WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Welcome to Central Asia: Over the centuries, numerous ethnic and cultural groups have settled in Central Asia, forming a unique center of culture, art, cuisine and language. Explorers and conquerors such as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Amir Timur left their mark. Russia and the UK had their latest adventures during The Great Game.
The romance of the past manifests itself in the ancient cities of the Silk Road: Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. As you explore grand monuments and major historical sites, everywhere you turn there are stunning colors, details and art in the exquisite mosaics and Islamic influences found on mosques, palaces, tombs and markets and also through the ancient handicrafts of ceramics, silk textiles, and embroidered fabrics.
For more photos and a taste of last year’s tour see the tour diary!
Day One
OVERNIGHT: ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN
Late afternoon tour introduction meeting at hotel. Take the Kok-Tobe cable car up to hillside overlooking the city and surrounding mountains. Welcome dinner with live traditional Kazakh music.
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Day Two
OVERNIGHT: ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN
Full day guided tour around Almaty, the hub of Central Asian culture and the old capital of Kazakhstan before modern Astana was bestowed this title. Visit the Green Bazaar, Panfilov Park, Russian Cathedral, see Soviet modernism architecture, and more off the beaten path areas of the city. Like all ex-Soviet countries, great Georgian food is easy to find, and we will explore their food culture for dinner.
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Day Three
OVERNIGHT: KOLSAI LAKES, KAZAKHSTAN
Drive out to the Kolsai Lakes area located in the Northern Tien Shan mountains, close to the border with Kyrgyzstan. Lunch along the way of traditional Uyghur food (spicy hand-pulled noodles) before visiting the Charyn (or Black) Canyon, stretching 154km along the Charyn River and containing beautiful landscapes, a natural gorge and many rock formations. Then take in the gorgeous nature at three Kolsai lakes. Home stay in small village near the lakes with home cooked dinner.
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Day Four
OVERNIGHT: ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN
Hop into local Russian UAZ 4WD vans (affectionately referred to as ‘loafs’ since they resemble loafs of bread). Drive to Kayindi Lake for what would be the Mr. Toad’s wild ride of Central Asia. We will drive until the main parking place and from there we will start our hike for about 2 km. From the lake we will hike to the southern side of the lake. Drive back to Saty village. Lunch at guest house. Drive back to Almaty. Early evening arrival. Dinner on your own in the big city.
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Day Five
OVERNIGHT: SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN
Morning flight to Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital city. It was the center of the crossroad of Silk Road, and Chorsue bazar is the biggest bazar in Central Asia. Visit to Applied Arts museum of Uzbekistan where we show you the arts and crafts of Uzbek people, and the museum house is an example of Uzbek merchant’s house of the 19th century. Get a taste of the national Uzbek dish, plov; as we visit the center of plov, you can see 5-7 huge pots of it being cooked. Also visit the Tashkent metro with unique mosaic decoration inside, built in Soviet time, featuring cosmonauts. Early evening train to Samarkand, where the real story of the Silk Road begins.
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Day Six
OVERNIGHT: SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN
Visit to the burial place of Amir Temur, also known as Tamerlane, the 14th century military leader and ruler who lauded over a massive swath of territory in Central Asia. After lunch a tour of the iconic Registan Square with 3 madrasas built during the 15th-17th Centuries. Ulughbek Madrasa, Sherdor Madrasah and Tilla Sheikh mosque. Siab Bazar and Bibihanum mosque. Dinner with local family.
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Day Seven
OVERNIGHT: SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN
Visit to workshop complex to see the traditions of producing silk paper and ceramic tiles. Cooking class and lunch of the quintessential Uzbek dish, Plov. Afternoon to soak in what is arguably the architectural highlight of the entire tour at Shakhi Zinda – the burial place of royal persons and nobles. This stunning complex showcases rich tile-work and history dating back to the 14th century.
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Day Eight
OVERNIGHT: BUKHARA,UZBEKISTAN
Depart Samarkand and travel to Bukhara, the second of the three historic Silk Road cities. Bukhara is famous for mixed ethnic groups living together. There are Uzbeks, Tajiks, Russians, and Jewish nationals all living together and have been for a long time in peace, and each practice their own culture and religion. Folk Show with music and dance with dinner in Nadir Divan Begi madrasah.
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Day Nine
OVERNIGHT: BUKHARA, UZBEKISTAN
Walking tour in Bukhara focusing on Laby Hauz, the heart of Bukhara to see chayhana (traditional tea house), water pond, mosques, madrasa, art galleries, metal, and local silk carpet shop. Visit the three trade Domes of Bukhara: Taki Sarafan, Taki Telpakfurushon, and Taki Zargaron along with the ancient Jewish quarter and visit to the puppet museum and workshop.
Participate in hands-on workshops to learn the art of baking Uzbek bread, making traditional desserts, and crafting intricate patterns on non (Uzbek flatbread). Visit a local home for a private dining experience, interacting with a family to understand the significance of food in Uzbek and Tajik culture.
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Day Ten
OVERNIGHT: KHIVA, UZBEKISTAN
Depart Bukhara and visit the Summer Palace along the way, Sitorai Mohi Hosa, one of the most prominent sites in Bukhara, where you will discover the mixture of local and Russian-European architecture style. Long drive to Khiva, the 3rd ancient city of the Silk Road.
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Day Eleven
OVERNIGHT: KHIVA, UZBEKISTAN
Begin the day at Ichan Kala, the museum town in open air. You will feel the atmosphere of living in the old town as do the local people who are still living in the old town. You will discover the city with its mosques, minarets, museums, caravan Saray, and workshops. Khorezm is famous for its wooden craft, wood carving, and also Silk carpet weaving. The most exciting site is the Juma mosque with wooden pillars and mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud.
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Day Twelve
OVERNIGHT: TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN
Morning drive to Ayaz-Kala, to see this ancient fortress situated on a hilltop overlooking the Kyzylkum Desert. Lunch inside a desert yurt and a camel ride, before a late afternoon transfer to airport for the flight to Tashkent. Farewell dinner in Tashkent.
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Day Thirteen
TOUR ENDS
Our Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan tour ends after breakfast. Your guide will be on hand to help with transfers to the airport or to wherever your adventures take you.
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MEET YOUR GUIDE: Andrew Villone
Twenty-five years ago, Andrew got bit hard by the travel bug when he took his first trip abroad, backpacking around Europe for 6 months. Eventually, he took the big plunge and in 2014 he moved to Slovenia, the charming Alpine/Balkan/Mediterranean country where east meets west.
Andrew has been leading & organizing tours for the past 20 years. He loves to champion countries and regions that many travelers have yet to explore. His three favorite aspects of traveling are sampling the local cuisine and wine, sharing travel escapades with other travelers and hanging out with the locals.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Price: $5150 (Air not included) per person for a double occupancy room. Single Supplement is $375. We welcome singles and if you do not have a travel partner, please sign up for a single spot. In the event that a roommate is found, your booking can be changed to a double before final payment is due.
What’s included: 12 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners, and 12 nights lodging. All admissions and fees for group activities. Transport within the tour (including internal flights) and private guides, tips included.
Deposit Policy: A non-refundable deposit of $600 per person is due upon booking.
Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan tour begins in Almaty, Kazakhstan (ALA) and ends in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (TAS).
If you have additional questions please email us at info@adventureswithsarah.net
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