Incredible Stans

Tour 3: Incredible “Stans”
Duration: 14 days
Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
In short: Almaty – Issyk – Almaty – Bishkek – Burana – Issyk Kul northern shore – Karakol – Jeti Oguz – Issyk Kul southern shore – Bishkek – Osh – Guliston – Khudjand – Iskanderkul Lake – Penjakent – Jartepo – Samarkand – Bukhara – Tashkent

Day 1: Almaty
Guide will meet and accompany you for sightseeing in central part of Almaty, where you learn a lot of the history and development the city and see its main sights. At first you will visit place that is popular among local people – Green Bazaar. Plunge into atmosphere of this place you won’t stop yourself for bargain. Here you can find real eastern market with its colors, smells and crowds. Then you will visit Panfilov Park one of the oldest in Almaty, where the most amazing building is situated - Zenkov Cathedral. We will continue our tour and visit the Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame, built in the memory for those who died for freedom and independence of the country. After knowing about different areas of the city you will transferred to the Medeo Gorge, very famous for to the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam that  protect the city from dangerous mudflows. Your next sight to visit is located on the tallest TV tower in the world - Kok-Tobe hill. To get here you need drive via winding mountain road. With the short ride on the popular Almaty cableway your tour for today ends. Night is in the hotel. 

Day 2: Almaty – Issyk – Almaty
Today you will visit the most popular place of Trans-Ili Alatau - Issyk Gorge that lays along the Kuldja tract. Here hundreds of years passed the trade caravans. In your drive you will learn more about history of this region and see the burial mounds of Sakas period, where the "Golden Man" was found. Subsequently he became the state symbol of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Then you will have excursion at the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “ISSYK”, where you will see the expositions dedicated to the history and culture of the Sakas period, including a copy of Golden Man and golden items, ancient ceramics, weapon, elements of horse equipment, as well as the model of Sakas burial mound. You will continue your tour to Issyk Lake, which altitude is 1756 meters above sea level. It appeared due to mudslide that made natural dam of 300 meters in height. You will be stunned to the beauty of the surface of the lake. You will hear details of the natural disaster of 1963. Also at the lake you will have a picnic and free time for enjoying nature. Night is in the hotel. 

Day 3: Almaty – Bishkek
You will be met and transferred to Bishkek. It is the largest city and the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is situated at about 800 meters high near the northern range of the Kyrgyz Ala Too range. This range is an extension of the Tian Shan Mountains that rises to 4,855 meters high and provides a spectacular backgroud to the city. Your whole day will be dedicated to visit such amazing attractions in Bishkek as: Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, the National Arts Museum, National Philharmonic, and many other places of interest. Night is in a hotel.   

Day 4: Bishkek – Burana – Issyk Kul northern shore
Today you will drive to Issyk Kul Lake. It is alpine lake encircled by mountains with the elevation of 1608 m. above sea level high. Issyk Kul Lake is the second largest Lake in the world well known as "the pearl of Central Asia". It doesn’t freeze and has curative qualities. But before, you will visit Burana Tower of 11th century and an open air museum of Balbals or stone warriors. You can go to the top of this minaret to see the same view that Silk Road travelers saw themselves. Burana Tower was like a lighthouse at the Great Silk Road to let travelers know there was a city and place to have a rest.  Your night is in a hotel. 

Day 5: Issyk Kul Lake – Karakol
In the morning we will drive to Karakol city. On the way you will visit ancient stone inscription – petroglyphs of the 800 B.C. Shamans made them 2 000 years ago. Continue our drive at the northern shore of the lake to Karakol. There you will see the Dungan mosque that was built in Chinese style without using metal nails. Furthermore you will visit to an old wooden Orthodox Church. Overnight is in a guesthouse. 

Day 6: Karakol – Jeti Oguz – Issyk Kul southern shore – Bishkek
Today your destination is Jeti Oguz gorge.  Jeti Oguz or Seven Bulls is well known due to its red rock formation. Broken Heart Mountain is also seen here.In addition you can climb to the top of the mountain that will take 20 minutes to do. There you will be able to see a panoramic view of the gorge. After this you will have stop at the Bokonbaeva village, where you can see local eagle hunter. He uses traditional way of hunting by using eagles for it. He can hunt hares and foxes. This way of hunting passes from generation to generation. You will know a lot of interesting facts about it. After this visit we will continue our way to Bishkek. Night is in a hotel.           

Day 7: Bishkek – Osh – Guliston – Khudjand
Morning flight from Bishkek to Osh. There you will have excursion in the very popular and sacred place among Muslim pilgrims – Suleiman Mountain or Solomon’s Mountain. This mountain is located in the center of the city. According to the legend, biblical prophet Solomon (Suleiman, in the Koran) was buried at the foot of it. Then we drive to Tajik border via mountains and high passes. On the way you drive through Batken region famous due to its apricot trees and unique flower called Aigul. Your guide will wait you on the border and will accompany to Khujand city. It is the second largest city in Tajikistan with the population 149, 000. This city is located on the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley. Khujand is considered to be the capital of the northernmost province of Tajikistan, now called Sughd. You will have excursion in a Cultural Palace of Khujant, where the first president of Tajikistan was chosen. Also we will go to see Central Mosque that is situated in the middle of the city. Overnight is in a hotel.

Day 8: Khudjand – Iskanderkul Lake
Iskanderkul is alpine lake in the famous Fann Mountains with the altitude of 2 255 m. a. s. l. This area is one of the best places in the Central Asia. After you arrive to the lake you have a walk at the beach. To see a waterfall you need to hike 40 minutes. Among CIS countries Tajikistan is in the second place for its volume of water resources. In Tajikistan there are more than 1 000 rivers, 2 000 lakes and 8000 glaciers. Night is in a home stay.

Day 9: Iskanderkul – Penjakent
Penjakent is your destination today. The road will go through Shahriston pass with a height of 3 378 m. Penjakent or five villages is situated in Khujand area of Tajikistan, in an impressive Zeravshan river valley. There is a possibility that five villages began the history of this wonderful city, which was in the 5-8 centuries AD. At that time this city was one of the most important centers of Sogd. It had another name - "Central Asian Pompeii". It was an incredibly walled, well-organized city that had a ruler's palace, two temples, markets, rich dwelling houses decorated with numerous paintings, wooden and clay statues of ancient gods. The ruins of this ancient city were found only in the last century.  Now you can see the ruins of a once prosperous city such as dwelling houses and office buildings, the citadel with the palace, the house of craftsmen, and fire worshipers church. Overnight is in a hotel..

Day 10: Penjakent – Jartepo – Samarkand
Morning crossing of the Tajik-Uzbek border. You will be met at other side of the border and transferred to Samarkand Check in and night is in the hotel.

Day 11: Samarkand
Samarkand is second largest city of Uzbekistan, located in the valley of the river Zerafshan. This city is almost as old as the cities of Babylon or Rome. And your tour today will start with visiting the most remarkable sights as: Registan square, Shakhi-Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanum Mosque. The major site of Samarkand is Registan Square - complex of three fascinating Madrasahs of the 15-17th centuries. This sight amaze people and no one can remain indifferent after seeing it. Shakhi-Zindeh is an architectural complex from the collection of huge mausoleums of the 11th-15th centuries. This collection is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bibi Khanum Mosque was built in honor of favorite Tamerlane’s wife, after his successful campaign in India. Overnight is in a hotel. 

Day 12: Samarkand – Bukhara (Morning train transfer)
Morning transfer to Bukhara by train. You will have city tour whole day and start it with visiting Citadel Ark. This sight is the most ancient citadel in Bukhara of 4th century. This citadel used to be a palace for few dynasties of Bukhara Empire. Then is the masterwork of 9th -10th centuries - Samanids mausoleum. Then the tour continues to Chashma Ayub- job's well and Bolo-Hauz mosque. This mosque has another name - mosque of forty columns. It was built in honor of Bukhara governor Abu-Fayud Khan. After it you can walk at the shopping domes and visit the most outstanding sight of this tour - madrasahs Nodir Divan Begi. It is also a part of Lyabi House Ensemble, famous central sightseeing of Bukhara. Your tour will finish after visiting the unique sample of architectural art of Bukhara - Poi Kalon complex, of three structures built in the 12th - 16th centuries: Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. Night is in a hotel.

Day 13: Bukhara – Tashkent (Morning train)
You will reach Tashkent by train. The city tour there begins with the visiting Independence square that is the main square of the country. It is a symbol of victory in World War II. Then you will walk at the local Broadway, it is street between Independence square and Amir Timur square. And of course, take a ride in the metro famous in its outsanding beauty. Its first line was opened in 1977. Then excursion to the old parts of the city, which includes Chorsu Bazaar, Kukaldash Madrasah and Hast Imam complex that consists of several madrasahs, mosques and mausoleum. The highlight of of the tour is Othman Quran, it is the world’s oldest Quran copy of 8th c. Overnight is at the hotel.   

Day 14: Tashkent – Departure 
Breakfast is at the hotel. Your driver will transfer you to Tashkent international airport for flight.

Price per person:
02 pax – 2 040 $
04 pax – 1 470 $
06 pax – 1 305 $
08 pax – 1 165 $
10 pax – 1 125 $
Single – 220 $            

Early check-in – 25 $
Single early check-in – 45 $ 

Half board – 195 $
Full board – 335 $ 

English speaking guide – 1 355 $ per group 

Entrance fees in UZ* (with escort guide only) – $35 per group
 

Service includes:
- Transport
- Accommodation:
      Almaty – “Kazakhstan” Hotel 3*
      Bishkek – “Discovery” 3* or “Garden” 4*
      Issyk Kul – “Karven” Resort
      Karakol – “Karagat” Hotel 4* or “Green Yard” Boutique Hotel
      Khujand – “Firuz” Hotel 4*
      Iskandarkul – Homestay
      Penjakent – “Umariyon” Hotel 3*
      Samarkand – “Ideal” Hotel 3*
      Bukhara – “Old City” Hotel 3*
      Tashkent – “Samir” Hotel 3*
- Entrances to all museums
- Mineral water during the tour
- Train tickets Samarkand – Bukhara, Bukhara – Tashkent.    

Service does not include:
- Meals
- Single rooms
- Early check-in
- Travel insurance
- Visa and visa support
- English speaking guides

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