ITINERARY - THE GREAT SILK ROAD TOUR (12-DAY/12 NIGHT)
This tour takes in the Silk Road countries of TURKMENISTAN (Days 1 to 3), UZBEKISTAN (Days 4 to 9) and KYRGYZSTAN (Days 11 to 12).
Day 1, Tuesday 29 April:
Arrive in Ashgabat, ready to start the actual tour the next day. If travelling from Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, you will need to take the late night flight on Monday (TK1364) arriving in Ashgabat at 05:15 on Tuesday morning. While we will request an early check-in at the hotel, this cannot be guaranteed. You should book one night’s pre-tour accommodation if you wish to have a room available to check-in immediately on arrival. Irrespective of the date and time of arrival, you will be met by our representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
The day is free to spend as you please. You could go on an optional excursion to Mary to visit Ancient Merv, the Mausoleum of Soltan Sanjar, Great and Little Kiz Kalas (castle) and the Historical Museum. This excursion involves an early flight to Mary, flying back to Ashgabat in early evening. Alternatively, you could relax at your hotel and go for a walk to familiarise yourself with this unusual, sparkling city. Dinner is at the hotel.
Overnight at Nissa Hotel in Ashgabat (D)
Day 2, Wednesday, 30 April: In Ashgabat
The name Ashgabat literally means "the city of love". With many colourful weddings taking place on Fridays and Saturdays, it's little wonder that it is called ‘the city of love’.
In the morning, we go on a sightseeing tour' of this sparkling city, including Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Square, Arch of Neutrality and Carpet Museum with its rich collection of Turkmen carpets.
After lunch, we take an excursion to see Nissa Fortress dating back 2300 years, the Kipchak Mosque built by the late Turkmen president Saparmurat Niyazov and his mausoleum nearby. Our last visit is to Goktepe Mosque about 35km west of the city and the nearby ruins. In the evening, we have a traditional dinner with folklore dancing and music in a local house.
Overnight at Nissa Hotel in Ashgabat. (B/L/D)
Day 3, Thursday 1 May: Ashgabat - Bukhara
This morning, we take an early flight to Turkmenabat near the Uzbek border. We then drive to Farab close to the border. Here we cross the border on foot and meet our Uzbek guide and driver on the other side. We then transfer to Bukhara, a short distance away where we have lunch.
Overnight at Minzifa Boutique hotel.(B/L/D)
Day 4, Friday 2 May: In Bukhara
After breakfast, we continue with the city tour visiting Kalyan Minaret and Mosque built in 1127, Trade Domes, Lyabi-Hauz Complex, Nadir-Divanbegi Medresse.
When you climb the 47meter high Kalyan Minaret and look around, you know that you are in the land of Omar Khayyam, Ibn Sina and Timur. After lunch at a local restaurant, we see Chashmai-Ayub Mausoleum and Ismail Samani Mausoleum. The rest of the day and evening are free to do as you please.
Overnight at Minzifa boutique hotel. (B/L)
Day 5, Saturday 3 May: Bukhara - Samarkand
After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Samarkand by coach or minibus (268 km). We stop about half way to see a ‘Water Dome’ and the remains of an old Caravanserai. On arrival in Samarkand, we have lunch at a local restaurant and then check into our hotel. In the afternoon, we see Gur-Emir Mausoleum and Ruhabad Mausoleum. The rest of the day is free. Dinner is at hotel.
Overnight at President Palace Hotel (B/L/D)
Day 6, Sunday 4 May: In Samarkand
No city is as evocative of the Silk Road as Samarkand. This morning we continue with our sightseeing tour of this fabled city. The sites include Registan Square, Bibihanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Shakhi-Zinda, Ulugbek’s Observatory, with lunch at a local restaurant. Any remaining time is free. Dinner is not included.
Overnight at President Palace Hotel (B/L)
Day 7, Monday 5 May: Samarkand - Tashkent
This morning we depart early for the 295 km drive to Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. Even though it had a colourful history with different rulers and influences, including the Arabs, Mongols and Timurids, today’s Tashkent reflects its most recent conquerors – the Russians. After lunch at a local restaurant, we check into our hotel and rest of the day is free to explore this modern city with its many parks and well planned squares. Dinner is at a special, local restaurant.
Overnight at Tashkent Palace Hotel (B/L/D)
Day 8, Tuesday 6 May: Tashkent – Fergana
After breakfast, we see the Opera House, the Applied Arts Museum and local artisans at work at an old Madrassa. In the afternoon, we drive to the town of Fergana located in the lush Fergana Valley. On arrival, we check in to our hotel for a two night stay.
Overnight at a comfortable 4* hotel (B/L/D)
Day 9, Wednesday 7 May: Fergana-Kokand -Rishtan-Margilan
Today we drive to Kokand for sightseeing where we visit Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Djami Mosque, Kamol-Kazy Madrassa, Dahman-Shakhon and Madirakhan Necropolis.
In the afternoon, we drive to Rishtan to see pottery works and Margilan to visit a silk making factory. In the evening, we return to our hotel in Fergana. The evening is free and you will have a chance to try some local dishes as dinner is not included.
Overnight at a comfortable 4* hotel (B/L)
Day 10, Thursday, 8 May: Fergana - Osh - Bishkek
In the morning, we transfer to the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan border point and cross the border into Kyrgyzstan. With our new bus and guide, we transfer to Osh. With its 3000 years of history, sightseeing in Osh is a rewarding experience. We then transfer to the airport for our evening flight to Bishkek.
Overnight at a comfortable 4* hotel (B/L/D)
Day 11, Friday 9 May: Bishkek-Issyk-Kul
After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake, one of the largest and the deepest lakes in Central Asia. On the way there, we visit Burana Tower, an architectural monument on the site of the ancient city of Balasagyn dating back to the XIth century. On arrival, we check in to our hotel at Cholpon Ata. The rest of the day is free. You may just relax or go for dip in this pristine lake. Here we will also have a chance to explore the ‘Stone Garden’, the site of a gigantic open-air temple, where ancient people worshipped heavenly bodies. Many of the drawings are examples of the Saka-Skythian animal style of art and show hunters and snow leopards during a hunt.
Overnight at Hotel Royal Beach (B/L/D)
Day 12, Saturday 10 May: Issyk Kul-Bishkek
We return to Bishkek after breakfast. The tour ends after lunch at a traditional local restaurant. Rest of the day is free in Bishkek to wonder around, do shopping or to just relax in your hotel. Transfer arrangements will be made for any group members who may have flights today. Those with very early flights tomorrow morning (e.g to Istanbul at 03:10) may consider an early night, unless they want to live it up and then transfer to the airport.
Overnight at a comfortable 4* hotel (B/L)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The tour price includes:
- Arrival transfers in Ashgabat and departure transfers in Bishkek
- All transportation from start (Ashgabat) to finish (Bishkek), including airfares and airport transfers.
- Accommodation in centrally located, mostly four-star hotels.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Modern air-conditioned minibus or coach with spare seats.
- All entrance fees, tips to hotels, restaurants, and other charges
- Services of Turkish born Australian tour leader who is with the group 24/7.
- Services of professional English speaking guide.
- Drinking water on the coach
The tour price does NOT include:
- International and domestic airfares
- Departure taxes, levies and other charges
- Passport and visa fees
- Items of a personal nature such as drinks, minibar, phone calls, etc.
- Beverages at meal times
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Changes may be made to the itinerary and dates without notice.
- Price, which varies depending on the group size, is subject to change without notice until paid in full
- "Add-On" flights are available between Istanbul & Ashgabat and between Bishkek & Istanbul at reduced rates, if flying to and from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Please contact us for details.
- There are only limited flights into/out of Central Asian countries. These flights are often late at night or early in the morning. You should consider these points when making your travel plans.
- All three countries we visit require visas from Australian passport holders. You will need to obtain these visas from a diplomatic mission in a third country, (e.g Turkey) or at the airport on arrival (e.g Turkmenistan). Visa for Kyrgyzstan maybe obtained in Uzbekistan. Please contact us for details and assistance regarding visas.
- This tour may be combined with our 17-Day Grand Sultan tour, which immediately follows the Great Silk Road tour. Where two or more tours are combined, there will be a discount of 5% on the lower priced tour (or tours).
- This itinerary is current as at 04/12/2007.