5-Stan Family Tour: 20 days

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Ashgabat city tour:

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that considers the highest building in the country);

- Neutrality Arch - a unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun;

- National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique expositions from Ancient Merv and Nissa.

A trip to ancient Nissa (18 km from Ashgabad) that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation is I millennium BC - I millennium BC).

Return to Ashgabad. Visit en-route Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousand people).

There are beautiful gardens and fountains near the mosque.

Transfer to the hotel.

Leisure / free time in the afternoon.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Ashgabat city tour:

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that considers the highest building in the country);

- Neutrality Arch - a unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun;

- National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique expositions from Ancient Merv and Nissa.

A trip to ancient Nissa (18 km from Ashgabad) that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation is I millennium BC - I millennium BC).

Return to Ashgabad. Visit en-route Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousand people).

There are beautiful gardens and fountains near the mosque.

Transfer to the hotel.

Leisure / free time in the afternoon.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport.
06:20 Departure for Mary by morning flight.

07:00 Arrival in Mary. 

Transfer to the border post "Olot – Farab". Border crossing back to Uzbekistan.
Meeting the driver at the Uzbekistan side of the border. Transfer to Bukhara.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby.

Start WALKING sightseeing program in Bukhara (5-6 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 survived 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 XVI century and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry and even for 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;

- Visit Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so-called Kosh (pare) 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 impresses the imagination;

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

Optionally can be added by request:

Visit Samanids mausoleum (IX century), a monument of early medieval architecture.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.

- Countryside trip to the last Bukhara's Emir’s summer residence "Sitorai-Mokhi-Khossa";

- Bakhauddin Naqshbandi mausoleum (the founder of Naqshbandi Sufi Spiritual order) located near Bukhara the memorial complex of Bakhauddin Nakshbandi is considered as one of the most significant religious places of Bukhara that attracts many visitors.

- Chor-Minor Madrasah - Chor-Minor is known as madrasah Halif Niyazkul (in Persian “Four minarets”) was built by merchant in 1807 in Bukhara.

Transfer to the hotel.  

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time in Bukhara, morning at leisure.

Afternoon transfer to Samarkand, en- route visiting famous Gijduvan pottery workshop where visitors are welcome for a tour around the workshop and observe the process of ceramic making and painting.

The owners demonstrate the stages of making ceramics from turning the potter’s wheel to making paints from natural ingredients, decorating the ceramics in a distinctive style, drying and firing.  Take a tour around the museum-hall of ceramic masterpieces with a unique collection of the ceramic items of Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan. 

By request, a master-class of painting ceramics, suzani embroidery and traditional bread baking.

Continue to Samarkand.

Arrival in Samarkand in the afternoon, check in the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to Marguzor, the famous seven lakes - seven wonderful water mirrors full of mountain riverside drops. Each lake looks different whenever the sun changes its position. Colors may vary from deep blue to indie color ripple. Most of them are cold to swim even in summer. These lakes belong to Fann Mountains system.

On the western edge of the Fan Mountains in the valley of the river Shing there are seven lakes, six of them are dammed origin, beside the lake Hazorchashma.

Lakes are called Marguzor,  but each of the  lakes  has  its own  name: Nezhigon, Soybean,Gushor, Nofin, Hurdak. Hiking part from lake Marguzor to lakeHazorchashma. 

The difference in level between the upper and lower lake - 692 meters.

Easy hike at the lakes. Lunch in a gusthouse.

Afternoon border crossing BP "Jartepa" to Uzbekistan (takes about 30 min-1 hr), meet the driver at Uzbekistan side of the border ( 16:30).

Transfer to Samarkand hotel.  

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start sightseeing tour in Penjikent visiting :

- Museum of Rudaki – As Penjikent is a birthplace of Abu-Abdallah Rudaki, the forefather of Persian Poetry. Before lunch, visit the local bazaar and mosque.

- The Sarazm Important Bird Area (UNESCO World Heritage) lies downstream of the city on the tugay-vegetated floodplain of the river.

- The archaeological site of the ruins of old Penjikent - a walled inter-city (2500-years ago) - was once a Sogdian trading city on the Silk Road. Today, only ruins are left owing to the fact that the main construction material was clay-bricks.

In the afternoon transfer to Tajik - Uzbek border post Jartepa,

Cross the border to Uzbekistan (takes about 30 min-1 hr), meet the driver at Uzbekistan side of the border. Transfer to Samarkand.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide. Start sightseeing program in Samarkand (6 hrs):

– Gur Emir Mausoleum – burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants decorated with gold ornaments, considered as one of the world significant places;

– Continue to the famous Registan Square – the heart of Samarkand and a real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture consists of three grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor, and Madrassa Tilla Kori.

– Bibi Khanim Mosque – the biggest medieval building in the city which was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in 15th Century.

– Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

- Carpet factory “Hudjum” to observe the process of the finest carpets weaving.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Meet the guide at the lobby. Continue sightseeing program in Samarkand (5 hours):

– Shahi Zinda Necropolis – unique complex of Mausoleums  formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) belonging to the Muslim person named Saint Abbas ibn-Kussam;

– Ulugbek’s Observatory – 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 back to XVIII 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 Amir Timur.

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

17:35 Departure for Tashkent by high-speed train "Afrosiyob".

20:05 Arrival in Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel/airport. 

End of the tour.

09:00 Meet with a guide.

Start sightseeing tour of Tashkent (5-6 hrs) visiting old and new parts of the city:

- Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square, was renamed on August 31, 1994 after the Amir Timur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.
Around the Square, there is the Museum of History of Timurids, Uzbekistan hotel, Forum Palace, and famous Tashkent striking clock.

- Tashkent striking clock, one of the major symbols of Tashkent.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi built in 1947 is one of the best opera theater of the world performs both classical and national repertoires. 

- Independence Square, the main square of Uzbekistan reflects the past, present, and future of the country. There are fountains standing for the life energy of Uzbek people, the Cabinet and the Senate, the “Eternal flame" in honor of soldiers who died during the Second World War.
- Earthquake Memorial, the composition is devoted to the tragic date of earthquake in Tashkent on April 26, 1966, and is erected in the approximate place of the earthquake epicenter. Residents still come to the monument to honor those people who took a part in the reconstruction of Tashkent;

- Khast Imam Square – a religious center of the city consisting of the Barakkhan madrasah; Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library of Islamic Literature with the Holy Koran Book of the VII century (original Quran Othman). Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts pilgrims and visitors all over the world.

- 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 where people come for trades. The bazaar beautiful blue dome, built in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, is often depicted in postcards and international magazines and became one of the major sights of interest both for locals and guests – one can see oriental tiled bazaar from different souvenir shops with ceramics, handicraft works, carpets and jewelry, the whole pavilion full of delirious fruits to the finest textiles and colorful fabrics.

- Tashkent Metro (the first line was launched in 1977) with beautiful train stations each decorated in thematic style with traditional ornaments and special lightning.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meet with our driver in the lobby or at airport and start the journey.

Transfer to Chimgan Mountains area, 120 km from Tashkent, en-route enjoying the picturesque views of beautiful mountains and the life of local people. Chimgan Mounts offer many seasonal outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, climbing, hiking, and mountaineering.

- Chimgan cable-way ride or Amirsoy complex visit ( the entrance fees in Amirsoy complex and cable-way ride are not included, the visitors can buy the entrance tickets/ cable way ride tickets or ski passes in the ticket offices of Amirsoy)

- Drive to Chimgan and take a photo stop with panoramic view to Charvak Lake enjoying fresh air beautiful nature and stunning scenery of Chimgan Mountains.

- Petroglyphs. Not far from the Ugam River, during archaeological excavations, stone tools and traces of ancient hearths were discovered, on one of the rocks you can see ancient rock paintings.

It's possible to have a lunch in mountain restaurants in the place named "Bochka" by local people.

After lunch, transfer back to Tashkent. The total journey is 200 km one-way long. 

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning at leisure.

11:30 Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

14:10 Departure flight Tashkent– Almaty by KC 128.  

15:30 Morning arrival in Almaty International Airport.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal, meet the driver with “ANUR TOUR” sign. Transfer to the hotel. Arrival in hotel. Time to rest after the flight.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Desayuno en la casa de huéspedes.

09:00 Encuentro con el guía y el conductor. Traslado al Cañón de Charyn.

- El Cañón de Charyn (el Valle de los Castillos) es un complejo natural único en su tipo, no solo en Kazajistán, sino también en todo el mundo. Se formó durante el Paleógeno y recuerda al Gran Cañón del Río Colorado en Norteamérica, aunque de menor tamaño. La altura de las empinadas laderas del cañón alcanza los 150-300 metros. La extraordinaria disección del terreno es sorprendente: los numerosos barrancos forman una red densa y caótica. El viento y el agua han creado el hermoso "Valle de los Castillos", donde siempre estará rodeado de imponentes torres compuestas de rocas sedimentarias. El valle tiene más de 2 km de largo y entre 20 y 80 metros de ancho. Durante millones de años, la naturaleza ha creado una arquitectura única, erigiendo magníficos castillos con cuidado y lentitud.

Traslado a Almaty.

Tarde de descanso. Alojamiento en el hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Transfer to Bishkek passing the border post "Korday". Border passing formalities usually take 30 min - 1 hour. Please note: while passing the land borders one needs to be ready to handle all the luggage across the border by him/herself.

Arrival in Bishkek in the afternoon.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09.00  Transfer to the Issyk-Kyl lake (~ 2 hours, 260 km) en-route visiting:

- Burana Tower (11th-century minaret) was the vertical dominant of the ancient city Balasagun, the north capital of the Turkic lingual state of the Karakhanids and nearby open-air museum with its collection of ancient bal-bals, carved stone figures used as monuments. 

The tower was originally 45 m but because of the great earthquake, part of the minaret was destroyed and its height was reduced to 25 m. There are many beautiful legends about this place and it is interesting to learn more.

- Issyk-Kyl lake is one of the most wonderful lakes in the world, located in the north-eastern part of the Kyrgyz Republic. Issyk Kul is translated as “Hot Lake” and is considered as one of "the pearls of Central Asia". Due to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. There are many activities that entertain people on the beach: windsurfing, scooters, aqua parks, parachutes, and rides on boats and ships. In winter there are also spots of alpinism where people enjoy incredible landscapes.

Leisure time and light walking at the lakeshore.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning at leisure.

After standard check-out transfer to Issyk-Kul lake en route enjoying gorgeous nature view.

Leisure / free time in the afternoon.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Bishkek sightseeing tour visiting:

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

Take an easy walk high up to observe the view of mountains and rich Kyrgyz nature, spectate birds and animals living their lives, watch how cold water of Kyrgyz rivers falling down the mountains, and continue its way among ancient trees and gorge itself.

Time to explore the area, take photos, and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful nature views.

Transfer to back to Bishkek.

Start walking city tour around Bishkek visiting:

- Oak Park, 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 (Manas is a legendary Kyrgyz hero and the classic centerpiece of Kyrgyz literature).

- Victory Square where one can see the Victory monument, a memorial was completed in 1984. Usually, the main festival events are held in Bishkek at the eternal flame, on Victory Square with the guard of honor, forces of Kyrgyz garrison and a military band.

- State History Museum is a perfect display of the Kyrgyz people and the history of the country of Kyrgyzstan.

- Visit the colorful central bazaar and TSUM (Department Store).

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Manas International Airport.

Morning departure flight from Bishkek.

End of the tour.