Photo Tours to Central Asia give you an opportunity to enjoy its awesome landscape of towering mountains, crystal clear Lakes; interact with hospitable people; participate at cultural events and exciting festivities; to wander at the colorful bazaars and ancient neighborhoods!

You have traveled to so many destinations of the world and you thought that there was no place left to go... Now you will go on a trip you will never forget! Central Asia Travel
Central Asia is one of the world’s most exotic destinations and one of the most photogenic.
The rewards of travel are greater when combined with photography, an active way to capture the spirit of time, place and culture.

You can also walk in the tracks of Marco Polo, explore the routes of the camels, discover the mysterious and historical Silk Road, listen to the stories, see the ruins, and the great classical architecture.

Destination: Turkey-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan
Route: New York-Istanbul-Tashkent-Khodjand-Samarkand–Bukhara-Tashkent-Almaty-Bishkek-Issyk kul-Istanbul-New York
Land Tour Duration: 16 days

The Tour Price: $6299
Single supplement: $779

2012 Small group Tours:

April 23-May 8, 2012

May 15-May 30, 2012

August 21-September 5, 2012   6 seats are available

Day 01. New York, USA-Istanbul, Turkey. Departure from John F Kennedy Airport.

Day 02  Istanbul, Turkey-Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Arrival in Istanbul Ataturk Airport at 9:05 AM. Immigration procedure. Multiple visa will be issued at the airport for American citizens for $20. The tour representative and guide will meet you at the Istanbul Airport and you will have a half day tour around Istanbul: Hippodrome, the former center of sprotiye and political activities of Constantinople. You will be able to see the Obelisk from Egypt, Serpentine Column from Delphi and fountain Willhelm II. Then you will visit Rustempasa Mosque, one of the biggest mosques of Istanbul from the XVIII century. Lunch at a charming Restaurant. Continue sightseeing with Golden Horn which divides the European Side of Istanbul into two parts. Photo opportunity. Return to the airport. Departure from Istanbul Airport to Tashkent.

Day 03  Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent 1:10AM. Our escort guide will meet you at the airport. Accommodation at Tashkent Palace 4**** . Rest. Breakfast. Afternoon Tour around Tashkent City. Alisher Navoi Opera and Balley Theatre, Independence Square, Broadway, Amur Temur and Navoi Parks. Abul Kasim medreseh and the main handicraft center of Tashkent. Visit the central and ancient oriental Bazaar “Chorsu” . On the way to stop by Kukeldash medreseh, active medreseh in Central Asia. Welcome dinner.

Day 04 Tashkent
Sightseeing morning drive to Chimghan – Charvak – Beldersay” which is located in the territory of Ugham Chatkal State Park (80 km from Tashkent). It is one of the oldest and biggest nature reserves that was founded in 1947 in the spurs of the Western Tien Shan Mountains. Admire beautiful scenery and take pictures. Accommodation at Beldersay Hotel & Resort. In the stables of "Chimghan Oromghohi" situated not far from Beldersay hotel you can see horses of local breeds, such as kurama and karabair.

Day 05 Tashkent-Khodjent(Tajikistan)-Tashkent

Sightseeing morning drive to Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border "Oybek". After border formalities drive to Khodjent,one of the most ancient cities of Tajikistan. Sightseeing tour: Visit Temurmalik fortress, The museum of Archeology and History and ancient Silk Road Bazaar. Return to Tashkent. Dinner.

Day 06. Tashkent-Samarkand. Grand Samarkand 3***.
Drive to Samarkand (300 km), the city is more than 2750 years old through Syrdaryo River. Stopping near the "gate" of Amur Temur where two mountain ranges meet. Opportunity to photograph two great mountain ranges of Uzbekistan and see the ancient river stream. Samarkand (then known as Maracanda) was the site of the marriage of Alexander the Great to the local princess Roxana. Hald Day sightseeing tour at Registan and Guri Emir Mausoleums. Visit handicraft center and meet local masters.

Day 07 Samarkand-Bukhara  Grand Bukhara Hotel 4****
Hald Day sightseeing tour in Samarkand. Visit Bibi Khanum Mosque, Shakhi Zinda Ensemble, Hebrew Prophet Daniel’s Tomb, located next to a pleasant ancient water stream &bcontains a burial chamber around 18 meters long, the Jewish Quarter, and synagogue, located in the old section of the city. Explore Uzbek Bazaar. Take pictures from Highest point of Samarkand. Drive to Bukhara through Malikchul Desert. Arrival

Day 08. Bukhara
Breakfast. Labi Khaus Complex ("the complex around the pond"), Nadir Divan Begi Khanaka (old hotel for merchants). This pond dates from the XVIIth century when it was the principal source of water (built on the land of a Jewish widow, who then was given the land to built the synagogue and the Jewish Quarter). Visit an ancient Chaykhana, the sculpture of Khodga Nasriddin in bronze made by local Jewish sculptor Yaakov Shapiro, Synagogue & Jewish Quarter. Continue sightseeing with ancient trade domes (XVI c) of money changers, hat sellers, silk, carpets, puppets and jewelry, Magoki Attari site which was originally a Zoroastrian temple, Abdulazizkhan Madreseh with its sandali (old version of house heating), Poi-Kalon Ensemble with the greatest minaret of Central Asia. Visit the Ark (winter residence of local rulers from the first century), Bolo Khaus Complex, Ismail Samoniy Mosque. Dinner and Folklore show featuring local dancers, singers and fashion stars in Nadir Devan Begi Medreseh..

Day 9 Bukhara-Tashkent.
Flight to Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Free time. Enjoy the performance at Opera and Ballet Theatre. Dinner.

Days 10-12. Tashkent- Almaty (Kazakhstan)
Arriving in Almaty, one of the biggest cities of Kazakhstan, transfer to a hotel for a two-night stay. Sightseeing tour: Zenkov Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Almaty's Green Bazaar, Museum of National Musical Instruments. Enjoy spectacular view of Chimbulak mountainous area. Scenic drive to Zailiyski Alatau mountains and Turgen Gorge Waterfall (90 km) near Almaty.

Day 13. Almaty (Kazakhstan)– Bishkek(Kyrgyzstan).
Sightseeing day drive to Bishkek. Accommodation. Sightseeing tour. Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Philharmonic, Statue of Manas, Victory Square. Visit the Central Museum, the Panfilov park and the bazaar.

Day 14: Bishkek - Issyk Kul
Sightseeing day drive to Issyk Kul Lake stopping at Burana tower (XI c.) in ancient Balasagun City. Visit Burana tower of Kharakhanids along with castles and mausoleums. The tower enables visitors to climb to the top. Arrival in Issyk Kul, one of the largest and deepest alpine lakes in the world. Issyk-Kul means “warm lake” and is a popular destination in the Ala-Tau mountains that form the northern arm of the Tien Shan range. Enjoy the beaches and lake tour.

Day 15: Issyk Kul- Bishkek
Sightseeing tour around Issyk-kul: Cholpon-Ata picturesque gorges along with ancient petroglyphs (II millennium BC), visit the Ethnographical Museum, the Memorial Complex of Przhevalsky (famous traveler and explorer of Central Asia; Altyn-Arashan springs ("Golden Springs") near Karakol. Return to Bishkek.

Day 16. Bishkek-Istanbul. Eresin Taxim Hotel 4 ****
Breakfast. Istanbul sightseeing tour: Blue Mosque, most famed masterpieces of Ottoman religious architecture. Named after its Turquoise colored tiles made of quartz minerals, the building is also unique for its six minarets. Ottoman Sultans preferred to pray in this timeless shrine due to its incomparable beauty until when the empire collapsed after the World War I. Standing right across the Blue Mosque is the Basilica of Saint Sophia that was built by Justinian the Great during 6th century. This massive structure will embrace you with surprise with its gigantic dome. Lunch at Grup Saray Restaurant. After lunch continue with a visit to the home of the Ottoman Sultans, the Topkapi Palace! Located on the very cape of the peninsula where Constantinople was founded, Topkapi Palace was built as the center of administration of Ottoman Empire when the city was conquered by Ottoman Turks in 1453 AD. Topkapi Palace is famous for its Treasury with its "Topkapi Dagger", "Topkapi Diamond", as well as the China Collection. Lastly, visit the Grand Covered Bazaar, the largest covered mall with 4,000 shops, enclosed under hundreds of domes and arches. Spice Bazaar from the 17th Century; where you will enjoy the aromas and colors of exotic spices and herbs, and food items like the famous Turkish Delight Visit the Jewish center. Dinner at KEBAP HOUSE.

Day 17. Istanbul, Turkey- New York, USA
Morning departure from Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

This tour program includes:

The tour program doesn’t include: