC, and at the time of the Arabs the city had a citadel with a palace and a prison, several suburbs and a city wall with three gates. In the 10th century, the trade route connecting the cities of the Mediterranean with China and India ran through here. Although conquered and destroyed by Genghis Khan’s troops, Osh developed into a typical Central Asian-Oriental city and also became known as a place of pilgrimage. Today, Osh is not only the industrial area of southern Kyrgyzstan, but also an important meeting place for the Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Tajiks …, sedentary people and nomads living here, with its bazaar known far beyond the country’s borders. After arrival in Osh, short city tour with a visit to the holy Suleiman.

Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Transfer to the “Dustlik” border in the morning.
Fergana-Tajik/Uzbek border

“Patar”- Hudjand
Meeting with the guest at the Tajik/Uzbek border “Patar”.
After the border formalities, drive to Hudjand (northern part of Tajikistan) – a center of the Sughd region via Kanibadam and Kaira Kum
reservoir. Hudjand was continuously occupied and discovered by Alexander the Great – possibly on the site of an earlier settlement. It is the farthest point he reached in Central Asia, which is why the city was named Alexandria Escheat (Alexandria the Farthest).

In the morning, you will follow in the footsteps of Khujand’s extremely eventful history. Founded by Alexander the Great, the city was later under Persian, Mongol and Russian rule.

After crossing the Anzob Pass, you leave the mountainous part of the country and drive to Dushanbe. The still young capital grew out of a kishlak where a market was held every Monday. Dushanbe means nothing other than Monday.
Dushanbe (538,000 inhabitants), the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan, is located on the Warsob, 882 meters above sea level. Although the youngest of the Central Asian cities has no historical monuments to offer, it is nevertheless architecturally attractive and is located in a truly picture-book setting.
Since the city was founded, huge efforts have been made to overcome the widespread illiteracy. With resounding success – within just a few decades, Dushanbe has developed into a city of science, universities and technical colleges, as well as a center of rapidly expanding industry. Today there is the Academy of Sciences with several research institutes and laboratories, universities for medicine, education and agriculture as well as various technical colleges.

After breakfast, visit the National Museum of Antiquities with its large reclining Buddha. Also worth a visit are the Somoni Monument and the bazaar, where you can buy everything from spices and toothbrushes to car parts

Your first stop is near Dushanbe, where you will visit the preserved North Portal, two madrassas and a mosque in the Gissar Fortress. At the Tajik-Uzbek border, you change tour guides again and continue to the legendary oasis city of Samarkand.

Samarkand is the second largest city in Uzbekistan, a shining pearl since ancient times. In the 14th century, the great conqueror Tamerlan transformed Samarkand, making it one of the world’s greatest capitals.

An entire day is devoted to exploring this wonderful city. You will visit the magnificent Gur-Emir Mausoleum, where the infamous ruler Tamerlane was buried. Afterwards, you will be impressed by the famous Registan. This square, surrounded by three mosques and Koranic schools, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world!

Bukhara is an ancient holy city and still considered the richest city in Central Asia thanks to most of the architectural monuments located mainly in the old part of the city, where the integrity of the architecture is striking: antiquity here is not mixed with modern buildings.

In the morning, the journey continues to the oasis city of Bukhara. The city center, with its many historic buildings, will take you back to the golden days of the Silk Road.

You will explore the well-preserved center of Bukhara on foot. Mosques and madrassas decorated with filigree tiles, a bustling bazaar and the cozy village center of Labi-Hauz make up the heart of this charming city. However, just outside the center await the unique Samanid Mausoleum and the four-towered Khor-Minor Mosque.

Uzbekistan, with its ancient monuments, rich nature and rapid modern development, attracts the attention of the whole world today. For several centuries this country was situated at the crossroads of several routes of the Great Silk Road, through which many traders, geographers, missionaries and tourists traveled.
This full-day journey will take you through the Kyzylkum Desert. The seemingly endless road allows you to immerse yourself in the daily life of the caravans that once traversed the desert for weeks on end. You will finally arrive in Khiva in the evening.

Surrounded by an irreducible wall, Khiva has been preserved like no other place. Walking through the winding streets, your attention will be drawn to pretty courtyards with charming gardens and magnificent palaces with a former harem. The city seems to have come straight out of a 1001 nights fairy tale.

Turkmenistan is like all hidden treasures: hard to get to and a bit dusty, but worth every effort and more. The journey to Turkmenistan will take you through the mysterious Karakum Desert, full of Silk Road secrets and half-buried ruins. Just when you think you have left civilization behind, the centuries-old traditions preserved by the long-dressed desert inhabitants will leave you amazed and impressed. On the sandy cusp of the desert, the Caspian Sea materializes like a long-awaited mirage, almost too good to be true.

You reach the border with Turkmenistan, where you will cross the border for the last time by land. Your new tour guide awaits you on the Turkmen side. You reach the town of Dasoguz, where you spend the night.

You set off on an excursion to Kunya Urgench, the ancient capital of the Khorezm Empire, and visit the many remains of the sunken city. Afterwards, you are treated to a fascinating drive through the Karakum Desert, where the glowing gas crater of Darvaz is located. At dusk, it offers a spectacular view. Hundreds of flames illuminate the crater and bathe the surroundings in an unreal light. You pitch your tent right above the crater, under the starry desert sky.

The capital city of Ashgabat is an experience in itself, a marble-clad trophy of grandeur that embodies the definition of extravagant. Meanwhile, the mummified cities of Merv, Kunya-Urgench and Gonur Depe unfold with their foundations asleep under the enduring glow of the sun. The Akhal-Teke horses, the pride of all Turkmen, are a living link to the nation’s warlike and nomadic past, a history barely discernible in the manner of today’s citizens, who greet curious visitors with a reserved but distinct air of hospitality.

You continue through the desert to Ashgabat. In the afternoon you will get a first impression of the capital. Gilded domes, marble and glass facades line the wide boulevards. Statues of the late president Turkmenbashi are a constant sight.

Another cultural attraction of the trip awaits you today. Merw (also known as Merv) was once a thriving oasis city on the Silk Road and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Early in the morning, set off in the direction of Mary to reach the ruins of Merw (about 5 hours). Highlights include well-preserved remains of cities, fortresses, palaces, mosques and mausoleums from various historical periods, including the Parthian fortress Gyaur Kala, Abbasid centers and the mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar. The archaeological sites offer insight into the rich cultural heritage of the ancient Silk Road. Return to Ashgabat in the late afternoon.

The entire day is free for sightseeing in the capital. Among other things, you will visit the National Museum, where countless artifacts can be seen. Also worth a visit is the impressive Ruhy Mosque, which can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers.

Return or onward journey

Transfer to the airport and individual return or onward journey.

Departure with from Istanbul.