Silk Road Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Fly overnight to Bishkek via Istanbul. (N)

Day 2: Bishkek

Arrive and transfer to the Plaza Hotel for 2 nights (including immediate occupancy). Afternoon city tour including visits to the Open-Air Sculpture Museum, Victory Park, Ala-Too Square and the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic Hall. (N)

Day 3: Ala Archa National Park Bishkek

Drive to Ala Archa National Park, a picturesque area of wooded valleys, rivers, glaciers and waterfalls. View the magnificent peaks of the Kyrgyz Alatau Ridge (Tien Shan mountains), with a range of walking options available. A packed lunch is included. Return to Bishkek, with a guide at your disposal in the city. (B, L)

Day 4: Bokonbaevo Karakol

Drive to Bokonbaevo village on the shores of Issyk-Kul lake and watch the villagers make felt carpets and other handicrafts. Continue to Karakol, stopping en route at Fairy Tale canyon for a short walk to see the striking rock formations. Stay 2 nights at Green Yard Hotel. (B, L)

Day 5: Djety-Oguz

Drive to Djety-Oguz gorge for a walk among its impressive red rock formations and spruce forests. Join an optional golden eagle hunting show, to witness this ancient tradition. This evening, return to Karakol and join a Uighur family for a cooking demonstration of lagman (Kyrgyz noodle dish). (B)

Day 6: Karakol Issyk-Kul lake

Tour of Karakol including Dungan Mosque, built for a community of Chinese Muslims who arrived in the late 19th century. Continue to the Bronze Age petroglyphs found at CholponAta on the northern shores of Issyk-Kul lake. Optional 1-hour boat cruise on the lake. Stay overnight at Karven Issyk-Kul Hotel. (B)

Day 7: Burana Tower Bishkek

Drive to Burana Tower and explore the ruins of this important Silk Road trading point. The 25-metre-high minaret is the last remnant of a mosque found in the medieval city of Balasagun that was established in the ninth century. Continue to Bishkek and stay overnight at the Plaza Hotel. (B, L)

Day 8: Fly to Almaty, Kazakhstan

Fly to Almaty and take a guided tour of the city. Visit Panfilov Park, a local baazar, a chocolate factory and Zenkov Cathedral, one of the worlds highest wooden buildings. Stay 3 nights at the Kazzhol. (B)

Day 9: Almaty

Take another city tour including Republic Square and the Central State Museum, which showcases the countrys history from Bronze Age burials and nomadic culture to modern times. Drive to the picturesque valley of Medeo Gorge and take a cable car to an altitude of 2,230 metres above sea level for views of the surrounding mountains and to see one of the worlds most famous ice rinks. Visit Sunkar falcon farm and Kok Tobe hill with its 37-metrehigh TV tower, offering sweeping views of the city from its viewing deck. (B)

Day 10: Charyn canyon

Travel to the spectacular Charyn canyon for a gentle hike amid spectacular scenery. The red sandstone canyon is approximately 90km long and features some stunning rock formations. Return to Almaty, a journey of approximately 4 hours. (B)

Day 11: Fly to Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Fly to Tashkent and transfer to the Miran International Hotel for 1 night. (B)

Day 12: Tashkent Fly to Urgench Khiva

Morning tour of Tashkents old city, visiting Amir Timur Square, Kukeldash mosque and madrasa, and some of the unique metro stations. This evening, take a 1-hour flight to Urgench then drive to Khiva. Stay 3 nights at the Malika Kheivak Hotel (or similar). (B, D)

Day 13: Khiva

Morning visit to the ancient fortresses of Toprak Kala and Ayaz Kala, situated on a hill overlooking the Kyzylkum desert. Take lunch in a yurt then continue to Goybu village to visit Ulli Khovli, an ancient Khorezmian local house. Take a tour through the village to see the traditional lifestyle of the Khorezmians. (B, L, D)

Day 14: Khiva

Full-day tour of Khiva including Kunya Ark, Islam Khoja minaret, a local bakery and Tash Havli Palace. (B, D)

Day 15: Bukhara

Full-day drive to Bukhara (7-8 hours) through the Kyzylkum desert, with a photo stop en route at Amudaryo river. Stay at the Omar Khayyam Hotel for 3 nights. (B, L, D)

Day 16: Bukhara

City tour of Bukhara including visits to the PoiKaylan complex, the surviving trade domes, Lyab-i-Hauz complex, ancient Silk Market and the historic Chor Minor mosque. This evening, enjoy dinner at a family home with a cooking demonstration of plov (Uzbek rice dish). (B, D)

Day 17: Bukhara

Continue exploring Bukhara including visits to the Summer Palace, the imposing fortress known as The Ark, located on the site of a 2,000-year-old fortress; and the Samanid mausoleum, believed to be the oldest Islamic architectural monument in Central Asia, with its design derived from Zoroastrian burial structures and fire temples. (B)

Day 18: Shahrisabz Samarkand

Drive to Shahrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane, and visit the mosques, mausoleums and summer palace. Continue to Samarkand and stay at the Emirkhan Hotel for 3 nights. (B, L, D)

Day 19: Samarkand

Full-day tour of Samarkand, including visits to the Ulugbek observatory, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, Afrosiab Museum, the Bibi Khanum mosque and Registan Square. (B)

Day 20: Samarkand

Continue your tour of Samarkand, visiting Gur Emir mausoleum, the final resting place of several members of the Timurid dynasty including Timur himself. Other highlights include Hazrat Khizr mosque, Nodir Divan Begi madrasa and the Khodja Doniyor mausoleum. This afternoon, stop at a silk carpet factory and silk paper workshop before returning to your hotel. Dine at a local restaurant this evening. (B, D)

Day 21: Samarkand Tashkent

Morning at leisure in Samarkand. Late afternoon Afrosiyob Express train to Tashkent. On arrival, transfer to a local restaurant for dinner and then stay 1 night at the Miran International Hotel. (B, D)

Day 22: Tashkent Fly home

Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)