Destination: Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Turkmenistan
Route: Almaty - Bishkek - Issyk-Kul - Karakul - Tamga - Tashkent - Samarkand - Penjikent - Bukhara - Mary - Ashgabat - Dashoguz - Urgench - Tashkent
Duration: 18 days / 17 nights

2010 Small Group Tours:
April 26-May 13, 2010  5 % discount

May 10-May 27, 2010

June 07-June 24, 2010

August 30-September 16, 2010  5% discount

Land Cost: $5799-$5999
Single supplement: $ 629

Day 1: Almaty
Early morning arrival in Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan, transfer to hotel. Today we'll explore Almaty. We will visit the Central State Museum, Green Bazaar, Panfilov park, Zenkov Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Museum of Kazakh National Musical Instruments. Enjoy a spectacular view of the Chimbulak mountainous area. Welcome Dinner.

Day 2: Almaty - Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
We arise early to have a sightseeing day drive to Bishkek. Accommodation. We will get a true taste of everyday life in Bishkek. We begin the sightseeing tour at Ala-Too Square, then visit the Natural History Museum, Victory Square and colorful Kyrgyz bazaar.

Day 3: Bishkek - Issyk Kul
Drive to beautiful Lake Issyk-Kul, one of the largest and deepest alpine lakes in the world. Enjoy the fresh air and natural beauty of the area. Stop by Cholpon Ata gorge to see Paleolithic era petroglyphs.
Arrival in Issyk Kul Lake accommodation.

Day 4: Karakul - Tamga
Enjoy the beauty of Issyk-Kul Lake, visit the Przhevalsky Museum and Russian Orthodox church. Lunch.
Drive to Tamga. Accommodation. Dinner.

Day 5: Tamga - Bishkek
Drive to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Stop at the Burana Tower of the XI century, one of the largest minarets in the Chui Valley in northern Kyrgyzstan. Arrival in Bishkek

Day 6: Bishkek - Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Flight to Tashkent. Arrival. Lunch at a traditional Uzbek restaurant.
Visit the Applied and Decorative Art Museum of Uzbekistan to gain a greater understanding of traditional art, stroll through old Tashkent neighborhoods and the “Chorsu” bazaar with its circular indoor-outdoor marketplace crowded with stalls selling innumerable products including spices, nuts, flowers, fruits, vegetables and handicraft items. See Amur Temur and Independence Squares.

Day 7: Tashkent - Samarkand
Sightseeing drive to Samarkand (300 km), a UNESCO world heritage site more than 2500 years old, Stop near the "gate" of Amur Temur where two mountain ranges meet.
Sightseeing tour to Registan Square, the main attraction of Samarkand and an impressive place for the world’s finest old and modern music festivals and holidays. Marvel at the sparkling mosaics and fine Islamic architecture. See the Observatory of Ulugbek (XVth c), whose discoveries greatly advanced knowledge in the fields of science and astronomy. Dinner at Hotel Afrasiyab.

Day 8: Samarkand - Penjikent (Tajikistan) - Samarkand
Early morning drive to Penjikent (“5 Villages”). Cross the border into Tajikistan to discover the ruins of the ancient Sogdian city of Penjikent, one of the most important cultural and economic centers of its time.
Drive to the Fann Mountains to experience the incredible natural beauty of north-west Tajikistan. Revel in the fresh air, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and aquamarine lakes. Return to Samarkand.

Day 9: Samarkand - Bukhara
Half day excursion in Samarkand: Guri Amir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanum mosque, local bazaar. Afternoon departure to Bukhara via Malik Chol desert. Opportunity to photograph old Caravanserai gate “Rabota-Malik” from the XII th century. Accommodation.

Day 10: Bukhara. Explore holy city of Bukhara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This morning we'll explore the city's highlights, including Labi Khaus Complex ("the complex around the pond"), an ancient Chaykhana (tea house). Tour the trade domes (XVI c) of money changers, hat sellers, silk, carpets, puppets and jewelry. See the Magoki Attari site - originally a Zoroastrian temple, the Abdulazizkhan Madreseh with its sandali (old-fashioned home heating), Poi-Kalon Ensemble with the greatest minaret of Central Asia. Enjoy a theatrical national costume show at the house of Fayzullo Khodjaev. Visit the Ark (winter residence of local rulers from the first century) , Bolo Khaus Complex and Ismail Samoniy Mosque. Dinner and Folklore show featuring local dancers, singers and fashion.

Day 11: Bukhara
Visit Mohi Khosa Palace (summer residence of local rulers with national traditional dress), the Chor Minor Complex built in the Indian style. After lunch travel to peaceful villages of Bukhara where you will discover ancient sight Chor Bakr.

Day 12: Bukhara - Mary ( Turkmenistan)
Drive to Farab (Turkmenistan). After customs and border formalities continue sightseeing day drive to Mary through the Kara Kum desert (black sands). Accommodation.

Day 13: Mary - Merv - Ashgabat
Drive to ancient Merv and explore the ruins of this mythical city. Actually a complex of five walled cities, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known in the past as Margiana, it belonged to the Achaemenian Empire in the VI th century BC, until the invasion by Alexander the Great. Explore the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar and the medieval Gyz-Gala fortress. Drive from Mary to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Arrival. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 14: Ashgabat
Sightseeing tour in this modern city: Independence Square - surrounded by extravagant palaces and ministry buildings, and the National Museum with its fine collection of historic artifacts and relics. Tour the Carpet Museum, rich with the history of Turkmen carpet weaving, the "Spiritual Temple of Turkmen Nation” mosque in Kiptchak.

Day 15: Ashgabat – Kunya – Urgench - Khiva
Flight from Ashgabat to Dashoguz. Arrival. Transfer to Kunya-Urgench, one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia. After this city’s almost complete annihilation by Genghis Khan more than 800 years ago, the city was rebuilt and grew into an important trading center. Travel to the border crossing point of the city between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Drive to the hotel in Urgench.

Day 16: Khiva
Sightseeing tour in Khiva - the fairy-tale city of the Silk Road. Drive to Khiva (35 km.). Uzbekistan’s “Living Museum” was the former capital of the Khanate and legend says that it was founded by Shem, the son of Noah. Excursion to Ichan Kala (Old City), surrounded by high walls of air-dried bricks and decorated with delicate majolica tile: delight in the Ata –Darvaza (West Gate, XVII – XVIII c.), Kalta Minar (XIX c.), After lunch at the national restaurant continue with sightseeing at the Medreseh Mohammad Amin (XIX c.), Kunya Ark (XVII-XIX c.), Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum (XVIII-XIX c) with proverbs embossed on its tiles, Medreseh Khodja Islam with minaret, Tash Hauli Palace and harem (XIX c.), Karavan Saray Caravanserai ( traditional inn for travelling merchants), (XIX c.) and Juma Mosque (XI-XII c.) with its 200 wooden pillars. Dinner with panoramic view of Khiva in moonlight. Transfer back to the hotel.

Day 17: Urgench - Tashkent
Transfer to the airport. Flight to Tashkent. Accommodation.
Sightseeing tour: Earthquake Memorial, Abul Kasim complex with handicraft centers, Museum of Amir Temur. Walk down main boulevard where everything is on show or sale. Ride by Metro.

Day 18: Tashkent. Departure from Tashkent International airport.

This tour program includes: