Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

Arrival to Tashkent international airport, meet and transfer to your hotel. Check in and overnight is at the hotel.

Today you will visit Independence Square, which is the main square of the country and was erected as a symbol of victory over fascism in World War II. Then you will have a chance to walk along the local Broadway, a walking street between Independence Square and Amir Timur Square. Furthermore, you can take a ride on the famous Tashkent metro, among the most beautiful subways in the world. The first line was opened in 1977. Then you will visit the old part of the city, which includes Chorsu Bazaar, Kukaldash Madrasah, and the Hast Imam complex, which consists of several madrasahs, mosques, and mausoleums. The highlight of its exhibits is the Othman Quran, which is the world’s oldest Quran copy, dating back to the 8th century. Later afternoon flight is to Bishkek. Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Night is in a hotel.

The first half of the day is dedicated to a guided Bishkek City Tour. The tour includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Сentral Ala-Too Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic and many others places of interest. After traditional lunch you transfer to Chon Kemin gorge. On route to the gorge you will visit Burana Tower (an 11th century minaret) and an open air museum of Balbals (stone warriors). After an interesting excursion and climbing on the top of the tower is transfer to Chon Kemin gorge. This night you will spend in a hotel.

Today you will be transferred to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 m above sea level). The lake is called “the pearl of Central Asia”. For more than 1 500 years local people considered the lake to be a sacred one. You can come up to the lake and to see mountains all around it. Today you will drive along the whole northern shore and arrive to Karakol town. Also we will visit today a place with ancient stone patterns – petroglyphs. In Karakol we will visit the Dungan mosque. It was built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. Night is in a hotel.

Today we will drive to Jeti Oguz gorge. It’s famous for its red rocks formations that have a name Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. Also you will see there the Broken Heart Mountain. If you want it is possible to go on a top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panorama view of the gorge. Then we continue our trip, breaking in Bokonbaeva village, where we will meet a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles. It is an ancient kind of hunting animals preserved from generation to generation. You will find out a lot of interesting facts about it. After this visit we will continue our way to Bishkek. Night is in a hotel.

Morning train is to Bukhara. Today you will have a full day of sightseeing tour in the fascinating city of Bukhara. At first you will visit the most ancient citadel in Bukhara dating back to the 4th century named Citadel Ark which served as a palace for several dynasties of Bukhara Empire. Then you will see Samanids mausoleum, a real masterpiece of architecture of 9th -10th century. Then the tour continues to Chashma Ayub, meaning Job’s well and Bolo-Hauz mosque, known also as the mosque of forty columns built in honor of Bukhara governor Abu-Fayud Khan. Then you have a chance to walk along the shopping domes and visit one of the most famous madrasahs of Bukhara called Nodir Divan Begi which is also a part of Lyabi House Ensemble, famous central sightseeing of Bukhara. The tour will end with visiting Poi Kalon complex, the unique sample of architectural art of Bukhara. It consists of three structures built in the 12th – 16th centuries: Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. Night is in a hotel.

After breakfast we will start our way to Samarkand. On the way, we will stop over at Gijduvan village to visit famous private pottery workshop. Gijduvan ceramics school has its deep roots. The skills have been passed from father to son from generation to generation. Today Gizhduvan is home for the sixth generation of potters from Narzullayevs family which glorified Gijduvan school ceramics all over the world. Gijduvan School of ceramics is distinguished by a geometric pattern. Green and blue colors prevail in decoration of products. Afterwards we continue driving to Samarkand. Night is in a hotel.

Samarkand is situated in the valley of the river Zerafshan. It is the second largest city in Uzbekistan and is of the same age as the cities of Babylon and Rome. Today you will visit its most outstanding sights, such as Registan Square, Shakhi-Zindeh, Mausoleum of Guri Emir and national bazaar. Registan Square, a complex of three fascinating Madrasahs dating back to the 15th and 17th centuries, is the main highlight of Samarkand and no one can stop admiring its beauty and majesty. The architectural complex of Shakhi-Zindeh represents a large collection of mausoleums dating back to the 11th–15th centuries, being a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After that, you can walk along the local Broadway, surrounded by souvenir shops, teahouses, sweets, and workshops. Overnight is at the hotel.

Today you will continue exploring Samarkand city. You will visit Ulughbek observatory, built in 15th century by Ulughbek, one of the most famous Samarkand rulers and scientists. Working in observatory, Ulughbek created in 1437 the “Zidji Guragoni” catalog, which had information about 1018 celestial bodies. Unfortunately, he was killed by order of his own son. After it you can walk along the local Broadway surrounded by souvenir shops, teahouses, sweets and workshops. Then you can visit national bazaar Siab, oriental bazaar, where it is easy to find Uzbek traditional handmade products and local sweets. Afternoon transfer to Tashkent is by train. Arrival and transfer to the airport.