Central Asia Discovery Expedition

Bishkek

Arrive in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. A warm welcome awaits before you transfer to your hotel to rest and freshen up. In the afternoon, begin your guided city tour exploring the city centre. Visit Ala-Too Square, home to statues of Kurmanzhan Datka, Manas, and Lenin, located in the heart of the city centre. Walk through the Old Square in the city centre to see the Parliament House and Fine Art Gallery. End your tour at Victory Square, a World War II memorial. This first day introduces you to Kyrgyzstan’s rich history and culture.

Meals Included: Dinner

Chon-Kemin Valley

Drive to the Burana Tower near Tokmok, a UNESCO-listed site from the Silk Road era. Learn about its history and enjoy optional horseback riding games. Later, share a traditional Kyrgyz lunch with a local family, offering a genuine taste of local hospitality. Continue to Chon Kemin Valley and check into Ashuu Guest House. The afternoon is free for activities like horseback riding, swimming, or learning how to set up a traditional yurt with guidance from your tour leader.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Chon-Kemin Valley

Karkara

Travel to Karkara Valley, a peaceful highland area with fresh air, alpine meadows, and scenic mountain slopes. On the way, stop at Cholpon Ata to see ancient petroglyphs at an open-air museum. These carvings, some over 2,000 years old, show scenes of snow leopards and hunters. Arrive in Karkara and settle into your yurt glamping camp. Enjoy the quiet setting by the river, try a sauna under the stars, or relax with your group in the evening. Afterward, you will have free time to unwind or explore the beautiful natural surroundings at your own pace.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Kolsay Lake

Leave Kyrgyzstan and cross the Kegen Border into Kazakhstan, where you will complete border formalities as part of the border crossing process. Your guide will help with border procedures. Travel to Saty Village, near the beautiful Kolsay Lakes, known as the “Pearls of the Tien Shan.” Spend the day hiking around the lakes, where calm blue waters reflect the alpine forest filled with fir trees and surrounding mountains. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the lake, taking in the scenic views. This peaceful natural area is a favourite for travellers who enjoy scenic views and outdoor adventures.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Almaty

Drive to Charyn Canyon, one of Kazakhstan’s most striking landscapes. Walk through the canyon and admire its colourful rock formations and towering cliffs. After your hike, continue to Almaty, the country’s largest city. Take a guided city tour, including Republic Square, the impressive Ascension Cathedral (also known as Zenkov Cathedral), the Monument of Independence, and enjoy the city’s green parks and tree-lined avenues. End the day browsing Green Bazaar, where locals sell fresh fruit, spices, and handmade goods—perfect for souvenir shopping for local crafts and goods.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Almaty

Dushanbe

Start your day at the Central State Historical Museum in Almaty, which gives insight into Kazakhstan’s culture and history. Later, take a short flight to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Upon arrival, meet your Tajik guide and transfer to your hotel. In the evening, take a walk through the city’s leafy boulevards, visit Rudaki Park—a significant cultural and recreational spot—and admire Dushanbe's blend of Soviet-era and modern architecture.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Dushanbe

Start the day at the Museum of Antiquities, home to a rich collection of ancient artefacts and the famous Buddha of Ajina-Tepe. Visit the Ismail Somoni monument and shop for local produce at Mehrgon Bazaar. In the afternoon, head to Hissar Fortress, a 16th-century site that once protected Silk Road travellers. Explore the old madrassahs nearby and learn about Tajikistan’s past with your guide.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tashkent

Fly to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Discover the city’s Islamic heritage at the Khast Imam Complex, which houses a rare Qur’an manuscript. Visit Kukeldash Madrasah and the colourful Chorsu Bazaar, full of fresh produce, spices, and great opportunities for souvenir shopping. Explore the city’s wide boulevards lined with trees and green parks, which contribute to Tashkent’s spacious and relaxed atmosphere. Then, see the modern side of the city at Independence Square and Amir Temur Square. Stop by the Museum of Applied Arts for beautiful Uzbek designs. Don’t miss Tashkent’s main train station, a key transportation hub connecting travellers to other major cities.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tashkent

Samarkand

Begin your day with a morning visit to Samarkand, one of the most iconic cities on the Silk Road. Visit the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, where the great conqueror Tamerlane is buried. Walk through Registan Square, a world heritage site, and admire its three decorated madrasahs. Samarkand played a major role in the Islamic world as a centre of civilization, trade, and learning. See the grand Bibi Khanum Mosque and end your day exploring Siab Bazaar, where you can try local sweets and dried fruits.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Samarkand

Continue your Samarkand tour at Shah-i-Zinda, a colourful collection of tombs with fine tilework. Visit Ulugh Beg’s Observatory, where important discoveries were made in the 15th century. Return to Registan Square for a deeper look at its architecture and explore the Bibi Khanum Mosque in more detail. Your guide will share the history of Samarkand’s scholars and rulers, highlighting the city's remarkable achievements during the middle ages, a period that shaped its architectural and cultural legacy.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Bukhara

Enjoy an enroute visit to Shakhrisabz, the hometown of Tamerlane. Visit the ruins of Ak-Saray Palace, once a massive royal complex. See the Kuk Gumbaz Mosque and the Mausoleum of Jahangir. Browse the local market before visiting the unoccupied tomb of Tamerlane, built in his honour. Later, continue to the ancient city of Bukhara for the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Bukhara

Bukhara

Tour Bukhara, a city full of preserved Islamic architecture. Begin at the Kalon Minaret, one of the towering minarets of Bukhara, then walk to Lyabi Hauz, a peaceful courtyard surrounded by madrasahs. See Chor Minor, a unique mosque with four domes, and the Ismail Somoni Mausoleum. Visit The Ark, an ancient fortress and important archaeological site that once housed royal rulers and their courts.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Khiva

Travel across the Kyzylkum Desert, following an old Silk Road route to reach Khiva. This region is also known for the vast Karakum Desert, famous for its remoteness and striking natural beauty, which, along with the Kyzylkum, shapes the dramatic landscapes of Central Asia. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, check into your hotel and take a short evening walk around Ichan Kala, Khiva’s old town. The golden sunset light creates a magical atmosphere among the historic buildings and narrow lanes.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Khiva

Take a walking tour of Ichan Kala, the old city and ancient city of Khiva, with your guide. This UNESCO listed city is renowned for its well-preserved architecture and historical significance. Visit Kalta Minor Minaret and the towering minarets like the tall Islam Khoja Minaret, which showcase the grandeur and intricate craftsmanship of traditional Islamic and Central Asian architecture. Explore the Tash Khauli Palace with its lovely courtyards and carved wooden columns. See other well-preserved madrasahs, mosques, and caravanserais that reveal the city’s rich past.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Khiva

Ashgabat

Cross into Turkmenistan at the Shavat border, completing the necessary border crossing and border formalities. In Dashoguz, visit the Juma Mosque and the local bazaar. Explore a private art gallery before taking an evening flight to Ashgabat, the capital known for its white marble buildings. Enjoy a traditional dinner and relax after your first day in Turkmenistan.

Ashgabat

Visit Ancient Nissa, a ruined city and UNESCO world heritage site with amazing views. See the grand Turkmenbashi Mosque Mausoleum and the Arch of Neutrality. Walk through Independence Park and learn about local history at the National Museum. In the afternoon, meet the famous Akhal-Teke horses, then visit the Earthquake Memorial, the Ertogrul Ghazi Mosque, and the colourful Gulistan Bazaar.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ashgabat

Ashgabat

Your 17-day journey through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan comes to an end. Transfer to Ashgabat International Airport for your onward flight. Take home unforgettable memories of Silk Road cities, mountain landscapes, and the warm hospitality of Central Asia.

Meals Included: Breakfast