19 day trip to the Heart of the Silk Road
UZBEKISTAN & KYRGYZSTAN
Led by
Rita Dzedins
(Associate Director Project Expeditions Ltd)
05 – 23 MAY 2013
 |
 |
MAY 2013
Sun 05 Auckland – Seoul
Depart on Korean Airlines for our daylight flight to Seoul. Meet and greet on arrival and transferred to our hotel for overnight accommodation.
Mon 06 Seoul – Tashkent
Morning is free to explore on your own before we continue with Korean Airlines to Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. Upon arrival early evening we will be met by our English speaking guide and transferred to our hotel. (B)
Tue 07 Tashkent – Khiva
Khiva, a unique city, rightfully claiming the title of “the seventh wonder of the world”, thanks to its authentic atmosphere of the ‘era of the beginning of time’. Most of the city of Khiva is similar to the open-air museum. And the nucleus of this museum – castle Itchan Kala. It is inside this fortress concentrated all the architectural masterpieces of Khiva. Everyone who enters the fortress, are among the marvelous minarets, stone-paved alleys curves, leading to a madrassa with lacy rough mosaic of the ancient walls.
 |
 |
A very early breakfast and transfer to the Airport for our flight to Khiva where upon arrival we commence a full day tour of the old city. Lunch is at a house of a local Uzbek family where we will try a variety of Uzbek dishes. In the afternoon we continue the tour of the city’s amazing historical highlights.
Late afternoon free time at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. (B)
Wed 08 Khiva – Bukhara
After breakfast we travel to Bukhara with a photo-stop near the biggest river in Central Asia, the Amudarya (Oxus). We will stop for lunch in an Oasis in the middle of Karakum desert. Arrive Bukhara mid afternoon and check into our hotel. If time permits we will undertake a short city tour. Dinner at Lyabi Hauz, a cozy lake in the center of the ancient quarter where people come together for drink and dinner. One of places where we can see the real Uzbek life (B,L))
Thu 09 Bukhara
Bukhara, which is situated on the Silk Route, is some 25 centuries old. It is the most complete example of a medieval city in Central Asia, with an urban fabric that has remained largely intact. Monuments of particular interest include the famous tomb of Ismail Samani, a masterpiece of 10th-century Muslim architecture, and a large number of 17th-century madrasas. The historic part of the city, which is in effect an open-air museum, combines the city’s long history in a single ensemble.
 |
 |
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a full day tour of the city with lunch at a local restaurant. We return to our hotel mid afternoon and the rest of day is free to relax on your own. Tonight we take in a dinner with a national folklore show. The show features the national clothes of the Nodir Devonbegi Madrassah. (B)
Fri 10 Bukhara – Yangikazgan
Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to the desert region of Yangi kazgan with photo stops at cotton fields and a cotton factory. We stop for lunch at the ancient town of Nurata located in the foothills of Nuratau Mountains, stretching out hundreds kilometers from Jizzakh and the Barren Steppe to Navoi and Kyzylkum desert. It is the administrative and cultural center of the mountain area in the Navoi region and is located almost 200 km from Samarkand.
After lunch we visit the Nurata ‘Father of Light’ Complex to see the legendary mystical pond with fish. We also visit the former military base of Alexander the Great. Continue on to a Yanqikazgan village where we will be accommodated in Yurt for the night in the middle of Kyzil-Kum desert. Here there will be free time for riding camels and exploring the flora and fauna of Yangi kazgan region. Tonight a music show hosted by local musicians, famous for their Kazakh and Kyrgyz songs. Overnight in Yurts. (B,D))
 |
 |
Sat 11 Yangikazgan – Samarkand
After breakfast we transfer to Aydar Kul Lake for swimming and a picnic lunch. We then drive to Samarkand and check into the hotel with the rest of the day free to explore on our own. Dinner in a local restaurant (B,L))
Sun 12 Samarkand
Samarkand is situated in the valley of the river Zarafshan. It is the second largest city of Uzbekistan and is of the same age as the city of Babylon or Rome. The history of Samarkand is about 2,500 years old and has witnessed many upheavals during the times of Alexander the Great, the Arabic Conquest, Genghis-Khan Conquest and lastly Tamerlane’s. Hence, the culture of Samarkand was developed and mixed together with the Iranian, Indian, Mongolian and a bit of the Western and Eastern cultures.
 |
 |
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a full day sightseeing of Samarkand. We will visit Guri Emir, the legendary mausoleum where Amir Temur and all his family are buried, the world famous Registan Square – a complex of 3 Madrasahs and a golden dome mosque. We also visit Mosque Bibi Khanum, the biggest Mosque ever built in Central Asia which was a gift from the wife to Tamerlane, her husband. We will take in Siyab local bazaar, a unique place where you can get acquainted with the local Samarkand people, Shahi – Zinda necropolises, a holy place with a cemetery containing graves of the Temured Dynasty.
And finally the Observatory of Ulugbek, an incredible 15th century construction for studying astronomy. Lunch at a local restaurant followed by free time at Registan Square and the local bazaar.
We return to the hotel late afternoon to refresh before we go to dinner in the city and watch a light show in Registan Square. (B)
Mon 13 Samarkand – Taskent
Early breakfast at hotel and drive to Taskent. We will make many photo stops for the views from the mountain pass and of the second largest river in Central Asia, the Sirdarya. We will also visit a local fish market and a melon market famous in the region where will have opportunity to buy some.
We arrive in Tashkent and check into our hotel before we take lunch at a local restaurant that specializes in the different cuisines of the central Asian nations. After lunch we take in a city tour. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner to Uzbekistan at a national guest house. (B,L)
 |
 |
Tue 14 Tashkent – Ferghana
Breakfast at hotel and depart to Ferghana and the famed Ferghana Valley. Check into our hotel in Ferghana city. Dinner at the renowned Tantana Restaurant with a great show! (B)
 |
 |
Wed 15 Ferghana – Margilan
Ferghana is one of the most fertile and picturesque Central Asian valleys. It consists partly of the very fertile Karakalpak Steppe and partly of desert land and is drained by the Syr Darya River and numerous mountain streams, which are fed by snowfields and glaciers in the mountains.For centuries the Ferghana Valley played an important part in Central Asian history and culture as since 400AD it has been occupied by Chinese, Arabs, Persians, Turks, Mongols, Uzbeks and Russians.
 |
 |
Early Breakfast at hotel and commence a city tour of Ferghana which includes the Museum of History and the local bazaar. Lunch at a local restaurant then depart to Margilan where we will visit a silk factory, Friday Mosque and a local bazaar etc. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Thu 16 Ferghana – Osh (Kyrgyzstan)
Osh is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan and is located in the Ferghana Valley in the south of the country and often referred to as the “capital of the south”. The city is at least 3,000 years old, and has served as the administrative center of the Osh Province since 1939. The city has an ethnically mixed population of about 330,000 comprising Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Russians, Tajiks, and other smaller ethnic groups.
 |
After an early breakfast we depart to the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan border, a 120 km drive. Our next guide will pick us up at the border and accompany us to the city of Osh. He/she will remain our guide for our entire stay in Kyrgyzstan. As soon as we arrive we will go to our accommodation. This afternoon before dinner we take a 2 hours walking tour of the old part of the city. Night is in a local guesthouse. (B)
Fri 17 Osh – Arslanbob
Arslanbob is small town, sub district, valley, mountain range, and a large wild walnut forest in the Jalal-Abad Province of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan’s first known export to Europe was the Arslanbob walnut. Two waterfalls are located in the area which attract tourists, pilgrims and other visitors during the spring and summer months. The town of Arslanbob has around 1500 inhabitants; made up of Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tatar, Tajik, and Chechen.
 |
In the morning we will drive to Arslanbob. The road takes about six hours, the majority of which will be in the mountains offering excellent panorama views. There will be time to make many photo stops or just sit back and enjoy the amazing scenery. On the way we will visit the ancient town of Djalal Abad town and see its famous Uzgen Tower. The tower was built in 11th century by Karakhanids. There are also mausoleums here that were used as burial places for the many leaders. Tonight will be spent in a local guest houses. (B,L)
Sat 18 Arslanbob – Bishkek
 |
 |
Today we start early at 6 a.m. with a drive from Arslanbob to the capital Bishkek. The road will go along huge Kyrgyz Mountains offering stunning views. Again you will have many photo stops on the way. This road is one of the most popular among travelers. On the way we will stop at yurts to try the local Kyrgyz drink ‘Kumyz’ – fermented mare’s milk. In the evening we arrive in Bishkek and check into our hotel. Dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant. (B,L)
Sun 19 Bishkek
Originally a caravan rest stop on one of the branches of the Silk Road through the Tian Shan range, the location was fortified in 1825 by the Uzbek khan of Kokhand with a mud fort. In 1862, the fort was conquered and razed when Tsarist Russia annexed the area. The Russians rebuilt the town over the destroyed fort. The site became a Russian garrison and was redeveloped and named “Pishpek” from 1877 onward by the Russian government, which encouraged the settlement of Russian peasants by giving them fertile black soil farms to develop. In 1926, the city became the capital of the newly established Kirghiz ASSR and was renamed “Frunze” after Mikhail Frunze, Lenin’s close associate who was born in Bishkek and played key roles during the 1905 and 1917 revolutions and during The city was renamed Bishkek on 5 February 1991 and Kyrgyzstan achieved independence later that year during the breakup of the Soviet Union. Today, Bishkek is a modernizing city, with many restaurants and cafes
Today we start early at 6 a.m. with a drive from Arslanbob to the capital Bishkek. The road will go along huge Kyrgyz Mountains offering stunning views. Again you will have many photo stops on the way. This road is one of the most popular among travelers. On the way we will stop at yurts to try the local Kyrgyz drink ‘Kumyz’ – fermented mare’s milk. In the evening we arrive in Bishkek and check into our hotel. Dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant. (B,L)
 |
 |
Breakfast will be ready at 8 a.m. Today is dedicated to a guided City Tour. The tour includes visiting of the central Ala-Too Square, Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Pobeda Square (Victory Square), the History Museum, National philharmonic and many others places of interest. During the day we will see many squares and buildings that were made during the Soviet time. It is not a real city tour without visiting our Asian Bazaar! This bazaar is very colorful and noisy and wonderful for taking many photographs. Here people sell all kinds of goods including a vast variety of fruit, vegetables, meat, and other things! The bazaar offers a great opportunity to the many interesting & colourful local people that come from their villages to sell their goods. A farewell dinner will be taken in a national restaurant.
Mon 20 Bishkek – Tashkent
Day free to explore on our own or to shop. Transfer to Manas Airport for flight to Tashkent. On arrival we will be met by our previous Uzbek guide and transferred to our hotel. Rest of the day is free. Dinner at the hotel or at a local restaurant. (As the flight schedules are not out yet for 2013 we are unable to advise any activities for this day at this stage).
Tue 21 Tashkent – Seoul
Full day in Tashkent, details to be advised. This evening transfer to the airport for our overnight flight on Korean Airlines to Seoul (B)
Wed 23 Seoul – Auckland
Arrive Seoul 0700 and a full day in transit until our evening flight to Auckland. A city sightseeing tour will be organised to help fill in time
Thu 24 Arrive Auckland early morning
COST PER PERSON: 5995.00 twin share
6595.00 single
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Book and pay your 500.00 deposit now, with balance in full by 31DEC, and receive 200.00 per person off the tour price
COST INCLUDES
- Economy class airfares on Korean Airlines
- Overnight accommodation Seoul
- English speaking guide service
- Transport service all over tour by luxury air conditioned minivan
- Portages charge at airports and hotels
- Tips at the airports and hotels (not guides or drivers)
- Breakfast & lunch daily and all meals in the Yurt stay
- Picnic and coffee stops
- Unlimited Bottle of mineral water
- Unlimited Entrance fees to all sightseeing
- Folklore shows in Bukhara city
- Local flight
- Visa on arrival
- OPTIONAL services for your choice;
Tashkent: Tickets for performance in Alisher Navoi Theatre,
Visiting Christian churches,
Cup of Tea at Tashkent TV tower restaurant
Tashkent Zoo and Botanical Garden.
Any museums in Tashkent
And much more
Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Ferghana:
Trying local wines of local factories
All museums & theatres,
Taking part in national holydays, parties and customs
Visiting Uzbek families
Visiting schools, medical institutions, bazaars, libraries, archives of ancient books, libraries
And much more.
COSTS EXCLUDE
- All dinners (budget USD10.00-15.00 per day)
- Photo-and video charges (budget USD20.00 total for tour)
- All personal expenses such as extra luggage fee, room service, medical expenses/insurance, toll charges, laundry etc
- Trip cancellation / accident insurance
- Tips to guides and drivers (budget USD20.00 total each for guide and driver)