Central Asia’s Silk Road Cultural Walk (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan) 14D13N, Guided

Your adventure begins at Bishkek, the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan with an afternoon city tour. For a few hours, we explore the city's main sites, including parliament square, the Lenin Statue, the Manas Monument, the White House, and Ala-Too Square. Early arrival in the morning is advised, and the process has been simplified with a previous night booking, so you can check in the afternoon or evening if you please.

The garden hotel or Hotel Bridges, Bishkek, will host us for the night in their posh and cozy interiors. Indulge in delectable meals and lush libations at the restaurant and bar. Relax in the peaceful atmosphere of the library or on the relaxing patios. Get swept up in the enchantment of Bishkek and let yourself be captivated by this contemporary wonder.

Today, we explorebthe Ala-Archa Alpine National Park in a nature reserve within the Tian Shan mountains. The reserve is inside a small valley in the Ala-Archa gorge, with its ridges perpetually drenched in snow and the surrounding slopes in spruce forests.

The park is a scenic beauty in Kyrgyzstan, and you can hike its longest trail along the Ala-Archa River, which is sourced from the melting glaciers, to behold some of its spellbinding sights. However, the best place to hike is the Ak-Sai waterfalls before returning to the hotel to enjoy the rest of the free afternoon.

We travel to Chon-Kemin Gorge on this day, stopping at a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the iconic mid-eleventh-century Karakhanid minaret, which is also the first of its kind in Central Asia. The minaret is housed in a complex comprising three mausoleums: Northern, Middle, and Southern, which were reconstructed. You can ascend to the tower's top with care since it's dark inside and the steps are narrow. Other interesting parts of the complex include the remains of a citadel, stone carvings, gravestones used by nomadic Turkic people known as balbals, and a small museum.

Our trip proceeds to Chon-Kemin National Park, which is our destination and is remarkable for its quaint and serene villages in the Chon-Kemin Valley and arable lands at the backdrop of majestic mountains. The Chong-Kemin River flows through the park, and its basin is home to seven lakes. This location is idyllic and one of the most picturesque in Kyrgyzstan.

You’ll stay at the charming Guest House Kemin in the valley, a hidden treasure in the Kyrgyz highlands. This adorable home has been thoughtfully crafted to provide visitors with a relaxing and pleasurable stay. A warm and welcoming sense of rustic charm pervades every corner of this charming guesthouse with an ample terrace for viewing the landscape and surrounding garden

Our journey progresses through the Tien Shan Mountains to the south shore of Issyk Lake, to behold the world's second-largest salt lake with a depth of 700m (2,300ft). The lake is a natural wonder as it never freezes, even in the coldest winter, and its name is translated in English as "Hot Lake" for this reason. Around the lake is a fine blend of forest and meadow, with mountains and glaciers behind.

A stop at Bokonbaev village is optional at the cost range of US$ (120 – 150) for each group. Here, you can observe the falconry and hunt with eagles, an indigenous lifestyle of the nomads.

Our next stop is Barskaun Gorge, where we can hike to a waterfall before visiting the Djety Oguz, translated in English as "The Valley of Seven Bulls." The valley is named after the seven red rocks in the gorge, and its slopes are coated in lush vegetation and shrubs. The majestic waterfalls are the high points of a visit here, and the Barskaun Fall at 100 metres, is a beauty to behold if you are energetic enough to hike to it. Be mindful of the trail, which can be slippery in wet weather.

We rest in a yurt camp in Djety Oguz for the night, which comprises six sleeping yurts for four or five guests each and a general dining yurt. A shower and three western-style WCs are available, including hot water for bathing on special request. The yurt receives electricity for three hours every evening from a generator and although not luxurious, it's a peculiar experience that one can relish while gaining insight into the nomadic lifestyles of Central Asia's mediaeval people.

Note: This accommodation changes in April and October when we camp at Almaluu Yurt, close to Lake Issyk Kul rather than Djety Oguz. The order of activities on this day will slightly differ due to differences in location.

After a morning walk in the Djety Oguz Gorge, the group moves to the city of Karakol, near the eastern end of Lake Issyk Kul. The city is renowned for its old Russian-style houses, but there's more to her. Sightseeing is fun here as we visit a Russian Orthodox church, Karakol bazaar, and a wooden Dungan Mosque. At night, we feast on a home-cooked meal at a Dungan Family home or local Uygur.

Accommodation for the night is at Matsunoki Hotel, In the beautiful Kyrgyzstan town of Karakol. Experience complete relaxation in this little cosy hotel with breathtaking views of the mountains. Indulge in some well-deserved R&R on the calm patio or in the garden's beautiful refuge.

Today we go over the Krygyz-Kazakh border, following all border procedures and travelling through the scenic beauty of Karkara Valley and its picturesque alpine meadows. The valley follows the Karkara River down to the border. En route to Almaty, we proceed towards Charyn Canyon, where we sight the beauty of a fascinating landscape caused by erosion from the Charyn River.

You’ll stay at the comfortable Plaza Hotel, Almaty, for the night. A cosy 4-star hotel set 300 m from the city’s centre. Enjoy city, mountain, or river views from your terrace, while premium amenities like, ensuite bathrooms with showers and a minibar await your indulgence to ensure you have a wonderful stay.

Today will be a long day filled with long drives, as we explore out of Almaty to the suburbs and rural villages. Our first stop is at the Turgen Gorge, where elegance and captivating scenery reflects in its waterfalls, some as high as 40 m (130 ft). On the way, we will halt briefly to grab food for the coming lunch picnic at a supermarket, followed by another stop close to the Scythian burial mounds with the ile-Alatau mountain looking from afar.

Arrival at the gorge is by late morning, before we embark on a 45-minute walk through rocky and sandy trails, trailing a river to an iconic waterfall, Bear Falls. With the hike over, we find a shaded spot to relax and have a picnic lunch before proceeding on the road trip for another 1 hour and 45 minutes to Issyk Lake. The lake forms a carpet for a prosperous forest and pastures of wildflowers, elevated at 1,706 m (5,775 ft) above sea level in the Issyk Gorge. However, this lake is different from the earlier visited lake, Issyk Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan.

We walk down the concrete staircase to explore the southern shore of the lake and then return to Almaty for a peaceful night’s rest.

We go on a full-day tour to explore the sights and sounds of scenic Almaty city against the backdrop of the Tien Shan mountains. The former Kazakhstan capital is the most developed, largest, and most culturally diverse city in Kazakhstan, with many tree-lined streets and cafes, giving it a European appeal. Breakfast this morning sets the exploration in motion, with a visit to the stunning Zhenkov Cathedral, entirely made of wood without nails. The monument of Panfilov 28 guardsmen, Panfilov Park, the Great Patriotic and Civil War monuments, and a national history museum are some of the interesting places on the excursion menu.

Exhausting our tour list, we drive to a train station, where we bid farewell to our tour leader so far, from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan, and meet a new tour guide for the rest of the trip in Uzbekistan. At 6:30 pm, we depart Almaty by train to arrive in Tashkent the next day afternoon. On the train route, we witness a vastly changing landscape, mingle with locals and spend the night on the sleeper train in it's not-so-luxurious but comfortable four-berth compartments.

This day, we arrive at Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital city by midday and tour the city briefly if time permits. On the tour, we visit Independence Square, remarkable for its beautiful water fountains and a stack of public buildings on all sides. We also visit the old city and its mausoleums (Hast Iman complex) and bazaar. Large parts of the old city were destroyed during the 1966 earthquakes, but the city has since been rebuilt to Soviet standards with wide tree-lined streets, plazas, fountains, monuments, and blocks of apartments.

You’ll stay at the charming Gabrielle International Hotel, a family-owned haven situated in the centre of Tashkent. Enjoy its plush amenities such as a sauna and pool, an exquisite restaurant and balconies to watch the moonlit sky and absorb the Uzbeki air.

This morning, we catch a fast train to Samarkand. We arrive by mid-morning for a day-and-a-half tour of the city, starting today and the remainder of tomorrow. The city which dates back 2500 years ago, is drenched in history, and renowned for its iconic mosques and mausoleums. The city's position on the silk road, the main route linking China and the Mediterranean, makes it a prominent stop on the route. The city is also remarkable for its Registan Square, home to the three world-renowned madrasahs (Islamic colleges): Ulughberg, Sherdor, and Tilya Qori.

For the next day and a half, we visit more historic sites like the grand square and Gur Emir Mausoleum, the tomb of Tamerlane, the man who named the city his empire's capital in the 14th century. Next, we visit Bibi Khanum Mosque and a series of 14th-century mausoleums in Shakhi Zinda. Our last stop is at the Siab Bazaar to taste a variety of fruits and local produce. The order of sites to visit may change according to the discretion of the tour leader.

You’ll stay at The Malika Prime Hotel for the next two nights in its beautiful interiors and orient-style architectural design. Situated within a stone’s throw from the dazzling Gur Emir Complex, it offers easy accessibility to sights and an entry into boundless ecstasy.

This day, we travel for one hour to Urgut and begin our half-day tour of the photogenic town, perched on the foot of Zeravshan Mountain Ranges. The tour includes a visit to Karepta reservoir, the four chinar gardens that host trees over 1,000 years old, the bazaar, and a pottery shop.

We return to Samarkand to unravel more of its marvels, like the Ulugbek's observatory, Necropolis, and a traditional paper factory. Take your time to dive into these discoveries before heading in for a pleasurable night’s rest and leaving for Bukhara the next day.

A fast train this morning takes us to Bukhara, where we will spend two full days touring the city. Bukhara is a UNESCO World Heritage on the Silk Road, an ancient city that dates back more than 2000 years, and Central Asia's most-preserved mediaeval city. We explore the Lyabi Khauz complex, which is outstanding for housing the oldest pool of its kind in Central Asia. The complex is fenced by Madrasahs, including Bukhara's largest Madrasah, Kukeldash, built in the 15th century, and a lodge for travelling Sufis.

The tour takes us to another complex, the Poi-Kaylan Religious Plaza, home to a 48 m (157 ft) minaret of the 12th century that serves as the symbol of Bukhara. We also visit the 15th-century massive Kaylan Mosque, easily noticed by the 288 domes in its galleries, and the 16th-century Bukhara Miri-Arab Madrasah. The Samanid Mausoleum holds an unparalleled status as the oldest Islamic structure in Central Asia and the graveyard of Ismail Samani, a 10th-century emir. Our last stop is the Ark, Bukhara's oldest building and a 5th-century citadel.

You’ll stay at the family run Kavsar Boutique Hotel, offering a warm embrace to us for the last days of our trip. Relax in its clean, simple and moderately sized air-conditioned rooms accoutered with essential amenities such as private bathrooms, WiFi, flatscreen TVs and more.

Savour a delicious breakfast, a perfect time to reflect on your incredible journey before your transfer to Bukhara International Airport for your onward travels. Alternatively, extend your stay to Khiva, another exciting major city on the Silk Road, at an additional cost and on request, please contact us to book.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.