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Road to Samarkand
Operated by Wendy Wu
Tripcode: CRS_AU
Overview
Destination:
Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan,
Start:Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Finish:Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Finish:Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Duration:23 days
Type:Group tour (max 24)
Travel Period
May 2025 - September 2026
Journey through the heart of Central Asia crossing starkly beautiful deserts and magnificent mountain landscapes. Discover ancient cities full of intricate Islamic architecture, thriving bazaars and a mystical old-world atmosphere, all inextricably linked with the legends of the Silk Road
Price notes:
- Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 01 June 2024. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
- Customary tipping amount approximately US$150pp (AU$224pp) is paid locally in Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan.
- Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
Standard inclusions
- Domestic transportation
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Touring with guides and entrance fees
Itinerary
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Collapse allDAYS 1-2: Fly Via Dubai To Bishkek
Fly overnight to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital and cultural hub. Upon arrival check-in and spend the rest of the day at leisure, before dinner.
DAY 3: Ala Archa National Park
Drive to Ala Archa National Park for a leisurely hike through its picturesque scenery of rugged peaks and dramatic gorges. Return to Bishkek for a city tour, where you will visit Manas Monument, the State History Museum before enjoying a walking tour around Ala Too Square to watch the changing of the Guard of Honor ceremony.
DAY 4: Lake Issyk Kul
Visit the magnificent 12th-century Burana Tower before departing for Cholpon-Ata. Set on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul, visit the astonishing collection of 8th Century petroglyphs etched into glacial stone nearby. Later, take a cruise on the beautiful Lake Issyk Kul, admiring its spectacular alpine-esque surroundings.
DAY 5: Drive to Karakol
Drive to Karakol, stopping at Semenov Gorge for a gentle hike en route. Visit the Kyrchyn Jailoo ethnic village and arrive in Karakol in the early afternoon. This afternoon visit the Przhevalsky Museum, dedicated to the Russian explorer, and visit the striking Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and the Chinese mosque.
DAY 6: Jeti-Oguz Gorge
Rise early to immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of Karakol's Sunday morning animal market which rivals Kashgar's famous animal market. In the afternoon, travel to the Jeti-Oguz Gorge for a walk through the canyon of red sandstone. This evening enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local Dungan family in Karakol.
DAY 7: Eagle Hunting
Drive 3 hours to Bokonbaevo Village and watch an eagle hunting demonstration, a millennia-old Kyrgyz tradition practised with majestic golden eagles. Continue to Naryn, where you will stay the night.
DAY 8: Journey To Tash Rabat
Pass through dramatic mountain and valley landscapes to reach Tash Rabat, a
small stone caravansary that was of great significance at the height of the Silk Road. Enjoy the peaceful valley said to contain some of the finest landscapes in Kyrgyzstan before returning to Naryn.
DAY 9: Kochkor
Transfer to Kochkor, the centre of Kyrgyz felt handicrafts. Visit a traditional 'shyrdak' (wool carpet) workshop and a co-op that provides training for local women in traditional handicrafts. In the evening you will travel to a guesthouse near Chong-Kemin National Park.
DAY 10: Chong Kemin National Park
Travel from Kochkor to Chong Kemin, a quiet valley with small villages surrounded by magnificent mountains. Enjoy a walk in the foothills before travelling to Bishkek airport for your flight to Tashkent.
DAY 11: Tashkent
Explore Tashkent's sights, including the Barak Khana Seminary, Kukeldash madrassas, Tila Shaikh mosque and their archives. Browse the wares of Chorsu bazaar before experiencing a ceramic workshop.
DAY 12: Golden City of Samarkand
Travel to the legendary city of Samarkand where you will enjoy a tour of Registan Square, the Ulug-Bek and Tillya-Kori madrassah. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring at your leisure.
DAY 13: Samarkand
Explore Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane, the grandest structure of Amir
Temur's times - the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum and the Siab Bazaar and Shahi Zinda Necropolis. Later in the afternoon see Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel.
DAY 14: Konigil Village
Visit Ulugbek's observatory, constructed by Ulugbek (Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Later see the ancient settlement of Afrosiab. Continue to Konigil Village to visit a paper-making workshop. In the afternoon, return to Samarkand and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
DAY 15: Shakhrisabz
Travel to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of the Great Amir Timur (Tamerlane). Explore the city, visiting sites such as the remnants of Ak-Saray Palace, Dorus Tilavat cemetery and Kok-Gumbas Mosque. Return to Samarkand this afternoon.
DAY 16: Bukhara
Journey to Bukhara. En route, visit Gijduvan, a centre of famous handmade ceramics. Here you will see the fascinating process of making these ceramics. Continue on to Bukhara where you will have the afternoon to begin to explore this fascinating city.
DAY 17: Bukhara
This morning’s sightseeing includes: the Lyab-i-Hauz ensemble, Nadir Devanbegi Madrassah, Khanaga and Magoki Attari Mosques, Poi Kalon Minaret and Mosque, plus the Maddrassahs of Aziz Khan and Ulugbek. After lunch you will discover the Ark of Bukhara, Bolo Hauz Mosque and the Mausoleums of Ismail Samanid and Chashma Ayub.
DAY 18: Bukhara
This morning, visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the Emir's summer palace, a 20th Century confection of a building! Continue to the Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausolem of a famous Sufi spiritual leader of the region. The afternoon is at leisure. Return to Bukhara and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
DAY 19: Khiva
This morning, you will set out for Khiva, a journey that will take you across Kyzyl Kum desert and a stop at Amudarya River. The route runs 480 kilometres through the stark beauty of the desert, the scenery changing from sparse saksaul trees to the lush riverbanks of the Amudarya.
DAY 20: Walled City Of Itchan Kala
Explore ancient Khiva, discovering the sights of the UNESCO World Heritage inner-walled city of Itchan Kala including the mighty Kunya Ark and the turquoise tiled Islom-Khodja. Wander through the fascinating Madrassah Rakhimkhon, a beacon of religious, astronomic, geographic and mathematical studies, and see the 19th Century Tash Hauli Palace, decorated in blue fine china tiles.
DAY 21: Fly To Taskent
Transfer to Urgench to fly to Tashkent. Upon arrival visit the Museum of Applied
Arts as well as the Mustakilik Square and the famous Tashkent Metro. With it's marble and granite decorations the Metro feels like an underground palace.
DAYS 22-23: Fly Tashkent To Australia
Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Australia via Dubai
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Wendy Wu
Wendy Wu Tours is Australia's leading touring specialist, offering extraordinary tours throughout Asia, Latin America, Eurasia, the Middle East – and most recently, Australasia. Since Wendy sent her very first tour to China in 1994, we've grown from strength to strength and are proud of the multiple awards we've won throughout the years and the unique travel experiences we offer to an expanding range of destinations.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
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22 nights
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