Itinerary
- Day 1
Tashkent
You'll arrive at Tashkent airport and check into your hotel, then head into the old city to see the Khast Imam complex and Kukeldash Madrasah. After that, you'll walk through Chorsu Bazaar where you can take in the local trade atmosphere and grab a BBQ lunch. A ceramist from Rishtan will show you how to work with clay and you'll try making something yourself. Your day wraps up with an evening walking tour of central Tashkent, passing by Amir Temur Square, Independence Square and other landmarks.
- Meals
- Lunch (BBQ lunch at Chorsu Bazaar), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Khast Imam complex
- Visit Kukeldash Madrasah
- Explore Chorsu Bazaar
- BBQ lunch at Chorsu Bazaar
- Ceramic master class with Rishtan ceramist
- Walking city tour of Amir Temur Square, Sayilgoh Street, Romanov's Palace, Navoi Theatre Square and Independence Square
Landmarks Khast Imam Kukeldash Madrasah Chorsu Bazaar Amir Temur Square Independence Square 
- Day 2
Tashkent to Khiva
You'll catch a morning flight from Tashkent to Urgench, then transfer to Khiva for a full city tour. Inside Ichan Kala you'll check out the historic gates, madrasahs, minarets and palaces, including Kalta Minar, Kunya Ark fortress, the Juma Mosque with its 213 wooden pillars, and the Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum. The tour covers centuries of Khiva's architectural history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ata Darvaza (one of four gates of Ichan Kala)
- Visit Madrasah Allakuli Khan
- Visit Madrasah Muhammad Amin Khan
- Visit Kalta Minar
- Visit Kunya Ark (Old Fortress)
- Visit Muhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah
- Visit Juma Mosque
- Visit Tosh Hovli Palace
- Visit Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrasah
- Visit Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum
Landmarks Ata Darvaza Madrasah Allakuli Khan Madrasah Muhammad Amin Khan Kalta Minar Kunya Ark Muhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah Juma Mosque Tosh Hovli Palace Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrasah Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum - Day 3
Khiva to Bukhara
You have two options to get from Khiva to Bukhara: drive through the Kyzylkum Desert (about 8 to 9 hours) or take a flight if you prefer. The road journey gives you unique views of the arid desert landscape in this region. Once you arrive, you'll check into your hotel in Bukhara.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Fly from Khiva to Bukhara (alternative to road journey)
Landmarks Kyzylkum Desert - Day 4
Bukhara
You'll spend the day exploring Bukhara's architecture, starting at Labi Hauz complex with its reservoir, then moving on to the Jewish Synagogue, Magoki Attori Mosque, and historic Trade Domes. From there you'll see the 14th-century hammam and 16th-century shopping passage, plus the Ark Fortress, Bolo Hauz Mosque, and Ismail Samani Mausoleum. You'll take a tea break at Retro Saloon Timur before joining a hands-on plov cooking class to learn how to prepare this traditional Uzbek dish.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Labi Hauz complex
- Visit Kukeldash Madrasah at Labi Hauz
- Visit Jewish Synagogue
- Visit Magoki Attori Mosque
- Explore Trade Domes
- Visit Bozori Kord Khammam
- Visit Abdullakhan Tim
- Visit Ulugbeg Madrasah
- Visit Abdulazizkhan Madrasah
- Visit Poi Kalyan complex
- Visit Kalyan Minaret
- Visit Kalyan Mosque
- Visit Miri Arab Madrasah
- Visit Ark Fortress
- Visit Bolo Hauz Mosque
- Visit Chashmai Ayub
- Visit Ismail Samani Mausoleum
- Visit Chor Minor
- Herbal tea tasting at Retro Saloon Timur
- Plov cooking class and preparation
Landmarks Labi Hauz Kukeldash Madrasah Jewish Synagogue Magoki Attori Mosque Trade Domes Bozori Kord Khammam Abdullakhan Tim Ulugbeg Madrasah Abdulazizkhan Madrasah Poi Kalyan Kalyan Minaret Kalyan Mosque Miri Arab Madrasah Ark Fortress Bolo Hauz Mosque Chashmai Ayub Ismail Samani Mausoleum Chor Minor - Day 5
Bukhara to Samarkand
You'll leave Bukhara for Samarkand with stops at ceramic and craft centers along the way. First you'll see the Vabkent Minaret from the 12th century, then continue to Gijduvan where you'll explore the remains of the 15th-century Ulugbeg Madrasah and learn about traditional silk embroidery from the Narzullaev family. You'll visit a ceramic workshop and museum and check out the historic Rabat Malika Caravan Saray before arriving in Samarkand for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Vabkent Minaret
- Visit Ulugbeg Madrasah in Gijduvan
- Visit Abd-al-Khalyk Gijduvani Mazar
- Learn about Gijduvan ceramics and embroidery
- Visit ceramic workshop in Gijduvan
- Visit Museum of Ceramics
- Visit Rabat Malika Caravan Saray
Landmarks Vabkent Minaret Ulugbeg Madrasah Abd-al-Khalyk Gijduvani Mazar Rabat Malika Caravan Saray 
- Day 6
Samarkand
Your day in Samarkand starts at the Registan plaza with its three ornate madrasahs. You'll catch a mini-concert and lecture about traditional musical instruments at Sherdor Madrassah, then visit the Gur Emir mausoleum and the Shakhi Zinda necropolis plus the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Later you'll head to Koni Ghil Village to learn about ancient crafts like paper production, pottery, carpentry and oil making using traditional methods. You'll end with visits to the Afrosiyob Museum and Ulugbek Observatory.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Registan
- Visit Sherdor Madrassah with mini-concert and lecture on traditional musical instruments
- Visit Gur Emir
- Visit Shakhi Zinda necropolis
- Visit Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Visit Koni Ghil Village handicraft centre
- Learn ancient techniques of paper production, pottery, carpentry and oil making
- Visit Afrosiyob Museum
- Visit Ulugbek Observatory
Landmarks Registan Sherdor Madrassah Gur Emir Shakhi Zinda Bibi-Khanym Mosque Afrosiyob Museum Ulugbek Observatory - Day 7
Samarkand to Tashkent to Bishkek
You'll take the Afrosiyob train early this morning, departing at 06:11 and arriving in Tashkent at 08:21. Once there, you'll visit Akbar Rahimov's ceramics workshop where he combines ancient pottery styles with modern designs, and you'll have tea and traditional oriental sweets. In the evening you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Bishkek, then transfer to your hotel about 40 km away (roughly 1 hour drive) and rest before dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Akbar Rahimov's ceramic workshop with tea break and traditional oriental sweets
Landmarks Akbar Rahimov's Workshop - Day 8
Bishkek to Kemin Valley
After breakfast you'll explore Bishkek with a city tour that includes the vibrant Osh Bazaar. You'll have lunch there before transferring to scenic Kemin Valley. On the way you'll stop to see the historic Burana Tower, remnants of an 11th-century ancient city. You'll settle into your guesthouse and if there's time, you can hike to the panorama point (about 2 hours one-way, moderate difficulty) for views of Chon-Kemin Valley. Dinner and overnight stay follow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Bishkek
- Visit Osh Bazaar
- Visit Burana Tower
Optional Activities
- Hike to panorama point in Kemin Valley (approximately 2 hours one-way, moderate difficulty)
- Horse riding
Landmarks Osh Bazaar Burana Tower - Day 9
Kemin Valley to Tepke
You'll travel eastward from Kemin Valley toward Tepke along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, Central Asia's large alpine inland sea. The paved roads show the lake's changing colors and surrounding mountains. You'll stop at the Museum of Nomadic Civilisations to explore Central Asia's nomadic heritage and ways of life. The open-air Petroglyph Museum near Cholpon-Ata has Bronze Age carvings depicting hunting scenes and ritual imagery. You'll arrive in Tepke to visit a working horse-breeding farm and have a home-cooked dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Home-cooked dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Nomadic Civilisations
- Visit Petroglyph Museum near Cholpon-Ata
- Visit working horse-breeding farm in Tepke
Optional Activities
- One-hour boat excursion on Issyk-Kul Lake
Landmarks Museum of Nomadic Civilisations Petroglyph Museum Issyk-Kul Lake - Day 10
Tepke to Karakol
You'll leave early for Karakol, a town shaped by Kyrgyz, Russian, and Dungan influences. You'll start with the bustling animal market in the early hours where livestock trading happens much as it has for generations. Breakfast will be a traditional Dungan dish called ash-lyanfu, a spicy cold noodle dish brought by Chinese Muslim migrants in the 19th century. You'll walk through historic quarters to see the timber-built Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity from 1895 and the Dungan Mosque from 1910 built without nails and styled after a Chinese temple. Next comes the Przhevalsky Museum dedicated to the 19th-century Russian explorer, then lunch and a traditional dinner with a local family.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Dungan breakfast of ash-lyanfu), Lunch, Dinner (Traditional dinner hosted by local family)
Included Activities
- Visit animal market in Karakol
- Traditional Dungan breakfast of ash-lyanfu
- Visit Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity
- Visit Dungan Mosque
- Visit Przhevalsky Museum
- Dinner at local family's home
Landmarks Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity Dungan Mosque Przhevalsky Museum - Day 11
Karakol to Jety-Oguz to Svetlaya Polyana to Tamga
After breakfast you'll transfer to Jety-Oguz Gorge, about 2 hours away. You can choose to do a moderate hike to Svetlaya Polyana Gorge lasting around 3 to 4 hours with a packed lunch at the top of a small pass. After hiking you'll meet your car and transfer to the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. The day ends with dinner and accommodation in a yurt camp in Tamga.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch at top of small pass), Dinner
Optional Activities
- Moderate-level hike from Jety-Oguz to Svetlaya Polyana Gorge (approximately 3-4 hours with packed lunch)
Landmarks Jety-Oguz Gorge Svetlaya Polyana Gorge - Day 12
Tamga to Kochkor
You'll have breakfast and continue along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. You'll stop in Kyzyl-Tuu village to see how yurts are made and watch an eagle hunting demonstration, then explore the striking Fairy Tale Canyon. Once you reach Kochkor you'll visit a felt workshop run by the local women's community called Altyn Kol where they make beautiful felt products. Dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel wrap up the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Kyzyl-Tuu village to observe traditional yurt production
- Eagle hunting demonstration
- Explore Fairy Tale Canyon
- Visit Altyn Kol felt workshop
Landmarks Fairy Tale Canyon - Day 13
Kochkor to Son-Kul
You'll leave Kochkor after breakfast and head toward Son-Kul Lake at 3,016 metres above sea level, a remote alpine basin that's key summer pastureland for nomadic herders. You have two options to get there: either transfer early to Kilemche and do a soft trek lasting around 4 to 5 hours across rolling pastures, or take a relaxed vehicle transfer with time in the afternoon for walking and light hiking around the lake's grasslands and seasonal yurt camps. You'll spend the night in a yurt camp beside the lake with views of expansive steppe and mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Soft trek from Kilemche to Son-Kul Lake (approximately 4-5 hours across undulating pastures)
- Vehicle transfer to Son-Kul Lake with afternoon walking and light hiking around the lake
Landmarks Son-Kul Lake 
- Day 14
Son-Kul to Bishkek
After breakfast you'll transfer back to Bishkek with a lunch stop in Kochkor. Once you arrive in Bishkek you'll rest and refresh before dinner. Your farewell dinner is at a local restaurant, and you have the option to enjoy a Kyrgyz folklore program during the meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch stop in Kochkor), Dinner (Farewell dinner at local restaurant)
Optional Activities
- Kyrgyz folklore program during farewell dinner
- Day 15
Bishkek Departure
After breakfast, you have free time until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your Central Asian adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
