Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Two different worlds

Price

€1890

Days

Tour description

Two neighboring countries, two completely different worlds. Get ready for incredible natural beauty far from civilization, and ancient cities.

Climb the ruins of a fortress destroyed by Alexander the Great in the 3rd century BC
Take a walk along the adobe streets of Bukhara, which resemble the fairy tales of "A Thousand and One Nights"
Plunge into the crystal waters of Issyk-Kul Lake and walk among the permafrost of the high-mountain Son-Kel Lake
Relax in the hot springs while enjoying views of the snow-capped mountain peaks
Become a true nomad - stay in traditional yurts, ride horses and donkeys, enjoy mountain honey, bathhouse, and kumis

Tour departures

18 May 2025 - 06 June 2025

€1890

Book

The price of the tour includes

- Flight Osh-Bishkek; - All accommodation, including double/twin rooms in hotels, dorms in hostels and yurts; - All transportation including buses, trains, jeeps, taxis, and public transportation; - All meals during our stay in yurts and houses of locals. Breakfasts in most hotels: - Professional guiding services.

What is NOT included

- Flight to Tashkent and from Bishkek back home. (Let us know if you need help finding the best deals); - Entrance tickets to parks, museums and other places of interest ($60); - Food ($10-12 per person per day); - Insurance (mandatory); - Visas.

Tour itinerary

Day 1

Tashkent, The main madrasah, Islamic school, Khast Imam old town

We arrive in Tashkent and check into a hotel. Our group trip to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan begins! After a short rest, we head to the Kukeldash Madrasah - the main Islamic school of the city, built in 1570. Two hundred years later, this building was used as a fortress, and in 1991 Kukeldash went back to being an Islamic school. We walk to the complex of the old town Khast Imam. Here we will visit a museum that houses a unique collection of ancient Korans.

For lunch we walk to the famous Chorsu bazaar. Shish kebab, pilaf, lagman, manti, shurpa - and this is not a complete list of traditional dishes that are prepared excellently here. Chorsu is a real oriental bazaar where everyone is sold! Here we especially love to admire the many patterns on traditional handmade ceramics. Try to find the symbol of the country - a cotton flower - in the pictures.

Day 2-3

Khiva, Old colored minarets, Ancient forts in Kylyzkum desert

Breakfast is always a pleasant surprise in Uzbekistan. Fresh bread non with kaymak sour cream, homemade jam, cheese, nuts, fruits and, of course, tea! We head to the airport, fly to Urgench, and from there in half an hour reach the town of Khiva. The bustling capital is left far behind. We are in the ancient center of the Khwarazm state, where the entire city center reminds an open-air museum. We check into a hotel at the ancient gates to the old city and go out for a walk to the colored minarets of Kalta-Minor and Islam-Khoja. We will also visit the old Friday mosque.

The next day we head to the desert. Here the border of the long gone Buddhist Kushan empire is still guarded by the Ayaz-kala fortress. We will stand on top of the ancient walls, see the remains of the palace and gaze at the endless sands leading all the way to India... Next, let`s head to the Toprak-kala fortress. Almost a hundred years ago, excavations were carried out here and the first evidence of the writing of these places was discovered - tablets made of leather and wood with inscriptions made in black ink. Through the Kylyzkum desert we go to Bukhara (6-7 hours on the way). There we check into a hotel in the old town.

Day 4-5

Bukhara, Ark fortress, Mausoleum of the Sufi saint , 16th century bathhouse

After breakfast we begin our walk in old Bukhara. Narrow streets between adobe houses lead us to huge squares, ancient mosques and madrasahs. Very impressive is the 6th century Ark fortress with its huge walls. In 1920, the last ruler of the Bukhara Emirate, Seyid Alim Khan, fled from here under the onslaught of the Red Army.

We will also visit the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Bahauddin Naqshband and walk through the most ancient necropolis of Central Asia Chor-Bakr. Let`s enjoy local music, Bukhara cuisine, original handmade souvenirs and savor Uzbek wines. Those who wish can visit the traditional bathhouse with spa treatments, which has been operating since the 16th century.

Tour leaders

Yevgeniy Ikhelzon

co-founder, tour leader

Sergiy Pylypenko

tour guide

Is this trip for you?

This trip is of average physical grade. It consists of several day trips with stops for sightseeing and rest on the way. We will be visiting places far from main roads and civilisation, as well as towns and villages. We will walk a lot and endure sub-zero Celsius temperatures at night and up to +25 degrees Celsius during days. We will also drive up to a mountain pass 4000 meters above sea level. Accommodation in hotels, comfortable guesthouses, most will have hot water and wi fi internet. Several nights will be spent in traditional yurts.