14-day Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Tour

Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at 14:00. Your tour will start with meeting your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Begin at the Courage Monument, which commemorates the 1966 earthquake and honours the resilience of the people of Tashkent, before continuing to the historic Old City. Visit the Mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi, walk past the Khast-Imam Complex, view the exterior of the Islamic Civilization Center, and stroll along the newly developed Zarkaynar Street. Next, explore Chorsu Bazaar and a local pottery gallery, then ride the beautifully decorated Tashkent Metro to the modern city centre. Enjoy free time for lunch on Taras Shevchenko Street, known for its lively dining scene, then continue to the State Museum of Applied Arts and admire the elegant facade of the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, concluding the tour at Amir Timur Square. Overnight at the hotel. After the tour or later in the evening you can visit the Islamic Civilization Center in Tashkent on your own (optional).

Early morning transfer for flight to Urgench (1093 km, 1 h. 40 min.). Arrive in Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 min.). Later proceed for guided walking sightseeing tour. Spend a day in Ichan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage. Visit Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam Khoja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours

In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h.)*. The Great Silk Road once routed through Bukhara and Khiva ran through the Kyzylkum Desert, as the present road** does nowadays. Stop en-route to enjoy views of Amu Darya River and the desert. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel. *As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before). **Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.

Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Continue sightseeing tour with a guide. Drive out of the city to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir. Head to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi. In the afternoon depart to Samarkand (280 km, 4 hours’ drive). Stop on the way at Caravanserai Rabat-i-Malik dating back to 11th century. Arrive in Samarkand late in the afternoon, check in to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 2-3 hours

Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siyob Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum – the Mausoleum of Amir Timur. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. At 16:00 transfer to railway station. Take the high-speed train, Afrosiyob, departing to Tashkent at 17:00 (300 km). Scheduled arrival time is 19:10. Pick-up and transfer to hotel. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Early morning transfer to Tashkent railway station. Departure of the train to Kokand at 08:05 (alternative private transport is also available). Arrival in Kokand at 12:16, meeting with the guide and driver to start the active part of the tour in the Fergana Valley. You will visit the main historical and cultural sights of Kokand: the palace of Khudoyar Khan and the Jami Mosque. You will also visit the museum of Hamza, a famous poet and playwright, whose full name is Hamza Hakimzade Niyazi. Next, you will take a short drive to the town of Rishtan (40 km, 1 hour), famous for its magnificent ceramics. You will visit the home and workshop of Rustam Usmanov, a master potter whose works have been exhibited at international exhibitions. You will observe the process of pottery making and admire a beautiful collection of traditional Rishtan ceramics with intricate patterns and blue-green glaze. In the evening, transfer to Fergana (50 km, 1 hour). Upon arrival in Fergana, you will have dinner with a local family, where you will try homemade traditional Uzbek dishes, learn about the culture and way of life of the Uzbek people, and learn about family traditions. During dinner, you will be able to taste dishes such as pilaf, kazan kabob, as well as try authentic tandoor flatbread, local fruits, and sweets. After dinner, transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and driver and depart for Margilan (15 km, 30 minutes) to visit the Silk Factory. Here, you will observe the entire process of producing silk fabrics with traditional ikat patterns – from collecting silkworm cocoons to hand dyeing and weaving the fabric on a loom. After the silk factory, take a stroll through a vibrant oriental bazaar. If your visit falls on a Thursday or Sunday, you will explore the Kumtepa Bazaar; on other days, you will visit the Margilan Central Bazaar. The market is full of lively trade, fragrant spices, dried fruits, handicrafts, and more. During your visit, be sure to sample the local delicacy, halva. Following the bazaar visit, enjoy lunch at a local café or restaurant*, where you can taste some of the finest dishes of the Fergana Valley. Return to Fergana for a walk in Ahmad Al-Fergani Park, free time. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours *Optional: Trip to the Wine Garden winery (20 km, 30 minutes) for lunch at the restaurant located on the winery grounds.

In the morning transfer to Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan border point. Crossing the border. Upon arrival at the customs and passport control on both sides, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. At that point, our guide/driver will be waiting for you with the sign with your name. In Kyrgyzstan meet your local guide and driver, transfer to Osh. Have a short city tour in Osh which according to legends was founded by King Solomon 3000 years ago. Visit Suleyman-Too (Solomon’s Mountain), National Museum of History and Archaeology, and the Osh Bazaar located at that same place from time when Osh was an important trading center on the Great Silk Road. In the afternoon transfer to local airport for flight to Bishkek. Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast transfer to the Ala-Archa National Park (40 km, 50 min.) which attracts visitors with its beautiful mountain scenery and hiking trails. Fast flowing Ala-Archa River runs through the alpine gorge surrounded by snowy peaks with steep forested slopes. Enjoy free time or a hike in the park. In the afternoon return to Bishkek for city tour. Visit Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Statue of Manas. See Philharmonic Hall and Victory Monument – bright examples of Soviet architecture. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

In the morning transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake (260 km, 4 h.). Stop on the way to see Burana Tower, what has left from the ancient city of Balasagun (11-13 cent.). Continue driving to Issyk-Kul, the second largest mountain lake in the world (1600 m above sea level). Arrival at lake, accommodation in a hotel at the North coast of Issyk-Kul. Meals: dinner

After breakfast at transfer to Grigorievskoe Gorge. It is one of the most beautiful gorges in Issyk-Kul region. After hiking transfer to Bishkek. On the way stop in Cholpon-Ata, where you will be able to visit Petroglyphs, the rock carvings lying under the open sky and also visit Historical and Cultural Museum*. Transfer to Bishkek. Arrive in Bishkek, free time. Farewell dinner. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: dinner *Temporarily closed for renovation.

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to the airport. End of the 14-day Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan tour.