Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan

Almaty. Arrival to the airport of Almaty and transfer to the hotel. Today we will have a city tour around Almaty. Visit Panfilov Park – named after the 28 heroes, who died for freedom and independence of the country. Zenkov Cathedral - the oldest building of the city, that is entirely wooden, built without any metal nails and a Memorial complex with eternal flame devoted to the World War Two. Continue sightseeing at Green bazaar – a place where you can buy souvenirs, central Moslem mosque, Republic Square with three main symbols of Kazakhstan and Obelisk devoted to the independence.

After the city tour, drive to Medeo Gorge. Stop at the huge Medeo dam, that protects the city from destructive mudflows formed on the tops of the western Tian Shan mountains. From the top of the dam, at the altitude of 1733 meters above the sea level, enjoy the view of the largest high mountain skating rink in the world – Medeo, surrounded by marvelous mountains of Trans-Ili Alatau. After that visit the top of Kok-Tube hill, where you can enjoy unforgettable panorama of Almaty from the observation desk. At the foot of the tallest TV tower in Kazakhstan you can take a walk along the winding paths of the Kok-Tube park, where you will come across "The Beatles" monument devoted to the popular Liverpool band. At the end of the tour, take a short ride from the hill to the city center by the cable car. Dinner and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in 4* hotel, meals are on your own.

Saturday. Almaty – Charyn canyon - Karakol. This day we will drive to Charyn canyon. Charyn Canyon is a unique natural monument, stretching for 154km along the banks of Charyn river to the east from Almaty. It consists out of sedimentary rocks which are about 12 million years old. The height of canyon walls can be up to 300 meters. The most interesting tourist place is Valley of Castles, curvy 2-km path through the bottom of canyon will lead you along picturesque mountains, red cliffs and rocks. Walk in the canyons and drive to the border Kegen, and cross the border to Kyrgyzstan. Continue driving through Karkara gorge with stunning views. Arrival to Karakol town for overnight in the hotel.

Option 2. Saturda. Kolsay and Kaindy lakes - Karakol Kolsay lakes is the system of 3 picturesque lakes which are located 330km south from Almaty on the altitude of 1800, 2250 and 2700 respectively. Area is interesting in its geological landscape and availability of rare plants and tranquil untouched nature. Kolsay lakes are often called the Pearls of Northern Tian-Shan. The sunken forest of lake Kaindy is a stunning view to behold and a lovely place to relax for a picnic when going east from Almaty. In 1911, an earthquake triggered a large landslide, which formed a natural dam on the slopes of the Kungey Alatau range outside of Almaty. The imposing shrank spruce trees that previously formed a forest there, were now suddenly submerged in the lake that was born from the landslide.

Walking in the surroundings and drive to the border Kegen and cross to Kyrgyzstan. Continue driving through Karkara gorge with stunning views. Arrival to Karakol town for overnight in the hotel. Accommodation in 3* hotel, meals - breakfast, lunch (picnic).

Sunday. Karakol town – Djety-Oguz gorge. After breakfast we will have a city tour with visiting wooden Russian Orthodox Church and Dungan Mosque (XIX century) and local bazaar. Also, if you have a desire you may visit the museum of Prjevalsky, the explorer. Drive to Djeti-Oguz by the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. The gorge is located in 60 km to the west of Karakol on the northern slopes of Terskey-Ala-Too. This is one of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan. For 25 km on both sides of the gorge the fir trees are growing at first merging into small groups and then turning into huge forest mass. The gorge finally becomes a wide Kok-Djayik valley which is totally covered by fir forests up to the very top of the ridge. Over the forest zone (about 3000 m) in the wide valley of about 15 km there are amazing subalpine and alpine meadows called Djailoo. During the spring and the summer Djeti-Oguz gorge turns into a kind of flower holiday, among which you may see the silver stars of Edelweiss flowers, alpine daisies and asters, and nard (golden root). In the autumn the gorge excites with colorful canvas as it’s covered not only by coniferous forests but also by the leaf trees.

In the gorge we will have a horse riding to the waterfall and see the enormous stone creations called 7 bulls and Broken heart. We will have lunch in a yurt and hike to the beautiful waterfall. Dinner in yurt and overnight in Marco-Polo hotel. Accommodation in 3* hotel, meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Moday. Djety-Oguz gorge – Kadji-Sai village. In the morning we will enjoy the view of Terskey-Ala-Too ridge and after breakfast will continue our way. Southern shore is more picturesque than its northern brother. Though main hotels, night clubs and restaurants are on the north shore, south side has preserved virgin beauty. We will see the amazing change of landscapes like in kaleidoscope. The first place we will visit today is Barskoon gorge known for its waterfalls and the Arabel pass from where you may get to the glaciers and beautiful mountain platos.

We will drive to the Fairy Tale gorge. The whole originality of the place is the frozen in bizarre forms colorful rocks, like after the eruption. Solid clusters made of limestone and sandstone are bulging from the colorful soil and the place looks like the ruins of ancient castles.

The most surprising is that the architect and sculptor of the place is the nature that used only water, sun and wind as instruments. Besides the fancy castles and fairy figures there, the structures can also be considered as many-domed churches, and crenellated walls with loopholes; for example - Sandy fence, which is very much like a «Chinese wall», stretching for several kilometers along the southern shore of Lake Issyk- Kul. Drive to Kadji-Sai village. Overnight in a small hotel, meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Tuesday. Kadji-Sai village - Chong-Kemin Gorge. Today we will be transferred to the village of Bokonbaevo. In the village we will visit the house of an eagle hunter and see the eagles, get information about eagle hunting and have an opportunity to hold them in hands. We may also visit the local felt factory.

Transfer the Chong-Kemin Gorge. Arrival to Chong-Kemin gorge. Kemin Natural Park is situated on the territory of 500 hectares, in high-water bed below Shabdan Village. It is used for protection of pheasant and hares. In the gorge there is an opportunity to ride a horse in the forest. Dinner and overnight in a guest house, meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Wednesday. Chon-Kemin gorge - Bishkek. In the morning you will drive to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek. On the route you may visit historical architectural complex of Burana Tower (XI century). On arrival you will be accommodated in a hotel and have a city tour with visiting main Ala-Too square with the guards taking off their posts to colleagues, victory square with the central market, old square with the statue of Lenin, Manas complex and if the time allows the local colorful bazaar. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Accommodation in 4* hotel, meals - breakfast, lunch.

Thursday: Bishkek – Tashkent (HY 780 21:00-21:20). Free day to explore the city and rest at the hotel. In the evening you will have the transfer to the airport for your flight to Tashkent. Overnight at a boutique hotel. meals - breakfast.

Friday: Tashkent . Tashkent is one of the oldest and largest cities in Central Asia, the Uzbek capital since 1930, and very much a showpiece of Soviet and post-soviet architecture. Afternoon we start exploring the capital by going back in time - to visit the old town: Barak Khana Seminary, TilaShaikh mosque and their archives, known for a rare copy of the Koran written by the third Caliph Osman. Later we will continue to Chorsu bazaar, the oldest market in Tashkent and Kukeldash Madrassah. Overnight at a boutique hotel. meals - breakfast.

Saturday: Tashkent – Bukhara / Afrosiab train 07:30-11:20. Morning transfer to the railway station for the train to Bukhara. On arrival transfer to hotel. Check in. Full day sightseeing in Bukhara: Visit – Lab-i-khauz ensemble, the pool and chaikhana of which is the modern centre of traditional Uzbekistan. Visit Madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga, Mogaki Attari mosque, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque, See Madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek.Visit Hunarmand UNDP Assisted workshops near Lyabikhauz. We see block printing, metal chasing, suzani embroidery, carving and miniature painting. Gold Embroidery. Later visit Ark Fortress, Balakhauz mosque, mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, Chashma Ayub. Overnight at a boutique hotel. meals - breakfast.

Sunday: Bukhara. After breakfast half day sightseeing tour in Bukhara: Morning half day excursion to 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. Famous thrown white hall decorated with carved alabaster resembles halls in Petergof Palace in the suburb of St Petersburg. Excursion to Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausolem famous Sufi spiritual leader of this region in 14th century. Bahouddin Naqshband's cult was highly venerated among folks. The rulers, too, paid a considerable attention to this architectural ensemble. Later drive back to Bukhara. Some free time will be provided for tour own exploration. Overnight at a boutique hotel. meals - breakfast.

Monday: Bukhara – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand (368 km). Morning drive to Samarkand, excursion to Shakhrisabz - the birthplace of the Great Amir Temur. Visit: Ak Saroy Palace ruins, Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque Continue on to Samarkand with a visit to a family of carpet weavers in a small village on the route. Upon arrival check in at your pre booked Hotel. Overnight at a boutique hotel. meals - breakfast.

Tuesday: Samarkand. Full day city tour of Samarkand, one of the places to visit: Registan Square which was for many centuries the heart of Samarkand. The word «registan» means «a sandy place», and is derived from the sand left behind after a river running through the region had dried up. See the three beautiful madrassahs: the Ulug-Bek Madrasah built in the fifteenth century; the Tillya-Kori Madrasah built in the seventeenth century; the Sher-Dor Madrasah, also built in the seventeenth century. Visit Gur Emir - another famous point of interest on the tour of Central Asia and of Uzbekistan. The name means «Tomb of the King», and this is the mausoleum of the Asian conqueror Tamerlane and his descendants.

Later see the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times - the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum, the Silk Road bazar nearby. Also visit the Shahi Zinda necropolis. We will also visit wine testing centre at the Central Asia's oldest Hovrenko winery to taste genuine Samarkand wines and brandies. The winery is among one of the outstanding sites of Samarkand. Overnight at a boutique hotel. meals - breakfast.

Wednesday: Samarkand – Tashkent by “Afrosiab” train 17:30-19:50. Another exploration day in Samarkand Morning drive to Konigil village (10 km from Samarkand) to visit a paper-making workshop. For a long time, Samarkand has been famous as a center of a high-quality paper manufacture. In the workshop of a talented master you will see how the rind of the mulberry tree turns into a paper. Return to Samarkand and visit the Shahi Zinda necropolis.

Continue our tour with a visit of excavations and museum of the ancient city Afrosiab and Ulugbek’s observatory located in the entrance to Samarkand. Among historical monuments of Samarkand observatory takes particular place, constructed by Ulugbek (Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Late afternoon transfer to the railway station to catch your train to Tashkent. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at a boutique hotel. meals - breakfast.

Thursday: Tashkent – departure flight. Morning transfer to the airport for your departure flight home (Breakfast / - / -). End of the program.