Description
Description:During Silk Road Tour in Central Asia you will have opportunity to visit ancient cities flourished when caravans carrying goods from East to West and back passed through these cities and brought wealth to their inhabitants. In Kyrgyzstan you can enjoy the beauty of Central Tien-Shan mountains and see cultural complex situated on Great Silk Road passed through Kyrgyzstan. The Chinese part consists of visiting ancient cities of Kashgar and high mountain lake Karakul. The final stage of the tour passes through Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand – the biggest historical centers of Uzbekistan.
Program:
| Day | Itinerary: | |
| 1 | Sunday | 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 Art Museum, World National Library and etc. Lunch and dinner in local restaurant. Accommodation in the hotel 3*. Meals: Breakfast |
| 2 | Monday | Bishkek – Issyk-Kul lake Transfer Cholpon-Ata (260km 4-5 hrs). On the way visit cultural complex Burana Tower (X-XI cen.). Visit Cultural Complex “Ruh Ordo”, 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, dinner |
| 3 | Tuesday | Issyk-Kul lake – Son-Kul lake Transfer to Son-Kul Lake (254 km, 5-6 hrs) via Kochor village. On the way visit souvenir and handicraft shop in Kochkor village. As option: Folklore show and see manufacture of felt carpet in Kochkor. Afternoon arrival to Son-Kul Lake, one of the highest lakes in Kyrgyzstan (3016m), the place where tourists can experience nomadic life and taste Kyrgyz national drink “Kymyz” (fermented mare’s milk). See local nomad’s tradition and customs, ride horses or hike in the mountain. Dinner and accommodation in Yurt Inn (Kyrgyz dwelling). Meals: full board |
| 4 | 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. Dinner and accommodation in familly run home stay. Meals: full board |
| 5 | Thursday | Naryn – Tash-Rabat Transfer 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 |
| 6 | 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. Drive to Kashgar (200 km, 6-7 hrs). Lunch-box. Check-in the Tian Yuan Hotel 4*. Meals: lunch-box. |
| 7 | Saturday | Kashgar Tour around Kashgar. Visit the Abahjia Tombs, Aitigar Mosque, Hat Market and the Handy crafts Lanes. Visit local family and share local lunch with this family. Accommodation in the Tian Yuan Hotel 4*. Meals: full board |
| 8 | Sunday | Sunday market in Kashgar Visit 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 Tian Yuan Hotel 4*. Meals: breakfast, lunch. |
| 9 | Monday | Kashgar – Karakul lakeTransfer 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. Accommodation in the Tian Yuan Hotel 4*. Meals: breakfast, lunch. |
| 10 | Tuesday | Kashgar – Irkeshtam-Sary-Tash (Kyrgyzstan)Transfer to Kyrgyz-Chinese border post “Irkestam” (200 km, 5 hrs). The view is amazing with the Pamir mountain range covered with permanent snow and glaciers on the right-hand side with summer pastures. Cross the border and transfer to SaryTash village. Dinner and accommodation in the family run home stay. Meals: breakfast, lunch-box, dinner. |
| 11 | Wednesday | Osh-Sary-TashTransfer to Osh (180 km, 3-4 hrs) via Taldyk Pass (3615 m). The scenery along this way is changeable with tree lined mountain slopes, red stoned mountains, small rivers. Up on arrival city tour in Osh. Visit Suleiman-Too (Solomon’s Mountain), museum, Osh bazaar – this market locates at the same place as in the times of Great Silk Road, the main square and Russian Orthodox cathedral. As legends say Osh was founded by King Solomon ages and had an important position on trading routes of Great Silk Road. Accommodation in Home Stay. Meals: breakfast |
| 12 | Thursday | Osh – Tashkent (Uzbekistan)Transfer to Kyrgyz-Uzbek border “Dostuk”, cross the border and meet with Uzbek travel agency and transfer to Tashkent (390 km, 6-7 hrs). Tashkent is the cosmopolitan city in the heart of Central Asia, the crossroad of different cultures. Upon arrival Check in to hotel, time to rest. Accommodation in the hotel 3*. Meals: breakfast |
| 13 | Friday | Tashkent – BukharaTransfer to domestic airport for the flight to Bukhara as per timetable. Upon arrival transfer to old city for tour. Bukhara is known as Central Asia’s most ancient living city, as Morocco in the Middle East, explore gems of Islamic Monumental heritage in Central Asia: Citadel Ark, Bolo Khauz ChashmaAyub Mausoleum in city park area. The “pearl of the east” The Samanid Mausoleum – family tomb of the Samanid Dynasty; Kalon Mosque; Kalon Minaret; Mir Arab Madrasah; Toki Zargaron – cupola of jewelers, Abdulla khan Tim – a center of silk trade; Toki TelpakFurushon – cupola of the hat sellers; Toki Sarrafon – cupola of moneychangers; MagokiAttor Mosque one of the oldest Mosques in Central Asia; LyabiKhauz in the heart of the city; Check in to the hotel. Time free at leisure. Accommodation in the hotel 3*. Meals: breakfast. |
| 14 | Saturday | Bukhara – SamarkandContinue exploring outskirts of Bukhara: – Summer Palace of Last Rulers of Bukhara Emirate; – BahautdinNakshband Complex, pilgrimage site for Muslims. Return back to old city and free time for shopping. Depart to Samarkand crossing the countryside. On the way stop in Gizjduvan, one of the center for ceramics in Central Asia, to learn more about local pottery and it’s unique colors. Later photo stop at 12th c Caravanserai and Sardoba visit. Arrive to Samarkand and check in to hotel. Time free at leisure. Accommodation in the hotel 3*. Meals: breakfast |
| 15 | Sunday | SamarkandStart city tour in Samarkand, the former capital of the Great Empire of Tamerlane, the place which attracted Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, and other thousand visitors around the world. Visit: Gur-Emir mausoleum, Registan Square consisting of Ulugbek Madrassah, SherdorMadrassah and Tilla-Kari Madrassah. Museum of Ulugbek’s observatory Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Bibi-Khanum Mosque Siyab bazaar; Amir Temur Statue and Abramov Boulevard; Mausoleum of Saint Daniel; Accommodation in the hotel 3*. Meals: breakfast |
| 16 | Monday | Samarkand – TashkentDepart to Tashkent by road, 320km 5hrs. Arrive Tashkent and start city tour of Capital of Uzbekistan. Visit: Khazrat Imam complex; Barak Khan Madrasah, Tillya Sheikh Mosque; Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Museum of Islamic Books with 7th c Koran of Caliph Othman; Independence Square; Memorial of Victory; Amir Temur Square; Transfer to International Airport for the flight to next destination. |
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