Central Asia Tour 13 Days

Your guide will pick you up at International Airport and accompany you to Almaty City. Today we will have a city tour. You will get acquainted with Almaty’s history and see the Ascension Cathedral – the second highest wooden building in the world. Then you will visit the Square of 28 Panfilov Heroes. Also we will visit the main Square of the city. Almaty was the capital of independent Kazakhstan from 1991 to 1997. In 1997, the capital moved to Astana; since then, Almaty has been referred to as the southern capital of Kazakhstan. Almaty remains the major commercial center of Kazakhstan. Almaty is the largest, most developed, and most ethnically and culturally diverse city in Kazakhstan. Night will be in a hotel.

Today you will go to Charyn Canyons. It is one of the unique natural monuments of Kazakhstan. The canyon is about 12 million years old and surprises with its vertical cliffs, reminding the ancient castles, created by wind, sun and rain. It will take about 3 hours to reach the canyon. And as soon as you see Charyn Canyon you will forget about this long way at once – so much you will be impressed with the beauty and splendor of the canyon. You can admire the grand panorama and then have a walk through the maze of the Castles Valley with its inaccessible walls overhanging you. Afterwards we will go to Kolsai Lake. Kolsai Lakes – “Pearls of the Northern Tien Shan” – are a cascade of three lakes. The largest lake is accessible to all visitors. This is a beautiful lake, distinguished by the absence of civilization and an abundance of mushrooms. You will not see the other two lakes, as you will need a long hike. Kolsai Lake is located on the border of spruce forests and alpine meadows and amazes with its severe alpine beauty, as well as rich flora and fauna. Then we will go to the village of Saty. Night is at the guesthouse.

Today you will drive to Kaindy Lake. Kaindy Lake (birch lake) is situated among magnificent pine forest at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level and is famous for its origin. It was formed in 1911 due to the powerful earthquake that triggered the landslide blocked the valley by the natural dam, and the water has flooded the valley. The water of the lake is very cold, that is why the needles of the flooded trees are well preserved and clearly visible through the transparent surface of the water, and dry stems of fir trees overlook the water surface, like the masts of the submarine squadron. It is impossible to describe in words all this mystical splendor of the lake – it is necessary to go there and see everything with own eyes. Afterwards you will be taken to the border. Your driver will meet you at the border and transfer to the city of Karakol. Upon arrival we will visit the Dungan mosque. It was built in Chinese style without a single metal nail. Then we will visit the old wooden Orthodox church. Night is at the 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. We will make many photos there and 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 you continue your travel. On the way you will visit Barskoon gorge is famous for its celestial mountains and the monument to Yuri Gagarin. On the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, about 4 km from the village of Tosor there is an unusual place – Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon. Skazka is a wonderful place where the red sand formation, take various fabulous forms. In Bokonbaeva village we will meet a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (traditional way of nomads hunting). Then we will go to Chon Kemin. Night is at the guesthouse.

Today you will have a transfer to Bishkek for a city tour. On the way you will visit the Burana Tower (11th century minaret) and the Balbals (stone warriors) open-air museum. In Bishkek you will visit Victory Square, Dubovy Park, the central Ala-Too Square, Old Square, the National Philharmonic. Night is at the hotel.

Today 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 you will be taken to the airport.

Your driver will meet you at the border and transfer to the city of Khujand. Night is at the hotel.

We will drive today to the Fannsky Gory (Fann Mountains). The road to the lakes goes over Anzob pass (3 372 m) with amazing panorama views. They are one of Central Asia’s most popular hiking areas. You will do a trip 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. Then we will go to Penjikent. Night is at the hotel

In the morning you will be taken to the border.

Transfer to Shavat border checkpoint between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. After crossing border check point between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan you will meet your guide and you will drive to Gas Crater dubbed by locals as “The Door to Hell”. Darvaza (‘Gates’) is close to the border with Dashoguz Region. The settlement was once the site of a sulphur works, which closed in the 1960s. Prospecting for gas during the Soviet period has resulted in a curious series of sights around the area: several large, circular craters, one of which is aflame. The crater is roughly circular in plan, some 60m in diameter. Another deep, circular hole, this somewhat smaller crater is surrounded by a metal barrier. There is no fire here, though it too offers a strong smell of gas. Another crater lies some 18 km south of Darvaza, on the west side of the main road and just about visible from it. This crater has neither fire nor a particularly pungent smell. Instead it is partly filled with water, through which gas bubbles gently up. Night is at yurts.

Breakfast is picnic style. Drive to Ashgabat. Upon arrival to Ashgabat proceed with sightseeing: one of the most beautiful cities of the world which was recently included into the Book of Guinness as the Most-White Marble City in the World.  Today’s sightseeing includes: Complex of Monuments of Oguz Han and sons surrounded with fountains.  Tombs of Turkmenbashi and his parents and brothers, Old Nissa-The Sanctuary of Parhian Kings, Nissa was the capital of Parthian Empire, which lasted 600 years and was greatest enemy of Rome Empire. After excursions of Old Nissa we’ll proceed to Monuments of Archabil avenue and discover new part of Ashgabat with its’ modern buildings, monuments and parks which includes: Health Path of Turkmenbashy built on mountains which became very popular place among locals, Monument of Constitution and tallest building in Turkmenistan (600 feet), “Alem” Culture and Recreation Center. Night is at the hotel.

In the morning is drive to Kow-Ata underground lake which is located 107 km from Ashgabat. The Turkmen name Kow-Ata means ‘Father of caves’. At first glance, this underground area appears like a magnificent auditorium: the overall length of the cave is 230 m, its height reaches 20 m, and its width is at some points 57 m. The bottom of the cave is covered with lumps of dissolved limestone (stalagmites), and its warm and gushing water is clear and emerald colored. The water has a constant temperature of 33–37°C (you should swim in a lake). Then the tour will continue in Nokhur. The village itself fills a small depression valley in the mountains of the Kopet Dag Range, and the houses are built with local boulders cemented with mud. Apart from the main street through the middle of the town, the streets are so narrow that they only just fit a car between the high stone retaining walls on each side. The Nohkur people who populate this remote mountain village are quite different to other Turkmen tribes. They live in a handful of villages in the mountainous border area spanning Turkmenistan and Iran. Nokhur is the largest village with just a thousand or maybe two thousand people. Afterwards we will drive back to Ashgabat. On the way visit Geokdepe Mosque and to the horse-farm for exploring the pride of the Turkmen people – Akhal-Teke horses. In addition, Traditional Tea party, short Akhal-Teke horse show program and can see the racks of horses. Night is at the hotel.

Early morning transfer to airport for flight to home