Along the Silk Road to Kashgar (GSR-1)

Arrival in Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Rest.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Samarkand - 350 km. (takes around 5 hours). Transfer to the Hotel. Enjoy an afternoon tour of the city, visiting the Guri-Emir Mausoleum, Rukhabad Necropolis and the Registan Complex.

After breakfast - continue tour of Samarkand, visiting the Ulugbek Observatory, Bibi-Khanum Cathedral Mosque, Shakhi Zinda Mausoleum and the bazaar. Transfer to Bukhara (300 km, 5 hrs).

Sightseeing in Bukhara: “The heart of Bukhara – historic- architectural complex Lyabi-Khauz with the oldest in Central Asia pool (XIV-XVII c) surrounded by medieval buildings madrasah and khanaka of Nadir Divan-begi (XV-XVI c) with the facade, decorated with gorgeous mosaic, Kukeldash madrasah (XV c) - the largest madrasah in Bukhara. Poi–Kalyan Complex includes: 48 m minaret Kalyan (XII c) – the symbol of Bukhara; large Friday mosque Kalyan (XV c) with galleries topped with 288 domes of 1 hectare area; the only one active madrasah in Bukhara Miri-Arab (XVI c). The Samanids mausoleum (IX-X c) – The Samanids family burial vault – one of the ancient mausoleums in Central Asia made of burnt brick, which remains in a good condition nowadays. Ark citadel (IV c bc – XX c) – surrounded with large fortress wall – the oldest building in Bukhara, the main residence of the Emirs. There is a museum nowadays. Evening transfer to railway station for departure by train to Tashkent at 20:00. Spending the night in the train.

Arrival to Tashkent. Breakfast. Short excursion along the city: Old city, Kukeldash Medrese (XVIII), Independence Square, Peoples Friendship Square, the building of National Theatre of opera and ballet. Transfer to Fergana (312 km, ~ 6 hrs).

Excursions in Fergana Valley: Khudoyar-khan Palace (1871) where local historical museum is situated, Norbut-Biy Medrese (XVIII c), Modarikhon Mausoleum (XIX c) and in Rishtan – famous by potters’ dynasties, ceramics masters. Here you can watch their work and buy original earthenware for memory. Excursion in Margilan to Yodgorlic silk factory. Here you can acquaint with a process of hand-made production of silk fabrics, from unwinding silk cocoons till their coloring, and also to buy not expensive souvenirs made of silk. Transfer to Osh (120 km, ~ 2 hrs).

Not long sightseeing along the city: famous Osh bazaar, Suleyman Mountain, Asaf ibn Burkhiya Mausoleum (XI-XVIII c.c.). After lunch transfer to yurt camp along Pamir Highway (150 km, ~ 4 hrs), overnight stay in yurts of Sary-Tash village.

Transfer to Kashgar (270 km, ~ 8 hrs) via famous Alay Valley surrounding with giant snow-icy summits of Zaalay Range with its highest summit – Lenin Peak (7134 m). The changing of transport on Kyrgyz-Chinese border (Irkeshtam Check-point).

Excursion along the ancient Kashgar: the biggest mosque in China Id-Kakh Mosque (1442), Mausoleum of Kashgar rulers Apak-Khodja (XVII c), old city, Mao Dze Doon Monument.

Visiting famous Kashgar Sunday bazaar that exists more than 1000 years.

Transfer via Torugart Pass to Naryn Valley of Kyrgyzstan (350 km, ~ 9 hrs). Overnight stay in Naryn – little town among the mountains of inner Tien-Shan.

Transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake (Warm Lake) – a pearl of Central Asia – a huge internal-drainage lake surrounding with magnificent mountains (250 km, ~ 5 hrs). Rest.

After lunch transfer to Bishkek (260 km, ~ 4 hrs). Excursion: Alatoo Square, Museum of History, Manas Ethnographical Complex.

Flight home.