The Silk Road

Those on the group flights arrive very late in the evening into Tashkent,
Uzbekistan. Land only passengers can arrive at the hotel any time today, the
leader may not be around today.

*Hotel Arien Plaza or Shodlik Hotel or similar, Comfortable Hotel*

Day 2

We have a relaxed morning after the late arrival last night.
We later start our sightseeing of this Central Asian capital. This will
include visiting Independence Square flanked by public buildings and water
fountains and also the Old City with its mausoleums and bazaar. Tashkent was
largely destroyed by earthquakes in the 60's and was rebuilt in true Soviet
style with pleasant leafy boulevards and lots of fountains to keep the heat
down in summer. There are some very interesting museums as well as mosques.
*Hotel Arien Plaza or Shodlik Hotel or similar, Comfortable Hotel*

Day 3

We catch the morning fast train to Samarkand arriving mid-morning. We spend
the rest of today and tomorrow morning exploring Samarkand.

Samarkand is steeped in history, dating back 2,500 years and impacted by such
figures as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, who made it the
capital of his empire in the 14th Century. Its central position on the Silk
Road meant that it was an important stop on the route from Istanbul to Peking
(now Beijing). At its heart is the grand Registan Square flanked by the three
grand madrasahs of Ulughbeg (15th C), Sherdor (17th C) and Tilya Qori (17th
C).

Over the next day and a half we visit the grand square as well as the Gur
Emir Mausoleum, burial place of Tamerlane, his sons and his grandson,
Ulughbek. The Ulugbek Observatory built in 1420 by Tamerlane’s grandson who
was not just a ruler but also a well-known astronomer. We move on to the
oversized Bibi Khanum Mosque and Shakhi Zinda – the ‘Living King’
necropolis – with its series of mausoleums dating back to the 14th and 15th
centuries. Our final visit is to the exotic Siab Bazaar with its fresh and
dried fruit and nuts and other local food produce. The leader may shift the
order the sites are visited.
*Dilshoda Hotel or Malika Prime Hotel or similar, Standard Hotel*

Day 4

This morning we continue our visit of Samarkands many sites. In the afternoon
we drive to Bukhara, the best preserved of the Silk Road cities we visit.
*Kavsar Plaza / Fatima Hotel or similar, Standard Hotel*

Day 5

We spend two full days exploring Bukhara. The best preserved mediaeval city
in Central Asia, this UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back over 2,000 years.
Our city tour takes us to the Lyabi Khauz complex, built in the 16th and 17th
centuries, this is the site of the oldest pool of its kind in Central Asia.
The pool is surrounded by madrasahs and a khanaka (lodging house for
travelling Sufis) including the largest madrasah in Bukhara, the 15th century
Kukeldash Madrasah.

We continue on to the Poi-Kalyan religious complex with its 48m Kalyan
minaret dating back to the 12th century and the symbol of Bukhara; the large
Kalyan Mosque (15th century) with its galleries topped by 288 domes; and the
only active madrasah in the city, Bukhara Miri-Arab (16th century). Next is
the Samanid Mausoleum, the oldest piece of Islamic architecture in Central
Asia and burial site of the 10th Century Emir, Ismail Samani. Finally we
visit the Ark, a 5th century citadel and the oldest building in Bukhara.
*Kavsar Plaza / Fatimah Hotel or similar, Standard Hotel*

Day 6

We continue our exploration of the sites of Bukhara. Please note that hotel
check-out is usually 12 noon today. 

Later this afternoon we will catch the fast train back to Tashkent arriving
in the capital in the evening. The train leaves Bukhara at 15:52 and arrives
in Tashkent at 19:40.
*Hotel Arien Plaza or Shodlik Hotel or similar, Comfortable Hotel
*

Day 7

We spend the morning visiting parts of Tashkent we'd missed on the first day.
After lunch, we head back to the train station to catch the train to Almaty
in Kazakhstan. This is one of those epic train rides which Central Asia does
so well. Since 2017 a new train service has cut the duration to 17hrs
departing Tashkent around 14:00h and arriving in Almaty the following morning
around 08:20h. Travelling on trains through this region is a great way of not
only covering large distances (almost 1000kms in this case) but also of
seeing the change in the landscape and mingling with locals. (Please note
that it is possible to change Uzbek currency into Kazakh currency, and on the
train, it is possible to change US Dollars into Kazakh currency but the
exchange rate is poor so you may wish to change only a small amount, say
USD20 per person, and wait until you reach Almaty to change the rest at a
better rate). 

*Overnight train*

Day 8

The train is scheduled to arrive at approx. 08:20 am and after the
formalities, we meet our bus, stop to change some money and go for some
breakfast. Almaty is a beautiful city with its backdrop of the Tien Shan
mountains and we have the whole day to explore it. With leafy streets and
café culture, the former Kazakh capital has a distinctly European feel.
After breakfast, we visit a number of sites, including Zhenkov Cathedral
(Ascension Cathedral), made entirely of wood and without the use of nails,
Panfilov Park, the Monument of Panfilovs 28 Guardsmen, the Great Patriotic
and Civil War monuments and eternal flame, and one of the museums (National
History Museum or Museum of National Instruments). After the city tour we
drive to our hotel and check-in.

*Kazzhol Hotel or similar, Standard Hotel*

Day 9

Today is a long day with considerable driving as we head out of Almaty to
stretch our legs and explore the countryside.  We first drive to Turgen
Gorge, known for its beautiful natural scenery and waterfalls (some as tall
as 40m), stopping at a supermarket en route to buy food for a picnic lunch.
Along the drive we'll make a short photo stop near to several Scythian
burial mounds, with the Ile-Alatau Mountain Range in the distance. Arriving
at the gorge by late morning, we walk for around 1.3km (45 mins or so) on a
rocky/sandy trail following the river to cascading 'Bear' Waterfall (walking
shoes recommended). After exploring the gorge, we drive to a shady spot and
have a picnic lunch, before continuing by road for approx 1 hour 45 minutes
to Issyk Lake (or Esik Lake) - not to be confused with Issyk Kul Lake in
Kyrgyzstan which we visit later on the trip. Set amidst thick forests and
pastures with wildflowers, this alpine lake is located at 1,760m above sea
level within the Issyk Gorge. We walk down the concrete staircase to explore
the southern shore of the lake (it is forbidden to go to the northern shore).
Finally, we return to Almaty for the night (approx. 2 hours drive).

*Kazzhol Hotel or similar, Standard Hotel*

Day 10

Setting of early, we cross the border and drive to our third and final
country: Kyrgyzstan. This mountainous country was completely closed to
outsiders during the Soviet Union era but has since opened up to flaunt its
spectacular natural beauty and lingering nomadic culture. It should take
around 5 hours to dirve to Bishkek, including the border procedures and rest
stops. To cross the border you will need to take all of your luggage and
belongings off the bus and walk approx. 300m through security and immigration
with it. From the border t's about 40 minutes drive to Bishkek.

This afternoon we spend a couple of hours visiting the city’s main sites
taking in Ala Too Square, Parliament House, the White House, the change of
the guard, the Lenin Statue and the Manas Monument.

*Hotel Asia Mountains 1 or similar, Standard Hotel*

Day 11

An early start to continue our journey through the Tien Shan Mountains and
head towards Issyk Kul Lake. The second-largest salt lake in the world, after
the Caspian Sea (and fast becoming the largest as the Caspian Sea recedes),
it measures 70km by 180km and is almost 700m at its deepest point. Its name
translates as Hot Lake and was given as, even in the depths of winter and
despite being just above 1,600m, it never freezes. The area around the lake
is a mixture of forest and meadow with a backdrop of towering mountains and
glaciers. 

The drive will take all day (approx. 10 hours) but the scenery is stunning;
following the southern shore of Issyk Kul, we arrive at Jety Oguz Gorge in
the evening and spend the night in a traditional yurt. There will be plenty
of photo stops and depending on the weather, there is also the option to see
an eagle hunting show today if you didn't see one yesterday (additional
cost). The first 190km of the drive is on a new well-surfaced road but the
remaining 220km is an old road and can be bumpy. When we reach Jety Oguz
Village we swap into smaller minibuses for the last 20km (45 mins- 1 hour)
off-road section through the gorge to the yurt camp, arriving in time for
dinner. We have climbed in elevation today and will be sleeping at an
altitude of approx. 2,500m, so bear this in mind and take it easy. 

Yurts are semi-permanent tents used by many nomadic people of Central Asia.
The camp we stay at is made up of 6 sleeping yurts (each accommodating 4 to 5
people) and one communal/dining yurt. There is a shower and three
western-style flush-toilets but hot water for washing has to be requested
specifically. There is also a generator for electricity for 3 hours in the
evening. Spending a night in a yurt camp is a fantastic experience and a
small insight into a way of life which has gone on for centuries.

*Djety Oguz or similar, Yurt Camp*

Day 12

Jety Oguz translates as the Valley of Seven Bulls named after the distinct
seven red-coloured rocks found in the gorge. We can learn about the local
legends behind the name as we walk our way out of the beautiful gorge
(approx. 2 hours), passing through fir forest, yurt settlements and grazing
lands. For the energetic, there is also the option to hike to a waterfall but
the trail can be slippery so this is not advisable when wet
ainy.

If we did not see a Golden eagle hunting demonstration yesterday, we have
another opportunity before moving on today (this depends on whether the
Golden eagle hunter is available).

From the gorge, we drive for around 20 minutes to a viewpoint to see the
Jety-Oguz red rocks, and then another 45 minutes (approximately) to Karakol
on the eastern side of Issyk Kul. A ski resort in winter, Karakol is a quaint
town of cottages and shady avenues. We grab lunch (swap buses again) and then
do a short sightseeing tour, visiting the Dungan Mosque, the Russian Orthodox
Church and the Victory Park before checking into our hotel. Tonight we enjoy
a home cooked meal at a local Uygur or Dungan family home.

*Green Yard Hotel or similar, standard Hotel*

Day 13

We start with a visit of the Przhevalsky Museum dedicated to the travels and
geographical studies of Russian scientist and geographer Nicolay Przhevalsky
whose expeditions explored much of Central and East Asia.

We then continue around the lake to Cholpon Ata town on the northern shore,
stopping to climb the Scythian burial mound en route. We have lunch in the
town and then drive to the nearby petroglyphs to explore these relics which
date between 4,000 and 1,400 years old. The rest of the day is spent relaxing
on the beach or wandering around town. You can relax and swim in the lake or
there is the option of doing a boat trip.

*Karven Club Resort or similar, Standard Hotel*

Day 14

We leave the lake behind and head toward the capital, Bishkek. En route we
cross the Boom Gorge, where we usually take an early lunch. Boom ominously
means ‘evil spirit’ and early travellers, in the 19th Century found the
journey arduous and fraught with setbacks. Our next stop is the UNESCO World
Heritage site, the Burana Tower, an 11th century minaret and the first of its
kind in Central Asia. It is possible to climb to the top of the tower but
please note that the stairs are steep and narrow and it is quite dark inside
so care must be taken. 

Roughly two hours further driving brings us back into Bishkek for our final
night.

*Asia Mountains 1 Hotel or similar, Standard Hotel*

Day 15

The trip ends this morning in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Those on the group flights
will be transferred to the airport for their flight back to London arriving
later today.