Tour Overview
| Duration | 10 Days / 9 Nights |
|---|---|
| Countries | Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan |
| Cities | Almaty, Charyn Canyon, Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand |
| UNESCO Sites | 3 (Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand) |
| Tour Type | Private Tour |
| Price | From Contact Us (Request Quote) |
Day 1: Arrival in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Arrive at Almaty International Airport (ALA). Your guide will greet you at the arrivals hall with a name sign. Transfer to your hotel (20km from airport). Enjoy free time to explore Almaty — the former capital and largest city of Kazakhstan, known as the “Father of Apples.” Explore the Soviet-era metro system, visit the Kasteyev State Museum of Arts, or stroll along Arbat Street for nightlife.
Day 2: Almaty City Tour
- Central State Museum — One of Central Asia’s largest museums with over 200,000 exhibits, including the replica of the Golden Man (4th century BC Saka armor)
- Central Mosque — One of Kazakhstan’s largest mosques, capacity 7,000
- Green Bazaar — 19th-century market filled with spices, fruits, and local delicacies
- Panfilov Park & Zenkov Cathedral — World’s second tallest wooden church (56m), built without a single nail, survived 1911 earthquake
- Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments — Over 1,000 instruments including dombra and kobyz
- Kok-Tobe Hill — Cable car ride to 1,100m elevation, panoramic views of Almaty and Tien Shan peaks
Day 3: Charyn Canyon National Park
Full-day excursion to Charyn Canyon (200km, ~3.5hr drive) — the world’s second largest canyon and “Central Asia’s Grand Canyon.” Explore the Valley of Castles (Dolina Zamkov) with 2-3km hiking trails through 12-million-year-old sedimentary rock formations. Reach the Charyn River at the trail’s end. Return to Almaty in the evening.
Day 4: Fly Almaty to Tashkent, Uzbekistan
- Khast-Imam Complex — Spiritual heart of old Tashkent, featuring the 15th-century Quran of Caliph Uthman
- Chorsu Bazaar — Tashkent’s largest market under an iconic blue dome
- State Museum of Applied Arts — 7,000+ masterpieces of ceramics, jewelry, gold embroidery, and suzani
- Tashkent Metro — Central Asia’s first metro system (1977), stunning underground art galleries
- Amir Timur Square — City center landmark with equestrian statue of Timur
Day 5: Fly to Urgench, Transfer to Khiva (UNESCO)
Morning flight to Urgench, then 36km transfer to Khiva. Explore Itchan Kala — Central Asia’s only fully preserved walled medieval fortress city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit: Kalta-Minor Minaret (unfinished, 29m), Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Islam Khoja Minaret (57m panoramic views), Juma Mosque (218 ancient wooden columns), Tosh Hovli Palace, and Kuhna Ark fortress.
Day 6: Khiva to Bukhara (UNESCO) — Desert Road Trip
460km road journey across the vast Kyzylkum Desert (Red Sand Desert), one of Central Asia’s largest deserts covering 300,000 sq km. Travel parallel to the historic Amu Darya River. Spot nomadic yurts, camel caravans, and seasonal oases. Arrive in Bukhara — a 2,500-year-old Silk Road hub known as the “Second Mecca.”
Day 7: Bukhara Full-Day Exploration
- Chor Minor Madrasah — “Four Minarets” icon featured on Lonely Planet Central Asia cover
- Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble — 17th-century complex around a historic pool, home to Nasreddin Hodja (Afanti) statue
- Magoki Attori Mosque — Bukhara’s oldest surviving mosque (9th-10th century), 4.5m underground
- Trading Domes — Four 16th-century domed bazaars selling jewelry, textiles, and carpets
- Po-i-Kalyan Complex — Kalyan Minaret (47m, 1127, spared by Genghis Khan), Kalyan Mosque (288 domes, 10,000 worshippers), Mir-i-Arab Madrasah
- Ark of Bukhara — 5th-century fortress with 11m-thick walls, museums, and panoramic views
- Bolo Hauz Mosque — Royal mosque (1712) with 20 exquisitely carved wooden columns
Day 8: Bukhara to Samarkand (UNESCO) via Train
Morning visits to Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Summer Palace (Emir’s “Star and Moon Palace” with Russian-Bukhara fusion style) and Ismail Samani Mausoleum (9th-10th century, Central Asia’s oldest mausoleum). Afternoon train to Samarkand (2 hours) — the 2,700-year-old legendary capital of Timur’s Empire.
Day 9: Samarkand Full-Day Discovery
- Gur-e Amir Mausoleum — Tomb of Tamerlane (Timur), the azure ribbed dome that inspired the Taj Mahal
- Registan Square — The heart of the Silk Road: Ulugh Beg Madrasah (1420), Sher-Dor Madrasah (1619, unique lion mosaics), Tilya-Kori Madrasah (1660, gold-leaf dome)
- Bibi Khanim Mosque — Timur’s most ambitious architectural project (1404)
- Siyab Bazaar — Fresh fruits, nuts, spices, and famous Samarkand bread
- Shahi Zinda Necropolis — “The Living King” — 11th-15th century avenue of mausoleums, blue-tile masterpieces
Day 10: Return to Tashkent, Departure
Morning train back to Tashkent (2 hours). Transfer to Tashkent International Airport for your departure flight. End of unforgettable 10-day Silk Road journey.
Inclusions
- ✅ Professional English-speaking guide
- ✅ All entrance fees to listed attractions
- ✅ Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- ✅ Private vehicle for city tours
- ✅ Train tickets (Bukhara-Samarkand, Samarkand-Tashkent)
- ✅ Daily breakfast at hotels
- ✅ 3-5 star hotel accommodations
Exclusions
- ❌ Visa fees
- ❌ Travel insurance
- ❌ Optional activities and excursions
- ❌ Single room supplement
- ❌ Tips and gratuities
- ❌ Personal expenses
