Route: Ashgabat-Mary-Bukhara-Samarkand-Tashkent-Almaty-Urimqi-Kashgar-Beijing
Duration: 14 days/13 nights

Tour Price: From $6,400
SS: $790

2012 Scheduled tours

May 8- 21, 2012

Day 1: Ashgabat
Early arrival in Ashgabat. Transfer to hotel. Sightseeing tour of the Blue Mosque, Arch of Neutrality and Independence Park with its rotating gold statue of Turkmenbashi. Drive to Nissa and explore the ancient ruined capital of the Parthians. UNESCO is presently restoring this site. Discover the unique fortresses, citadel, temples and tombs (III Century BC), the National Museum of History and Ethnography all set against the Kopet Dag mountains in the background.

Day 2: Ashgabat
Explore the Talkuchka Sunday bazaar, one of the largest open bazaars in the world filled with colourful rugs, jewellery, carpets, silk and national Turkmen costumes. Visit the Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. At the World of Turkmen Fairy Tales we'll take a cable car up into the Kopet Dag mountains for a panoramic view over the city and along the Iranian border. Visit Anau a medieval city situated 12 kilometres from Ashgabat the Bronze Age settlement Anau-Depe (4th - 3rd centuries BC) and the fortress of Anau (3rd century BC - 3rd century AD) and the mosque. The name Anau derives from Abi-Nau, meaning "new water".

Day 3: Ashgabat – Mary-Merv
Sightseeing drive to Mary (360 km). Accommodation in Mary. Explore Merv, the oldest well-preserved heritage city. 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 Gyz-Gala fortress. Visit the Museum with its impressive displays of archaeological finds from sites excavated in the oasis and an informative and attractive display of fabulous Turkmen carpets, Turkmen costumes and domestic equipment.

Day 4: Mary-Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
Early morning transfer to the border of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. After border formalities continue sightseeing day drive through Karakum desert to Bukhara, one of the ancient silk road cities of Uzbekistan. Accommodation in Bukhara Grand Nadirbek hotel right next to the heart of old city Labi Khaus.

Day 05: Bukhara
Bukhara, one of the most ancient and incredible cities in the world. This is another World Heritage Site.Visit Labi Khaus Complex ("the complex around the pond"), Nadir Divan Begi Khanaka (old hotel for merchants). Labi Khaus pond dates from the XVIIth century when it was the principal source of water. Enjoy tea in an ancient Chaykhana (Tea house), near the the sculpture of humorist Khodga Nasriddin. The sightseeing continues with trade domes 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. Discover ancient winter residence of local rulers from the first century which is located near Bolo Khaus Mosque.Dinner and Folklore show featuring local dancers, singers and fashion stars(if available based on the number of the travelers in the city).

Day 06: Bukhara
Today you will visit magnificent Summer Residence of Last Bukhara Emirs "Sitorai Mohi-Khossa" (The Palace of Moon and Stars) and Chor Minor Minarets. Your afternoon is at your leisure. Dinner in Bukhara National house with Uzbek family.

Day 07: Bukhara-Samarkand
Sightseeing drive to Samarkand. Golden Road to Samarkand (300 km). ) through Rabota Malik chul (desert). Stop at the Gizhduvan School of ceramics for introduction to the process of producing ceramics and workshop. Arrival in Samarkand. Accommodation at Malika Prime or Grand Samarkand. The hotel is located next to the ancient historical monument of Guri Emir Mausoleum. Enjoy your stay in ancient paradise. Samarkand is the city with more than 3000 years history. It was the site of the marriage of Alexander the Great to the local princess Roxana. Sightseeing tour to Registan Square, the main attraction of Samarkand and an impressive place for holding the world's finest old and modern music festivals and holidays. Guri Emir Mausoleum from the 14th century.

Day 08: Samarkand
Visit ancient Bibi Khanum Mosque and Green bazaar of Samarkand. Afternoon tour to Ulugbek's Observatory (he was a scientist, astronomer and architect of the XVth century) whose scientific and astronomic discoveries greatly advanced knowledge in these fields, Shahi Zinda Ensemble – ancient necropolis, ancient Jewish synagogue from the 16th century and Khodjai Hizr mosque. Dinner.

Day 09: Samarkand-Tashkent
Photo opportunities from the highest point of Samarkand. Sightseeing drive to Tashkent. 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. Late afternoon flight to Almaty(Kazakhstan). Overnight: "Ujut" 3*.

Day 10: Almaty-Urumgi
City Tour: Visit Central museum of history, Panfilov Memorial Park, Zenkov cathedral, central square, monument of independence etc. Discover Kazakh Green Bazaar. Flight to Urumji. Accommodation.

Day 11: Urumqi-Kashgar
Morning flight to Kashgar. Full day sightseeing in Kashgar: Visit the largest mosque in China Idkah mosque (1442), Apak Khoja's Tomb – the holiest place in Xinjiang for Sufis (1640), Handicraft Street, old parts of the town. Visit the famous bazaar. Late afternoon excursion to the Mor Stupa (3BC) which is the remnant of the big Buddhist temple, located 30 km northeast of Kashgar and picturesque Atush village nearby.Dinner at local restaurant . Overnight: Hotel Mirage 4* www.mirage-hotel.cn

Day 12: Kashgar-Urumgi-Beijing
Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Urumqi. Half day sightseeing: Xinjiang regional museum where you will see archaeological treasures from the Silk Road and Xinjiang's minority cultures. A display of well-preserved 3000 year old mummies, excavated from Loulan at Takla Makan desert, completes the exhibition. Then visit picturesque Hong Shan Park from where you can enjoy panorama of whole Urumqi city; visit Red Hill Pagoda, Grand Bazar or Erdao Qiao Market to get some traditional Uygur silk and Chinese cotton, see variety of different nuts and dry fruits, herbs, aroma oils. Evening transfer to the airport for flight to Beijing. Accommodation at 3 * hotel.

Day 13: Beijing
Full day sightseeing in Beijing: Visit Tiananmen Square – one of the largest square in the world. Then move on to the Imperial Palace, also known as the "Forbidden City" that symbolizes the imperial and traditional China. Great Wall. Afternoon visit Heavenly Temple - the place where the emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties worshipped heaven and prayed for peace and harvest.

Day 14: Beijing
Transfer to the airport to take flight back home.

This tour program includes:

• Visa support
• All Domestic Flights in Central Asia and China
• Ground Transportation (Land and mountain)
• Experienced English-speaking guides (escort guide in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan,)
• Hotel accommodation
• Meals: Breakfast
• Entrance fees for the sights and mountains and parks
• Folklore Show in Bukhara
• Pre Departure Silk Road Treasure Tours Packages
• Language classes

The tour program doesn't include:

• International Flights
• Charges in hotels for additional services
• Consular fees at the Embassies (All Central Asian countries)