Tour MTAC 21: UZBEKISTAN – KIRGHISTAN – CHINA KASHGAR -FACSINANTES Itineraries of Great Silk Road

MTHC 21. Uzbekistan/Kyrgyzstan/China/Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan

See info about Kyrgyzstan

Duration: 23 days/22 nights
The route of the steppes: from Bukhara to Kashgar
Itinerary:

UZBEKISTAN – Tashkent  - Urgench – Khiva – Bukhara – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand – Urgut –  Tashkent - Kokand – Rishtan – Margilan - Fergana

KIRGHIZSTAN – Osh - Sary Tash

CHINA - Irkeshtam Pass -  Kashgar -  lac Karakul – Kashgar - Torugart Pass

KIRGHIZSTAN - Naryn  – Kochkor - Lake Issyk Kul  -  Bichkek

UZBEKISTAN – Tashkent

Accommodation: Hotels 2-3-4 */guest house/yurt
Transport: aircraft, train and vehicle
Season: from April to November
Uzbekistan: the months of spring and fall are the most appropriate. June to August can be very hot. Winter is also possible if you do not visit the cities.
Kyrgyzstan: preferably from late May to late September, if the conditions are still very rough in altitude

Program
The routes of the Silk Road are multiple grand deserts, oases millennia, snow-capped peaks, collars, corridors mark the tracks of commerce and knowledge. One of the most beautiful is that which connected the Middle Kingdom to Persia by crossing the Xinjiang and Sogdiana. In the footsteps of the old caravan, this circuit takes the vital artery that links the centuries East to West Road of desire, of all dreams and all the conquerors, from Alexander to the Great Tamerlane . Material goods, but also know-how, ways of life, thought and worship will enrich a constellation of mythical oasis as Kashgar and Fergana Valley. This is where the emperors of China were bringing their best horses. As for builders, they competed in the Timurid Empire, to cover any religious building of sumptuous embroidery ceramic. Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand in particular evidence of this splendor. Travel except in the heart of the steppes of Central Asia impregnated with a profound humanity.

Day 1: Tashkent
Arrival to Tashkent, transfer to hotel. Free morning to rest. Lunch. Tashkent the capital of Uzbekistan, 2200 years old, was partially destroyed during several earthquakes and recently renovated. After lunch visit Khazret Imam. you will spend some time in the Chorsu bazaar. Then visit the Museum of Applied Arts, which includes much of the architecture of Uzbekistan. Dinner and overnight in Tashkent.

Day 2: Tashkent - Urgench - Khiva.
Morning transfer to airport and flight to Urgench. Arrival and transfer to Khiva (30 km). You dive into a world of unique architectural in Asia Khiva which does not seem to have been touched by modern times. Of course, the ease of Khiva, which was both the center of a rich agricultural region and one of the main slave markets of Central Asia allowed the construction of religious buildings or administrative, renowned for their size and their luxury refinements. Classified by Unesco World Heritage Site and as such protected and renovated the old city of Khiva will charm you with the total consistency between its tall buildings and the remaining homes. Overnight in Khiva.

Day 3 Khiva
Following the visit in the vicinity of Khiva. The afternoon free time to wander through Khiva. - Overnight in Khiva.

Day 4: Khiva, Bukhara (approximately 470 km)
In the morning drive to Bukhara. You will cross the desert of Kyzylkum and along the banks of the Amu Darya, which winds through the desert. Picnic along the way. Arrive in Bukhara late in the day. Dinner and overnight in Bukhara.

Day 5: Bukhara
Visit to Bukhara, traditional town that has kept the charm of its past Arabic, Persian and Turkish. The numerous invasions from undermining its walls made the city a real architectural museum: You will begin visits with all Liab Khauz certainly considered the most original architectural complex of the city. You will see Nadir Divan Begi medersas, and the Koukeldash Khanako. You will also pass by the domes marchades Tok-i-Sarrafon, Tok-i-Telpakfourchon and Tok-i-Zargaron  and the mosque Magok-i-Attori. Visit the Tim Abdullah Khan. Walk across the district Poi-Kalon which is the heart of the city. Lunch during the visit. Visit the citadel Ark, residence of the Khan of Bukhara, of Bala Hauz Mosque which we notice the luxurious decoration of the iwan (vaulted niche) and the splendid mausoleum of the Samanids, an architectural wonder. Overnight in Bukhara.

Day 6: Bukhara.
The morning will be devoted to the visit of the necropolis Chor Bakr. You will continue your visits to the site the most revered of Bukhara, the mausoleum of Bakhaouddin Nakhchbandi, named one of the founders of the holiest and most revered Sufi Islam who are ready this sentence: "If 'you sow the seed of good, it will grow in seven years and seven hundred good deeds will. " By late afternoon you will visit all Sitora Khossa Mokha, former summer residence of the emirs of Bukhara from the early twentieth century. Overnight in Bukhara

Day 7: Bukhara - ShakriSabz- Samarkand (270+ 150 km).
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive  to Shakhrizhabz - home town of Tamerlane the Great. On arrival sightseeing tour around the town of Shakhrizhabz for 1.5-2 hrs. including visits to Ak-Saray Palace, Darus Saodat Complex, Darus Tillavat Complex, Orient Saunas. Lunch at guest house. Drive to Samarkand. Dinner. Dinner and overnight in Samarkand.

Day 8: Samarkand – Urgut- Samarkand (approximately 45 km).
Morning depart for Urgut. You will go to the market, probably the most active in the region. Colorful, there are any; vegetables at car parts through beautiful jewelry and a wealth of traditional crafts. But the city is best known for her Susan, very fine embroidery on cotton fabrics, typical of Uzbekistan. A unique atmosphere! The area around Urgut an opportunity to visit family of artisans, including pottery and embroidery, very interesting and to buy directly from producers that have retained ancestral techniques. Typical lunch in a tea-house of Urgut. Back to Samarkand. Discovery of the archaeological site of Afrasiab, one of the largest in the world. Dinner and overnight in Samarkand.

Day 9: Samarkand.
You will begin the day with a visit to the Registan square with its splendid Oulougbeg of madrasas, of Shir-Dor, Tilla-Kari, decorated with ceramic tiles blue. You will continue visits with the discovery of the mosque Bibi-Khanym, the largest mosque in Central Asia. By late morning, stroll a little bazaar Siyob. Lunch during the visits. The afternoon will be devoted to the discovery of the Gur Emir, Tamerlane's tomb and the Roukhabad, dating from the fourteenth century. Dinner and breakfast. Then you will attend a folk concert in the Shir Dor madrassah. Overnight in Samarkand

Day 10: Samarkand, Tashkent (about 310 km by train).
You will start the day with a visit to the mausoleums of Shakhi-Zinda, a vast cemetery dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Then visit the Ulugbek observatory erected in the fifteenth century. Lunch in town. Depart by comfortable express train to Tashkent (310 km-3h 40 min). Arrival in Tashkent. Dinner and overnight in Tashkent.

Day 11: Tashkent, Kokand, Richtan, Margilan, Fergana (approximately 370 km).
Early departure for the Fergana Valley. Drive to Kokand (230 km) through the mountain pass at 2050m Kamchik. Visit the famous palace of Khoudayar Khan. After visiting the palace of Khan Khoudayar visit the Juma Mosque, which was one of the largest mosques Royal Kokand and includes 10,000 believers at a time, and Dakhmai Shahon - "Tombs of Governors." Lunch in Kokand. Transfer Richtan (45km) which is known for its traditions of ceramics. Visit the studio ceramists. Departure to Margilan and visit the factory of production of silk. Dinner and overnight in Fergana.

Day 12: Fergana, Osh, Sary Tash (approximately 325 km).
Border crossing to Kyrgyzstan, a country of mountains, which occupies a strategic position between the Tarim Basin to the east and the Fergana Valley in the West. You will make a stop in Osh, which is located near a rocky outcrop known as the throne of Süleyman. A legend tells that King Solomon was the founder of Osh. Lunch in Osh. Route to switch upward Pereval Cijirshik Pass (2406 m) and Col Pereval Taldyk (3650 m). Extraordinary landscape of pastures where the valleys are covered with meadows used by the Kirghiz for the breeding of their herds of horses, sheep and goats. Dinner and overnight in Sary Tash.

Day 13: Sary Tash, Irkeshtam Pass, Kashgar (approximately 330 km).
You'll leave the main road to Pamir to commit ourselves on the ancient caravan route of the Silk Road to the Chinese border. Irkeshtam pass, magnificent views over the Pamir glaciers with sharp with the highest (Peak Communism) rises to 7495 m, white snow and blue skies are the color of the roof of the world. Unique and unforgettable show. Lunch along the way. Go on your way to reach Kashgar, the first oasis on the western edge of the Taklamakan desert. Dinner and Overnight in Kashgar.

Day 14: Excursion to Lake Karakul, Kashgar (approximately 380 km).
In the morning, drive to Lake Karakul. Perched at an altitude of 3800 m, the deep blue lake is surrounded by the massive Kongur (7719 m) and the peaks of Maztag-Ata (7546m). A breathtaking scenery. Lunch at the lake. Dinner and Overnight in Kashgar

Day 15: Kashgar Market.
Fair on Sunday morning is the largest and most unforgettable visit Central Asia. Along the River Tuman, a profusion of products in the scent of grilled mutton, waiting for the barge. But it is in the middle of the enclosure reserved for the cattle that are played the most beautiful scenes of oriental trading against a backdrop of horses at full speed that potential buyers are testing. Lunch during the visits. Visit, at the edge of the city, the mausoleum of Khodja Abak, Sufi religious leader who founded a theocratic state and taught in Kashgar in the seventeenth century. In the center of town stands the largest mosque in China. Founded in 1442, but restored several times, its yellow walls can accommodate more than 10,000 believers. On Friday they come from all over the region. Dinner and overnight in Kashgar

Day 16: KASHGAR! URUMQI
Transfer to the airport. Flight to Urumqi the capital of Xinjiang. Visit the park "Red Hill" ("Red Hill") or opens the panorama of the city and the museum with its famous mummies room and Er Dao Qiao Bazaar. Overnight at the hotel. 

Day 17: URUMQI / Turfan (Turpan)
Drive to Turpan, China orchard deemed by the abundance of fruits and grapes and located 154 meters below the level of the sea. Visit the mosque and its minaret, excursion to the caves of the thousand Buddhas through the necropolis Astana and the ruins of Gaochang. Overnight at hotel. 

Day 18: Turfan (Turpan) - URUMQI
Visit Karez (wells), a system for collecting water and underground irrigation is still used today. Visit the old city Jiaohe, Flaming Mont. In the afternoon, transfer by bus to Urumqi. Overnight at hotel.

Day 19: URUMQI - BISHKEK
Flight to Bishkek on China Southern Airlines at 09:15 (arr. In Bishkek at 11:20). Discover the city: Ala-Too Square, Panfilov Park, the National History Museum (former Lenin museum) dedicated to the history of the revolution and the history of Kyrgyzstan, the Stone Age to our days. The exhibition is full of handicrafts, costumes, jewelery carpet yurt . Overnight at hotel.

Day 20: BISHKEK / Issyk KOUL / Cholpan ATA
Departure to Lake Issyk Kul with a stop to visit the Tower of Buran. Visit  the cemeteries. Arrive Cholpon Ata. Visit the rock carvings in the open-air museum. Overnight at hotel.

Day 21: Cholpan ATA / BISHKEK
Excursion Grigorievsky throat. A Grigorievsky are 3 mountain lakes. The neck is very green, rich in vegetation. There are trees Tian Shan, green pastures. You will be able to discover the nomadic shepherds. Departure by road to Bishkek.

Day 22: BISHKEK / TASHKENT
In the morning, drive to the Ala-Archa Park (52 km). Back to Bishkek. Transfer to airport for flight to Tashkent with Uzbekistan Airways.

Day 23: Tashkent
Discoveries of Tashkent. Transfer to the airport for international flight
End of our services

Note:
The program will be specified in accordance with the schedule of the international flights of arrival and departure.
We are absolutely open to any suggestions to increase the range of our services for the complete satisfaction of our clients.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your individual needs. Customized tours can be conducted in English, French, German, Spanish or Italian. Each departure is conducted in the designated language only.
Please contact us for price: info@marakandatravel.com