Tour in Central Asia Four Stan’s (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan)

……Arrival in Almaty airport
At the international airport of Almaty you will be met by our driver, with the sign Minzifa Travel.
Transfer to hotel
Check in to the hotel
Free day in Almaty!
Overnight in Almaty

Breakfast in the hotel
Meeting and transfer to the city for sightseeing tour.
You will start acquaintance with the wonderful city of Almaty from its sports center, where the Central Stadium and Baluan Sholak Sports Palace is located. Further along the route you will see the Mukhtar Auezov Kazakh Drama Theater and the Kazakh State Circus.
Then the tour continues with a ride to the Medeu Gorge (1690 meters above sea level) well known due to the highest mountain skating rink in the world and the dam, protecting the city from dangerous mudflow.
Brief walk around with a chance to take your mountain-view pictures and breath the fresh pine-tree air, then you will take a cable car to Shymbulak ski resort area. Having ridden about 20-25 minutes above magnificent fur-trees up to the altitude of 2260 meters above sea level, you will get to the 1st level of ski resort, occupied by fancy restaurants, ski & snowboarding school and mountain hotel. Then you will go down the back way by cable car. Meanwhile you will be told an interesting story why Almaty is actually called «the Apple city».
Overnight in Almaty

Today you will have a trip to the Charyn Canyon. This is one of the unique natural monuments of Kazakhstan. The canyon is about 12 million years old and amazes with its vertical cliffs, reminiscent of ancient castles, created under the influence of wind, sun and rain. It will take you about 3 hours to reach the canyon. Meanwhile, you will be told a lot of interesting things about the history and nature of this region, the Kazakh people as well as their life and traditions.

As soon as you see the Charyn Canyon, you will immediately forget about the long distance you traveled and be amazed by the beauty and magnificence of the canyon. You can admire the grandiose panorama and then walk through the labyrinth of the Valley of Castles with its inaccessible walls hanging over you. Then transfer to the village of Saty.
Overnight at the guest house.

In the morning we will drive 15 km to Kaindy lake. It is located among a magnificent pine forest at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and is famous for its origin. The lake was formed in 1911 as a result of a powerful earthquake, which caused a landslide that blocked the valley with a natural dam. Thus, the water flooded this valley. The water in the lake is very cold, so the needle tops of the flooded trees are well preserved and visible through the transparent surface of the water, and the dry stalks of fir trees come to the surface, like the masts of an underwater squadron.

Then you will return to Saty village for lunch. Afterwards you will go 15 km to Kolsai Lake. This is a very beautiful lake with an abundance of mushrooms and located far from civilization.
After the walk return to Saty village.
Overnight is at the guest house.

After breakfast you will go to Almaty. The journey takes about 4-5 hours. The city of Almaty was the capital of independent Kazakhstan from 1991 to 1997. In 1997, the capital was moved to Nur-Sultan, and since then

Almaty has been called the southern capital of Kazakhstan. Almaty remains the main commercial center of the country. The city is located in the mountainous region of southern Kazakhstan. Almaty is the largest and the most developed city, with ethnic and cultural diversity of Kazakhstan.

You will visit Historical Museum. In the evening we will go to Kok-Tobe mountains to look at the panorama of the city. The tour ends with a trip from the top of the hill to the city center on the famous cable car.
Overnight is at hotel

Breakfast in the hotel
In the morning is transfer to Kyrgyz border. After meeting with your Kyrgyz guide you will transfer to Bishkek. Bishkek city is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is situated at about 800 meters (2,600 ft) altitude near the northern range of the Kyrgyz Ala Too range. This range is an extension of the Tian Shan mountains, which rises up to 4,855 meters (15,928 ft) and provides a spectacular backdrop to the city.

This entire day is dedicated to a city tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, the National Museum, National Philharmonic, and others places of interest.

Night is in a hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel
Today you will be transferred to Chon Kemin gorge. On route to the gorge you will visit Burana Tower (an 11th century minaret) and an open air museum of Balbals (stone warriors). After an interesting excursion and climbing on the top of the tower is transfer to Chon Kemin gorge. Here you will meet a nice family that will prepare a traditional lunch for you. In the afternoon we will have 3 hours of horse riding. Your route will go high in the mountains and you will even ride horses through a mountain forest. On the top you will see the panorama view of the gorge.
The night will be in a guest house.

Breakfast in the hotel
Today you will be transferred to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 m above sea level). The lake is called "the pearl of Central Asia". For more than 1 500 years local people considered the lake to be a sacred one.

You can come up to the lake and to see mountains all around it. Today you will drive along the whole northern shore and arrive to Karakol town. Also we will visit today a place with ancient stone patterns – petroglyphs. In Karakol we will visit the Dungan mosque. It was built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail.

This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church.
Night is in a hotel.

Today we will drive to Jeti Oguz gorge. It’s famous for its red rocks formations that have a name Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. Also you will see there the Broken Heart Mountain. If you want it is possible to go on a top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panorama view of the gorge.

Then we continue our trip, breaking in Bokonbaeva village, where we will meet a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (a traditional way of nomadic hunting).
Night is in a guest house.

Today we start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan – Son Kul Lake. This lake is surrounded by mountains and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level. Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation.
Herders of the Naryn region come to the lake to use it as a pastureland. After our arrival, you will have lunch and then drive to Moldo Ashuu Pass (3201 m). It is considered one of the most beautiful passes in Kyrgyzstan. From the top of Moldo Ashu Pass, you can see almost the entire road winding up to the pass. It also affords spectacular views of the Naryn Valley and some stunning mountain ranges to the south.

Overnight is in nomadic collapsible dwellings – yurts. They are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings.

After meeting with locals, we will drive to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek city. The road to the city goes through 33 parrots pass (3 133 m). In Kochkor village you will spend some time with a family that will show you the way our national felt carpets are produced.

Also you will visit a small handicraft museum there. They have many examples of silver decorations, coats made of wolves, horse saddle decorations, carpets and more. Afterwards you will be transferred to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek city.

Night is in a hotel.

09.00 Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning we will transfer you to the airport for a flight to the city of Osh. In Osh city you will have a walk and will get to visit a famous and special place – Suleiman Mountain. Suleiman Too (Solomon’s Mountain) is situated in the city center and it is considered a place of pilgrimage for local Muslims, because according to the legend, biblical prophet Solomon (Suleiman, in the Koran) was buried at the foot of it.

It is not a real city tour without visiting our Asian Bazaar. We will show it to you today and you will be able to take a lot of photos there.

Night is in a hotel.

In the morning is transfer to Uzbek border.
Osh-Ferghana-Tashkent by car

Night in a hotel in Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel
Oibek border – Khujand
Tajik guide will meet you on the border and drive to Khujand city. It is the second largest city of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Syr Darya River at the mouth of the Fergana Valley.
The population of the city is 149,000. It is also the capital of the northernmost province of Tajikistan, now called Sughd.

You will visit in the afternoon a Cultural Palace of Khujant. At this place the first president of Tajikistan was chosen. Also we will go to see Central Mosque that is situated in the middle of the city.

Night is in a hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel
Our trip today is to high Mountain lake – Iskanderkul (2 255 m. a. s. l.). It is situated in the famous Fann Mountains. This fabulous area is one of the best places of Central Asia. After arrival to the lake you will go for a walk along it beaches. Also we will hike to see the hugest waterfall known as Niagara of Fann Mountains.

Tajikistan takes the second place among the CIS countries for volume of water resources: it has the highest water reserves of all Central Asian countries with more than 1 000 rivers, 2 000 lakes and 8000 glaciers. After having the rest near the lake we will have a night in a guest house.

Overnight at guesthouse

In the morning is drive to Dushanbe via Anzob pass (3 372 m) and tunnel of Isticlol. The road will go over a mountain passes and you will have many photo stops. The second half of the day is dedicated to a guided city tour. First of we will visit Rudake Park, National library, White House, National state seal, and House of parliament. After it we will walk in National park to make photos of Ministry of Inner Affairs and the biggest National Flag in the world – 165 m high pole, 30 m wide, 60 m long.

After excursion in Central Museum you will have lunch. Then you will visit to Gurminj Museum of traditional musical instruments.

Night is in a hotel.

Today we will drive to Norak city. You will see Norak water reservoir that is called Tajik Sea. We will drive over Chormahzak and Shar – Shar passes including the tunnels. Nurek is a city in the Khatlon province of Tajikistan. It is situated on the Vakhsh River, 885m above sea level, and is 70km southeast of Dushanbe, the capital. It has a population of 19,000. The city was founded on the site of the former village of Nurek, whose name means «pomegranate» in tajik language the modern city was established in 1960 to support the construction of nearby Nurek Dam, which was completed in 1980. The Nurek Dam is the world highest dam, 300m (984ft) on Vakhsh River in Tajikistan. The Dam is located in a deep gorge along the Vakhsh River in western Tajikistan. You will have stop for the photos. You can make a lot of pictures.

After sightseeing in Nurek you will drive back to Dushanbe.

Overnight at Hotel.

Today you will do a day trip from Dushanbe to the Seven Lakes (Marquzor Lakes), about 60 km south of Panjakent. At this place you will have time to go for short hiking. There road goes along a gorge where 7 lakes are located. They are situated on different altitudes and have different colors. Also you will meet local people that live at that area. It will be very interesting to see their way of life. After hiking we will drive to Penjakent. Quite possibly the five villages started the history of this remarkable city which originated in the 5th-8th centuries AD. Penjikent of that time was one of the most important cultural and crafts centers of Sogd. It was even named "Central Asian Pompeii". It was a superbly fortified well-organized city with a ruler's palace, two temples, markets, rich dwelling houses decorated with numerous paintings, wooden and clay statues of ancient gods.

Night is in a hotel.

In the morning is transfer to Uzbek border
11:00 Excursion program in Samarkand
Visit to the famous Mausoleum of Amir Timur - "Gur Emir" and his family tomb - a masterpiece of architecture of the 14th century.
Visiting the legendary Registan Square, Madrassah of Ulugbek - the 15th century, Sher-Dor-17th century medrese (1619-1636), Tilya Kori 17th century (1646-1660) - Madrasah and Mosque.
Dinner
The Bibi-Khanum Mosque (1399-1404), erected in honor of the wife of Amir Timur.
Famous Samarkand Sieb Bazaar. where you can buy dried fruits and national sweets.
During the tour you will visit the Shahi Zinda Necropolis of the Timurid times
Visiting the Ulugbek Observatory is a unique 15th century building for studying astronomy.
The duration of the excursion program is 5 - 6 hours.
18:00 Master class on cooking national bread

Check in at Hotel
Additional Activities in Samarkand on request:
Wine Faktory “Filatov” You will taste about 12 Uzbek wines and learn the history of wine in Uzbekistan.
Theater of of historical national clothes (performance)

Night in the hotel of Samarkand

09.00 Breakfast at the hotel.
10:00 Country excursion 30 km from Samarkand:
The paper factory of Cunha Meros (a re-created manual production of ancient paper from the mulberry tree, here you will see the entire process of paper production)
The Ulugbek Observatory is a unique structure of the 15th century, at the moment there is a fragment of the measuring instrument "Sulce Fakhri"
The Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel is a holy place of worship for the three religions of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish
Museum Afrosiyeb - Ancient city of Samarkand.
Lunch in Chayhana

The duration of the excursion program is 3-4 hours.
20:00 Transfer to railway station
21:03 Departure from Samarkand to Bukhara
22:34 Arrival in Bukhara

Transfer to hotel
Overnight in Bukhara

Breakfast in the hotel
10:00 Start of the excursion program in Bukhara.
Visit to the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani
The mausoleum of Chashma Ayub (the well of Job), is located near the Samanid Mausoleum.
Visit the Bolo House mosque of the 18-20th century.
Fortress Ark-Citadel of Emir of Bukhara.

Lunch in the local teahouse
Continuation of the sightseeing tour:
The Poi Kalyan complex includes the Kalon Mosque and the Kalyan Minaret, the Mir-Arab Madrassah,
Madrasah of Ulugbek and Abdulazizhan,
Ancient trading domes,
The Magoki-Attori Mosque of the 12th century
Lyabi Hauz Complex, consisting of three architectural monuments: Kukeldash Madrasah, Nodir Divan-Begi and Khanaka Madrasah of the 17th century.

Duration of the excursion program: 5 - 6 hours
Night in the hotel of Bukhara

Breakfast in the hotel
10:00 Excursion program outside the city:
A trip to the summer palace of Emir of Bukhara "Sitorai Mohi Hosa".
The mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi, the founder of the Sufi order of Nashbandi,
"Chor Bakr" - Necropolis, Unique Monument of "Chor Minor" 1807 -1809.

Lunch in the local teahouse, where they cook the most delicious shish kebab in Uzbekistan
14:00 Departure to Khiva
The road to Khiva through the Kyzylkum Desert (Red Sands) is the 11th largest desert in the world. During the journey, a stop will be made near the Amu Darya River so that you can enjoy the magnificent scenery.

21:00 Arrival time to Khiva, transfer to the hotel, rest
Free time in Khiva
Stay overnight in Khiva Hotel

Breakfast in the hotel
10:00 Khiva - Excursions to the sights of Khiva
Ichan-Kala (12-19 centuries), the inner city of Khiva, which has preserved more than 50 memorials and ancient houses.
Fortress Kunya Ark,
Ensemble Pakhlavan Mahmud,
The stone estate is the palace of Tash-Hoveli,
The Minaret of Kalta-Minor is a symbol of the city,
The complex of Islam Hoxha.
Lunch in the teahouse.
Further along the route;
The Juma Mosque,
Mosque of Khodja-Islam,
MosqueTim Ala-Kulihan,
Madrassah of Abdullah-Khan,
Mausoleum of Seyyed Allauddin,
Madrasah Muhammad Amin-Khan,
Madrasah Muhammad Rahim-Khan,
Duration of the tour 4 - 5 hours
Stay overnight in Khiva Hotel

Breakfast at hotel
08:30 Meet your driver at hotel and Transfer to Urgench airport
09:30 Departure from Urgench to Tashkent by plane
10:50 Arrival in Tashkent

Transfer to hotel
Free time in Tashkent!
Overnight in TAshkent hotel

……….Transfer to the international airport in Tashkent
………...Departure from Tashkent

End of Tour!