Welcome to Kyrgyzstan!

Arrive at 09:05 by flight TK-344 IST-FRU. Upon clearing immigration and customs, the representative will be waiting at the airport meeting area for your transfer to Bishkek (40 min). 
We’ll explore the capital city, starting from Manas Monument – the main national hero of the Kyrgyz people. Then we’ll visit Historical Museum or Fine Arts, walk around Ala Too Square with Independence Monument, and finish at the Old Square with Parliament House and the only survived in Central Asia Lenin’s Monument. 

Overnight in Bishkek. 
Meal(s): -

Today we’ll start 4-5 hour drive to Issyk Kul Lake (Hot Lake). Issyk Kul is a pearl of Kyrgyzstan; the lake never freezes due to its salinity. 
On the way to Issyk Kul we’ll visit Burana Tower (UNESCO site) which was constructed in 12th century by Karakhanids dynasty. 
For lunch, we’ll enjoy hospitality of local family in  Tokmok town, and continue our drive to the lake.
Free time at the lake. We’ll have dinner in the restaurant of resort.

Overnight at Issyk Kul. 
Meal(s): breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Today we’ll depart to Karakol town, and have a few stops on the way: Cholpon Ata town, where we’ll visit interesting ethnographic museum, and open air petroglyphs site. Later, we’ll see Museum of N.M. Przhevalsky – Russian geographer and explorer of Central and East Asia. 
Upon arrival in Karakol, we’ll visit Dungan mosque and wooden Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church.
Our dinner will be at the home of Uygur or Dungan family, where we’ll have a cooking class of national food.

Overnight in Karakol. 
Meal(s): breakfast, dinner.

Today we’ll set off on a road trip of four hours to Bokonbaevo village. En route we will stop at Djety Oguz gorge (Seven Bulls), where we’ll hike to see the “Broken Heart” rock. 
Later transfer to Skazka canyon (Fairytale canyon). Over millennia of erosion, the red sandstone has taken forms of animals, landmarks, or characters from legends.
Dinner in a yurt camp / guest house.

Overnight in Bokonbaevo. 
Meal(s): breakfast, dinner.

After breakfast we will depart to Kochkor village. Kochkor is now home to artisans who specialize in traditional Kyrgyz art, and who revive the traditions of the region and make sustainable souvenirs. Kochkor has become famous for its shyrdaks – traditional rugs and felt carpets, and we’ll take part in a class of shyrdaks producing.
Lunch with local family where we’ll enjoy folk show.
Continue driving to Bishkek via Kuvaky pass and spectacular views to the Orto Tokoi water reservoir.

Overnight in Bishkek. 
Meal(s): breakfast, lunch.

Today we can explore spectacular Ala Archa natural park, where we’ll hike to the waterfall or just walk around. 
Return to Bishkek and head to the airport to catch the flight Bishkek-Tashkent:
24 April (HY-778 FRU-TAS 18:50-19:10)
Time to say good bye to Kyrgyzstan!

Welcome to Uzbekistan!
A Central Asian nation and former Soviet republic, landlocked Uzbekistan is the proud home to spellbinding architecture and ancient cities that have been overlooked for many years.
Upon clearing immigration and customs, the representative will be waiting at the airport meeting area for your transfer to the hotel. 
Overnight in Tashkent. 
Meal(s): breakfast.

Tashkent, a charming mish mash of austere Soviet-style buildings and classical Russian architecture, has a long history of 2,200 years and has been the capital of Uzbekistan since 1930.
We’ll go on a half-day city tour, starting by exploring the narrow winding streets of the Old Town. This area is home to Barakkhan Madrasah, Tillya Shaykh Mosque, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the Library of Islamic Literature.
Under a giant dome, we’ll find a delightful slice of city life in the traditional Chor-Su Bazaar. It’s also a great place to buy souvenirs, watch Uzbek bread baking and taste many national dishes in between the numerous food rows. 
In the modern part of the city we’ll visit Mustakillik Square. We’ll even take a ride on the vibrant, arty Tashkent Metro. The tour of Tashkent ends at Amir Temur Square, established on the intersection of two ancient trade roads in the heart of the city.

Overnight in Tashkent. 
Meal(s): breakfast.

A morning flight will take us to Urgench, followed by a 40-minute drive to Khiva.
A visit to this 6th century walled city is like travelling back in time. It is a city of colour thanks to the navy, indigo and cerulean ceramic tiles embedded in the ochre walls of many of the buildings.
We’ll walk the labyrinth of sand-laden alleyways to find the Juma Mosque whose roof is supported by 213 unique columns of 10th century elm; Tash Hauli, the main palace of Khiva rulers and Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, an open-air mausoleum. We’ll also visit Muhammad Amin Khan Madrassah, Kalta Minor Minaret, Kunya Ark, Muhamad Rahim Khan Madrassah, Islam Khodja Minaret and Shirgazi Khan Madrassah.

Overnight in Khiva. 
Meal(s): breakfast.

After breakfast we’ll set off on a road trip of six to seven hours to Bukhara. The drive takes us through the red sands of Kyzylkum Desert, the 15th-largest desert in the world. It’s a dry and desolate, yet beautiful area, populated by nomadic tribes. We’ll have stops to stretch our legs on the bank of the Amudarya River. 
Upon arrival in Bukhara, time at leisure. We recommend relaxing at local ancient hammam Bozori Kord (XVII C) with some spa procedures.

Overnight in Bukhara.
Meal(s): breakfast.

Today we’ll explore Bukhara, Central Asia’s holiest city. It is home to buildings spanning a thousand years of history and a thoroughly lived-in and cohesive old centre that hasn’t changed too much in two centuries. It is one of the best places in Central Asia for a glimpse of pre-Russian Turkestan.
We’ll visit the Ark Fortress – the residence of Bukhara khans, Bolo Hauz Mosque, Samanids Mausoleum and some beautiful madrassahs. At the Poi-Kalyan complex we can see the Kalyan Minaret, also known as the ‘Tower of Death’. We’ll also visit the Lyabi Hauz complex, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city containing several impressive Islamic monuments.
Dinner with a family of local artisan – master of oriental miniature, where you can eat main Uzbek dish – plov (pilaf). 

Overnight in Bukhara.
Meal(s): breakfast, dinner.

The City of the Dead – this is just one of the sights we will see today. Located just outside Bukhara, Chor Bakr Necropolis, as it is officially known, is mysterious burial place for the Dzhuibar sheikhs.

We’ll also visit Sitorai Mokhi Khosa – the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, Baghautdin Nakhshbandi Mausoleum – an important Muslim shrine and pilgrimage site, and Chor Minor Mosque.

Overnight in Bukhara.
Meal(s): Breakfast. 

In the morning, depart to Samarkand (5h). En route you will visit the ancient minaret in Vabkent (XII С), and the house of one of the famous ceramic masters in Gijduvan. 
In the afternoon we will visit the ruins of the XI century caravanserai Malik Rabat and Sardoba – ancient water reservoir. 

Overnight in Samarkand. 
Meal(s): breakfast.

No name is as evocative of the Silk Road as Samarkand, which lies at the crossroads of the silk trading route through Europe and Asia.
We’ll visit the awe-inspiring restored madrassas standing on three sides of the iconic Registan Square: Ulughbek Madrassah, Sher-Dor Madrassah and the gold-covered Tillya-Kari Madrassah.
Other highlights include the Bibi Khanym Mosque with its ocean-blue domes and exquisite carvings and the Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, which contains monuments dating back between 500 to 1000 years. We’ll also visit the Gur Emir Mausoleum and the Ulughbek Observatory with its interesting underground passages.
In the evening, we’ll visit the Khovrenko Winery. The wine degustation at Khovrenko is an excellent add-on to any excursion in Samarkand. Winemaking has a very deep history in Uzbekistan. Varieties of grape grown on the territory of modern Samarkand have a particularly sweet taste, thanks to fertile soil, the mild climate and an abundance of sunlight.
The winery produces not only wine, but also cognac and vodka. Guests can visit the museum with its unique collection of wine. The tasting room is located in a historical building of the late 19th century – the house of Filatov. And of course, no one can leave without a tipple or two! 

Overnight in Samarkand. 
Meal(s): breakfast.

We’ll continue seeing the sights of Samarkand today. There’s the ancient settlement and museum of Afrosiab, and the Tombstone of Saint Daniyar – the restored tomb of the Old Testament prophet Daniyar (Daniel). 
At Konigil village there’s time to visit the local paper mill which offers a fantastic insight into how traditional paper is still made using old-fashioned techniques.

Overnight in Samarkand. 
Meal(s): breakfast.

Sadly it’s our last day and time to say goodbye. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight TK-373 SKD-IST 05:40-08:50.