Itinerary
- Day 1
Almaty
You'll arrive in Almaty and meet your driver for the hotel transfer. Since check-in doesn't start until 1:00 PM, you've got time to grab lunch or walk around the hotel area and get your bearings before settling in for the night.
- Start point
- Almaty, Kazakhstan (Main Entrance of the International Airport of Almaty)
- Day 2
Almaty
Your guided city tour kicks off at 9:00 AM, taking you through Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Republic Square, and the Almaty City Museum. After lunch, you'll drive 25 km out to Chimbulak ski resort and take the cable car up for views of the Tian Shan Mountains. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to relax before bed.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Almaty including Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Republic Square, and Almaty City Museum
- Cable car ride at Chimbulak ski resort
Landmarks Panfilov Park Zenkov Cathedral Republic Square Almaty City Museum Chimbulak Ski Resort Tian Shan Mountains - Day 3
Almaty to Bishkek
Following breakfast, you're heading to Bishkek on a newly built highway that takes about 4 hours to cover the 250 km. The drive passes through nice natural landscapes, so there's plenty to see from the car. Once you arrive in the afternoon, you'll check out the Central Museum, Panfilov Park, and the local bazaar before your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Bishkek including Central Museum, Panfilov Park, and local bazaar
Landmarks Central Museum Panfilov Park - Day 4
Bishkek to Tashkent
You'll depart at 9:00 AM to see Burana Tower, an 11th-13th century UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, you're heading to Don Aryk village for lunch at a local Kyrgyz family's home and a yurt construction demonstration. Then it's a 110 km drive to Bishkek airport for your 6:10 PM flight to Tashkent, touching down at 6:30 PM and transferring to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At local Kyrgyz family's home in Don Aryk village)
Included Activities
- Visit to Burana Tower UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Lunch at local Kyrgyz family's home
- Yurt construction demonstration and participation
Landmarks Burana Tower - Day 5
Tashkent to Samarkand
Starting at 10:00 AM, your city tour takes in the Old City of Tashkent, the Khast-Imam Complex with its early Qur'an copy, and Chorsu Bazaar. You'll ride the metro to the Applied Arts Museum and Navoi Theater, finishing at Amir Timur Square after a 4-5 hour tour. Free time follows, then at 6:00 PM you're heading to the railway station for the 6:50 PM Afrosiyob train, arriving in Samarkand at 9:00 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Old City of Tashkent including Khast-Imam Complex and Chorsu Bazaar
- Tashkent Metro ride
- Visit to Applied Arts Museum
- Walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square
Landmarks Old City of Tashkent Khast-Imam Complex Chorsu Bazaar Applied Arts Museum Navoi Theater Amir Timur Square - Day 6
Samarkand to Seven Lakes
At 9:00 AM, you're transferring 50 km to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border at Jartepa, taking about an hour. After customs, you'll meet your Tajik guide and driver, then drive 80 km to Seven Lakes in the western Fann Mountains over roughly 2 hours. Each lake shows distinct colors from turquoise to purple, and you'll stay at the hotel there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Seven Lakes in the Fann Mountains
Landmarks Seven Lakes Fann Mountains - Day 7
Penjikent to Samarkand
You're traveling to ancient Penjikent to see the ruins of a Sogdian city from the 5th century. The tour covers house foundations, a citadel with Zoroastrian fire temples, and bazaar remains. After exploring for about 3 hours, you'll visit newer Penjikent for the local bazaar, mosque, and Rudaki Museum. Later you'll drive 30 km to the Jartepa border crossing and complete formalities before heading to your Samarkand hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of ancient Penjikent archaeological site
- Visit to local bazaar in newer Penjikent
- Visit to Rudaki Museum
Landmarks Ancient Penjikent Rudaki Museum - Day 8
Samarkand to Bukhara
Your 9:00 AM city tour starts at Registan Square, then moves to Gur Emir Mausoleum, the ruins of Bibi Khanum Mosque, and Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis. A short drive takes you to Konigil village to learn traditional Samarkand paper-making from mulberry bark. You'll have free time, then at 8:00 PM you're heading to the railway station for the 9:00 PM Afrosiyob train, arriving in Bukhara at 10:35 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Registan Square
- Visit to Gur Emir Mausoleum
- Exploration of Bibi Khanum Mosque ruins
- Visit to Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis
- Visit to Konigil village for traditional paper-making demonstration
Landmarks Registan Square Gur Emir Mausoleum Bibi Khanum Mosque Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis 
- Day 9
Bukhara
Starting at 9:00 AM, you're walking through Old City Bukhara, seeing Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasa, Kalyan Minaret and Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasa, various madrasas and trading domes, the Ark Fortress, and several mausoleums. From 3:00 PM you've got free time until the National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa begins at 6:00 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Old City of Bukhara including Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasa, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasa, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrasas, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums, and trading domes
- National Show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa
Landmarks Lyabi Hauz Ensemble Magoki-Attori Mosque Chor-Minor Madrasa Kalyan Minaret Kalyan Mosque Miri-Arab Madrasa Ulugbek Madrasa Abdulazizkhan Madrasa Ark Fortress Bolo-Khauz Mosque Ismail Samani Mausoleum Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa - Day 10
Bukhara to Ashgabat
You'll start early crossing into Turkmenistan at the Farap-Alat border, then drive to Merv where you can walk through one of the Silk Road's most significant trading cities. The historical park has plenty to see, including the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum and the Kyz-Kala fortresses sitting out in the landscape. After grabbing lunch at a local spot, you'll head to Mary Airport for your evening flight to Ashgabat, landing around 18:50. A transfer takes you to your hotel where you can settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast before 6:30 AM departure), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Merv historical park
- View Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum
- Explore Major and Minor Kyz-Kala
- Visit Erk-Kala
- Visit Gyaur-Kala
- Visit Keshk Fortress
Landmarks Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum Kyz-Kala Erk-Kala Gyaur-Kala Keshk Fortress - Day 11
Ashgabat to Darvaza Gas Crater
After breakfast you're spending about 6 hours touring Ashgabat, visiting Old Nissa UNESCO World Heritage Site, Spiritual Mosque, National Museum of History, Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, and Independence Park. Then you're driving 280 km through the Karakum Desert to Darvaza Gas Crater, taking about 4 hours. You'll arrive at camp where dinner is fire-cooked by the crater. Sleep comes in a tent with sleeping bags and pillows.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Fire-cooked dinner near the 'Gates of Hell' at Darvaza camp)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Ashgabat including Old Nissa UNESCO World Heritage Site, Spiritual Mosque, National Museum of History, Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, and Independence Park
- Visit to Darvaza Gas Crater
- Fire-cooked dinner at Darvaza camp
- Overnight camping with sleeping bags, pillows, and tents provided
Landmarks Old Nissa Spiritual Mosque National Museum of History Monument of Neutrality Ertugrul Gazi Mosque Independence Park Darvaza Gas Crater - Day 12
Darvaza to Khiva
Start with a camp-style breakfast, then spend the day driving back across the Karakum Desert toward the border. You'll reach the Dashoguz-Shavat crossing between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, where you'll handle border paperwork and cross through the 1.5 km neutral zone. Once that's done, your Uzbek driver takes over for the drive to Khiva. After checking in at your hotel, you'll have the rest of the day free to walk around and get a feel for the area on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Camp-style breakfast)
- Day 13
Khiva to Tashkent
After breakfast and checking out (luggage is stored safely), you're spending the morning walking around UNESCO World Heritage Site Ichan-Kala Fortress, seeing Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasa, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, and Islom Khodja Minaret. In the evening, you'll take a cooking class on tukhumbarak and enjoy a farewell dinner. At 8:30 PM you're heading 30 km to Urgench Airport for your 10:05 PM flight to Tashkent, arriving at 11:25 PM.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Ichan-Kala Fortress UNESCO World Heritage Site including Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasa, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasa, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, and Minaret of Islom Khodja
- Masterclass on cooking tukhumbarak (egg dumplings)
- Farewell dinner
Landmarks Ichan-Kala Fortress Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasa Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasa Kalta Minor Juma Mosque Tash-Khovli Palace Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum Minaret of Islom Khodja - Day 14
Tashkent
You'll check out from the hotel at noon and have free time until your transfer to Tashkent International Airport for your departure.
- End point
- Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Main Entrance)
