Explore Central Asia: 14-Day Tour of 4 Countries

Overnight flight to Ashgabat

After meeting at the International Terminal of Istanbul Airport, we depart for Ashgabat at 20:55 on a scheduled TK flight operated by Türk Hava Yolları. We arrive in Ashgabat at 02:35 local time. After completing customs and passport formalities, we transfer to our hotel by private vehicle.

Overnight in Ashgabat at the 4-star Sport Hotel or similar.

Ashgabat's marble capital

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our city tour of Ashgabat. During the tour, we visit Ruhiyet Palace, Independence Square, the Altın Asma Statue and Türkmenbaşı Ruhy Mosque, the largest mosque in the country.

We have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the Turkmen Carpet Museum and the National History Museum. After the tour, we return to our hotel. The evening is free time.

Accommodation is at the 4-star Sport Hotel or similar hotels.

Overland to Bukhara

After breakfast, we transfer to Ashgabat Airport. We fly to Turkmenabat (or Mary) with a local airline at 10:40. We have lunch on arrival.

After lunch, we travel by road to the Uzbekistan border. After completing the border crossing procedures at the Farap - Alat border crossing, we continue to Bukhara and check in to our hotel.

We stay at the 4-star SAHID ZARAFSON HOTEL or similar hotels.

Bukhara's Silk Road heritage

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our full-day city tour of Bukhara on the Silk Road.

First, we visit Kalan Minaret and Kalan Mosque, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We then explore Mir-i Arap Madrasa, Ulug Bey Madrasa, Abdulaziz Han Madrasa and the Toki Zargaron Bazaars, discovering the historic centre with its madrasas and caravanserais.

We have lunch at a local restaurant serving traditional Uzbek dishes. In the afternoon, we visit Ark Fortress, Bolo Hauz Mosque, Ismail Samani Mausoleum and Chashma Ayub Mausoleum.

We end the day with a walk through Bukhara's traditional weaving and handicraft bazaars, then return to our hotel.

Overnight in Bukhara at the 4-star SAHID ZARAFSON HOTEL or similar hotels.

Samarkand's Registan Square

After breakfast at our hotel, we leave Bukhara and travel to Samarkand by road, a journey of approximately 4 hours.

Along the way, we see steppe landscapes bearing traces of the Silk Road and arrive in Samarkand around midday. We then have lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we take a half-day tour of the UNESCO-protected centre of Samarkand. Sights viewed panoramically during the tour include Registan Square and the surrounding Ulugh Beg, Sher Dor and Tilla Kari Madrasas, the Gur Emir Mausoleum (the mausoleum of Emir Timur), built by Timur's grandson, and the observatory of the astronomer Uluğ Bey.

After the tour, we transfer to our hotel to rest. Overnight accommodation in Samarkand is at the 4-star City Semerkant Hotel or similar hotels.

Bullet train to Tashkent

After breakfast at our hotel, we head to Samarkand railway station. Following a journey of approximately 2 hours on the Afrosiyob high-speed train, we arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

We have lunch first, then begin our city tour of Tashkent. We visit Independence Square, Amir Timur Square and the Amir Timur Monument. We take a short ride on the Tashkent Metro, whose stations reflect Soviet architecture. After visiting Kukeldaş Madrasa and the Khazrati Imam Complex, we walk through the streets of the Old Town.

At the end of the day, we check in to our hotel. You have free time in the evening. We stay overnight in Tashkent at the 4-star MILAN TASHKENT or similar hotels.

Tashkent's museums and bazaar

After breakfast, we begin a full day of sightseeing. We will visit the Navoi Opera House and its surroundings, the Uzbekistan Museum of Applied Arts and Chorsu Bazaar to explore the capital's modern and cultural sides. At the bazaar, we will explore the market selling traditional spices, textiles and handicrafts.

We will have lunch during the tour. In the afternoon, there will be free time for shopping or exploring independently.

In the evening, an optional dinner accompanied by local music may be arranged on our tour leader's recommendation.

We will stay overnight in Tashkent again, at the 4-star MILAN Tashkent hotel or similar hotels.

Crossing into Kazakhstan

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Çernayevka Border Crossing between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. After completing the border formalities, we enter Kazakhstan and continue towards Shymkent.

After a road journey of approximately 2.5 hours, we arrive in Shymkent, the cultural centre of southern Kazakhstan. After lunch at a local restaurant, we begin our city tour. During the tour, we see Al Farabi Square, Independence Park, Baiterek Park and Monument, the local market and buildings from the Soviet era.

After the tour, we proceed to our hotel. We have dinner at the hotel restaurant and settle into our rooms for the night. Overnight in Shymkent at the 4-star Symhkent Aurum hotel or a similar hotel.

Flight to Almaty

We leave the hotel early in the morning and transfer to Shymkent Airport. We depart for Almaty at 07:30 with FlyAryStan. After a flight lasting approximately 1,5 hours, we arrive at Almaty Airport at 09:00.

Upon arrival, we begin our Almaty city tour. Almaty, Kazakhstan's former capital and largest city, combines Soviet architecture with modern life. Sights on the panoramic tour include Panfilov Park and Zenkov Cathedral within the park, the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, Independence Square, the Republic Palace and Kok Tobe Hill.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we have free time in the city. Guests can go shopping or spend time in the city's cafés and parks.

We spend the night at our hotel in Almaty. Accommodation will be at the 4-star KAZZHOL PARK HOTEL or similar hotels.

Kazakh culture and Chimbulak

After breakfast at the hotel, we continue exploring the area around Almaty. We first visit the Hun Ethnographic Complex, which keeps Kazakh culture and traditions alive.

We are welcomed with the traditional Kazakh Şaşu custom, then tour the complex to learn about Kazakh ways of life. We watch demonstrations of traditional rituals such as Beşike Salu (placing a baby in a cradle) and Tusay Kesu (the first-step ceremony). We see life inside a Kazakh tent (Yurt) and watch Atpen Audarysmak and Kız Kuu as part of the equestrian sports demonstrations. We also observe how baursak, the Kazakh national bread, is prepared and have the opportunity to taste it.

After the visit, we have lunch at a restaurant in the area.

In the afternoon, if time allows, we head up to Çimbulak Ski Resort, one of Almaty's landmarks. We then return to the city, where we have the opportunity to see places such as Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Yeşil Market and Gök Tepe (Kok Tobe). From Kok Tobe hill, you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of Almaty and take photographs.

At the end of the day, we return to our hotel and spend the night in Almaty.

Our hotel is the 4-star KAZZHOL PARK HOTEL or similar.

Overland into Kyrgyzstan

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart from Kazakhstan for Kyrgyzstan in our private vehicle. The road journey from Almaty to Bishkek takes approximately 4 hours. Along the way, we see the steppes and mountain ranges of Central Asia.

We complete passport and customs formalities at Korday, the border crossing between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. A change of vehicle may be required at the border. All border crossing procedures will be carried out with the assistance of the local guide and officials.

In the afternoon, we arrive in Bishkek and transfer to our hotel in the city centre to settle into our rooms. We have dinner at a selected restaurant serving local cuisine.

We stay overnight at our 5-star hotel in Bishkek. Our hotel is the 5-star Sofia Hotel or a similar property.

Burana Tower to Issık Lake

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart by private bus. Our first stop is Burana Tower and its historical and architectural complex, approximately 90 km from Bishkek.

The tower stands among the ruins of the ancient city of Balasagun, founded in the 10th century during the Karakhanid period. It is considered one of the important symbols of Central Asia's Turkic-Islamic civilization.

After the visit, we follow the Boom Canyon route and explore the maze of canyons and natural formations. We walk among the formations known as Grand Canyon, Bobsled and Gökdelen, with opportunities to photograph the area's natural scenery.

After the tour, we arrive in the town of Cholpon Ata on the shores of Issık Lake. There is free time to walk along the lake and explore the surroundings. Dinner and overnight stay are at our hotel.

Accommodation will be at the 3-star Olimp Hotel or similar hotels.

Boat tour on Issık Lake

After breakfast at our hotel, we begin our sightseeing tour of Cholpon Ata. Our first stop is the Open Air Petroglyph Museum, one of the region’s important archaeological sites. Prehistoric animal figures and hunting scenes on hundreds of rocks scattered across the mountainside offer insight into the region’s past. We then visit the Cholpon Ata History Museum and the Rukh Ordo Cultural Complex. The complex symbolizes tolerance between religions and cultures and features examples of different religious architecture and sculptures.

We then head to the marina on the shore of Issık Lake for a boat tour lasting approximately 2 hours. During the trip, we take in the lake’s turquoise waters, the surrounding mountains and the natural scenery.

After the boat tour, we have a short period of free time by the lake. We then set off for Bishkek in our private vehicle. We arrive in the city in the evening and check in to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Bishkek.

Our accommodation is the 5-star Sofia Hotel or similar.

Journey's end

After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to Bishkek Manas International Airport at the time set by our guide. After completing ticket and passport procedures, we depart for Istanbul at 10:55 on a Turkish Airlines THY direct flight. After a flight of approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes, we arrive at Istanbul Airport at 14:15.

See you on your next trip!