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Journey through the heart of Central Asia crossing starkly beautiful deserts and magnificent mountain landscapes. Discover ancient cities full of intricate Islamic architecture, thriving bazaars and a mystical old-world atmosphere, all inextricably linked with the legends of the Silk Road.
For advice on where to go, what to do and how to choose your perfect tour, talk to our Travel Experts.
Our Road to Samarkand tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine.
Cruise on beautiful Lake Issyk Kul
Discover the ancient and pre-Soviet styles of this intriguing city
Be mesmerised by this UNESCO city
Explore the ancient city of Khiva
Our Road to Samarkand Tour has been thoughtfully designed and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
In Kochkor, visit a wonderful local cooperative where women are trained in traditional Kyrgyz handicrafts and given space to show and sell their work, allowing them to earn a wage while keeping old traditions alive.
Take to the tranquil, vivid-blue waters of Lake Issyk Kul, the world's second largest alpine lake, enjoying a relaxing cruise as you admire the spectacular views of the rugged Ala-Too Mountains.
One of Central Asia's most iconic experiences, witness the skill and majesty of golden eagle hunting – an age-old Kyrgyz tradition – in the spectacular setting of Kyrgyzstan's highlands.
This tour is ideal for those with an extensive period of time to travel and who are looking for a comprehensive visit to the main sights and cities in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. This tour is active and involves more walking and outdoor activity which allows you to further experience this fascinating area.
Fly overnight to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital and cultural hub. Upon arrival check-in and spend the rest of the day at leisure, before dinner.
Drive to Ala Archa National Park for a leisurely hike through its picturesque scenery of rugged peaks and dramatic gorges. Return to Bishkek for a city tour, where you will visit Manas Monument, the State History Museum before enjoying a walking tour around Ala Too Square to watch the changing of the Guard of Honor ceremony.
Visit the magnificent 12th-century Burana Tower before departing for Cholpon-Ata. Set on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul, visit the astonishing collection of 8th Century petroglyphs etched into glacial stone nearby. Later, take a cruise on the beautiful Lake Kul, admiring its spectacular alpine-esque surroundings.
Drive to Karakol, stopping at Semenov Gorge for a gentle hike en route. Visit the Kyrchyn Jailoo ethnic village and arrive in Karakol in the early afternoon. Go on to visit the Przhevalsky Museum, dedicated to the Russian explorer, and visit the striking Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and the Chinese Mosque.
Rise early to immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of Karakol's Sunday morning animal market which rivals Kashgar's famous animal market. In the afternoon, travel to the Jeti-Oguz Gorge for a walk through the canyon of red sandstone. This evening enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local Dungan family in Karakol.
Depart Karakol early and to the village of Bokonbaevo to watch an eagle hunting demonstration, a millennia-old Kyrgyz tradition practised with majestic golden eagles. Continue to Naryn, where you will stay the night.
Pass through dramatic mountain andvalley landscapes to reach Tash Rabat, a small stone caravansary that was of great significance at the height of the Silk Road. Enjoy the peaceful valley said to contain some of the finest landscapes in Kyrgyzstan before returning to Naryn.
Transfer to Kochkor, the centre of Kyrgyz felt handicrafts. Visit a traditional 'shyrdak' (wool carpet) workshop and a co-op that provides training for local women in traditional handicrafts. In the evening you will travel to a guesthouse near Chong-Kemin National Park.
Travel from Kochkor to Chong Kemin, a quiet valley with small villages surrounded by magnificent mountains. Enjoy a walk in the foothills before travelling to Bishkek airport for your flight to Tashkent.
Explore Tashkent's sights, including the Barak Khana Seminary, Kukeldash Madrassahs, Tila Shaikh Mosque and their archives. Browse the wares of Chorsu bazaar before experiencing a ceramic workshop.
Travel to the legendary city of Samarkand where you will enjoy a tour of Registan Square, the Ulug-Bek and Tillya-Kori madrasah. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring at your leisure.
Explore Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane, the grandest structure of Amir Temur's times – the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum and the Siab Bazaar and Shahi Zinda Necropolis. Later in the afternoon see Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel.
Visit Ulugbek's observatory, constructed by Ulugbek (Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Later see the ancient settlement of Afrosiab. Continue to Konigil Village to visit a papermaking workshop. In the afternoon return to Samarkand and remainder of the day at leisure.
Travel to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of the Great Amir Timur (Tamerlane). Explore the city, visiting sites such as the remnants of Ak-Sarai Palace, Dorus Tilavat cemetery and Kok-Gumbas Mosque. Return to Samarkand this afternoon.
Journey to Bukhara. En route, visit Gijduvan, a centre of famous handmade ceramics. Here you will see the fascinating process of making these ceramics. Continue on to Bukhara where you will have the afternoon to begin to explore this fascinating city.
This morning’s sightseeing includes: the Lab-i-khauz ensemble, Nadir Devanbegi Madrassah, Khanaga and Magoki Attari Mosques, Poi Kalon Minaret and Mosque, plus the Maddrassahs of Aziz Khan and Ulugbek. After lunch you will discover the Ark of Bukhara, Bolo Hauz Mosque and the Mausoleums of Ismail Samanid and Chashma Ayub.
This morning visit Sitora-i Mohi Khosa, the Emir’s summer palace, a 20th Century confection of a building! Continue to the Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausolem of a famous Sufi spiritual leader of the region. The afternoon is at leisure. Return to Bukhara and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
This morning you will set out for Khiva, a journey that will take you across Kyzyl Kum desert and a stop at Amudarya River. The route runs 480 kilometres through the stark beauty of the desert, the scenery changing from sparse saksaul trees to the lush riverbanks of the Amudarya.
Explore ancient Khiva, discovering the sights of the UNESCO World Heritage inner-walled city of Itchan Kala including the mighty Kunya Ark and the turquoise tiled Islom-Khodja. Wander through the fascinating Madrassah Rakhimkhon, a beacon of religious, astronomic, geographic and mathematical studies, and see the 19th Century Tash Hauli Palace, decorated in blue fine china tiles.
Transfer to Urgench to fly to Tashkent. Upon arrival visit the Museum of Applied Arts as well as the Mustakilik Square and the famous Tashkent Metro. With it’s marble and granite decorations the Metro feels like an underground palace.
Today according to your flight times, transfer to Tashkent Airport for your onward journey back to the UK.
We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.
Winter and Summers can be uncomfortable cold and hot respectively so the best time to visit Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is in the spring (April to May) and autumn (September to early November).
Places Visited: Bishkek - Cholpon Ata - Karakol - Naryn - Chong Kemin - Tashkent - Samarkand - Bukhara - Khiva - Tashkent
All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price. If your tour departs in less than 30 days, please call our travel experts to book.
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Departures for Solo travellers only are available for this tour on selected
dates.
In addition to being for solos only these departures feature smaller group sizes, free
airport lounge access and complimentary cocktails on arrival.
There are no dedicated Solo departures for this year. You can enjoy any of our tours with no Single Supplement on our Happy to Share option or explore the solo departures in other years.
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