Upon arrival at Urgench Airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to Khiva (30 km).

After breakfast, begin your exploration of the UNESCO-listed old town of Itchan Kala, including:

• Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah and Minaret
• Kunya Ark Fortress
• Muhammad Rahim Khan II Madrasah
• Juma Mosque
• Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum
• Islam Khoja Madrasah and Minaret
• Tash Khauli Palace

Overnight in Khiva

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart for Bukhara, the legendary city of the Silk Road, boasting more than 2,500 years of history.

The journey takes you across the vast Kyzylkum Desert, with a stop on the banks of the Amu Darya River. Lunch will be served en route.

Arrival in Bukhara in the evening and check-in at the hotel.

Overnight in Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

Begin your sightseeing tour of Bukhara, including:

• Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the city’s oldest surviving monument dating from the 10th century
• Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, associated with the Prophet Job
• Bolo Hauz Mosque
• Ark Fortress, the former residence of the Emirs of Bukhara
• The 16th-century Trading Domes
• Kalon Mosque and the iconic Kalon Minaret, the tallest in Bukhara
• Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, a renowned Islamic school still in operation
• Ulugh Beg and Abdulaziz Khan Madrasahs
• Lyabi Hauz Ensemble

Overnight in Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continue exploring the city’s surroundings with visits to:

• Bahauddin Naqshband Memorial Complex, dedicated to the founder of the Naqshbandi Sufi order
• Chor Bakr Necropolis
• Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace, the former summer residence of the Emir of Bukhara
• Chor Minor Madrasah

Optional: Traditional Oriental women’s hammam experience with authentic treatments.

Overnight in Bukhara

After breakfast, depart for Nurata.

On the way, visit the ancient Rabat-i-Malik Caravanserai and the historic Sardoba water reservoir.

Upon arrival in Nurata, explore the ruins of Alexander the Great’s Fortress and visit the sacred Chashma Spring.

Continue to Aydarkul Lake, where you may enjoy a swim in its warm waters, weather permitting. Take a leisurely walk along the lakeshore to discover the unique flora and fauna of the region.

Proceed to the yurt camp and settle into your traditional accommodation. Enjoy a camel ride across the steppe.

In the evening, savor an open-air dinner followed by traditional Kazakh folk songs performed around the campfire.

Overnight in a yurt camp at Aydarkul Lake

Breakfast at the yurt camp, followed by departure for Samarkand via the village of Mitan (260 km).

Visit a local family to experience traditional village life. Take part in a hands-on cooking workshop and learn how to prepare Uzbekistan’s national dish, plov, before enjoying a walk through the village.

Continue to Samarkand. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Suggested evening activity:

• Stroll through the charming Russian Quarter.

Overnight in Samarkand

As the writer Amin Maalouf beautifully described it, “Samarkand is the most beautiful face the Earth has ever turned toward the sun.”

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a guided tour of the city’s highlights:

• Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built by Timur in honor of his beloved wife
• Siab Bazaar, Samarkand’s vibrant traditional market
• Registan Square, the magnificent heart of the ancient city
• Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the 15th-century resting place of Timur and the Timurid dynasty

Optional: El Merosi Traditional Costume Theatre.

Overnight in Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Amir Timur, a city with over 2,500 years of history.

Visit:

• Ak Saray Palace, the magnificent ruins of Timur’s summer palace
• Dorus Saodat Complex (“Abode of Power”)
• Dorut Tilovat Complex (“Abode of Meditation”)

Return to Samarkand.

Overnight in Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continue exploring Samarkand with visits to:

• Konigil Village, famous for its traditional silk paper workshop
• Ulugh Beg Observatory
• Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel
• Afrasiab Museum
• Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, home to the tomb of Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad

At 5:00 p.m., board the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Tashkent (280 km, approximately 2 hours).

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in.

Overnight in Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

Discover the highlights of Uzbekistan’s capital:

• Khast Imam Complex, home to the famous 7th-century Qur’an manuscript
• Chorsu Bazaar
• Independence Square
• Amir Timur Square

Overnight in Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bishkek.

Upon arrival, meet your English-speaking guide and begin a sightseeing tour of the Kyrgyz capital, including:

• Ala-Too Square
• Kurmanjan Datka Monument
• Government Buildings and the Old Parliament Square

After the city tour, drive to the picturesque Chon-Kemin Valley (170 km).

Overnight in Chon-Kemin Valley

After breakfast, depart for Lake Issyk-Kul, travelling through the scenic Boom Gorge and along the lake’s northern shore.

Arrive in Cholpon-Ata, where you will visit:

• The Open-Air Petroglyph Site, featuring rock carvings dating back to the Scythian and Turkic periods
• The Local History Museum or the Rukh Ordo Cultural Complex

After the visit, enjoy some free time at a lakeside resort on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, where you can relax and admire the spectacular alpine scenery.

Continue to Karakol.

Upon arrival, discover the city’s rich cultural heritage with visits to:

• The Dungan Mosque, a unique Chinese-style wooden mosque that remains an active place of worship
• The Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, a beautiful 19th-century Russian wooden church

Overnight in Karakol

After breakfast, depart for Kochkor, following the picturesque southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

Stop at the spectacular Jety-Oguz Gorge. In Kyrgyz, Jety-Oguz means “Seven Bulls,” referring to the striking red sandstone cliffs surrounded by lush Tian Shan spruce forests.

Continue to the village of Kochkor.

Overnight in Kochkor

After breakfast, depart for Son-Kul Lake.

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your hosts at the yurt camp and invited to taste kumis, the traditional fermented mare’s milk enjoyed by the Kyrgyz nomads.

Spend the afternoon discovering the breathtaking landscapes of Son-Kul, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most spectacular alpine lakes. Its shallow waters are fringed by reeds and wetlands that provide a habitat for numerous bird species. Fed by glacial waters, the lake drains into the Son-Kul River, which eventually joins the Naryn River. The lake remains frozen from late September until late May.

Enjoy a relaxing walk along the lakeshore in the afternoon.

Overnight in a traditional yurt at Son-Kul Lake

After breakfast, depart for the Burana Historical and Archaeological Complex.

Visit the Burana Tower, the last surviving monument of the ancient city of Balasagun, once a flourishing Silk Road settlement that prospered until the 14th–15th centuries.

Take a walk around the archaeological site to discover carved balbals (ancient Turkic stone monuments), old millstones, and other fascinating remains of daily life. Those who wish may climb the tower for panoramic views of the vast Kyrgyz plains and the snow-capped Tian Shan Mountains. In spring, the surrounding fields are carpeted with vibrant red poppies, creating an unforgettable landscape.

Continue to Bishkek.

Overnight in Bishkek

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Bishkek International Airport for your departure flight.

End of the tour.

Let Silk Way Tours guide you on an unforgettable journey through the timeless wonders of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan!