Cities: ALMATY – CHARYN CANYON – ALMATY– ISSYK LAKE – ALMATY -BISHKEK – ALA ARCHA – BISHKEK -– ISSYK KUL LAKE – KARAKOL– BISHKEK -TASHKENT – SAMARKAND – BUKHARA – KHIVA – URGENCH – TASHKENT
Within the framework of this journey Canaan Travel will show you with pleasure three great countries of Central Asia where the biggest part of east culture was developing for the years. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are the countries closely unified with each other through one culture of nations and similar traditions. Wide spaces and natural memorials of Kazakhstan will leave indelible impression in the soul of every tourist. And unique climate and nature of Kyrgyzstan together with incredible view on great lake Issyk-Kul will gather you into the atmosphere of oneness with the world and its colors.
Centennial natural reserves and towers are also based there. And after Kyrgyzstan, ending your journey around The Great Trinity, you will get into Uzbekistan, country of east fairy-tails and legends, charming ensembles and palaces together with unique ceramic mosaic on the walls of ancient mosques. This tour is called to show how many sided the East is and how interesting Asia is. It’s about how these three counties can be such different and similar one time.
You have a chance to see it with your own eyes, touch the eternity of history and feel the spirit of the whole era, that matched all the sides of shining Asia. Intellectual culture relaxation has to be exactly like Canaan Travel’s one! Because when you get to know culture and mode of life of other nations and countries you become spiritually higher.
Arrival to Almaty.
Transfer to hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Today you will visit the Green Bazaar, where it is impossible to refrain from shopping. Then the tour will continue in one of the oldest Almaty parks – Panfilov Park, where one of the most beautiful wooden buildings in the world – Zenkov Cathedral is located. After exploration of sport, cultural and business areas of the city you will get to the Medeo Gorge. Next destination is the Kok-Tobe hill where the tallest TV tower in the world is located (if to count from the sea level) and where you will get by the picturesque winding mountain road. In Kok-Tobe Park you can stroll along the winding paths of the park, admire the magnificent panorama of the city from the special observation deck and visit the shop of national souvenirs. The tour ends with the short ride from the top of the hill to the center of the city by the famous Almaty cableway.
Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Today you will have a day trip to Charyn Cabyons. It is one of the unique natural monuments of Kazakhstan. The canyon is about 12 million years old and surprises with its vertical cliffs, reminding the ancient castles, created by wind, sun and rain. It will take about 3 hours to reach the canyon. Meanwhile, you will hear a lot of interesting about the history and nature of the region, about Kazakh people, their life and traditions as well as have a lunch in a local cafe. And as soon as you see Charyn Canyon you will forget about this long way at once – so much you will be impressed with the beauty and splendor of the canyon. You can admire the grand panorama and then have a walk through the maze of the Castles Valley with its inaccessible walls overhanging you.
Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
The tour route to one of the most beautiful gorges of Trans-Ili Alatau – Issyk Gorge lies along the Kuldja tract, where hundreds of years ago the trade caravans travelled. On the way you will visit the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “ISSYK”, where you will see the expositions dedicated to the history and culture of the Saka period, including a copy of Golden Man and golden items, ancient ceramics, weapon, elements of horse equipment, as well as the model of Saka burial mound. Then the tour route will take you to an altitude of 1756 meters above sea level, to the beautiful mountain lake Issyk, located in the valley with the same name. On the lake you will enjoy the majestic beauty of its turquoise water surface and the Issyk Gorge, as well as listen to the details of the natural disaster of 1963. Also at the lake you will have a picnic and free time for recreation at nature.
Overnight in the hotel.
After breakfast depart Bishkek and drive to Almaty (250 km, 4 h.) Cross Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border.
Continue travelling to Almaty via a newly built highway, see natural landscapes on the way.
Arrive in Almaty in the afternoon, check in to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Your guide will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany you to the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, just a 30-minute drive from the airport. In the morning we will visit Ala Archa gorge. It is a Natural Park. At the Soviet Time only V.I.P. people had permission to go for a walk here. The Ala Archa gorge is on a spur of the Tien Shan mountain range. It is just 45 km from Bishkek. You can have a short hiking tour to see a panoramic view of the gorge. Afterwards we return to Bishkek. The second half of the day is dedicated to a guided tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic, and many others places of interest.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Your guide will pick you up at 8 a.m and you will be transferred to Issyk Kul Lake, surrounded by the celestial mountains. It’s the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 m. above sea level). The lake is called “the pearl of Central Asia”. Due to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. On route to the lake you will visit Burana Tower (an 11th century minaret) and an open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors).
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
The day starts with a breakfast at 8 o’clock. Afterwards, you will start your trip to Karakol city. On the way, we will take a short break to give you the opportunity to visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.). These petroglpihs were made more than 2 000 years ago by shamans. Then we continue our way along the northern shore of the lake to the town of Karakol. You will visit the Dungan mosque. One of its highlights is the fact that it was built in a Chinese style without using a single metal nail. The mosque will be followed by a visit to an old wooden Orthodox Church. The night is spent in a guesthouse.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the 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.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time.
16.30 Transfer to the airport.
Departure to Tashkent with flight HY780 at 18:10.
Arrival in Tashkent at 18:30.
Transfer to Hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Exсursion in Tashkent.
The tour of the capital of Uzbekistan will take its start from the religious center of modern Tashkent – Hast-i-Imam Square, where you can see the ancient manuscripts of Central Asia – the 7th century Qur’an of Osman. The Hast-i-Imam ensemble was formed at the grave of the famous scientist, Koran scholar and hadith, poet and artisan Khazret Imam. The next visit to the functioning Madrassah ‘Kukeldash’- one of the largest madrasahs existing in our days in Central Asia. This madrasah is located near the Chorsu square in the historical part of Tashkent.
Dinner
This madrasah is located near the Chorsu square in the historical part of Tashkent. Independence Square. Amir Timur Square. Theatre Square. The former (the residence of Prince Romanov in Tashkent). The former residence of Prince Nikolay Romanovich Romanov, who was exiled to the Turkestan Region for mining precious stones in 1881, is located in Tashkent. The Tashkent Underground is the Museum of Tashkent.
Dinner.
Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Early breakfast in the hotel. Chech-out.
Transfer to the railway station to the high-speed train “Afrosiab”.
Departure at 08:00.
Arrival at 10:10.
Registan Square is surrounded with beautiful buildings from three sides: ‘Ulugbek’ madrasah, ‘Sher-dor’ madrasah and ‘Till-Kari’ madrassah. All these three madrasahs are directed with the portals to the middle of the square and form united ensemble composition. Each building is distinguished by its unusual decor – a pattern of stone on the walls and portals. The blue domes above the madrasah are made with burnt bricks, and glazed tiles adorn them from the outside, it shines brightly in the sun.
Dinner
The ‘Bibi-khanum’ mosque. A beautiful legend is connected with the ‘Bibi-Khanum’ mosque. According to which the formidable governor built a mosque for his beloved wife Bibi-Khanum. After a successful trip to India, Timur decided to build the largest building in the East. Shining walls, significant minarets, extensive portal of the mosque, carved with marble, glorified the name of Timur and his beloved wife.
Dinner in the local restaurant.
Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in the hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Continuance of the excursion.
Ensemble of ‘Shokh-i-Zinda’. The ‘Shokh-i-Zinda’ ensemble consists of eleven mausoleums, which were joined to each other in sequence during the XIV-XV centuries. This unique and mysterious ensemble is located near the ancient settlement ‘Afrasiab’. The ensemble is also called ‘Cemetery Street’. The blue domes of the mausoleums, rushing the chain into the far, look like a graceful necklace from a bird’s eye view.
Dinner
Ulugbek Observatory. The ‘Ulugbek’ Observatory is a vivid confirmation of the significant development of architecture, science and culture in Central Asia in the XIV-XV centuries. The visit of the ‘Koni Gil’ village, a workshop for the production of silk paper from the bark of the mulberry tree. Master Class.
Dinner in the local restaurant.
Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in the hotel.
Early breakfast in the hotel. Check-out.
Transfer to Bukhara. (260 km. 4 hours) stop in the city Gijduvan.
On the way visit: Gijduvan – ceramic workshop of the potter in the 7th generation Abdullah Narzullaeva. Familiarity with traditional Gijduvon ceramic pottery school and Suzanne (traditional embroidery).
Arrival in Bukhara.
Tour around Bukhara. Your journey begins with a visit to the ‘Lyabi-Hauz’ Ensemble. This is one of the central squares of the city of Bukhara, an architectural ensemble created in the 16th-17th centuries. The square is formed by the buildings of the Kukeldash Madrasah, the Diwan-Begi Madrassah and the Diwan-Begi Khanaki, grouped around the Nodir-Begi Hole. Madrassah Kukeldash – the largest madrasah in Bukhara,‘Ulugbek’ Madrasah – the only building left from the times of the famous “scientist on the throne” of Ulugbek. Kalyan Minaret, without which it is impossible to imagine the silhouette of Bukhara.
Dinner.
Next to the minaret is the ‘Kalyan’ Minaret without which it is impossible to imagine the silhouette of Bukhara. Next to the minaret is ‘Kalyan’ Mosque and the Muslim spiritual school – ‘Mir-i-Arab’ madrasah that is acting from the 16th century to the present day.The Ark Citadel, ‘Bolo Hauz’ Mosque, domed trading buildings- ‘taki I tymi’. The mausoleum of Ismail Samani is the oldest surviving building of Central Asia. Mausoleum of Chashma Ayub (“The Source of Job”). The legend of the monument is connected with the prophet Job (Ayub).
Dinner at Nadir Divan Begi Madrassah.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast in the Hotel.
Check out.
Transfer to Khiva (480 km – 8h) through desert Kyzyl Kum. Photo-stop In a picturesque location on the river Amu Darya. Rest and lunch at the tea house in the desert.
Arrival in Khiva.
Check in.
Rest in the hotel.
Free time.
Dinner in a traditional chayhana.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Tour around Khiva: Fortress Kunya-Ark “city in the city. Here were the Khan’s mosque, the residence of the khan, the supreme court, the khan’s reception room-the chicken khan, the powder factory, the mint, the harem, the kitchens, the stables, the guardhouse, etc. In the southern part of the chicken khan was the throne room with the two-columned aivan (terrace). In the middle of the hall was a yurt, during receptions the khan sat at her. Ivan was decorated with a blue-white-blue majolica with a delightful ornament.
Tash-Hovley Palace.
Madress Muhammad Aminhana.
Muhammad Rahimkhan’s madrassah.
Dinner
Multicolumn mosque ‘Juma’. The mosque was built in the 10th century, it has 212 carved wooden columns. She accommodated all the men of the city who came to her on Friday worship.
Minaret of Kalta-Minor.
The Minaret of Islam-Khoja. The complex of Pakhlavan Mahmud is the burial place of a well-known poet in Khorezm, who was considered the patron of Khiva. The main hall of the mausoleum served as the tomb of the Khiva khans.
Dinner at the local restaurant.
20:00 Transfer to the airport to the flight Urgench-Tashkent HY058.
Departure at 21:40.
Arrival at 23:45.
Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to airport.
Depart.
End of the program.
