Grand Tour of Central Asia

SEP Flight to Bishkek. Overnight in Bishkek 

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 and if time permit, visit the OSH bazaar. Overnight at the hotel.

Overnight in Bishkek (local 4* Ak Keme hotel)   

Morning drive to Burana Tower (1.5 hr drive) an open air museum of Balbals (stone Warriors). Visit the ruins of the ancient town of Ak-Beshim. Lunch with a family near to Burana Tower. Continue the drive to Chon Kemin (1.5 hr drive) …… Arrive Chon Kemin in the late afternoon. Check into a Family operated guesthouse.

Overnight at Chon Kemin (Farm Guest-house – Kalmak Ashuu Village)

Morning depart for Karakol, along the way visit the Skazka Gorge (spend about 2 hours there) near to Tamga. & drive along the Issyk-Kul lake with stop to view and walk along the lake. During autumn there are apricot trees farms with beautiful autumn colour along the way. Make photo-stop where possible. Lunch at a farm resort along the way. Arrive Karakol in the afternoon, change into a smaller vehicle to Then drive to Jety Oguz, passing thru’ the mountain road, crossing over stream of river…… photo-stop at the Seven bulls and the broken heart. Hike around the area (if time permit) along the running river.

Overnight in in the YURT with limited facilities shared toilet @ Jety Oguz.

For those who love the fresh morning air can wake up early to hike around the river which is next to your Yurt.
Breakfast at the Yurt at 7.00am and continue your exploration of Jety Oguz until 11am before being driven out of the mountain area to Karakol.
Visit the Museum of M.V. Prejvalsky, behind this museum, one can over look the Issyk-Kul Lake from a higher land, Orthodox Church, Dungun Mosque

Overnight at Karagat Hotel, Karakol.

Drive to Cholpon –Ata (2.5hrs). Visit to the open air museum of petroglyphs. After our exploration of Cholpon –Ata, we shall depart Cholpon – Ata back to Karakol to overnight so that tomorrow, we will have enough time to reach Charyn Canyon before late afternoon.

Overnight in Karagat Hotel, Karakol.

Karakol – Kegen Border – Charyn Canyon – Almaty (B/Packed Lunch/Dinner)

Drive towards the Karkara – KEGEN Border (2 hours- stone road). Cross the border which is quite simple but still takes an hour to complete the border crossing and continue the drive to Charyn Canyon (2 hr) with packed lunch.

Karakol – Kegen Border – Charyn Canyon – Almaty (B/Packed Lunch/Dinner)

Drive towards the Karkara – KEGEN Border (2 hours- stone road). Cross the border which is quite simple but still takes an hour to complete the border crossing and continue the drive to Charyn Canyon (2 hr) with packed lunch.
Spend some time hiking around the Charyn Canyon.
In the late afternoon, drive to Almaty (about 2.5 hours drive). Have a late dinner and check into hotel.

Overnight in Almaty. (Otrar Hotel)

Today, we will have a full tour of Almaty:
a) Green Bazaar
b) Zenkov Cathedral & Panfilov Park plus Music Instrumental Museum & Memorial Complex
c) Independence Square
d) Falcon Farm including falcon show
e) Medeo Gorge by car and optionally cable car to Chimbulak Ski resort

Overnight in Almaty, OTRAR Hotel

Fly to Dushanbe on Air Astana, KC 131 30Sept ALADYU 1110 1200 (flight subject to change)

Fly to Dushanbe on Air Astana, KC 131 30Sept ALADYU 1110 1200 (flight subject to change)
Upon arrival, meet and greet by our Tajikistan local guide and transfer for a lunch at a local restaurant.
Visit the Barakat Market, Visit Botanical garden- very beautiful garden with many old trees is the favorite place of Tajik people, National Museum of Antiquities (closed on Mondays) that includes the exhibits on history, natural history and art (Buddha in Nirvana is one of the valuable exhibits of the museum), Samani Monument, the Building of a national spirit, Stroll Rudaki Prospect and the Main Mosque of Dushanbe.

Overnight in Dushanbe – Sheraton Hotel.

After breakfast, drive through the valleys and mountains of the area to Iskanderkul (approx.. 4 hrs)
Enjoy the Fann mountains. Meet the locals and explore this gorgeous landscape in the Fann mountains upon arrival.

Overnight in a homestay (local Guest House Sarvoda, Ayni)

In the morning depart Iskandarkul and drive to Khujand. Drive through Anzob tunnel. Lunch at local Chaihana. In the afternoon drive through Shakhristan tunnel with stop in Istaravshan. Visit a local bazaar. Continue to Mug Teppe, one of the ancient settlements located in Ura-Tube. The city is believed to be founded by King Cyrus in the North-East boundary of his empire. Arrival in Khujand in the late evening.

Overnight in Khujand. (Khujand DeLuxe)

After breakfast, visit Panjshanbe Bazaar, the biggest bazaar of Tajikistan.
After lunch, drive to Tashkent via the Oybek cross border point. Border Cross might takes some time as there are form to complete to enter into Uzbekistan and custom clearance formalities to go through. Transportation may not be provided. If there is, a min of USD 1 to 2 per person is chargeable and payable on your own to the driver directly.
Upon arriving Tashkent – Check in hotel.

After breakfast, we will drive to the border to cross over to DASHOGUZ – the border town of Turkmenistan.
At the border, take the Van service and pay for the service on your own (USD1 – 2 per person) and wait for the rest of the group over at the other side Border to do the VISA on Arrival procedure @ Turkmenistan.
Please get ready USD 85.00(цена зависит, смотря с какой страны туристы – файл с ценами на визы в приложении) for the Visa fee payable over there.
Meet up with our Turkmenistan local guide and take the JEEP to continue the journey to Darwaza – the gas crater via Dashoguz. Have an early lunch here.
Upon arriving Darvaza, drive towards the crater to view the crater in day light.
And continue to drive to our camp ground. After checking in your camp, have some free & easy time explore the desert area surrounding the camp site and enjoy the setting sun over the desert before dinner is served.
Enjoy our BBQ dinner at the camp.
After dinner, we shall return to view the burning crater by the night.

Overnight in the Yurta   (2 no shared simple Bio-Toilet)

After breakfast, drive to Ashgabat, passing the Karakum desert (4-4,5 hours drive)
Upon arriving Ashgabat, change into our bigger bus and continue our tour in Ashgabat.
Firstly, lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Independence Park, and the Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum & Turkmenistan Museum. A short walk to our dinner restaurant via the Russian Market, have some time exploring this small but interesting local market.
After dinner, have a short city-by-night drive to our hotel. Stop at the view point for a beautiful night view of Ashgabat before reaching our Hotel Yulduz, the local 5 star hotel of Ashgabat.

Overnight in Ashgabat. (5* Hotel Yulduz)

Today after a late breakfast, we shall continue our tour to Ertogrul Gazy Mosque and NISSA (which is a UNESCO site).
After lunch, drive to visit the Aka Tolkuchka (рабочие дни среда+четверг+суббота+воскресенье) – the biggest bazaar of Central Asia and visit the new museum of Ashgabat “Halk Hakydasy” a new museum featuring display object in 3D format.
After a farewell dinner, transfer to the Ashgabat airport to catch the flight back home via Dubai on Fly Dubai / Emirates Airlines.