Along the caravan routes of Great Silk Road

Duration: 16 days Season: End of June - October Route: Bishkek – Issyk-Kul – Son-Kul – Tash-Rabat – Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva – Bukhara – Nurata – Samarkand – Tashkent Conditions: Program is suitable for people of any age; there aren’t any difficulties on the route but for several days transfer takes around 5-7 hours.

Itinerary

Day 1.
Airport – Bishkek (30 km)
Meeting at the airport, transfer to Bishkek. Accommodation in comfortable guest house. Excursion around Bishkek. (LD)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Bishkek – 700 m

Day 2.
Bishkek – Issyk-Kul (250 km)
After breakfast transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way visiting Burana tower-minaret of XI century. Rest at the Issyk-Kul shore. Accommodation in guest house. (BLD)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Cholpon-Ata – 1600m

Day 3.
Issyk-Kul – Son-Kul (300 km)
After breakfast visiting open-air museum of rock paintings. After excursion transfer to Son-Kul Lake. Overnight in yurts. (BLD)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Son-Kul Lake – 3016m

Day 4.
Son-Kul – Naryn (235 km)
After breakfast horseback riding and acquaintance with nomad’s life. Transfer toAlong the caravan routes of Great Silk Road Naryn. Accommodation in guest house. (BLD)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Son-Kul Lake – 3016m, Naryn – 2500m

Day 5.
Naryn – Tash-Rabat (120 km)
After breakfast transfer to Tash-Rabat. Excursion to the ancient caravanserai Tash-Rabat. Overnight in yurts. (BLD)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Tash-Rabat-3000 m

Day 6.
Tash-Rabat – Kochkor (250 km)
After breakfast transfer to Kochkor village, visiting local museum of national handicrafts. Participation in the process of making national carpet “ala-kiiz”. Overnight in B&B. (BLD)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Tash-Rabat – 3000m, Kochkor – 1750 m

Day 7.
Kochkor – Bishkek (250 km)
After breakfast transfer to Bishkek. Accommodation in guest house. (BLD)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Kochkor – 1750m, Bishkek – 700m

Day 8.
Bishkek – Airport – Tashkent
Transfer to the airport. Arrival to Tashkent, transfer to hotel. City tour. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Bishkek – 700m, Tashkent – 460m.

Day 9.
Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva (1030 km)
Morning flight to Urgench. Arrival to Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva. Guided sightseeing tour program in Khiva: Visit a UNESCO World Heritage site Ichan-Qala fortress. In Ichan-Qala fortress visit Kunya-Arc, Sayeed Alauddin mausoleum, medrese Arab-Mukhamadkhan, mosque Oq-Masjid, medrese Hodjan Berdi-biya, Shirgazikhan, Abdullakhan, Juma mosque, medrese Allakulikhan, Toshkhovli palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud mausoleum, minaret Islom-Khodja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Tashkent – 460m, Khiva – 570m

Day 10.
Khiva – Bukhara (500 km)
In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (500 km, 7 hours). On the way stop to see Amu-Darya river. Arrival to Bukhara in the afternoon. Check in to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Bukhara – 510m

Day 11.
Bukhara
Sightseeing tour in Bukhara. Visit Samani dynasty mausoleum, Arc Fortress, Chashma-Ayub, Kalon ensemble, medrese Miri-Arab, Magoki-Attori mosque, medrese Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, trade domes, Lyabi Hauz complex, medrese Chor-Minor. Overnight at the hotel. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Bukhara – 510m

Day 12.
Bukhara – Nurata – Yurt camp
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to yurt camp located in Kyzylkum desert near the village of Yangigazgan (Navoi region). On the way stop in Nurata to visit a local mosque with a holy spring water. Continue driving to Yurt camp in Kyzylkum desert. Arrival to Yurt camp, accommodation in Yurts. Camel riding and free time. In the evening dinner near the camp fire with Kazakh akin singing folk songs. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Bukhara -510 m

Day 13.
Yurt camp – Nurata – Samarkand
In the morning visit the unique lake Aidarkul located in desert. Free time on the lake. In the afternoon depart the yurt camp and drive to Samarkand. Arrival to Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Time for rest. Overnight at the hotel. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Samarkand – 702m

Day 14.
Samarkand
Sightseeing tour in Samarkand. Visit Registan Square, ruins of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Shakhi-Zinda necropolis, Gur-Emir mausoleum, Ulugbek observatory, Afrosiyob museum, central bazaar in Samarkand. Overnight at the hotel. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Samarkand – 702m

Day 15.
Samarkand – Tashkent (293 km)
In the morning depart Samarkand and drive to Tashkent. Arrival to Tashkent, check in to the hotel. Free time. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Samarkand – 702m, Tashkent – 460m

Day 16.
Tashkent – Airport
End of the tour. Transfer to the airport, departure. (B)
Altitudes during the day (above sea level): Tashkent -460 m

Recommended list of private things for tour: warm clothes, comfortable hiking shoes, wind stopper and waterproof jacket, sunglasses, sun block cream (SPF 20-30), sun hat, swimsuit. Also tourist should have medical insurance.