Flight: TK368  Istanbul - Tashkent  01:15 - 07:55

Private transfer to your hotel: On arrival in Tashkent, you will be met by a driver and transferred to your hotel to check in. Early check-in has been included today so you will be able to check into your room right away and have the day to rest after your journey.

Afternoon tour of Tashkent: After some time to rest, you will be picked up at your hotel for an afternoon city tour.

Begin with a walk to Khast Imam Square, where some of Tashkent’s oldest monuments still stand today, including the 16th century Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, the tomb of one of the first imams of the Muslim world; both the Barak-Khan Madrassah and the al-Bukhari Madrassah; as well as the Tillya Sheikh Mosque which houses the oldest Koran in the world. Continue to the Chorsu Bazaar, a bustling market selling anything from spices and produce to local handicrafts. The market is open every day but is at its best on weekends.

Next, take a ride on Tashkent’s unique metro system. This was the first metro in Central Asia, and each station is beautifully decorated with a different theme, some based around Central Asian places and motifs, and some Russian. Continue to Independence Square, a spacious park-like space which neighbours Tashkent’s administrative and government buildings. This square has had many different faces throughout the years, starting as 'Cathedral Square' due to the Orthodox Cathedral built at its centre, before becoming 'Red Square', 'Lenin Square, and finally 'Independence Square' in 1992 after Uzbekistan finally gained independence from the Soviet Union.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Praga Hotel (Standard Room)

Transfer to the airport: At the appropriate time today, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight.

Flight: HY51  Tashkent - Urgench  07:00-08:30

Transfer to your hotel in Khiva: On arrival in Urgench, you will be met at the airport by a driver, and transferred to the nearby city of Khiva, located around 40km away.

Guided tour of Khiva: After your arrival, your local guide will meet you at your hotel and take you out to explore Ichon-Qala, Khiva’s beautifully preserved medieval walled city. Sights you will visit today include the Kalta Minor Minaret, a striking yet sadly unfinished turquoise structure; the Kunya Ark, originally built in the 12th century, and with several buildings still remaining today; the Islam Khoja Madrassah, which boasts the tallest minaret in Uzbekistan; the Juma Mosque, which showcases some exceptional examples of Khiva’s specialty wood carving;  the Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, with its iconic turquoise dome; and finally the Tash-Hauli Palace, the largest building in the Ichon-Qala, and former home of the khan and his wives.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Zarafshon Boutique Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Bukhara: After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and take on the long overland journey to Bukhara. This is a total journey of around 6-7 hours, depending on road and traffic conditions. You will pass through the Kyzyl-Kum Desert, and there will be chances for some photo and rest stops along the way.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sasha & Son (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Bukhara: After breakfast, your local guide will meet you at your hotel and take you out to explore Bukhara. Your first stop will be the Ark Citadel, the original fortress of Bukhara with a history of over 2,000 years. The Citadel has been built and rebuilt on the same site throughout its history, always retaining some of the form of the original Ark. Just behind the Ark is Zindan Prison, with its infamous ‘bug pit’ dungeon. Nearby you will find the Bolo Hauz Mosque, called the forty-pillar mosque due to the reflection of its colonnades in the pool.

Next visit the Kalon Mosque and Minaret, a large complex which also includes the Mir-i-Arab Madrassah. Continue your tour with a visit to Bukhara’s famous trading domes. Each dome was dedicated to a specific kind of merchandise, for example the jeweller’s dome and the money changer’s dome. Next, pay a visit to the Magoki Attori Mosque, which also houses a fascinating carpet museum.

Finally, finish your tour at the Labi-Hauz Plaza, the centre of Bukhara’s old town, home to a number of interesting madrassahs, and still used as a meeting and socialising spot by locals today.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Sasha & Son (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to train station: At the appropriate time today you will be transferred to the train station in time to board your onward train.

Train journey to Samarkand: Board the high-speed Afrosiab train to Samarkand. The train journey will take just under two hours.

Private transfer to your hotel: On arrival in Samarkand, you will be met at the station by a driver, and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Orient Star Samarkand (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Samarkand: After breakfast, your local guide will meet you at your hotel and take you out to explore Samarkand. Begin at the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the conqueror Tamerlane, but which was originally built for his grandson after the latter’s death at the turn of the 15th century. Continue to Registan Square, the central point of Samarkand and its most recognisable landmark for visitors. The square is framed on three sides by tall madrassahs, overlooking the empty space in between, which has been used as a public square and marketplace throughout its history. Next, visit the Bibi Khanum Mosque, which was originally built to be the largest mosque in the Islamic World. Much of it has been destroyed and partly rebuilt in the intervening years, but it remains an impressive structure and an important religious centre today. Just across from the mosque is the Siab Bazaar, where locals sell produce and spices. The Shah-i-Zinda Complex is a row of tombs and mausoleums, dating from the distant past up to more modern graves, and which is usually a cool and shady spot even on a hot day. Finish the tour with a visit to the Ulug Bek Observatory, built by Tamerlane’s grandson Ulug Bek, who was fascinated by the stars and the cosmos.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Orient Star Samarkand (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the railway station: At the appropriate time today, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the railway station in time to board your onward train

High-speed train to Tashkent: Board the high-speed Afrosiab train to Tashkent. The train journey will take around 2.5 hours.

Transfer to your hotel: On arrival in Tashkent, you will be met at the station by a driver, and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Praga Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport: At the appropriate time today, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight.

Flight: HY777  Tashkent - Bishkek  15:20 - 17:30

Private transfer to your hotel: On arrival in Bishkek, you will be met by a driver and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at B Hotel Bishkek (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of Bishkek: This morning your guide will take you on a short city tour of Bishkek. Visit Ala Too Square, the central square of the capital used for state events and celebrations, and see the monument to Manas, a Kyrgyz folk hero there. Continue to nearby Old Square, home to Government House and Lenin’s Monument. Finish at Victory Square, with its monument built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of WW2.

Afternoon visit to Ala Archa Canyon: This afternoon, head out for a trip to Ala Archa National Park, a scenic alpine park located about 40km south of Bishkek. The park gets its name from the archa, brightly coloured junipers, which are found all over the park, and which local people believe keep evil spirits away when burned. Enjoy some easy hiking in the national park before returning to Bishkek.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at B Hotel Bishkek (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Chon Kemin, via Burana Tower: After breakfast, check out of your hotel and set out on the one-hour drive to Burana Tower, near Tokmok. This UNESCO Heritage Site is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, and today is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important historical sites. It once stood at a height of 45m, but over the years it has been reduced by political upheaval and the natural elements, and today stands at 25m. After exploring the tower, continue on the road to Chon Kemin, a further journey of around 1.5 hours. On arrival, check into your hotel and settle in.

Afternoon optional activities: This afternoon, you can spend some time walking around the village of Kalmak Ashuu. Additional activities can be arranged, such as horseback riding, or learning how to set up a yurt, but there would be additional costs for these.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Ashu Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Transfer to Karakol, via Cholpon-Ata: After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and set out on the road towards Lake Issyk-Kul. After around two hours you will stop at the town of Cholpon-Ata, where you can visit the famous open-air petroglyphs museum. Afterwards, continue on the journey along the north shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. This is a very scenic journey, passing through beautiful scenery and lakeside settlements. Your final destination is Karakol.

Afternoon tour of Karakol: This afternoon, you will be taken on a guided tour of Karakol. Visit the Dungan Mosque, a rather unique mosque designed in the style of a Chinese pagoda, which was bult to serve Karakol’s community of Chinese Muslims. You will also visit the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the only active Russian Orthodox Church in Karakol and a very beautiful structure made almost entirely of wood.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Matsunoki Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Hiking around Karakol: Today, spend the day hiking around Karakol. You will be transferred a short distance to Djety Oguz Canyon, where you will start your walking. There are two options. The first is a gentle route along the canyon to the picturesque Valley of Flowers, and beyond. Along this route you will enjoy lovely views of surrounding mountains and alpine forest. This is a walk of around 5-6 hours, but is fairly easy without much uphill. The second option is to extend this with an additional two-hour walk to a waterfall. This walk is mostly uphill and is more challenging. You will return to your hotel in Karakol in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Matsunoki Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Bokonbaev Village, via Barskoon & Skazka Gorges: After breakfast, you will depart Karakol, and transfer first to Barskoon Gorge, along the south coast of Issyk-Kul Lake. This spectacular valley is home to an impressive chain of waterfalls, consisting of three large falls and several smaller ones.  The first large waterfall is fairly easily accessible, with a viewing platform only a short walk from the road, but then the path to the other two gets progressively steeper, so you can decide how far you want to go.

Afterwards, continue to Skazka Gorge, also known as ‘Fairy Tale Canyon’, with its other-worldly red rock landscape. From here you can see a beautiful panoramic view of Lake Issyk-Kul.

Continue on to Bokonbaev Village, where you will arrive in the late afternoon.

Afternoon eagle-hunting demonstration: After arriving in Bokonbaev, you will be taken to see a demonstration of the unique tradition of golden-eagle hunting. Meet an eagle hunter and his bird, and witness their teamwork in action. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Transfer to Bishkek: Bokonbaev Village is home to a number of artisans, and this morning you may be taken to visit a local women’s cooperative, set up to help local women gain valuable income from traditional handicrafts. Afterwards, depart Bokonbaev Village, and travel back to the capital Bishkek. This is a drive of around five hours.

Enroute you will stop at the small village of Kyzyl-Tuu, which is well-known as a key producer of yurts. Here you can meet some of the locals and see a demonstration of yurt construction.  

On arrival back in Bishkek, you will be taken to your hotel to check back in for a final evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at B Hotel Bishkek (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast