Uzbekistan Tours
Highlights of Central Asia 2012
Highlights: 19 day tour
This new tour to Central Asia takes in 3 of 4 Central Asian Republics - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Highlights of this Central Asia tour include Bukhara, the ghost city of Otrar in Kazakhstan and the stunning Ala Archa Valley National Park.
Price from: £1795 pp
This new individual itinerary links the 3 Central Asia countries of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In Uzbekistan we include the must-sees of Samarkand and Bukhara, as well as the often overlooked capital of Tashkent. An overnight train journey takes you to Kazakhstan, where time is spent in Turkestan and Almaty. The itinerary finishes in Bishkek, another typical soviet Central Asian city and an intriguing place to spend some time.
Taking into account the flight and train schedules this itinerary can depart on any Friday.
| Based on number of persons travelling | Per person twin-share |
| 2 persons travelling | £2495 |
| 4 persons travelling | £1950 |
| 6 persons travelling | £1840 |
| 8 persons travelling | £1795 |
| Single room supplement | £275 |
Price Includes:
One-way flight in economy class with Uzbek Air direct from London Heathrow and one-way flight with bmi from Bishkek direct to London Heathrow, All airport taxes and security surcharges, Accommodation in three-star hotels with breakfast, Meals as specified (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner), All transfers and transportation throughout, Sightseeing with English-speaking guide as specified, Entrance fees on sightseeing tours
Price Excludes:
Uzbek, Kazakh and Kyrgyz visa
19 Day Itinerary
FLY TO TASHKENT
Fly to Tashkent.
TASHKENT
Arrive Tashkent and transfer to hotel for overnight stay. After a brief rest you will start with a 1/2 day tour of Tashkent, taking in the Old City, Brak-Khan Madrassah, Yunus-Khan mausoleum, Museum of Applied Art, Independence Square, Friendship People’s Square and the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. (B)
TASHKENT TO KHIVA
Transfer to airport for flight to Urgench. On arrival transfer to Khiva and check-in to Hotel for 2 nights. (B)
KHIVA
Full day tour of Khiva including Ichan-Kala, Mohammed-Amin Khan Madrassah, Kunya Ark, Paklavan Mahmud complex, Islam Khoja Madrassah and the Jumma Mosque. (B)
KHIVA TO BUKHARA
Drive through the Kyzyl-Kum desert to Bukhara, which takes around 7 hours. En route you will stop on the banks of the Amu Darya River, which hugs the Uzbek-Turkmen border. Arrive Bukhara, transfer to hotel for 3 nights. (B)
BUKHARA
Full day tour of Bukhara including the main highlights: Samanids Mausoleum; Chashma Ayub Mazar; Poi-Kalan complex; Ulugbek Madrassah; Lyabi-Hauz complex; Bolo Khauz Mosque and the Ark Citadel. (B)
BUKHARA
Free day to explore Bukhara or book optional excursions (B)
BUKHARA TO SAMARKAND
Depart from Bukhara to Samarkand (takes around 5 hours) with a visit en route to Shakhrisabz, once a major city of Central Asia and primarily known today as the birthplace of the 14th century conqueror Timur. Arrive Samarkand, transfer to hotel for 2 nights. (B)
SAMARKAND
Full day tour of Samarkand including the Guri-Emir Mausoleum, Rukhabad Necropolis and the Registan Complex, Ulugbek Observatory, Bibi-Khanum Cathedral Mosque, Shakhi Zinda Mausoleum and the bazaar. (B)
SAMARKAND TO TURKESTAN
Free morning in Samarkand before transfer to Tashkent and the overnight train from Tashkent to Turkestan in Kazakhstan (please note that there are trains Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays). (B)
TURKESTAN
Arrive Turkestan and transfer to hotel for overnight stay. Enjoy a tour of Turkestan, an important stop on the Silk Road, which was founded over fifteen centuries ago. The Hodja Ahmed Yasavi Mausoleum in Turkestan is a place of pilgrimage for Central Asian Muslims. (B)
TURKESTAN TO TARAZ
Morning excursion to the ghost city of Otrar, an ancient town on the Silk Road near the current town of Karatau in Kazakhstan. Otrar was destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1219 on one of his many vicious rampages. After a brief stop in Chimkent continue journey to Taraz. Overnight stay in Taraz. (B)
TARAZ TO ALMATY
Morning transfer across the Kazakh steppe to the former capital of Kazakhstan – Almaty. On arrival check-in to hotel for 3 nights. (B)
ALMATY
Full day tour of Almaty including the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan, where you can see the golden armour of a Scythian warrior, Zenkov Cathedral and the Museum of National Musical Instruments. In the afternoon visit the Medeo Ice Skating Rink high in the mountains overlooking Almaty. (B)
CHARYN CANYON
Day excursion to Charyn Canyon, one of Kazakhstan's finest natural wonders. Here, you can walk in the valley with its extraordinary Grand Canyon-style rock sculptures and multi-coloured gorges. (B)
ALMATY TO BISHKEK
In the morning visit the Green Bazaar, which not only offers all manner of food produce, it is an excellent place to purchase any last minute souvenirs. In the afternoon transfer to Bishkek and on arrival transfer to hotel for 2 nights. (B)
ALA ARCHA NATIONAL PARK
Day excursion to Ala Archa Valley National Park. This stunning national park with its alpine meadows and flowing brooks, is located some 35 kilometres from Bishkek. (B)
BISHKEK
Morning city tour of Bishkek including the National Historical Museum, Ala-Too Square and Lenin’s Monument. In afternoon free time to perhaps visit Osh Bazaar - the biggest, brightest and busiest of the city’s markets and a true taste of Central Asia. (B)
FLY TO UK
Transfer to the airport for flight back to the UK (B)
