“Cultural Centers of the Great Silk Road” 12 days 11 nights

Central Asia possesses untold riches. The soothing expanse of the Seven Lakes near Penjikent, the cliffs of the Charyn Canyon in the Almaty region, entire neighborhoods preserved from medieval times in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, and the cutting-edge buildings of modern Tashkent perfectly demonstrate the uniqueness of this region.
The “Cultural Centers of the Great Silk Road” tour is a wonderful opportunity to travel through four countries of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. You will get to know the way of life in the capitals and mountain villages, desert outposts and national parks, admire the grandiose architecture of the Middle Ages, and learn about local customs and rituals.

The peoples of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan share a common past and common threads of cultural uniformity, although each remains unique in its own way. These similarities and differences are evident in each of the capitals, providing insight into the national history, values, and everyday culture of the people.
During the tour, you will have a unique opportunity to visit the cultural centers of this vast region and discover the differences between these similar countries. Visiting luxurious Astana, tranquil Bishkek, or the hospitable, tree-lined boulevards of Tashkent and Dushanbe, you will be rewarded with invaluable knowledge about these seemingly familiar places. During the tour, you will also visit the former capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty, and ancient Samarkand.

Tashkent

Day 1:

Arrival on flight Incheon-Tashkent 16:00-20:00
Transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Rest

Day 2:

-Breakfast 08:00-09:00
- City tour.

Old Town tour:
- The Hazret Imam architectural complex, which houses the world-famous Ottoman (Ottoman) Quran,
- The ancient Barak Khan Madrasah (16th century),
- Juma Mosque and the mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi (15th century);
- Chorsu Bazaar - the most famous market in Tashkent, where you will find a large selection of traditional Uzbek ceramics, jewelry, bags, clothing, and much more;
- Lunch at a national teahouse
- Stop at Tashkent City, walk around the area
- Transfer to Amir Temur Square. Continuation of the tour
- Independence Square, including the Monument to the Grieving Mother and the Eternal Flame, burning in memory of more than half a million Uzbek soldiers who died during World War II;
- Alisher Navoi Academic Grand Theater
- Attend a performance
- Dinner at 8:00-9:00 p.m.
- Transfer to the hotel, rest

Day 3:

-Breakfast at the hotel
-Departure to the Bostanlyk district to the Charvak Reservoir
-Boat trip
-Transfer to Beldiray, cable car ride, horse riding, kumis tasting
-Picnic lunch at the Bochka fishing farm, tasting of river trout and marinka
-Visit to the Chateau collective farm for tasting Uzbek wine and goat cheese
-Return to Tashkent, to the hotel, free time


Day 4:

- Early breakfast at 06:00
- Departure to the railway station at 07:00
- Transfer from Tashkent to Samarkand (Afrosiab high-speed train)
Travel time: 2 hours 24 minutes (08:23-10:36)
- Transfer to the hotel
- Check-in
- Rest
- Lunch 12:00-13:00
- Sightseeing tour of Samarkand 13:00-19:00

Gur-Emir is the world-famous burial place of Tamerlane and Mirzo Ulugbek; Registan Square, which has served as the social and commercial center of Samarkand for centuries, is now the most recognizable place in the city. The square includes three madrasahs: the Ulugbek Madrasah (15th century), the Sher-Dor Madrasah (17th century), and the Tilla-Kori Madrasah (17th century);
The Mausoleum of Saint Daniel On the banks of a small tributary of the Zerafshan River, the Siab, stands a holy place that has been blessed. The relics of Daniel, the Old Testament prophet, are buried here. Another version says that Doniyar (Danier), a companion of the Arab preacher Kussam ibn Abbas, is buried here, but all opinions agree that Doniyar is a saint, whom representatives of all three world religions come to worship.
The Siab Bazaar is a multi-level complex where you can buy souvenirs, taste and purchase local sweets and fruits, as well as the famous Samarkand bread.
Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built by Tamerlane for his beloved wife;
- Lunch 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Registan in a national teahouse
- Excursion to the tourist village of Konigil, where you will learn about the traditions and way of life of the local people, see traditional crafts and trades, and try your hand at them yourself.
In an ecologically clean area on the banks of the ancient Siab Canal, an ethnic village has been recreated on the basis of preserved traditional rural houses, where all aspects of life in a typical Uzbek village are shown (house architecture, traditional women's activities – housekeeping, embroidery, carpet weaving, baking flatbread in a tandoor, grinding grain in a water mill, producing various types of natural oils in an oil mill, keeping domestic animals, etc.).
The highlight of the village is a workshop for the handmade production of traditional Samarkand silk paper using a revived ancient (early medieval) technology.
You will also visit the workshops of craftsmen who work with wood, blacksmiths and potters, artists who make original clay toys, weavers, and embroiderers.
- Dinner in the village and participation in a master class on making Samarkand flatbread and pilaf.
- Transfer to the railway station
- Transfer to Tashkent by train Afrosiab at 18:10-20:30
- Transfer to the airport and departure to Dushanbe at 23:00

Day 5;

- Arrival in Dushanbe at 23:50
- Check-in at the hotel. Rest after the flight
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Excursion around Dushanbe, starting with a trip to the historical and cultural reserve of Gissar (30 km, 50 minutes):
The Gissar Fortress (15th century) with its impressive gates, once belonging to the Emir of Bukhara, still amazes with its grandeur.
- Lunch 13:00-14:00
Continuation of the excursion program
Kuhna Madrasah (17th century) - a spacious religious school that operated until the beginning of the 20th century, now home to a small history museum.
Christian Caravanserai (19th century) - an unusual caravanserai built of fired bricks.
- Return to Dushanbe.
- Dinner, cultural program
- Transfer to the hotel

Day 6;

- Breakfast at the hotel
- Continuation of sightseeing in Dushanbe
The National Museum of Tajikistan, which houses more than 40,000 exhibits, including a 12-meter statue of Buddha discovered in Tajikistan.
Khoja Yakub Mosque (19th century) - a cathedral mosque that can accommodate up to 3,000 people.
Rudaki Park - a well-kept park decorated with fountains and flowers, with a monument to Rudaki in the center.
The Gurmindzha Museum of Musical Instruments is dedicated to celebrating the musical heritage of the Tajiks and Pamiris. It houses an impressive collection of national instruments and periodically hosts music lessons and concerts.
The Aini Opera and Ballet Theater (1940s), whose magnificent exterior decor is accentuated by the surrounding lawns.
The statue of Ismail Somoni, symbolizing a tribute to the founder of the Tajik people. The monument rises 25 meters in the very center of the city.
Mehrgon is Dushanbe's newest bazaar, located in a richly decorated atrium.
-Dinner at a Tajik national restaurant with a folklore program and tasting of national dishes and wine
- Transfer to the airport. Departure to Almaty at 22:00 (2 hours en route)
- Hotel accommodation. Rest

Day 7:

-Breakfast at the hotel
-City tour of Almaty
Panfilov Park and the World War II memorial complex with a huge monument to soldiers and an eternal flame burning nearby.
Zenkova Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral), also located in Panfilov Park. This beautiful cathedral with five domes, built entirely of wood without the use of nails, is one of the oldest buildings in Almaty.
The Green Bazaar is a lively oriental market with bright colors, enticing smells, and a bustling crowd. It is the perfect place to buy dried fruits and famous Kazakh chocolate... but don't forget to haggle!
Republic Square, home to the City Hall, the Central State Museum, and the former Presidential Palace. All these buildings surround the Independence Monument - a tall statue of the Golden Man and bronze bas-reliefs depicting the history of the country.
- Lunch on site and tasting of Kazakh dishes
The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which contains almost a quarter of a million exhibits, including an exact replica of the Golden Man (Altyn Adam). The exhibits cover the entire spectrum of Kazakh ethnography and history, from prehistoric times to the 21st century.
Medeo (18 km from Almaty) is the world's highest Olympic-scale skating rink.
A short trip to Kok-Tobe Hill, which offers a stunning panoramic view of Almaty. Relax at the top of Kok-Tobe, visit the zoo, souvenir shops, admire the monument to The Beatles, and take a stroll along the Alley of Lovers.
A short trip from the top of the hill to the city center on the famous Almaty funicular.

- Transfer to the airport, departure to Astana at 17:35-19:15 (1 hour 40 minutes en route)
- Hotel accommodation. Rest. Late dinner

Day 8:

- Breakfast at the hotel
- Sightseeing tour of Astana
Independence Square - a marble square with symbolic sculptures and the Kazak Eli monument, rising 91 meters high.
The Hazrat Sultan Mosque, crowned with the largest dome in Kazakhstan (51x28 m), with four minarets 77 meters high. The exterior of the mosque is decorated with fountains and flowers, and the interior impresses with massive white columns and intricate Kazakh ornaments.
The Palace of Peace and Harmony is a huge pyramid designed by the famous architect Norman Foster. The building is used for conferences, exhibitions, and opera concerts.
Cross the Ishim River to continue exploring the sights along Nurzhol Boulevard. This pedestrian boulevard features numerous fountains and statues reflecting Kazakhstan's heritage and ends at Round Square, which has various shops, cafes, and fountains.
- Lunch on site with a tasting of Besh Barmak
Climb to the top of the Baiterek Tower (also known as the Tree of Life), the city's most popular landmark, which offers a breathtaking view of Astana.
Khan Shatyr is a unique shopping and entertainment center located in the largest yurt in the world. Its amazing design allows it to maintain a warm temperature inside even during particularly cold winters.
- Evening dinner in a traditional Kazakh yurt with a folklore program
- Transfer to the hotel. Rest


Day 9:


-Early breakfast at the hotel at 07:00-07:30
-Transfer to the airport at 08:00
- Departure at 11:00-13:40 (1 hour 40 minutes en route) on the Astana-Bishkek flight
- Transfer to the hotel
- Check-in at the hotel
- Lunch at the hotel at 15:00-16:00
- Excursion program 16:00-20:00
Ala-Too Square is the central square of Bishkek, which has retained a truly Soviet atmosphere.
The old square with the White House, regal 20th-century architecture, and a statue of Lenin.
Oak Park, where the beautiful tree-lined Erkindik Boulevard will lead you to the statue of Kurmanzhan Datka, a 19th-century leader and ruler also known as the “Queen of the Mountains.”
The Opera and Ballet House, the only opera house in Kyrgyzstan.
Victory Square, dedicated to those who died in World War II.
The tour continues with a trip to the Burana Museum Complex (80 km, 1 hour 30 minutes). Along the way, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Chuy Valley and the Tien Shan Mountains. This open-air museum includes several significant landmarks:
The Burana Tower (11th century) is a 25-meter minaret that impresses with its intricate appearance. It is the only surviving structure in the city of Balasagun. Climb the winding staircase to the top of the tower to enjoy the breathtaking views from above.
Balbals (6th century) - round stone figures that served as memorial stones.
A museum housing artifacts found in Balasagun, including jewelry, pottery, and religious items.
Petroglyphs (2nd century) and mausoleums (9th century).
- Return to Bishkek
- Dinner on the way
- Hotel accommodation. Rest

Day 10, 11, 12:
-Breakfast at the hotel
-Departure to Issyk-Kul National Reserve (travel time 4 hours)
- Issyk-Kul is a high-altitude lake in northeastern Kyrgyzstan in the Tien Shan mountains at an altitude of 1,600 meters. It is one of the deepest lakes in the world: it is 180 km long and varies in width from 30 to 60 km. The average depth of the lake is 300 meters, but in some places it reaches 700 meters. The water in Issyk-Kul is blue and very clear: in summer — up to 20 m deep, in winter — up to 47 m. The color of the water is dark blue, and greenish near the shores. The climate in the vicinity of Issyk-Kul is temperate maritime.
- Accommodation at the RoyalAk-TelekIssikkul hotel
- Excursions to the Semenovskoye Gorge (also known as Kyrchyn) — a gorge in Kyrgyzstan in the Kungey Ala-Too mountains. It is located on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, 40 km east of the resort town of Cholpon-Ata. The gorge is about 30 km long. The turbulent Kichi-Ak-Suu mountain river flows along the bottom with the purest glacial water. Majestic Tianshan fir trees tower on the slopes.
Grigorievskoye Gorge is extremely popular with tourists, which is explained by the beauty of the gorge and its easy accessibility. The gorge is truly picturesque: a turbulent river with blue water rushes below, and steep slopes covered with Tien Shan fir trees rise above it. There is a small waterfall. From a distance, it looks quite insignificant, but up close it is quite pretty, cascading down stone steps.
- Boat trip on Issyk Kul

Day 13:
-Early breakfast at the hotel
-Departure to Bishkek at 08:00 to Manas Airport
-Flight to Tashkent at 14:15-16:00
-Arrival in Tashkent
-Transfer to the restaurant for dinner at “Milli Taomlar” 17:00-18:30
-Transfer to the international airport