Best of Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan

Welcome to Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. Tashkent is one of the largest cities in Central Asia. Meet on arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Full day tour of Tashkent visiting the old town area, which was once a walled city. Visit the Hast Imama Complex housing Kafelsashi shrine, Barak Khana seminary, Tilla Shaikh mosque archives which houses the oldest copy of the Quran, Kukeldasj madrassah, Akbar's pottery house and the Fine Arts museum. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight to Urgench, the capital of the Khorezum region (90 mins). Meet, greet on arrival and drive to your hotel in Khiva (approx. 45 mins).

Khiva is a walled city with a varied history of powerful leaders including the khans, Silk Road traders and the Soviet Union. Take a full day walking tour to see some of the main buildings and monuments including Kalta minaret, Kunya Arg to climb to an upper storey for a viewpoint of the walled city, Rakhimkhon madrassah, Islam Kdodja minaret, the mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud and Tashauli palace. In addition, you can choose to visit some of the handicraft workshops.

Transfer to the train station in the morning to take the train to Kagan (approx. 6.5 hours). Enjoy the scenic train journey through the Kyzylkum desert. Arrive in Kagan in the afternoon and learn about the history of the Railway Station before transferring to your hotel in nearby Bukhara, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. Later in the afternoon, take a walking tour of Bukhara. Walk through the historical city to see Lyabi-khauz plaza, the Jewish quarter and madrassah Nadirkhon. Also visit a Bukharan puppet master to learn about the puppet making tradition.

Continue to explore Bukhara today to see many more historical sites including Mogaki Attari mosque, Arg Fortress, the Balakhauz mosque, Ismail Samanid mausoleum, the madrassahs of Aziz Khan and Ulugbek, and the grand minaret of Poi Kalon. You will also learn about Bukhara's art traditions with a visit to the workshop and gallery of miniaturist painter Davlat, well known for this classic style of painting. You will also have time to visit the bazaar where you can see and shop for Uzbek caps and other handicraft items.

In the morning, depart for Samarkand (approx. 4 hr drive). En-route visit the shrine of Bakhauddin Nakshbandi, the summer palace of the last emir of Bukhara - Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, a rural village and Gijduvan. At the village learn about Uzbekistan agriculture and visit a farmer's house. Also, learn about Uzbek cuisine and have the opportunity to partake in making samsa buns. Continue to Gijduvan to visit the ceramic center, a family run shop where you will see the whole pottery making process. Then continue to your hotel in Samarkand.

Take a full day city tour of Samarkand, the jewel of the Silk Road cities. Samarkand was greatly admired for its gardens and vegetation and was a flourishing city during the Silk Road period. The city has a very interesting history having been invaded by Macedonians under Alexander the Great and by the Mongols and was also visited by Marco Polo. Visit the Shakh-i-Zinda mausoleum including monuments from the 14th and 15th centuries and architecture from the Timurid dynasty. Also visit Registan Square, the great central square of Samarkand, the enormous Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Afrosiab Museum, Ulugbek's Observatory and the Silk Road bazaar. Drive to Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane. Later in the day visit Samarkand Winery for a wine tasting. Learn about Samarkand's wine making traditions, which date back to Sogdian times. In the evening, attend the El Mirosi show, a performance depicting cultural dances, dress and Uzbek heritage.

Today take a full day excursion to Langar Ota village and Shakhrisabz, a UNESCO designated historic city. At the village visit Shaikh Muhammad Sadiq shrine and take a walk uphill to visit a 16th century mosque that has remained in good original condition. In Shakhrisabz visit the remains of Ak-Saray Palace, Kok Gumbaz mosque and other archaeological sites.

Depart for Tashkent in the morning (approx. 5 hr drive). Arrive in Tashkent and visit the grand market - the Chorus Bazaar for your last bit of Uzbek shopping. In the late afternoon transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Meet, greet on arrival in Bishkek and then transfer to your hotel.

In the morning, take a tour of Bishkek. Start with a drive past the Presidential Palace and see the changing of the guards at the national monument. Proceed to Frunze's museum, Oak park to see the young painters at work and the monument of Manas – the Kyrgyz epic Hero. In the afternoon, drive out of the city to visit the town of Tokmok, once a bustling Silk Road town. See the remains of a Kara Khanid minaret and Turkic tombstones. Also, visit a Shardyk, a traditional felt making workshop to learn about the felt making process.

In the morning take a scenic drive to Songkul Lake, situated at 3016 meters above sea level (approx. 3 hr drive) where you will have a unique yurt camp experience. Arrive and take a short walk to visit a Kyrgyz family. Learn about their nomadic lifestyles and traditions.

Overnight in your authentic yurt camp.

Take a morning walk near the lake before departing for Karakol city (approx. 4 hr drive). Drive along the southern beach of Issykul Lake, stopping at different viewpoints along the way to take photos. Transfer to your hotel in Karakol on arrival. Later in the afternoon, take a short tour of Karakol.

Full day excursion to Djeti Oghuz village, set amid beautiful hills and alpine forests. Visit an animal market where cows, sheep, horses and sometimes camel are sold. Then continue to the village, which is home to Kyrgyz nomads. Return to Karakol later in the day and visit Dungan mosque and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Drive through the Karakol valley and Tien Shan mountain range to the Kazakh border. After border formalities, proceed to the Kegen Pass and Charyn Canyon, where you will see some stunning canyon views of the red rock formations. Stop along the way at different viewpoints. Arrive in Almaty and transfer to your hotel (approx. 6 hr drive).

Enjoy a full day tour of Almaty, a city with some interesting Russian architectural buildings surrounded by the Tienshan Mountains. Visit Panfilov Park, Zhenkov's Holy Ascension Cathedral, the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, the State Museum of Kazakhstan, the Central Mosque of Almaty and either Zeelyoni Bazaar or the Green Bazaar. Also, drive to Kok Tyube to take a gondola ride to a panoramic viewpoint of the city.

Day at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.