| Duration: | 14 Day(s) - 13 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Photography Tours |
Day 1: Tashkent – Khiva
Arrival in Tashkent. Meet and transfer to the hotel. Rest.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Walking tour to the Alisher Navoi Ballet and Opera House. Built by Japanese prisoners of war and designed by Shchusev (the same architect who designed Lenin’s Mausoleum), the building reflects a unique blend of architectural styles in Uzbekistan. Islamic art is combined with classicism, resulting in a beautiful neoclassical façade with Moorish elements.
Visit Independence Square and the Tashkent Metro.
Visit the Friday Mosque, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, and Kukeldash Madrasah.
Visit the Museum of Decorative Arts, one of the most interesting museums in Tashkent, featuring an extensive collection of ceramics, carved wood, textiles, carpets, metalwork, and other handicrafts.
Transfer to the airport for the evening flight to Urgench (HY057, departure at 20:25, arrival at 21:55).
Arrival in Urgench, transfer to Khiva, and hotel check-in.
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Khiva
Note: It is also possible to take the Tashkent–Khiva train, which takes approximately 15 hours.
Day 2: Khiva – Dashoguz – Darwaza (400 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour in Khiva: Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasa and Kalta Minor (18th century), Kunya Ark (17th–19th century), Mukhammad Rakhim Khan Madrasa (19th century), Said Allauddin Mausoleum (14th century), Jami Mosque with 212 wooden columns (18th century), Tash Khauli Palace (19th century), Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum (14th–20th century), Islam Khoja complex (early 20th century), bazaar, and woodcarving workshops.
Drive to the Turkmenistan border at Shavat–Dashoguz (60 km, approx. 1 hour). Complete border formalities. Cross the 1.5 km neutral zone (minibus available for approximately 1 USD). With your invitation letter, you will obtain your Turkmenistan visa at the border.
Note: Border crossing may take 1–2 hours depending on traffic. Be prepared for thorough checks.
On the Turkmenistan side, meet your guide and driver and transfer to the Darwaza gas crater in the Karakum Desert (270 km, 4–5 hours). Explore the burning gas crater during the day and at night.
Accommodation: Yurt camp (2 people per yurt), with dinner included
Day 3: Darwaza – Ashgabat (270 km)
After a camp-style breakfast, drive to Ashgabat via the water crater and Erbent desert village. Arrival in Ashgabat around noon.
Optional visit to Altyn Asyr (Gundogar) Bazaar.
Check in at the hotel (after 14:00) and rest.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon sightseeing tour (3–4 hours), including the National Museum of History, Arch of Neutrality, and Independence Park.
Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat
Day 4: Ashgabat – Turkmenabad – Bukhara
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Turkmenabad (ETD 06:10, ETA 07:00; subject to change).
Upon arrival, enjoy a short city tour of Turkmenabad, including the central square and theatre. Then transfer to the Farap border post. Cross the border (approx. 1 hour), meet your guide, and continue to Bukhara (approx. 2 hours from Alat).
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Bukhara
Day 5: Bukhara – Samarkand (280 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour in Bukhara: Ark Citadel (17th–20th century), Bolo-Khauz Mosque (1712), Ismail Samani Mausoleum (9th–10th century), Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, and the Poi Kalyan Complex. The Kalyan Minaret is one of the few monuments that survived Genghis Khan’s destruction.
Visit the trading domes: Toki-Zargaron, Toki-Sarrafon, and Toki-Tilpak Furushon; Magok-i-Attari Mosque; and Lyabi Hauz Square.
Transfer to the train station and board the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Samarkand (approx. 1.5 hours).
Upon arrival, begin your Samarkand visit.
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Samarkand
Day 6: Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour of Samarkand: Registan Square, Bibi-Khanym Mosque (once one of the largest mosques in Central Asia), and a walking tour of Siab Bazaar.
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Samarkand
Day 7: Samarkand – Penjikent – Khujand (320 km)
Transfer to the Uzbekistan–Tajikistan border and complete border formalities.
Visit Sarazm (ancient archaeological site), enjoy lunch at a local teahouse, and continue to Istaravshan for a city tour and bazaar visit. Proceed to Khujand for dinner and rest.
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Khujand
Note: A train from Samarkand to Khujand is available on Mondays (approx. 8 hours).
Day 8: Khujand – Kokand (140 km)
Early morning transfer to the border. Cross the Tajikistan–Uzbekistan border on foot.
Meet your driver on the Uzbek side and transfer to Kokand.
Lunch and sightseeing tour in Kokand.
Dinner and rest.
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Kokand
Day 9: Kokand – Andijan – Osh
After breakfast, drive to Andijan (approx. 1.5 hours), then transfer to the Kyrgyzstan border.
After crossing, meet your Kyrgyz driver and transfer to Osh.
City tour of Osh. Visit Suleiman-Too Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and important pilgrimage destination. Continue to the museum inside the mountain and Jayma Bazaar. If time permits, visit the Archangel Michael Cathedral and the central square with the Lenin statue.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Osh
Day 10: Osh – Bishkek – Ala Archa National Park
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a flight to Bishkek (approx. 1 hour).
Meet your guide and enjoy a Bishkek city tour.
Visit Ala Archa National Park and hike along the gorge. Optional hike to Ak-Sai Waterfall.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bishkek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Bishkek – Karakol – Jeti Oguz
After breakfast, transfer to the bus station for travel to Karakol (approx. 6 hours).
Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to Jeti Oguz Valley. Visit Maiden’s Braid Waterfall, Broken Heart Rock, and Seven Bulls Rocks.
Accommodation either in a yurt camp or 3* hotel in Karakol.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Karakol – Karkara – Kegen – Kolsai Lake – Saty
After breakfast, transfer to the Kegen border via Karkara Valley. Cross into Kazakhstan and visit Kolsai Lakes.
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Saty
Day 13: Saty – Charyn Canyon – Almaty
After breakfast, visit Charyn Canyon, then drive to Almaty for a city tour.
Explore central Almaty, including historical buildings, parks, and squares. Visit Kok-Tobe Mountain for panoramic views.
Continue to Medeu (high-altitude skating rink) and Shymbulak Ski Resort (accessible by cable car).
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Almaty
Day 14: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Almaty Airport for your flight home.
General Corrections Made:
Fixed spelling errors (e.g., Cruize → Cruise, Archeology → Archaeology, Folklore, Yssyk → Issyk)
Improved sentence structure and flow
Standardised place names and historical terms
Corrected punctuation and capitalisation
Made the itinerary consistent and professional
