US$ 5280, SS – US$ 1270 lux option
US$ 4980, SS – US$ 890 comfort option
Join our Classic Central Asia Relaxed Small Group Tour for an unforgettable journey through the heart of Central Asia. This 17-day deluxe tour offers you the opportunity to explore the most fascinating destinations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan while staying in luxury hotels.
Explore iconic landmarks such as the breathtaking Tian Shan Mountains in Kazakhstan, the ancient Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan, the serene Seven Lakes in Tajikistan, the majestic Burana tower in Kyrgyzstan, and the otherworldly Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan.
With guaranteed departures, you'll enjoy a seamless travel experience with top-notch accommodations, knowledgeable guides and carefully curated transportation arrangements. From the ancient cities of the Silk Road to the breathtaking natural landscapes, this fixed-date tour is the perfect way to dive into the vibrant cultures and rich history of the 'Five Stans'.
Day 1, Th: Almaty – Arrival (Kazakhstan)
Arrive in
Almaty. Our driver will meet you and transfer to the hotel. Standard check in at 14:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2, Fr: Almaty (Kazakhstan)
Breakfast. At 09:00, your guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby to start a sightseeing tour of Almaty. Highlights of this morning will include
Panfilov Park,
Zenkov Cathedral,
Republic Square, and the Central State Museum. After a welcome lunch, a short drive (25 km) will take you to Chimbulak. Here, visit the ski resort and ride the cable car to enjoy the amazing views of the snowy peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains. Our last stop of the day will be the Sunkar Falcon Farm, where you’ll enjoy a spectacular show with specially trained hawks – hunting with these magnificent birds is a distinguishing feature of the Kazakh way of life. Return to the hotel by 18:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Day 3, Sa: Almaty – Bishkek (Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan)
After breakfast, at 9 am depart Almaty and drive to
Bishkek, enjoy nature landscapes on the way (250 km, 4 h.). Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Start sightseeing tour in Bishkek: visit
Oak Park,
Ala-Too Square, Statue of Manas. See
Philharmonic Hall and Victory Monument – bright examples of Soviet architecture. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2-3 hours
Day 4, Su: Bishkek – Burana – Don Aryk – Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)
Breakfast. Depart Bishkek at 09:00. The first stop will be
Burana Tower, which was part of the ancient city of
Balasagun (11th to 13th centuries). Next on the agenda will be experiencing a Kyrgyz national horse game called “Ulak Tartysh” (goat pulling). Ulak Tartysh (also known as
Kok Boru) is a fight between two teams of horse riders for a goat carcass. Transfer to Don Aryk village and have lunch at the home of a local Kyrgyz family. After lunch, watch a demonstration of yurt construction and even take part if you wish. Local Kyrgyz women will explain the meaning and use of each part of the yurt. Transfer to Bishkek hotel, overnight.
Duration of tour: 6-7 hours
Day 5, Mo: Bishkek – Ala Archa – Bishkek - Tashkent (Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan)
Breakfast. Transfer to the
Ala-Archa National Park (40 km). You will be in the alpine gorge through which the fast flowing Ala-Archa River runs. The gorge is flanked by tall, snow-covered, peaks with steep-sided, forested, mountain slopes. You will start your walk (3,5 km) from the alpine camp (2200 m) to Ak-Sai waterfall – the height is 35 m (2700 m) - by the path which goes through conifer forest and alpine meadows. Return back to the alpine camp. Transfer to Bishkek. Free time. Transfer to Bishkek airport (110 km, ~1h 30 min) to take the evening flight to Tashkent (1h 20 min). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of the tour: 5-6 hours
Day 6, Tu: Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Day 7, We: Tashkent - Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
Early in the morning get “a take-away breakfast” from the hotel and transfer to the railway station. The high-speed train
Afrosiyob departs Tashkent and arrives in
Samarkand (300 km, 2h 10 min). Upon arrival in Samarkand meet your driver with the guide. Your city tour will begin with a visit to
Gur Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Continue to the spectacular
Registan Square, explore the
Bibi Khanum Mosque and
Siyob bazaar. After lunch break continue to
Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, then take a short drive to
Konigil village to find out about the traditional techniques used to make the famous Samarkand paper from mulberry bark. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Day 8, Th: Samarkand - Seven Lakes - Penjikent (Uzbekistan/Tajikistan)
Breakfast. At 9 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 evening transfer to the hotel in Penjikent. Check in and overnight.
Duration of the tour: 7-8 hours
Day 9, Fr: 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 sightseeing tour drive to the Jartepa border crossing. Complete the border formalities. On the Uzbek side, your driver will meet you. Transfer to Samarkand hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3 hours
Day 10, Sa: Samarkand - Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
Breakfast. At 08:45 transfer to the Railway station to get a fast-going train departing to
Bukhara (260 km, 1h.45 min.). Upon arrival in Bukhara transfer to the hotel to leave the luggage. After lunch, start exploring the Old City of Bukhara. Highlights of the walking tour will include: the
Lyabi Hauz Ensemble,
Chor-Minor Madrasa,
Kalyan Minaret, and
Ark Fortress. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Day 11, Su: Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
Day 12, Mo: Bukhara – Khiva (Uzbekistan)
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to
Khiva (480 km, 7-8 h*). Today we will have an overland transfer from Bukhara to Khiva through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Khiva late in the afternoon. Check-in to the hotel. Free evening in Khiva. Overnight at the hotel.
*As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, we should arrange you packed lunch on this trip.
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.
Day 13, Tu: Khiva (Uzbekistan)
Day 14, We: Khiva – Darvaza Gas Crater (Uzbekistan/ Turkmenistan)
After breakfast at 09:30 am drive to Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border point Shavat-Dashoguz (60 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 will be waiting for you with the sign. Transfer to have lunch before driving to
Darvaza gas crater located in the middle of Karakum desert (270 km, 4 h.). Upon arrival enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner near the burning gas crater. Overnight in the yurt.
Day 15, Th: Darvaza Gas Crater – Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)
After camp style breakfast depart to
Ashgabat (280 km, 4 h.). Upon arrival check in to the hotel. Start sightseeing tour in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan that has recently been noted by the Guinness Book of World Records as having more white marble buildings than any other city in the world. During the city tour you will visit
Spiritual Mosque, one of the biggest mosques in Central Asia. You will visit the National Museum of History, the
Monument of Neutrality, Presidential Square,
Ertugrul Gazi Mosque and newly built
Independence Park. Free time in the evning. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 16, Fr: Ashgabat (Turkmenistan)
After breakfast, continue sightseeing tour: explore an archaeological site of
Old Nisa (included in UNESCO World Heritage list), visit the
Akhalteke horse stables and Lenin Monument, continue to the
Carpet Museum and local bazaar. Free time. Farewell dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 17, Sa: Ashgabat – departure (Turkmenistan)
Transfer to the International Airport. Departure. End of Classic Central Asia Relaxed Small Group Tour.
Price includes:
- All transfers: 1-2 pax by Sedan type car, 3-7 pax on minivan/van, 8-16 pax by 20 seat bus;
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- English-speaking local guides in each country;
- Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class ticket for flight: Bishkek-Tashkent;
- Tickets for trains: Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara;
- Visa support for Uzbekistan visa;
- Visa support for Turkmenistan tourist visa;
- National folklore show in Bukhara on Day 11, tea/coffee breaks on Day 7, 11, 13.
- Meals: welcome lunch in Almaty on Day 2, lunch at home of a local family in Don-Aryk on Day 4, lunch at Seven Lakes on Day 8, lunch-box on Day 12, lunch and camp style dinner at Darvaza on Day 14, farewell dinner in Ashgabat on Day 16.
Price doesn't include:
- Surcharge for staying in a single room;
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
- Consular fees for Turkmenistan tourist visas (80 USD) and migration tax (14 USD), express PCR test (33 USD);
- Visa support for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan tourist visas;
- Personal travel insurance;
- Tips to local guides and drivers;
- International flight tickets before and after the tour.
Dates & Prices, per person
From:
To:
Deadline:
Status:
Price:
Thu, 17 Apr, 2025
Sat, 3 May
16 Feb
Available
US$ 5,280
Thu, 15 May, 2025
Sat, 31 May
16 Mar
Available
US$ 5,280
Thu, 4 Sep, 2025
Sat, 20 Sep
6 Jul
Available
US$ 5,280
Thu, 9 Oct, 2025
Sat, 25 Oct
10 Aug
Available
US$ 5,280
This price is for the luxury option, but for the same dates, there is a comfort option available at a price of US$ 4,980, with a single supplement of US$ 890.
Single supplement: US$ 1,270
100% guaranteed departures – even if there is only 1 traveler.
Early Bird Discount for our upcoming group tours in 2025! Book your trip until January 1, 2025, and enjoy 10% off the total package price!
Group size: 1-16 persons
Please note that itinerary and prices are subject to change due to airline and train schedule changes, currency fluctuations and other unforeseeable events.
Accommodation
Comfort:
Panjakent Plaza
Lux:
Panjakent Plaza
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