5stan Group Trip

Arrive in Almaty. Our driver will meet you and take you to the hotel. Check-in at 14:00 is free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. City tour in Almaty. The magnificent city at the foot of the Tian-Shan Mountains is called the Garden City. Visits to the city include stops at the Republic Square with the Independence Monument, Panfilov Park, and the Zenkov Orthodox Cathedral at the Museum of Musical Instruments. In the afternoon, visit the Historical Museum. At the end walk to the Green Bazar (Zelyony). Dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today after breakfast at the hotel, we leave Almaty and drive to Bishkek via a newly built highway. En route which will take approximately 4 hours, we will enjoy beautiful landscapes. Soon we will welcome you to Kyrgyzstan. On the way, we will provide short information about Kyrgyzstan. The Republic is located in northeast Central Asia, crossed by two world great mountain systems, Tien Shan and Pamir. 93% of Kyrgyzstan is covered by mountains, with a strong continental climate the country of located 350 meters above sea level. In the afternoon we will arrive at the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek. Check in to the hotel. For the second part of the day, we will go sightseeing in Bishkek and visit Ala To Square, Central Museum, and Panfilov Park. Dinner. Overnight in Bishkek.

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Ala Archa National Park. It is a popular place for picnics, hikes, rock climbing and alpinism. There are 20 glaciers in the territory of the park. The total area of the park is 200 km2. You can go for a walk on the paved road along the river or hike up to the mountains to get a spectacular view of the gorge. Transfer the to airport. Meet and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour in the old part of Tashkent: Khast Imam Complex, consisting of Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Barak Khan Madrassah, Friday Mosque and MuiaMuborak Madrassah, where you will see the original Quran of Khalif Othman (VIIth century), further we will visit the biggest market of Tashkent oriental buzzing bazaar Chor-Su (handicrafts bazaar). Sightseeing tour in the modern part of Tashkent: Visit to Tashkent subway (Sovietic period Uzbek Architectural style), Mustakillik Square (Independence Square), Amir Temur Square, Thtretical Square and Monument of Courage dedicated to the Earthquake of Tashkent which happened on 26 April of 1966. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Around 9:00 AM transfer to Uzbek-Tajik border Oybek. Customs and passport control on both sides, cross the border, meet the Tacal guide and driver and drive to Khujand (70 km, 1 h.). Sightseeing in Khujand: Republican Historical-Ethnographic Museum, Timur-Malik Fortress, Archeological Museum, Mosque and Madrasah of Shaikh Muslihiddin, Payshanba Bazaar. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in the hotel.

Drive to Penjikent (260 km, 5-6 h.). Arrival and check-in at the guest house. Meet your guide and start sightseeing. You will visit the Museum of Rudaki, an outstanding poet born in. After, explore Ancient Penjikent where ruins of old Sogdian town reached our days; it was founded in the 5th and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs. Foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples and city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. Overnight in the hotel.

Drive to Seven Lakes (80 km) through the settlement of Sarazm, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Seven lakes of Marguzor are located in the west of Fan Mountains; each of them has its own colour which varies from calming turquoise to mesmerizing purple. Drive back to Penjikent (80 km and transfer to the border Arrival and accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour in Samarkand: Gur-Emir Mausoleum (15c), Registan Ensemble (including Ulugbek (15c), Shir Dor (17c), Tillya –Kari Madrassahs (17c), Bibi Khanum Mosque and one of the biggest oriental bazaars Siab market. Shah-i-Zinda complex (14-15c), Mirzo Ulugbek’s observatory (15c). Transfer to Samarkand Railway Station. Evening bullet train (22:18-00:01) to Bukhara. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast. Around 11:00 Sightseeing tour in Bukhara: Mausoleum of Ismail Samani (9-10c)-vault of Bukhara rulers’ dynasty, Chashma-i-Ayub Mausoleum (14c, St. Job’s well), Bolo-Hauz complex (18 c) consisting of Mosque (where Bukhara emirs used to pray) minaret and khauz (pond), royal fortress Ark (6-16 c) with its high fortification walls. Poi-Kalyan Ensemble consisting of Minaret Kalon (12c) Djuma Mosque (15c) and functioning Madrassah of Miri-Arab (16 c), Emir-Alim-Khan Madrassah (14c), Ulugbek’s madrassah (15c), Abdul-Aziz’s (17c) Madrassahs. Medieval trading domes: Toqi Zargaron (jewellers), Toqi Telpak-furushon (cap sellers) and Toqi Sarrafon (money exchangers), Lyab-i-Hauz place (16-17c) consisting of Kukeldash and Nadir Devonbegi Madrassahs (16c, 17c) including Khanaqa (ancient hospice for pilgrims) and khauz (pond) of Nadir Divanbegi, ancient Mosque Magok-i-Attari (16c).

Breakfast. Transfer to Khiva through Kyzyl-Kum desert. Route will take from 6-8 hrs. En route stop by the bank of Amu Darya River to take photos. Arrival in Khiva closer to the evening, accommodation in hotel. Self-guided exploration of Khiva.

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour in Khiva: Kunya-Ark fortress, including Kurinish Khana (17c); Mohammed-Amin-Khan (19c) Madrassah, Islam Khodja Minaret; Palvan-Kari complex, Abd Al Bobo complex (18c), Rafanek Madrassah, Mohammed Rakim Khan (19 c), Amir-Tur Madrassah, Sho-I-Kalandar Bobo Mausoleum. Mazary Sharif Madrassah, Kheivak well (10c), Uch Avlioli (“three saints”) Mausoleum, Juma Mosque (18c), Kutluq-Murad Inaq (19c) Madrassah, Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, Tash Hauli (“stone yard”) Palace, Alla-Kuli-Khan (18c), Arab Mohammed Khan (18 c) Madrassahs. Transfer to Uzbek-Turkmen border Shavat. Border crossing formalities. Turkmen representative will meet you at the border. Transfer to your hotel in Dashoguz (15km). Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Afternoon drive to Darvaza Burning Gas Crater, one of the top international tourist destinations. The area is rich in natural gas. Burning over 50 years, Darvaza Gas Crater shines like a pearl in the Karakum desert. One of the most vivid and addictive features of this trip is the fresh air of the desert and experiencing the nomadic life in person. At night, while the light of the Gas Crater hits the sky, you will camp in the Turkmen national yurt or private tents and have a barbecue for dinner. This unique landscape will fascinate you and you will want to come again.

Picnic-style breakfast in Darvaza. After breakfast, drive to Ashgabat (276km). Afternoon you will have an Ashgabat city tour. You will see the Wedding Palace, modern “Yildyz” Hotel, Ferries Wheel, Constitution Monument, Arch of Neutrality, Monument and Park of Independence, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Ashgabat Olympic Stadium and Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex. Overnight in Ashgabat.

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, drive to visit the Carpet Museum, one of the best in Central Asia featuring designs from the Tekke, Yamud, Sarik and Chodor tribes. The Turkmen Carpet Museum is one of the cultural centres of Turkmenistan, where about 2000 carpet exhibits, including rare ones, are exhibited. For example, the museum has the smallest carpet to wear keys and the world’s largest hand carpet with a total area of 301 m², which was woven in 2001, and in 2003 it was added to the Guinness Book of Records. Then drive to visit Horse Stable to see a national pride of the Turkmen people – Akhalteke horses, the nicest horses in the world. 5000 years ago, Turkmens began to breed Akhalteke horses. The World’s unique breed was never mixed with other breeds. Such illustrious Emperors like Alexander the Great, and Darius I desired to own Ahalteke horses. There are over 35 beautiful horses on the farm. Per superstition, every sick person who touches an Ahalteke horse will get well soon. Afternoon, visit Gulistan Baazar (Russian Bazaar), which is one of the largest and oldest covered markets and a must-visit for any traveller to Ashgabat. The ground floor of the bazaar is dedicated to fresh produce, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products. There are also stalls selling spices, nuts, dried fruits, and other food items. The second floor of the bazaar is home to a variety of shops selling clothing, and souvenirs. Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for the flight home.