Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Tour

Day 1, Thu: Tashkent – Bishkek – Ala Archa – Bishkek

Arrival Tashkent airport at 03:20, transit and flight to Bishkek (07:00-09:15). Your guide will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany you to the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, just a 30-minute drive from the airport. The first half of the day is dedicated to a guided tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic, and many others places of interest. In the afternoon we will visit Ala Archa gorge. It is a Natural Park. At the Soviet Time only V.I.P. people had permission to go for a walk here. The Ala Archa gorge is on a spur of the Tien Shan mountain range. It is just 45 km from Bishkek. You can have a short hiking tour to see a panoramic view of the gorge. Afterwards we return to Bishkek. This overnight will be in a hotel.

Day 2, Fri: Bishkek – Issyk Kul Lake

Your guide will pick you up at 8 a.m and you will be transferred to Issyk Kul Lake, surrounded by the celestial mountains. It’s the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 m. above sea level). The lake is called “the pearl of Central Asia”. Due to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. On route to the lake you will visit Burana Tower (an 11th century minaret) and an open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors). Your night is in a hotel.

Day 3, Sat: Issyk Kul Lake – Bishkek

In the morning we will visit a place where you will see ancient pictures on stones! They are called petroglyphs. These petroglyphs were made more than 2 000 years ago by shamans. All these stones are still at the same place as they were at that time. You can see a panorama view of the Issyk Kul Lake from this place – people were thinking that it was the middle of the world. After an excursion you will visit a museum in Cholpon Ata. There are many attractive things

from the Kyrgyz history, handicraft, music instruments and a lot of other interesting artifacts. Afterwards we will drive to Bishkek city.

Day 4, Sun: Bishkek – Tashkent – Bukhara

In the morning is transfer to airport. Flight to Tashkent (11:35-11:55). Arrival and half day tour in Tashkent: Today you will visit Independence square which is the main square of the country, erected as a symbol of victory over fascism in World War II. Then you will have a chance to walk along the local Broadway, a walking street between independence square and Amir Timur square. Further you can take a ride in famous Tashkent metro, among the most beautiful subways in the world. First line was opened in 1977. Evening flight to Bukhara (18:50-20:00). Dinner and overnight.

Day 5, Mon: Bukhara

Today you will have a full day of sightseeing tour in the fascinating city of Bukhara. At first you will visit the most ancient citadel in Bukhara dating back to the 4th century named Citadel Ark which served as a palace for several dynasties of Bukhara Empire. Then you will see Samanids mausoleum, a real masterpiece of architecture of 9th -10th century. Then the tour continues to Chashma Ayub, meaning Job’s well and Bolo-Hauz mosque, known also as the mosque of forty columns built in honor of Bukhara governor Abu-Fayud Khan. Then you have a chance to walk along the shopping domes and visit one of the most famous madrasahs of Bukhara called Nodir Divan Begi which is also a part of Lyabi House Ensemble, famous central sightseeing of Bukhara. The tour will end with visiting Poi Kalon complex, the unique sample of architectural art of Bukhara. It consists of three structures built in the 12th – 16th centuries: Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. Night is in a hotel.

Day 6, Tue: Bukhara – Gijduvan – Samarkand (290 km, 4 hours)

After breakfast we will start our way to Samarkand. On the way, we will stop over at Gijduvan village to visit famous private pottery workshop. Gijduvan ceramics school has its deep roots. The skills have been passed from father to son from generation to generation. Today Gizhduvan is home for the sixth generation of potters from Narzullayevs family which glorified Gijduvan school ceramics all over the world. Gijduvan School of ceramics is distinguished by a geometric pattern. Green and blue colors prevail in decoration of products. Visiting memorial complex of Al Bukhary. Al Bukhary was an Islamic scholar, who authored the hadith collection known as Sahih al-Bukhari, regarded by Sunni Muslims as one of the most authentic Hadith collections. He also wrote other books such as Al-Adab al-Mufrad. Afterwards we continue driving to Samarkand. Night is in a hotel.

Day 7, Wed: Samarkand – Tashkent

Samarkand is situated in the valley of the river Zerafshan. It is the second largest city of Uzbekistan and is of the same age as the city of Babylon or Rome. Today you will visit its most outstanding sights such as Registan square, Shakhi-Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanum Mosque. Registan Square, a complex of three fascinating Madrasahs dating back to 15-17th centuries, is the main highlight of Samarkand that no person can stop admiring its beauty and majesty. Architectural complex of Shakhi-Zindeh represents a big collection of mausoleums dating back to 11th-15 centuries being a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bibi Khanum Mosque was built in honor of favorite Tamerlane’s wife, after his successful campaign in India. Evening train to Tashkent. Overnight is at the hotel.

Day 8, Thu: Tashkent – Flight

Full day is dedicated to a sightseeing tour in Tashkent. Today you will visit the old part of the city which includes: Chorsu Bazaar, Kukaldash Madrasah and Hast Imam complex that consists of several madrasahs, mosques and mausoleum. The highlight of its exhibits is the Othman Quran which is the world’s oldest Quran copy dating back to 8th c. Quran belonged to Othman Ibn Affan, the Third Caliph (of the four righteous Caliphs who succeeded the prophet Muhammad). Othman was killed by non-muslims in 8th century. His blood spred over the Quran that you still can see on its pages. You will visit Courage Monument which is a memorial complex, erected in honor of the elimination of the consequences of the Tashkent earthquake. Time for shopping and further transfer to airport before the flight home.

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