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GREAT
SILK ROAD TOUR ITIENARY (SECTION B)
15 DAYS CENTRAL ASIA
Day
1 Naryn/Songkol Lake
Drive from Naryn to Songkol Lake. Songkol Lake is the second
largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013
m above sea level. Surrounded by dramatic snow-covered mountain
peaks, it is hidden in a flat, plate-like valley. Your route
takes you through some of the alpine mountains and meadows
of Kyrgyzstan. Along the way to the lake you will get a chance
to meet Kyrgyz shepherds, follow their paths and experience
their nomadic life. Enjoy a Kyrgyz national game and folk
show. Overnight in a Yurt camp. B/L/D
Day 2 Songkol Lake/Chichkan Valley
Drive to Susamyr valley, a high steppe plateau that although
only some 160 kilometers from the capital Bishkek is also
one of the more remote and rarely visited regions of Kyrgyzstan.
There are signs of early settlement dating back to between
the 9th and 11th centuries. The road climbs through the spectacular
mountains and on to Chichkan valley. Accommodation in Guest
House or Yurt Camp. B/L/D
Day 3 Chichkan Valley/Osh
Drive to Osh. The road climbs through the spectacular mountains
and follows the Naryn River. At the end of mountain’s
road the Ferghana valley starts. En route, you will pass the
town of Uzgen, which has a history of over 2000 years - it
is claimed to have been the site of a number of citadels built
at various times since the 1st century BC. After lunch, drive
to Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan; reputed to
be about 3000 years old. There are several legends about the
origin of the city, including claims that it was founded by
Solomon or Alexander the Great. Even if such a grand personage
did not establish Osh, its position at a crossroads along
the ancient trading routes that became known as the Silk Road
almost guaranteed that it would become a major settlement.
B/L/D
Day 4 Osh/Ferghana
Excursion to Osh Bazaar, one of the biggest bazaars in Central
Asia, stretching for about one kilometre along the river.
Visit holy mount Suleiman-Too (Solomon’s Throne). According
to, legend this mount appeared after King Solomon rested here.
For Central Asian Muslims, “Taht-I-Suleiman” is
the 3rd most sacred place after Mecca and Medina. At the top
there is a 16th century mosque and a museum. Afternoon drive
to the Uzbekistan border. B/L/D
Day 5 Ferghana Valley
In the morning we will drive to Kokand and visit the major
sights: Khudayar Khan Palace, Jommi Mosque, Narbutabey and
Dasturkhanchi Madrassah, Royal Cemetery and Khaidarov Workshop
(museum of Kokand woodcraft). Then on the road from Kokand
to Margilan we will visit the famous Rishtan Art Ceramics
factory. The major sights in Margilan are Toron Mosque, Said
Akhmad Khoja Madrassah and famous silk factories: Yodgorlik
factory, Margilan Silk factory and Khanatlas Silk factory.
B/L/D (Club 777 Hotel)
Day 6 Ferghana Valley/Samarkand
In the early morning we will start out for Samarkand. The
road from Ferghana Valley to Samarkand is quite a long distance
and will be a challenging drive, crossing many mountain passes
on the way to Tashkent. We will stop for a rest and some lunch
in the local houses in the Jizzah region, arriving in Samarkand
in the afternoon. B/L/D (Afrosiab Palace Hotel)
Day 7 Samarkand
Today we will have a city tour of Samarkand including the
famous Registan, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Bibi Khanum Mausoleum,
Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble, Ulugbek Observatory (15th century),
Chupan Ata (1440s), Gur Emir, Ak-Serai (around 1470) and Rukhabad
Mausoleums. Later we will visit Khoja Abdi Darun, Khoja Abdi
Birun and Ishrat Khana Mausoleums, Khoja Akhrar Complex, Chorsu
and the famous Samarkand carpet factory. B/L/D (Afrosiab Palace
Hotel)
Day 8 Samarkand/Bukhara
After breakfast we will start our trip to Bukhara. Arriving
at Bukhara city in the afternoon we will have lunch and some
leisure time. In the evening we will see a folk performance
in Nadir Devanbegi Madrassah. B/L/D (Lyabi House Hotel)
Day 9 Bukhara
Today we have an excursion in Bukhara including visits to
the mausoleum of Ismail Samani, the Bolo-Hauz mosque, the
Historical Fortress - Arch, Poi Kalon Ensemble (the Kalon
Minaret, Kalon Mosque and Mir-I-Arab Madrassah), Ulugbek and
Abdulaziz khan Madrassahs, the Magoki-Attar mosque. In evening
we will have dinner in a local traditional style restaurant.
B/L/D (Lyabi House Hotel)
Day 10 Bukhara-Khiva
Drive to Khiva through KizilKum Desert. En route we stop to
see the Amudarya River, known to many western explorers as
the Oxus River. We will arrive at Khiva in the late afternoon.
B/L/D (Khorezm Palace Hotel)
Day 11 Khiva
Our tour in Khiva will include Ichan-Kala (Inner town): Mohammed
Amin Khan Madrassah, Kunya Ark, Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum,
Islam Khoja Madrassah and Minaret, Jummi Mosque, Eastern Ensemble,
Tash Hauli Palace. Atajan Tura Ensemble and functioning hamman
(bath), Chadra Hauli, Sheikh Mukhtar Vali Mausoleum, Kubla
Toza Beg Summer Palace. Also you will see desert sights such
as Toprak Kala and Koi Krylgan Kala.
B/L/D (Khorezm Palace Hotel)
Day 12 Khiva/Darvaza
Cross the border into Turkmenistan and drive to Darvaza. En
route, see the sights of Kunya-Urgench, a UNESCO World Heritage
site. The monuments here testify to outstanding achievements
in architecture and craftsmanship whose influence reached
Iran and Afghanistan, and later the architecture of the Mogul
Empire of 16th-century India. Later on, continue to Darvaza.
B/L/D
Day 13 Darvaza/Ashgabat
Drive to Ashgabat. En route, we will visit the colourful and
varied Tolkuchka bazaar. Arriving in Ashgabat, take a city
tour and visit the Carpet Museum. B/L/D (Section C begins)
Day 14 Ashgabat
Today we will have a full day tour around Ashgabat, visiting
the Bakharden underground lake as well as Kipchak mosque.
Later, we will tour the Old Nisa – the remains of the
Parthian kings’ residence. Continue to National museum
and return Ashgabat. This evening, enjoy a traditional dinner
with Folklore group performance. B/L/D
Day
15 Ashgabat/Mary
Drive to Mary via the medieval Anau mosque, which was built
between 1446-1456, and destroyed by earthquake in 1948. The
mosque was unique with its blue mosaic facade, depicting dragons.
We will also visit the old city of Abiverd, which was an important
trading post from the 5th to the 7th centuries. We will have
lunch upon arrival in Mary.
In the afternoon,
drive to ancient Merv, one of the oldest inhabited cities
in Central Asia. At one point in its history, Merv was called
'The Pearl of the East'. Razed by the Mongols, it was rebuilt
over the centuries and today five distinct cities covr 130
square kilometres. Later, we will return to Mary.B/L/D
(End of Section B – those not continuing will depart
from Ashgabat today)

PS.Call us
at (90) 212 527 68 59 or send us EMAIL
to request the complete itinerary and PRICE of the tour. You
can also customize your own itinerary.
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Silk Road
's Magic
China, Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkiye |
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Section
C (29 days)
You can join section by section. Iran and Repaublic
Of Turkiye, From the Desert to the Sea |
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