Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan Explorer

Almaty

Arrive in Almaty and start exploring Kazakhstan’s lively city. Walk through Panfilov Park and admire the colourful wooden Zenkov Cathedral. You may also visit the Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments to discover the region's rich musical heritage. Visit the peaceful Central Mosque before heading to the mountains for lunch with views of Medeo, the world’s highest skating rink, surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Tien Shan range. The area is renowned for its pristine alpine lakes, which add to the breathtaking scenery. In the afternoon, take a cable car to Kok-Tobe for sweeping views over the city and the dramatic Tien Shan mountains in the distance. It’s a great introduction to the region’s natural beauty and urban life. Return to the Ritz-Carlton for a restful night and get ready for the journey ahead.

Baikonur

Take a morning flight to Kzyl Orda, then drive to Baikonur, the centre of Kazakhstan's space history. Visit the Museum of Baikonur Cosmodrome History, filled with fascinating displays on space travel, rockets, and artefacts linked to space pioneers like Yuri Gagarin and Sergei Korolev. Learn how science fiction became reality in this important Soviet-era launch centre. This evening, rest at your hotel and prepare for tomorrow's special event—a live rocket launch.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Baikonur

Baikonur

Experience the powerful moment of a real "Soyuz" rocket launch. Watch as it lifts off, filling the sky with sound and energy. Afterwards, visit the famous Gagarin's Start and Zenith launch pads to learn more about past missions. Step inside the memorial houses of Gagarin and Korolev and see where these space legends once stayed. This unique day blends science, emotion, and history, bringing Kazakhstan's role in space exploration to life.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Turkestan

Take a scenic train journey across the Kazakh steppe to Turkestan, an ancient city renowned for its ancient monuments. Enjoy the changing landscapes and lunch onboard. When you arrive, visit the impressive mausoleum of Hodzha Ahmed Yassavi, a UNESCO world heritage site and key figure in Central Asian spirituality. Explore medieval bathhouses that reveal daily life in ancient times. Rich in Islamic heritage and architectural beauty, Turkestan offers a peaceful and meaningful close to the day.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tashkent

Travel by road to Uzbekistan, stopping at Shaulder to visit the local museum and the ruins of Otrar—an ancient capital and the birthplace of the scholar al-Farabi. Cross the border and continue to Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, where you’ll settle in at Hotel Mercure and enjoy a walking tour or a full day city tour of the city's highlights. This capital city blends Soviet design, Central Asian history, and Islamic tradition, offering a first taste of Uzbekistan’s culture and charm.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tashkent

Khiva

Leave early for a flight to Urgench, then drive 40 miles to Khiva, an ancient city and walled city full of Islamic architecture and history. Embark on a walking tour through Khiva's historic streets, where you can explore its ancient monuments, including the Djuma Mosque, known for its 212 wooden pillars. Visit the old Kunya-Ark fortress and Tash Hauli Palace, each rich in intricate design. Walking through Khiva feels like stepping back in time, with narrow lanes and grand buildings telling centuries-old stories.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Bukhara

Travel across the Kyzyl-Kum desert to Bukhara, passing the Amu Darya river. Pause for a picnic lunch and meet Karakul sheep herders to learn about their trade. After a long journey, arrive in Bukhara—an ancient city renowned for its historic role in Islamic learning and its impressive ancient monuments. Check in to your hotel and prepare for tomorrow’s deep dive into its old streets, religious sites, and opportunities to interact with local families.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Bukhara

Start at Lyabi Hauz, a peaceful square surrounded by madrasahs and cafes, and begin your walking tour of Bukhara's historic center. Continue to the Poi-Kalyan complex, home to the grand Kalyan minaret and mosque, and explore some of the city's most impressive ancient monuments. Visit the Ismail Samani mausoleum, one of Central Asia’s oldest Islamic buildings. In the evening, enjoy dinner with a folk show at the Nodir Divan Begui madrasah. Today offers a mix of culture, history, and warm Uzbek hospitality.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Bukhara

Bukhara

Today explores Bukhara’s royal and spiritual past, including some of its most remarkable ancient monuments. Visit the elegant Royal Mosque of Bolo Khauz, and the Emirs’ summer palace—Sitorai Mokhi Khosa—known for its Russian and Persian style. Later, visit the Bahauddin Naqshband complex, a sacred site with a peaceful atmosphere and beautiful tilework. This day adds depth to your understanding of Bukhara’s religious significance and architectural richness.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Samarkand

Leave Bukhara and drive to Samarkand, Uzbekistan via Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. Visit Ak-Saray Palace, once his grand summer residence, and explore other historic buildings. After lunch in Shakhrisabz, continue on to Samarkand. This ancient city, recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site, is renowned for its ancient monuments and will be your base for the next two nights, ready to reveal more of Uzbekistan’s cultural wonders.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Samarkand

Discover Samarkand’s famous ancient monuments on a walking tour of the city's historic core. Visit the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, with its vast dome and delicate mosaics, part of the UNESCO world heritage site. Walk through Registan Square, surrounded by three stunning madrasahs. End at the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, where Tamerlane is buried under a jade tombstone. Each site tells a story of the city’s powerful past as a centre of empire, trade, and religion.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Samarkand

Samarkand

Begin at Shakhi-Zinda, a row of beautiful tombs decorated with blue tiles, one of Samarkand's remarkable ancient monuments. Continue to the Ulugbek Observatory, a 15th-century scientific marvel. End the day at a traditional paper-making workshop, where you’ll see ancient techniques still used today. These visits offer a glimpse into Samarkand’s deep blend of science, craft, and spirituality.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tashkent

Drive back to Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, stopping in Bakhmal village to try cotton honey and meet local producers. Once in the city, enjoy a full day city tour featuring a walking tour of Tashkent’s highlights, including its squares, metro stations, and bazaars. In the evening, gather at Hotel Mercure for a farewell dinner and celebrate the many discoveries and memories from your journey across Central Asia.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tashkent - Departure

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport. Your journey through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan ends here. You leave with unforgettable memories of ancient cities, stunning architecture, warm hospitality, and a deeper understanding of Central Asia’s past and present—an epic trip and truly unforgettable journey through this remarkable region.

Meals Included: Breakfast