Classic Central Asia Group Tour 17-day

Almaty – Arrival (Kazakhstan)

Arrive in Almaty, where our driver will greet you and provide transfer to your hotel. Check-in starts from 14:00. Enjoy your free time. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Almaty (Kazakhstan)

Start your day with breakfast. At 09:00, your guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby for a city tour of Almaty. This morning, you’ll explore key attractions such as Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Republic Square, and the Central State Museum. Following a welcome lunch, a short 25 km drive will take you to Chimbulak, where you’ll visit the ski resort and ride the cable car to admire the stunning views of the snow-capped Tian Shan Mountains.

The final highlight of the day will be the Sunkar Falcon Farm, where you’ll witness an impressive show featuring expertly trained hawks, showcasing an iconic part of Kazakh culture. Return to the hotel by 18:00. Enjoy your free time. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour duration: 5–6 hours.

Almaty – Bishkek (Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan)

After breakfast, depart from Almaty at 09:00 and head towards Bishkek, enjoying scenic landscapes along the way (250 km, approximately 4 hours). Upon arrival, check in at the hotel.

In the afternoon, embark on a sightseeing tour of Bishkek, exploring Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, and the Manas Statue. You’ll also visit the Philharmonic Hall and the Victory Monument, both striking examples of Soviet-era architecture.

Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour duration: 2–3 hours.

Bishkek – Burana – Don Aryk – Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

Enjoy breakfast before departing from Bishkek at 09:00. Your first destination is the historic Burana Tower, a remnant of the ancient city of Balasagun dating back to the 11th–13th centuries.

Next, experience a traditional Kyrgyz horse game known as Ulak Tartysh (also called Kok Boru), where two teams of horseback riders compete for control of a goat carcass.

Afterward, head to Don Aryk village for a home-cooked lunch with a local Kyrgyz family. Following lunch, enjoy a hands-on demonstration of yurt assembly, with local Kyrgyz women explaining the significance and function of each yurt component.

Return to Bishkek for an overnight stay at the hotel.
Tour duration: 6–7 hours.

Bishkek – Ala Archa – Bishkek – Tashkent (Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan)

After breakfast, head to Ala-Archa National Park, located 40 km from Bishkek. This picturesque alpine gorge is carved by the rushing Ala-Archa River and surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks with steep, forested mountain slopes.

You’ll begin a scenic 3.5 km hike from the alpine camp (2,200 m) to the Ak-Sai Waterfall, which stands 35 meters tall at an altitude of 2,700 m. The trail winds through dense coniferous forests and vibrant alpine meadows.

Return to the alpine camp and transfer back to Bishkek. Enjoy some free time before your evening transfer to Bishkek airport (110 km, approximately 1.5 hours) for your flight to Tashkent (1 hour 20 minutes). Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.
Tour duration: 5–6 hours.

Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

After breakfast, begin your Tashkent city tour at 10:00 by exploring the Old City. This historic district includes the Khast-Imam Complex, renowned for housing one of the oldest known copies of the Qur’an, the sacred book of Islam.

Next, visit Chorsu Bazaar, a bustling market where you can bargain for spices, dried fruits, and nuts. From there, hop on the Tashkent Metro and head to the city center. Explore the Museum of Applied Arts and enjoy a leisurely stroll from Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square, where the tour concludes.

Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour duration: 5–6 hours.

Tashkent – Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

Early in the morning, collect your “take-away breakfast” from the hotel and transfer to the railway station. Board the Afrosiyob high-speed train, which travels from Tashkent to Samarkand (300 km, approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes).

Upon arrival, meet your guide and driver to begin the city tour. Start with the Gur Emir Mausoleum, the burial site of Timur, the Turco-Mongol conqueror. Continue to the magnificent Registan Square, followed by visits to the Bibi Khanum Mosque and Siyob Bazaar.

After a lunch break, explore the Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, then take a short drive to Konigil village to discover how traditional Samarkand paper is crafted from mulberry bark.

Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour duration: 6–7 hours.

Samarkand – Seven Lakes – Penjikent (Uzbekistan/Tajikistan)

After breakfast, transfer to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border point, Jartepa (50 km, approximately 1 hour). Upon reaching the border, complete customs and passport control procedures on both sides, then proceed to the exit area where our guide and driver will be waiting for you.

Once you’ve crossed the border, meet your local Tajik guide and driver and continue your journey to the Seven Lakes (80 km, around 2 hours). These stunning lakes are located in the western Fann Mountains, each showcasing a unique color, ranging from serene turquoise to deep purple.

Enjoy lunch at a guesthouse near the fourth lake. For those wishing to experience the stunning view from the seventh lake, there’s an option for a hike from the sixth lake to the seventh lake.

In the evening, transfer to Penjikent, check in to your hotel, and overnight stay.
Tour duration: 7–8 hours.

Penjikent – Samarkand (Tajikistan/Uzbekistan)

After breakfast, drive to the ancient city of Penjikent, founded by the Sogdians in the 5th century and abandoned by the Arabs in the 8th century. Explore the ruins, where you can see the foundations of homes, a citadel with several Zoroastrian fire temples, and remnants of the ancient city bazaar.

In the modern part of Penjikent, visit a local market, a mosque, and the Rudaki Museum. Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, widely regarded as the father of Persian poetry.

Following the sightseeing tour, drive to the Jartepa border crossing and complete the necessary border procedures. Once in Uzbekistan, your driver will meet you for the transfer to your Samarkand hotel. Enjoy free time upon arrival. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour duration: 3 hours.

Samarkand – Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

After breakfast, at 08:45, transfer to the railway station for a fast train journey to Bukhara (260 km, 1 hour 45 minutes). Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel to drop off your luggage.

After lunch, embark on a walking tour to discover the historic Old City of Bukhara. Key highlights include the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Chor-Minor Madrasa, Kalyan Minaret, and the Ark Fortress.

Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour duration: 4–5 hours.

Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

In the morning, continue your exploration of Bukhara. Visit the Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums before heading to the historic trading domes.

Enjoy free time in the afternoon until the National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa, which begins at 18:00.

Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour duration: 3–4 hours.

Bukhara – Khiva (Uzbekistan)

In the morning, depart from Bukhara and drive to Khiva (480 km, approximately 7-8 hours). This overland journey takes you through the Kyzylkum Desert, a route once traveled by caravans on the Great Silk Road that carried porcelain and spices for centuries.

Arrive in Khiva by late afternoon and check in to your hotel. The evening is free for you to explore Khiva at your leisure.

Overnight stay at the hotel.
Note: As restaurants along the route are basic with limited menu options, we recommend arranging a packed lunch for this journey.
Please be aware that some sections of the road are in poor condition.

Khiva (Uzbekistan)

After breakfast, begin your city tour with a visit to the Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour will take you to key landmarks such as the Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, and the Juma Mosque.

You’ll also explore the Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, and the Islam-Khoja Minaret, which is the tallest minaret in Uzbekistan.

Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour duration: 5–6 hours.

Khiva – Darvaza Gas Crater (Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan)

After breakfast at 09:30 am, depart for the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border at Shavat-Dashoguz (60 km, approximately 1 hour). Upon arrival, complete customs and passport procedures on both sides and proceed to the exit of the border control area. Our guide will be waiting for you with a sign.

Next, enjoy a lunch break before continuing your journey to the Darvaza Gas Crater, located in the heart of the Karakum Desert (270 km, around 4 hours).

Upon arrival, you will have the chance to enjoy a delicious fire-cooked dinner near the burning gas crater. Overnight stay in a yurt.

Darvaza Gas Crater – Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)

After a camp-style breakfast, depart for Ashgabat (280 km, approximately 4 hours). Upon arrival, check in to your hotel.

Begin your sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, which has earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most white marble buildings of any city globally.

During the city tour, you will visit notable landmarks such as the Spiritual Mosque, one of Central Asia’s largest mosques. The tour will also include stops at the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, Presidential Square, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, and the newly constructed Independence Park.

Enjoy free time in the evening. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)

After breakfast, continue your sightseeing tour. Start by visiting the archaeological site of Old Nisa, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, head to the Akhalteke horse stables and the Lenin Monument.

Next, explore the Carpet Museum and the local bazaar. Afterward, you’ll have free time to relax or explore further.

In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Ashgabat – Departure (Turkmenistan)

Transfer to the International Airport for your departure. This marks the end of the Classic Central Asia Relaxed Small Group Tour.