Central Asia in 2 Weeks Tour14 Days | Private | Spring, summer, autumn | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan

Day 1: Almaty – arrival (Kazakhstan)

 

Arrive in Almaty, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel (check-in is possible from 14:00). Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: none

Day 2: Almaty (Kazakhstan)

 

The first item on your 2-week Central Asia itinerary is a sightseeing tour of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s cosmopolitan commercial capital. Highlights of the tour, which starts at 09:00, include Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral and Museum of National Musical Instruments (closed on Mondays). In the afternoon, a short drive (25 km) will take you to Shymbulak. Here, visit the ski resort and ride the cable car to enjoy amazing views of the snowy peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains. Return to the city. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 7-8 hours
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 3: Almaty – Bishkek (Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan)

 

Breakfast. Transfer to Bishkek city by road via Korday border (3-4h). Upon arrival in Bishkek, transfer to the hotel to leave your luggage. In the afternoon start the sightseeing tour of Bishkek, featuring Oak Park, Ala Too Square, the Statue of Manas, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Philharmonic Hall, and the Victory Monument – all impressive examples of Soviet urban design and architecture. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 4: Bishkek – Burana – Don Aryk – Bishkek – Tashkent (Kyrgyzstan / Uzbekistan)

 

Depart Bishkek at 09:00 and drive to Burana Tower, which was part of the ancient (11th to 13th century) city of Balasagun and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then transfer to Don Aryk village and have lunch at the home of a local Kyrgyz family. After lunch, watch a demonstration of a yurt (traditional nomadic dwelling) being constructed, taking part if you wish. Local women will explain the meaning and use of each part of the yurt. Transfer to Bishkek airport (110 km, ~1h 30 min) to take an evening flight HY780 to Tashkent (1h 20 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration: 11 hours, including 4-5 hours of sightseeing
Meals: breakfast/lunch/-

Day 5: Tashkent – Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

 

Breakfast. Start the Tashkent city tour at 10:00. Your tour will start with meeting your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia.
Begin at the Courage Monument, which commemorates the 1966 earthquake and honours the resilience of the people of Tashkent, before continuing to the historic Old City. Visit the Mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi, walk past the Khast-Imam Complex, view the exterior of the Islamic Civilization Center, and stroll along the newly developed Zarkaynar Street. Next, explore Chorsu Bazaar and a local pottery gallery, then ride the beautifully decorated Tashkent Metro to the modern city centre. Enjoy free time for lunch on Taras Shevchenko Street, known for its lively dining scene, then continue to the State Museum of Applied Arts and admire the elegant facade of the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, concluding the tour at Amir Timur Square, where your captivating Tashkent City Tour comes to an end.
At 18:00, transfer to the railway station. The high-speed train Afrosiyob, departs at 18:50 and arrives in Samarkand at 21:00 (300 km, 2h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 6: Samarkand – Seven Lakes – Penjikent (Uzbekistan / Tajikistan)

 

Breakfast. At 08:00 am transfer to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border point, Jartepa (50 km, 1 h). Upon arrival at the customs and passport control on both sides, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. At that point, our guide/driver will be waiting for you. Meet your local Tajik guide and driver to drive to the Seven Lakes (80 km, ~2 h). These lakes are located in the western part of the Fann Mountains. Each lake has its own color, varying from calming turquoise to mesmerizing purple. Have lunch at the guest house next to the 4th lake. Those who would like to enjoy the view from the 7th lake there is an opportunity to have a hiking tour from the 6th lake up to the 7th lake. In the late afternoon transfer to the hotel in Penjikent. Check in and overnight.
Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner
Note: As we travel to the more remote and authentic region of the Fann Mountains, the tourist infrastructure is simpler. We will be staying in the best available local hotel, Soviet-era building. Please expect more basic amenities compared to the larger cities – it's all part of the adventure!

Day 7: Penjikent – Samarkand (Tajikistan / Uzbekistan)

 

Breakfast. Drive to ancient Penjikent, the ruins of a town founded by the Sogdians in the 5th century and abandoned by Arabs in the 8th century. The foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples, and the remains of the city bazaar are visible in the excavated ruins. In the newer part of Penjikent, visit a local bazaar, a mosque, and the Rudaki Museum (Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian poetry). After a 3-hour sightseeing tour drive to the Jartepa border crossing. Complete the border formalities. On the Uzbek side, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in Samarkand, arriving at 17:00-18:00. Free time (please note that the car and driver will not be available). Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2-3 hours
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 8: Samarkand – Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

 

At 10:00, start exploring the ancient Silk Road City of Samarkand by visiting the spectacular Registan Square and the Gur Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. See the ruins of the Bibi Khanum Mosque, discover the Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, and then take a short drive to Konigil village to learn about the traditional techniques used to make the famous Samarkand paper from mulberry bark. Free time (with a car and driver at your disposal). At 20:00, transfer to the railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Bukhara, which leaves Samarkand at 21:00 and arrives in Bukhara at 22:35 (270 km, 1 h 35 min). Transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Duration: 14 hours, including 6-7 hours of sightseeing
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 9: Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

 

At 09:00, start exploring the Old City of Bukhara. Highlights of the walking tour will include: the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrassah, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrassah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums, and various trading domes. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 10: Bukhara – Mary – Merv – Ashgabat (Uzbekistan / Turkmenistan)

 

Leave the hotel at 06:30 to drive to Farap-Alat on the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border (100 km, 1 h 30 min). Upon arrival border formalities. After the customs and passport control at both checkpoints, kindly proceed to the exit of the border control area. At that point, our guide/driver will be waiting for you with the sign with your name. Meet your Turkmen guide and continue to Merv (300 km, 5 h 30 min), an ancient city that was a major centre of international trade and crafts on the Silk Road. Merv is home to a historical park for you to discover, with sights such as the Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum, Major and Minor Kyz-Kala, Erk-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, and Keshk Fortress. Transfer to Mary Airport (40 km, 30 min) and then fly to Ashgabat. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Duration: 14 hours, including 2 hours of sightseeing
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 11: Ashgabat – Darvaza Gas Crater (Turkmenistan)

 

At 09:00, start a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Ashgabat is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as having more white marble buildings than any other city in the world. During the tour, explore the archaeological site of Old Nissa (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Spiritual Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia. Visit the National Museum of History, the Monument of Neutrality, Ertugrul Gazi Mosque, and Independence Park. In the afternoon, drive through the Karakum Desert to the famous Darvaza Gas Crater (280 km, 4 h). Free time to set up camp for the night, explore and photograph the area, and watch the sunset. Then enjoy a delicious fire-cooked dinner near the burning crater. Overnight in tents.
Duration: 10 hours, including 6 hours of sightseeing
Meals: breakfast/-/dinner
Note: We'll travel in 4x4 vehicles across the rugged Karakum Desert. The route is unpaved, so expect a bumpy and thrilling ride – it's the only way to get to this incredible, remote location.
At the camp, we'll enjoy an authentic stay in yurts with basic, shared outdoor washing and toilet facilities, putting us right in the heart of the desert landscape.

Day 12: Darvaza Gas Crater – Khiva (Turkmenistan / Uzbekistan)

 

Leave the camp at 09:00, driving through the Karakum Desert to the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border crossing point at Dashoguz-Shavat (270 km, 4 h). After completing the border formalities on both sides, meet your Uzbek driver to transfer to Khiva (60 km, 1 h). Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 7-8 hours
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 13: Khiva – Urgench – Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

 

Check out of the hotel (which will store your luggage safely for the day). At 10:00, meet your guide to start exploring the Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights of the morning walking tour include the Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrassah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrassah, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, and Minaret of Islom Khodja. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening, transfer to Urgench Airport (30 km, 35 min) to take the evening flight to Tashkent. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration: 13 hours, including 5 hours of sightseeing
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Day 14: Tashkent – departure

 

Hotel check-out (by 12:00), followed by free time until your transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of Central Asia in 2 Weeks Tour.
Meals: breakfast/-/-

Price includes:

• All transfers: 1-2 pax in sedan standard type car, 3-8 pax in minivan/van;
• Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
• A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
• Sightseeing tour programme with local, English speaking guides in each country;
• Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
• Demonstration of yurt construction in Kyrgyzstan;
• Meals – lunches on days 4 and 6, dinners on days 6 and 11;
• Economy class tickets for flight Mary–Ashgabat, economy class tickets for Comfort and Standard options and business class for Premium option for flights: Bishkek–Tashkent, Urgench–Tashkent;
• Train tickets: Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
• Visa support for Uzbekistan triple entry tourist visaand Turkmenistan tourist visa.

Price doesn't include:

• Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour (except for groups of 6 or more);
• Full board (lunches and dinners, unless otherwise specified);
• Hotel charges for additional services;
• Comfort car supplement total – 580 USD;
• Visa support and visa fees for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan tourist visas;
• All costs associated with visas and Turkmenistan migration tax (14 USD);
• International flight tickets before and after the tour;
• Personal travel insurance;
• Tips/gratuities for drivers and guides (although these would be appreciated).

Author: Barry Pener   |   Rating: 5Visited: October 2025

Excellent trip. You did a great job. We loved every country we visited. We really appreciate you putting together an excellent trip.

Author: Lily   |   Rating: 5Visited: July 2025

I wanted to sincerely thank you for arranging such a wonderful Silk Road trip for me. Despite a few very minor hiccups, the experience was absolutely amazing.
The local tour guides were truly fantastic and went above and beyond to ensure I had a great experience. The hotel accommodations were generally very good as well.
I was so thrilled throughout the trip; it felt like I was walking through the history of the Silk Road, experiencing its stories and cultures firsthand. I’m so glad you planned the entire itinerary for me, I feel I made an excellent decision choosing this trip.

Author: Laura   |   Rating: 5Visited: May 2025

The trip has been amazing. Your company does a fabulous job with the itinerary. Everything is running so smoothly. The sights, hotels, transportation, transfers are all very good. Thank you.

Author: Anne Beyer   |   Rating: 5Visited: April 2024

I’m sending a copy of the article that my father wrote after our visit to the Stans. It has appeared in The American Philatelist magazine for stamp collectors. My parents are doing well but they are no longer traveling as much, so the Stans trip will always be memorable to us.
Thank you again for organising such a great adventure!