| Day |
|
Itinerary: |
| 1 |
Wednesday |
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
Arrival in Bishkek. Meeting at the airport “Manas”, transfer to the hotel 3*. Rest.Sightseeing tour: visit Ala-Too square, Osh market Opera and Ballet Theatre, Fine ArtMuseum, World National Library and etc. Lunch and dinner in local restaurant. Accommodation in the hotel 3*. Meals: Breakfast |
| 2 |
Thursday |
Bishkek – Shamshy Gorge
Transfer to Shamshy Gorge (120 km 2 hrs). On the way visit cultural complex Burana Tower (X-XI cen.), a large minaret dated to the 10th century, a settlement on the Great Silk Road. Lunch in the Guest House. Afternoon hiking to the mountains or horseback riding. Dinner and accommodation in the Guest House. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| 3 |
Friday |
Shamshy Gorge – Issyk-Kul Lake
Transfer to Cholpon-Ata (180 km 3-4 hrs), along northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. Upon arrival visit Cultural Complex “Ruh Ordo” after name of Kyrgyz famous writer Chyngyz Aitmatov, Petroglyphs museum on open air. Rest on the shore of Issyk-Kul lake. Dinner in local restaurant in Cholpon-Ata. Accommodation in the Home Stay. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| 4 |
Saturday |
Issyk-Kul Lake – Karakol
After breakfast transfer to Karakol along northern side of Issyk-Kul Lake (140 km, 4 hrs). On the way excursion to Grigorievskoe Gorge by exiting from Semenovskoe Gorge (50 km, 1 hrs). Upon arrival to Karakol visit Prejevalskiy Museum. Afternoon visit Dungan mosque (built in 1910 years), Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (XVIIII cen.). Dinner and accommodation in the Family run home stay. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| 5 |
Sunday |
Karakol – Kochkor Transfer to Kochkor along southern shore of Issyk-Kul lake (275 km, 5-6 hrs). On the way excursion to Jety-Oguz Gorge, see seven red stone mountains and Broken Hurt mountains. Walking to waterfall in the Kok-Jaiyk summer pasture which is surrounded by coniferous forests. Continue excursion on the way and visit Skazka Gorge. Visit souvenir and handicraft shop and dinner in local family accompanied with Kyrgyz Traditional folklore in Kochkor. Accommodation in the Family runs home stay. Meals: Breakfast, dinner |
| 6 |
Monday |
Kochkor – Son-Kul lake Early transfer to Son-Kul Lake (120 km, 3 hrs). Lunch in Yurt Inn. Arrival to highest alpine Son-Kul Lake (3016 m) where you can see the ancient culture, tradition and customs of Kyrgyz nomad’s which is still alive today. Taste Kyrgyz national drink “Kymyz” (fermented mare’s milk). Dinner and accommodation in Yurt Inn. Optionally: Horse riding or hiking at the summer pasture. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| 7 |
Tuesday |
Son-Kul Lake – Tash-Rabat Transfer to Tash-Rabat Caravan Sarai via Betova and Kurtka Gorge (186 km, 4-5 hrs). Unforgettable mountain view is guaranteed on the way to Tash-Rabat. Tash-Rabat Caravan Sarai (X-XII century) served as a fortress for travelers along Great Silk Road. Lunch-box on the way. Upon arrival excursion to Caravansarai, see local tradition and customs. Dinner and accommodation in Yurt Inn, nomad’s traditional dwelling. Optional extra: Horseback riding. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| 8 |
Wednesday |
Son-Kul lake – Naryn Afternoon transfer to Naryn (145 km, 3,5 hrs) via beautiful view Kurtka pass. Naryn is a small town surrounded by Tien-Shan mountains. Excursion to Naryn State Natural Reserve where you can see deers that comes for the nutrition. On the way you will the German Swastika planted with coniferous trees on the mountain slope. Dinner and accommodation in familly run home stay. Meals: full board |
| 9 |
Thursday |
Naryn – Tash-RabatTransfer to Tash-Rabat (115 km, 3 hrs) towards the Chinese border. Visit Caravan Sarai Tash-Rabat (11th century) which was served as a fortress for travelers along Great Silk Road. Dinner and accommodation in Yurt Inn (Kyrgyz dwelling). Meals: full board |
| 10 |
Friday |
Tash-Rabat – Torugart – Kashgar (China)Early transfer to Torugart Pass (115km, 3 hrs). Meet with the Chinese travel agency at the Kyrgyz-Chinese border post and then transfer further until arriving at the Chinese Customs. It takes about one hour to finish all the Custom Checking and then continue your driving until you arrive at Kashgar. Check in the Yambu Hotel 3*. The distance today is about 200 km and the road condition is OK for bus driving. The road from the Checking post to Kashgar is quite well. All the journey from the border to Kashgar takes about 7 hours Meals: breakfast, lunch-box. |
| 11 |
Saturday |
Kashgar – Karakul lake.Transfer to Chinese Pamir Plateau to reach Karakul lake along Karakorum Highway (200 km, 5 hours). Karakul lake is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau (3600 m), situated near the junction of the Pamir, Tien-Shan and Kunlun Mountain ranges. It is surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the tree highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztag-Ata (7546m), Kongur Tagh (7 649m) and Kongur Tiube (7530m). The lake is popular among travelers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. Back to Kashgar. Distance in this day is 400 km. Accommodation in the Yambu Hotel 3*. Meals: breakfast, lunch. |
| 12 |
Sunday |
Sunday market in KashgarVisit Sunday market in Kashgar. The Sunday Bazaar is believed to be the largest outdoor market of animals and goods in the world, where you can find cattle, sheep, goats and camels – all in a fairly small, walled-in area. When you are in the midst of all this, you may feel like you have stepped back in time several hundred years. Accommodation in the Yambu Hotel 3*. Meals: breakfast, lunch. |
| 13 |
Monday |
Kashgar – Urumqi – TurfanAfter breakfast transfer to the airport and fly to Urumqi by morning flight. Meeting at the airport and transfer to Turfan city directly. Driving takes about 3 hours to get this ancient town. Check in the hotel 4*. Start your sightseeing after lunch: visit splendid ancient irrigation system – Karen Wells, Jiaohe, another city ruin which was built in Tang Dynasty. Enjoy local folk singing and dancing performance under the beautiful grape trellis. Accommodation in the hotel 4*. Meals: breakfast, lunch |
| 14 |
Tuesday |
Turfan – UrumqiContinue tour in Urumqi: visit the Gaochang ancient city ruin, Astana tombs underground, Bezilik Budda Caves. Stop at Grape valley and have relaxing lunch in local restaurant with green grape vines. Afternoon visit the Imi Tower Grand Mosque. Back to Urumqi by bus. Accommodation in the hotel 4*. Meals: breakfast, lunch. |
| 15 |
Wednesday |
UrumqiRelaxing day and city tour: visit Red Hill Park. As a symbol of Urumqi, Red Hill Park is unique for making up of red dish-brown rocks. At the top of the hill stands 8-meterhigh pagoda with nine stories called “Zhenlong pagoda”. Tourists can get a bird view of the whole city of Urumqi on the top of Rd Hill. After visit the province Historical Museum where you can see cultural objects, relicts excavated on the Silk Road and over 10 mummies founded in the vast desert… Relaxing walk in the Minority streets where you might do some shopping. Banquet dinner in the Grand Xinjiang International Baazar. After all, walking in the Night Food Baazar. Accommodation in the hotel 4*. Meals: breakfast, lunch-box, dinner. |
| 16 |
Thursday |
Urumqi – AirportBreakfast. Transfer to the airport and flight |
