Central Asia 4 STAN tour - 5

Flight to Almaty.

Morning arrival in Almaty International Airport (ETA 03:00).

Migration formalities usually take 30 min to 60 min: passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal and meet the driver with a sign “ANUR TOUR”.

Transfer to the hotel. Arrival in the hotel. Extra night

Resting time after the flight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

11:00 Sightseeing around Almaty includes visiting:

- 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 constructed 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 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.

- Medeu, the World's largest speed skating rink known as Medeo. At the end of the gorge there is a ski resort Shymbulak, situated at an altitude of 2.200 m above sea level. It is one of Central Asia's top skiing spots where one can take a cable car funicular to Shymbulak Ski resort.

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.

08:00 Transfer to Bishkek by car (250 km ~ 4-5hrs) to the border post "Korday". Border crossing usually takes 30 min~1h.

Please note: while passing the border one needs to be ready to handle all the luggage across the border by him/herself (~300 m).

Continue to Bishkek.

Arrival at the hotel, check-in.Short time to rest.

In the afternoon start Bishkek walking tour visiting:

- Oak Park - city center. It is known also as Dubovy Park - today it is one of the favorite places among 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 central bazaar.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Bishkek countryside sightseeing tour visiting:

- Ala Archa National Park (40 km from Bishkek one way);

- 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. 

16:40 Transfer to the airport.

18:40 Evening flight to Tashkent by HY 780 (1,5 hrs).

19:00 Arrival in Tashkent International Airport.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal, the driver meets with a sign “ANUR TOUR”.

Transfer to the hotel. As Tashkent airport not far from the city center, the transfer will not take a long time (usually 20 – 40 minutes depending on the hotel location).

Arrival in the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

08:00 Meet the driver in your hotel in Tashkent, transfer to Uzbek - Tajik border "Oybek" (~100 km)

09:30 On arrival, border passing formalities: visa and passport control. Meet the driver and guide on Tajikistan side of the border and transfer to Khudjand (70km, 1h.) – center of Sugd  region of Northern Tajikistan.

Khudjand was the furthest point Alexander the Great reached in Central Asia, the city was named Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Farthest), the city became one of the important entrepots on  the great Silk Road.

Start of the excursion program: 

 Pushkin square with Kamoli Khudjandi Square;

- Timur Malik’s fortress and Sugd museum or archeology and fortification; 

- Muslihiddin memorial complex;

- Panjshanbe bazaar (The name Panjshanbe comes from Persian language meaning “Thursday”) is one of the oldest markets in Tajikistan;

- Panjshanbe bazaar (Khujand’s central market that has many stores offering different kind of goods and services. The name Panjshanbe comes from Persian language meaning “Thursday”. Panjshanbe is considered as one of the oldest markets in Tajikistan. The Silk Road which passes Khujand city, had always made Panjshanbe to be crowded with traders and tourists).

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 Meet the guide and driver at the hotel in Samarkand.

Start Samarkand sightseeing tour visiting :

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

– 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 the 15th Century;

– 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 center in the medieval world was built by order of Ulugbek, an outstanding scholar and astronomer;

– Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

Transfer to the hotel.
Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.