15-day Central Asia Ethno-cultural Tour15 days | Private | Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan

Arrive in Dushanbe. Transfer to the hotel (check in at noon). Meet your guide at the hotel lobby to start sightseeing in the capital of Tajikistan. Start guided city tour with the visit to the Tajikistan National Museum of Antiquities that includes the exhibits on history, natural history and art; Buddha in Nirvana is one of the valuable exhibits of the museum. Continue to Gurminj Musical Instruments Museum, Statue of Ismail Somoni and Rudaki Park. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

After breakfast depart Dushanbe and drive toPenjikent (270 km, 4-5 h.). The mountain road goes via picturesque Anzob pass (3300 m above sea level). Arrive in Penjikent, check in to the hotel. Start city tour of ancient Penjikent - a major Sogdian city in the 5th century destroyed by Arab conquerors in the 8th century. Visit to Rudaki Museum, local Bazaar and mosque. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast your guide and driver will meet you atthe hotel lobby. Transfer to Seven Lakes (80 km, 1.5-2 h). The Seven Lakes are located in the west of Fann Mountains; each of them has its own colour which varies from calming turquoise to mesmerizing purple. At the last lake of Khoazorchashma you will enjoy a picnic.
Late in the afternoon drive to the Jartepa border crossing, customs and passport control. On Uzbekistan side meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in Samarkand.

After breakfast your guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby to begin sightseeing in Samarkand. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siyob Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur Emir Mausoleum, authentic shrine of Tamerlane. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

After breakfast depart Samarkand and drive to a village located in Nurata Mountains (330 km, 5-6 h*). Arrive in the village, accommodation in the guesthouse.
All villages are located far away from roads and cities in a picturesque mountain area with fresh air, green orchards, singing birds, sky full of stars, and friendly people.
Have a tour around the village and explore life of locals. Overnight in the guest house.
Meals: dinner
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.

Breakfast. Free time. People have been living in Nurata Mountains since the times of Alexander the Great. Villagers keep house and farm as it was done centuries ago. Women cook on the open fire, weave, spin yarn, bake their own bread, milk the cows. Men farm, shepherd, built houses of stone, rocks and clay.
Stay in a village, watching birds, hiking, riding donkey, and participating in cooking traditional food gives an excellent opportunity to witness life of local peasants.
In the afternoon depart to Bukhara. On the way stop in Nurata pass to see petroglyphs, Nurata town to visit a local mosque with a holy spring water. Continue to Gijduvan pottery masters workshop. Arrival in Bukhara. Overnight at the hotel.
Extras to do in the area:
Option 1. Take a guided hike to a waterfall. Have look at petroglyphs on the way. (6-7 km, 2-3 h. one way). Return to the guesthouse.
Cost: $30 for the service of a guide. (Available from Sentob village only).
Option 2. Take a ride on a donkey.
Cost: $30 for the service of a guide.
Meals: breakfast, lunch

After breakfast enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Breakfast. Check-out from the hotel till noon. Free time. At 14:40 transfer from the hotel to train station. Take Afrosiyob train to Tashkent departing at 15:52, arriving at 19:40. Upon arrival the driver will transfer you to hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast meet your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. You will visit Old City where Khast-Imam Complex is located. The sight is famous for keeping Quran of Caliph Uthman. In Khast-Imam you will see Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore Chor-Su Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center. There you will walk around Amir Temur Square, Independence Square and see Applied Arts Museum. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Check out from the hotel at noon. Free time.
Transfer to Tashkent International airport to take flight to Bishkek (15:35 – 17:45).
On arrival, you will be met by your Bishkek driver and transferred to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast start sightseeing tour: visit Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Statue of Manas. See Philharmonic Hall and Victory Monument – bright examples of Soviet architecture.
Continue to “Kiyiz Duino” public foundation is engaged in the revival and preservation of traditional knowledge, paying special attention to the Kyrgyz traditional costume.
Here will be excursion and show of 7 ethnic costumes, show of winding of elecheck (traditional women's headdress) and demonstration of making scarfs with felt (customers will take part in it).
In the evening, transfer to the Ethno Complex Supara where you will taste Kyrgyz national dishes, listen to the folk music and songs, watch national dances.
After dinner transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Meals: dinner

After breakfast depart Bishkek and drive to Almaty via a newly built highway, enjoy nature landscapes on the way (250 km, 4 h). Cross Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border. Arrive in Almaty, check in to the hotel.
In the afternoon your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby start sightseeing tour. Visit Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Central State Museum and Republic Square. Enjoy panoramic view at Kok-Tobe Hill, visit Medeo Gorge. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

After breakfast, we start way to Huns complex near Almaty, where you will see and take part in different Kazakh traditions. 11.00-11.20 Arrival of the group at the ethno-village "Huns". Costumed meeting of guests. You will be treated to baursaks, and then a short master class on how to prepare them will be held.
11.20-12.00 You will see a Kazakh yurt, learn about the customs and traditions of the Kazakh people.
Acquaintance with the structure of the yurt, the philosophy and sacred meaning of the yurt for nomads. Demonstration of the wedding ritual of putting on earrings called “Sirga salu”.
Guests will also learn about the way of life of the Kazakh people: cleaning and beating wool, making yarn using a spindle, obtaining flour and talkan in the dermen, and the ritual of placing a child in a “besik”.
12.00-13.00 Show by the group "Sarbaz" (theatrical performances, legends, horse games). Master class on traditional dance Kara-Zhorga.
13.00-14.00 Lunch (pilaf, salad, baursaks, tea).
14.20-15.00 Master class on traditional archery.
15.00-16.00 Free time (you can walk around the territory of the village, take pictures in national clothes, ride on the Altybakan swing, play with animals in the petting zoo).
16.00 Return to the city transfer to hotel.
Free time and overnight.
Meals: breakfast, lunch

In the morning transfer to the airport, take a flight to Astana (965 km). Arrival in Astana, transfer to the hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel lobby to start sightseeing in the capital of Kazakhstan. Visit “Old center”, town of merchants in the past. Visit Millennium Axis line named by Kisho Kurokawa, chief architect and creator of Astana general layout. Visit Astana Opera building, the Round Square with numerous fountains. Continue to Nurzhol and Green Water boulevards with skyscrapers of exceptional architectural forms. You will go up the Bayterek monument and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view at the top of the monument and observation tower. The city tour will be rounded up with a visit to Khan-Shatyr, shopping and entertainment center. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to Astana International Airport. End of Central Asia Ethno-cultural Tour.

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