«Five Stan» 1: Revival of the Silk Road

Breakfast at the hotel.
Start excursion in Bukhara
One of the oldest cities in the world – fabulous Bukhara. Bring the picture is drawn in being acquainted with its architectural masterpieces, which were created over the centuries-old history. In Bukhara many names. The word “Bukhara” in tune with the Sanskrit word “vihara” – “Monastery” and the Chinese “Bihar” – a place of idols. It is said that the founder of Bukhara was the son of Iranian king Siyavush. He married the daughter of the king Afrasiab, he built the Ark Fortress.

Visit ensemble Lyabi Hauz, Nodir Divan Begi (1622), a fantastic bird in the portal madrasa – symbol of Bukhara. Kukeldash – the biggest madrassah in Bukhara, Ulugbek Madrasah – the only building left over from the famous “scientist on the throne” Ulugbek.
Kalyan Minaret (47 meters), without which it is impossible to imagine the silhouette of Bukhara. It was built of brick exquisite workmanship in 1127 during the reign of Arslankhan. Next to the mosque Kalyan minaret is located and acting from the 16th century to the present day, the Muslim religious school – madrasah Mir-i-Arab.
Citadel Ark, Bolo Hauz Mosque (1712), the dome of the building trade – and still Tim.
Mausoleum of Ismail Samani (10th century) – the oldest surviving buildings in Central Asia.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to the suburbs of Bukhara.
At 12 kilometers from Bukhara there is one of the most important religious sites in Bukhara – memorial complex of Bahauddin Naqshbandi.
Once it housed the village Kasri Arifon, famous for its pagan customs and holidays. Now, on the site of the rites of Zoroastrians is the mausoleum of the famous Sufi philosopher of the East.

Four kilometers north of Bukhara there is a summer residence of the last Bukhara emirs – Palace Sitorai Mohi Hosa. This is the only survivor of a country palace, which survived the October Revolution and fall of the Bukhara Emirate.
The ensemble of Chor Bakr – complex of ancient mausoleums in Sumitan village, 5 km west from Bukhara. In these mausoleums sheikhs of different epochs are buried.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Breakfast at the hotel. Road to Samarkand.
By the way excursion in Gijduvan town, to the workshop of famous ceramists dynasty.
Arrive to Samarkand. Free time.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Breakfast at the hotel.
Start excursion in Samarkand
Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world; its age is 2750 years. Samarkand is situated in the picturesque valley of the Zarafshan River, surrounded by the Pamir-Alai Mountains. Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Timur (Tamerlane), who made Samarkand the capital of his vast empire, wrote their names in the history of this famous city. Samarkand became a scientific and cultural center of the Middle East during the reign of the grandson of Timur – “scientist on the throne” Ulugbek.

Registan square with three sides surrounded by beautiful buildings: Ulugbek (1417 – 1420), Sher-Dor (1619 – 1636) and Tilla-Kari (1647 – 1660).
Bibi Khanum mosque. According to the legend, Timur built a huge mosque for his beloved wife Bibi Khanum.
Guri-Emir Mausoleum (14th century), where lie the ashes of the great Timur, his sons Shahrukh and Miranshah, and his grandson Ulugbek.
Ensemble Shahi-i-Zinda. It consists of eleven mausoleums, who joined up in succession to each other for 14-15 centuries. This unique and mysterious ensemble located near the settlement of Afrasiab.
Mausoleum of St. Daniel (Daniyar) – a unique place of pilgrimage – the mausoleum of the spiritual guardian of Samarkand and prophet of three world religions – Hodge Daniyor (the biblical prophet Daniel).
Ulugbek Observatory. A striking confirmation of a significant development in the XIV-XV centuries in Central Asia, architecture, science and culture.
Paper factory. Visit to the village of Koni Gil, a workshop on the production of tissue paper from the bark of the mulberry tree.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the Tajikistan border, transfer to Penjikent, brief sightseeing. Ancient Penjikent – ruins of old Sogdian town founded in 5th century BC and destroyed in the 8th Century AD by Arab army. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. Visit other objects of Penjikent:
• Museum of Rudaki
• Penjikent Bazaar
Continue of drive along picturesque Zerafshan valley, crossing Turkestan ridge by new tunnel built by Chinese engineers under the mountain massive.
One the way visiting Istaravshan town (former Kiropolis, town of Kir), ancient center of trade and handicrafts.
Visiting museum on the hill Mug (where the town was creaded by Kir, ancient Persian king).
Late afternoon arrival to Khujand.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Breakfast at the hotel.
City tour in Khujand. Khujand is second biggest city of Tajikistan, its northern capital. Visiting museum of archeology, mosque of Sheikh Muslekhiddin (XVII c), medieval Khujand fortress and traditional bazaar Panshanbe with Soviet-time portal.
Transfer to Uzbekistan border, crossing the border. Meeting be the guide from Uzbek side.
Transfer to Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan.
Evening walk along Tashkent city center: Tamerlane square, Navoi Theatre, Monument of Courage, etc.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning transfer to the railway station.
Departure to Kokand by the train. Start excursion of Kokand, inspection of 5 architectural monuments of the city of Kokand: Khudoyar-khan Palace, Jami Mosque and the Minaret, Necropolises of Dahmai Shahon and Modarikhan.
Transfer to Rishtan, center of ceramic production of the Fergana Valley.
Visiting ceramic workshop. Further drive to Fergana.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Breakfast at the hotel. Start excursion of Margilan, located in the southeast of the Fergana Valley; it is ancient center for the production of silk fabrics in Central Asia.
Transfer to the suburbs of Margilan, a walk along the largest bazaar in the Fergana Valley – Kumtepa. Inspection of craft rows. After the bazaar visiting famous silk-making factory “Yodgorlik” in Margilan. This factory still makes silk of ancient technologies, without using any machines.
Transfer to the border with Kyrgyzstan, crossing the border. Kyrgyz guide will meet you on the other side.
Transfer to Osh, short city tour: Central Square of Osh, city with Town Hall and the biggest statue of Lenin, St. Michael Cathedral, “Tears of Mother” monument dedicated to the victims of June 2010, Eternal fire and victims of WW2 monument.
Transfer to Suleiman mountain. There you will live your minibus on the parking place and go up to get to Museum in the cave. You will have an excursion in Museum, go out on the other side of the mountain and walk up by stair to the top of Suleiman mountain. You will see on the top Ancient Mosque of Babur.
From the top of the mountain you will see a panoramic view of Osh city.

Go down by the stairs, your minibus will pick you up from the other side of the mountain and drive to Alymbek Datka Museum.
Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / D

Breakfast in the hotel.
After breakfast, you will start your long way to Kazarman village. On the way you will visit Uzgen town famous for Uzgen tower, an ancient minaret built in 12th century by Karakhanids.
Upon arrival in the village, you will be accommodated in the local family, homestay.
Dinner at the family.
Overnight.

Meals: B / – / D

Breakfast at a local family.
After breakfast, you will have a drive towards a famous Son-Kul Lake.
Son-Kul from Kyrgyz translates as Last Lake. The lake is located at the elevation of 3016 m above sea level.
It is rural area; there are no hotels, restaurants, shops or museums. This place is unique with its silence, peace and virgin nature. In summer period, you can meet many nomads here. They collect their stocks of animals and drive up to Son-Kul Lake to graze.
Upon arrival lunch at the yurt camp.

After lunch, you will walk down to the lakeshore. Your guide can show you petroglyphs site left in Bronze period.
You will visit local nomads, see their way of life. They will welcome you and give to try ‘kymyz’ – traditional Kyrgyz drink made of mare’s milk.

Dinner and overnight in the yurt camp.
Meals: B / L / D

Breakfast in the yurt camp.
After the breakfast, you will start a long drive to Karakol town. On the way, you will visit many interesting places. The first stop will be in Kochkor village at Museum of Handicraft of Women Cooperative.
Continue our way, and the next place of interest will be in Choplon Ata town the Open Air Museum of Petroglyphs.
Continue your drive along the Northern Shore of Issyk Kul lake. You will make a stop in Jarkynbaevo village to visit an Interactive Shepherd’s Museum.
After excursion, you will have a transfer to Karakol town.
Upon arrival you will visit a Dungan Mosque built in traditional Chinese Pagoda style, Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral built without a single nail used.
Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Morning drive to Kyrgyz-Kazakh border.
Upon arrival, you will say to Kyrgyzstan good-bye and cross the border to Kazakhstan.
Meeting from Kazakh side.
Transfer to Satty village near Kolsay Lake.
For dinner, we will taste the national homemade meals.
Overnight at the guesthouse.
Meals: B / L / D

Today we go to one of the most beautiful places of Almaty region – Kolsay lakes, often called “the pearl of Kazakhstan”.

Hiking to the upper lake. The unknown beauty of the mighty spruces and crystal-clear mountain river surrounds hikers.
The nature of Kolsay lakes is unique and has no analogues.

Overnight at the guesthouse.
Meals: B / L / D

Transfer to Almaty via wonderful Charyn Canyon.
Charyn is located in the National Park and protected by the state. In fact, the length of the entire canyon is about 155 km so you can imagine how large this unique place is. Naturally, there are about a thousand of various species of trees and plants growing in such a huge area, some of them are red-listed as rare.
The most attractive place for tourists is the Valley of Castles. Tourists go down the stairs and then dive into the atmosphere of complete silence. You can take a walk of about two kilometers along the canyon and will be able to see all the greatness of these mountains. In addition, later you can have a picnic sitting by the river.

After hearing all the legends about this mystical place and having enjoyed the views, we drive further to Almaty and accommodate in a hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Breakfast at the hotel.
Sightseeing in Almaty:
• Park of 28 Panfilovtsev, named in honor of the heroes of World War II, who stopped Nazi army not far from Moscow;
• Cathedral – a wooden structure built without a nail;
• Museum of National Music Instruments;
• State Museum;
• Green Bazaar – the old central market called “green” bazaar, because here the first green traded from time immemorial, the rich gifts of nature the Trans.
• Square of Republic – the main square in Almaty with monuments;
• Kok-Tobe – On a hilltop-viewing platform is located, which is visible from the beautiful panorama of the city of Almaty, as well as the endless horizon of the steppe area.
• Medeo, huge high-mountain ice-rink, known around the world.
Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B / – / –

Transfer to the airport. Flight home.
Meals: B / – / –