Central Asia Culture Tour- 1

Breakfast at the hotel.

11:00 Start sightseeing around Almaty:

- Panfilov Park. The name of the Panfilov Park comes after the heroes of Panfilov. There is a big monument in commemoration of the heroic actions made by 28 Almaty Soldiers who died in 1941 near Moscow.

- Zenkov Cathedral. Zenkov Wooden Cathedral is one of the eight unique wooden buildings in the world. It is one of the few buildings to survive the 1911 earthquake, despite the fact that it is built entirely of wood and constructed without nails;

- National Musical Instruments Museum. In the Museum of Musical Instruments, one can find various national musical instruments.

- Kok tobe cableway.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Charyn Canyon. Sightseeing in the "Valley of Castles".

Charyn Canyon is a natural complex, unique in its kind, not only in Kazakhstan but also worldwide. It was formed during the Paleogene and resembles the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in North America, although it is inferior to it in size. The height of the steep slopes of the canyon is up to 150-300 meters. Extraordinary dissection of the terrain is striking: the numerous ravines form a dense, chaotic network. Wind and water have created the beautiful "Valley of Castles", where you are always surrounded by the fancy towers composed of sedimentary rocks. The length of the valley is more than 2 km, and the width is 20-80 meters. For millions of years, nature has been creating a unique architecture, erecting magnificent castles carefully and slowly.

Transfer to Kolsai Lakes, easy hiking near Kolsai Lake 1 (1800 m above sea level).

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00  Transfer to one of the most beautiful places in Kazakhstan, Kaindy Gorge.

- Kaindy Lake (Birch Lake) is situated among magnificent pine forests at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and is famous for its origin. It was formed in 1911 due to a powerful earthquake that triggered a landslide that blocked the valley with a natural dam, and the water flooded the valley. The water of the lake is very cold, which is why the needles of the flooded trees are well-preserved and clearly visible through the transparent surface of the water. Dry stems of fir trees overlook the water surface, like the masts of submarines; this pristine place is charming with its mystical splendor.

Transfer to the Kegen-Karjyra border; border-passing formalities usually take 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Continue transfer to Karakol. Arrival in the evening.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the yurt camp. 

09:00 Transfer to Bishkek with nature sightseeing en-route:

- Skazka Canyon and enjoy an easy hike among the impressive colorful red rocks.

- Eagle show in Bokonbayevo (traditional eagle hunting). 

- Burana Tower was the vertical dominant of the ancient city Balasagun, the north capital of the Turkic lingual state of the Karakhanids and the small nearby museum with its collection of ancient bal-bals, carved stone figures used as monuments. 

Arrival in Bishkek. Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start sightseeing in Bishkek visiting:

- Ala Archa Natural Park (~35 km from Bishkek, ~ 40min)

Take an easy walk high up to observe the view of mountains and gorges.

- Oak Park in the city center. It is known also as Dubovy Park - today it is one of the favorite places among locals and tourists in Bishkek. 

- Ala - Too Square is the central square in Bishkek. It serves as a place for state events and celebrations. Philharmonic hall – situated at the top of Rose Alley.

- Statue of Manas legendary Kyrgyz hero- the centerpiece of Kyrgyz literature.

- Victory Square, where in the centre you can see the Victory monument, a memorial which was completed in 1984. Usually, the main festival events are held in Bishkek at eternal flame, on Victory Square with a guard of honor.

15:40 Transfer to Manas International Airport.

18:50 Departure flight Bishkek – Tashkent by HY 778.

19:10 Arrival in Tashkent International Airport. 

Migration formalities usually take 30 to 60 min: passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal, driver meets with “ANUR TOUR” sign. Transfer to hotel. Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel 

06:30 Transfer to Tashkent Airport/ Terminal 3 of domestic airlines.

07:28 Departure for Bukhara by morning flight. 

08:55 Arrival in Bukhara. Come out of the terminal and meet the driver.

Transfer to the hotel to drop off the bags and meet the guide at the lobby.

Start the WALKING sightseeing program in Bukhara (5 hours):

- Ensemble Lyabi Hauz (Nadir Divanbegi Madrassa, Khanaka, Kukeldash Madrassa, and the monument of Khodja Nasreddin);

- Magoki Attari Mosque is one of the oldest mosques to survive in Bukhara from the time before the Mongolian invasion;

- Abdullakhan’s Tim with numerous handicraft shops of souvenirs, ceramics, national clothes, and carpets;

- Caravanserai Sayfuddin (the Center of Handicraft Development of Bukhara);

- There are three trading domes, or so-called covered bazaars, Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon, and Toki Zargaron, preserved from the 16th century, and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry, and money exchange. Today as well, one can enjoy and purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets;

- Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so-called Kosh (pair) madrassas, opposite each other with the distinctive style of facade ornamental decoration;

- Poi Kalon Square with Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Mir Arab Madrassa – the heart of Bukhara, a monumental complex that impresses the imagination;

- Ark Fortress – the oldest citadel, dating back to the 1st century BC, where one can feel the history of the great fortress covered in beautiful legends and myths.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide. Continue the sightseeing program in Samarkand, visiting (5-6 hrs):

– Shahi Zinda Necropolis – a unique complex of mausoleums on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) of Abbas ibn-Kussam;

– Paper factory "Meros”  in Konigil village that produces unique paper that can be preserved for more than and is used in craftworks.

11:00 Bread baking masterclass and tea break.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

– Ulugbek’s Observatory – one of the finest astronomical centers in the medieval world—was built by order of Ulugbek, an outstanding scholar and astronomer;

– Khoja Doniyor Mausoleum - the mausoleum over the grave of one of the saints. According to legend dating back to the 18th century, the ashes of the Old Testament biblical prophet Daniyar (Daniel) are buried in the mausoleum, the remains of which were brought to Samarkand and buried by order of Amir Timur.

Gala dinner in a local restaurant.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to the border Jartepa. Border crossing ( visa/ passport control usually takes 30 min- 1,5 hr).

Meet the guide and driver at the Tajikistan part of the border.

Take an off-road trip to pristine lakes located in the Fann Mountains; locals call the lakes Haftkul ( Seven Lakes) or Marguzor, after the name of the largest and most beautiful lake. 

 Every lake has its own name:  Nezhigon  (or Mizhgon),  Soybean, Gushor,  Nofin,  Hurdak,  Marguzor,  Hazorchashma. Six of the lakes are of dammed origin, besides Lake Hazorchashma.

The difference in level between the upper and lower lakes is 692 meters

Please note there are some shaky/ bumpy parts of the road; there is a mountainous, narrow track with photo stops.

Lunch at the guesthouse ( traditional meals).

Transfer to Penjikent.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Khujand via Istaravshan town, 78 km southwest of Khujand.

 Istaravshan is one of the most ancient cities of Tajikistan (more than 2500 years old). Its ancient name Cyropolis was founded by Cyrus the Great in 544 BC as a border fort of the Achaemenid Empire. Overview of sightseeing in Istaravshan:

- Mazori Sharif mausoleum;

- Kog Gumbaz madrasa (16th century);

- Kuhi Mug, the ruins of the ancient fortress.

Arrival in Khujand; check in at the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to the border "Patar Andarxan" (135 km - 2 hours). Border crossing takes about 30 min-1 hr,

Meet the driver on the Uzbekistan side of the border.

Transfer to Kokand and meet the guide.

Kokand (mentioned as Khavakand or Kokan, derived from a tribal name) is an ancient city that, due to its favorable location, was one of the convenient fortified points of caravan routes on the Great Silk Road.

Nowadays, Kokand is a modern town at the crossroads of Tashkent, the Fergana Valley, Andijan, and the other route to Khujand (Tajikistan) and is considered one of the most important pre-border points.

Start a sightseeing tour around Kokand, visiting:

- Khudoyar-Khan Palace of the 19th century is listed in the world heritage of UNESCO, at present days houses Kokand Regional History Museum, that exibits a unique collection of more than 3000 artefacts from the ancient, khanate, and tsarist periods of the region.

- Norbut-Biy Madrassah, the largest madrassa in Kokand. The madrassa was built in the XVIII century by captured architects as well as the famous Bukharian architect Usto Muhammed Salih Kasim, so the design and construction are quite typical of some monuments of the XVIII Century in  Bukhara.

- Modari Khan Mausoleum (Modari-khan means "Mother of Khan”)  was built in 1825 by order of the widow of Umarkhan,  famous poetess Nodira, to honor the tomb of her mother-in-law. Since then, the mausoleum has become the family mausoleum where most of the female members of the Khan family were buried.

- Rishton (50 km west of Fergana) is famous all over the world for its pottery that is decorated according to ancient tradition that is more than 800 years. Masters hand down their trade secrets from father to son. The unique red clay ceramic masterpieces are decorated with naturally made ultramarine, turquoise, and azure ornaments known as blue glaze "ishkor",

- Workshop of the famous potter Rustam Umarov, where visitors are welcome to observe the finest Rishtan ceramics in wonderful handmade and painted tea sets and lagans and beautifully decorated jugs and vases.

Transfer to Fergana.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby. Transfer to Fergana with sightseeing en route.

- Rishton (50 km west of Fergana) is famous all over the world for its pottery that is decorated according to the ancient tradition that is more than 800 years old. Masters hand down their trade secrets from father to son. The unique red clay ceramic masterpieces are decorated with naturally made ultramarine, turquoise, and azure ornaments known as blue glaze "ishkor",

- Workshop of the famous potter Rustam Umarov, where visitors are welcome to observe the finest Rishtan ceramics in wonderful handmade and painted tea sets, lagans, and beautifully decorated jugs and vases.

Master class on painting ceramics and lunch in the master's house.

Transfer to Fergana

- Fergana  is a relatively young city that was founded as a strategic fortified point in Turkestan in 1876 during the tsarist period of the region. The town was initially called New Margilan and, later, in the Soviet period, renamed as Fergona in 1924. Nowadays, Fergana is a flourishing, beautiful town, and despite its young history, it has become the central point of the Fergana Valley.

- Visit Ahmad Al-Fargoni monumental complex and the Regional Museum of Fergana.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Meet the guide at the lobby. Transfer to Margilan

- Margilan (“Marg” from Persian green grass, “lon”- “place“) was an inhabited settlement in the Fergana Valley since the 4th-3rd centuries BC. The town was well known for its crafts and finest silk fabrics from the Great Silk Road period up to now.

- Said-Ahmad Hodji Madrassah , where craftsmen produce original silk carpets,

- Silk workshop of Sobirjon aka, where visitors are welcome to observe the process of silk manufacture with traditional decoration “ikat”.

15:00 Transfer to the railway station in Margilan.

16:03 Departure for Tashkent by train "O'zbekistan".

21:17 Arrival in Tashkent.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver. Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

10:00 Meet the guide at the hotel. Transfer to Centre of Islamic Civilization.

It is suggested to be at the complex about 20 – 15 min before the start.

- 11:00 Start excursion with audio guide in Centre of Islamic Civilization – the unique complex that is listed in the Guinness World Records as the largest complex devoted to the Islamic civilization.

The Centre presents the historical connection of pre-islamic history, the cultural value of Islam religion in the history and science renaissance, and the ways how islam became the uniting source for weaving traditions into modern tendencies and innovative development of the region. The complex exhibits precious artefacts, the unique items of household, historical costumes and applied arts, the wall of history, informative panels, so-called “time-capsules” and the key sight is the Holy Koran Book of the VII century (original Quran Othman). 

A standard visit to the complex with audio guide takes about 2 hrs, the audio excursions are arranged in Uzbek, Russian and English languages. Please note it is highly recommended to book the entrance tickets in advance.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four waters”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of the old city in the bazaar.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Take-away breakfast/ Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

Morning departure flight from Tashkent.

End of the tour