
Tour itinerary:
Meals: -
Afternoon drive to Karakum Desert and the Darvaza gas crater, located in the middle of the Karakum desert Empire. Visit Erbent desert community on the way. Arrive at the crater, set up camp. Enjoy a delicious fire-cooked meal for dinner near the burning gas crater. Return to Ashgabat after dark (slow driving). Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2-3 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Transfer to Jety-Oguz gorge. There you will hear a legend about Jety-Oguz (seven bulls) and Broken Heart rock, have short hiking in the gorge. After short hiking, transfer to Kochkor along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.
On the way stop in Bokonbaevo, where you will see an eagle hunting show. Continue driving to Kochkor. One of the best views of Lake Issyk-Kul is guaranteed. Dinner and overnight in Kyrgyz family.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch or picnic/Dinner
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Meals: Breakfast
Aba Khoja Tomb is a mazar, or holy burial site. It is the holiest place in Xinjiang and an architectural treasure. Built in 1640, it is reminiscent of the Central Asian artistic style of Samarkand or Isfahan. A handsome blue-and-white tiled gate leads into the compound, which includes a small religious school and the Aba Khoja family tomb. The latter is domed and faced with multi - colored tiles. It is said that it is the most complete Islamic tomb of the Qing Dynasty up-to-now in the whole China.
Afterwards, drive to the Old town. Kashgar is an ancient city, and while walking along the streets of its Old Town, you will get a sense of what this legendary Central Asian hub was like in the days when the Silk Road was at its height. 500-year old remnants of the city wall, narrow lanes and colorful multi-ethnic crowds combine to make Kashgar's historic district a highlight of any visit to the city. After these very interesting and unusual excursions you will go back to the hotel for rest.
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
Important notes for all travelers:
- Please bring only cash USD for your local expenses in Turkmenistan, no EURO and no credit cards.
- Please be aware that a member of staff of our agency will need to take your original passport for several hours for registration.
- There may be various different cars and drivers during your trip through Turkmenistan, depending on the section of the route.
- Chinese visa should be obtained in advance, in the country of citizenship.
- Twin room accommodation;
- Meals – as stated as program;
- Transportation throughout the whole trip;
- English speaking guide (except for day 19 – transfer to the airport);
- Sightseeing tour program in all cities according to the program, including entrance fees to sights, museums. Camera/video fees are not included and must be paid separately;
- Mineral water;
- Felt carpet workshop in Kochkor;
- Eagle hunting show in Bokonbaevo;
- Economy class air ticket Kashgar-Urumqi;
- Economy class air ticket Dushanbe-Almaty;
- Business/Economy-class ticket for train Samarkand-Tashkent as per option (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
- Economy class air ticket Ashgabat-Mary;
- Visa support letter for Uzbekistan visa;
- Visa support for Turkmenistan visa.
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- A tax of 2 USD per night in Turkmenistan, paid to the hotel upon check out;
- Single supplement;
- Visa fees to all countries;
- Visa support for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and China;
- Registration (if required);
- Payment for early check in and late check out (check in time is at 13-14.00, check out time is at 12.00);
- International flight tickets before and after the tour;
- Horse riding;
- Turkmenistan visa 85+2 USD per person, when obtained at Ashgabat Airport (subject to change);
- Turkmenistan migration tax 10+2 USD per person, to be paid at Ashgabat Airport (subject to change);
- Tourist fee per night, charged in the hotels at departure 2 USD per person per night (obligatory);
- Full board, alcohol and soft drinks;
- Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
- Personal insurance and items not mentioned above.
Accommodation:
Ashgabat - 2 nights | |
Sport, Ak-Altyn, Grand Turkmen | Oguzkent, Nusay |
Turkmenabat - 1 night | |
Jeyhun | Jeyhun |
Bukhara - 2 nights | |
Amulet, Minzifa, As-Salom, Shohrud, Fatima, Bibikhanum, Volida, Kukeldash, K.Komil, Basilic | Omar Khayam, Minorai-Kalon , Devon-Begi, Zargaron Plaza, Asia Bukhara |
Samarkand - 1 night | |
Platan, Meros, Orient Star, Malika Prime, Rabat, City | Dilimah, Sultan, Grand Samarkand Superior A, Grand Samarkand Superior B, Platan, Alexander, Minor, Malika Prime, Asia Samarkand |
Tashkent - 1 night | |
Navruz, Praga, Sharq, Grand Capital, Bek | Wyndham Tashkent, Miran, Grand Mir, City Palace |
Khujand - 1 night | |
Khujand Deluxe (mansard room) | Khujand Grand, Khujand Deluxe |
Dushanbe - 1 night | |
Atlas B&B or similar | Hilton Dushanbe or similar |
Almaty - 2 nights | |
Novotel | Rixos Almaty |
Karakol - 1 night | |
Home stay (B&B) | Green Yard or similar |
Kochkor - 1 night | |
Family run accommodation (B&B) | Family run accommodation (B&B) |
Tash-Rabat - 1 night | |
Yurts (4-5 people in one yurt) | Yurts (4-5 people in one yurt) |
Kashgar - 3 nights | |
Hotel 3* | Hotel 4* |
Urumqi - 1 night | |
Hotel 3* | Hotel 4* |