ROAD TO SAMARKAND
GO BEYOND
KAZAKHSTAN OVERNIGHT FLIGHT
UZBEKISTAN
TASHKENT (1N)
KHIVA (2N)
BUKHARA (2N)
SAMARKAND (2N)
BISHKEK (2N)
KYRGYZSTAN & UZBEKISTAN
CHOLPON-ATA (1N)
FERGANA (2N)
KARAKOL (2N) BOKONBAYEVO (1N) KOCHKOR (1N)
TASH RABAT (1N)
CHINA
CHONG KEMIN (1N)
KYRGYZSTAN
PHYSICAL RATING
3
IS THIS TOUR FOR YOU? Follow the famous Silk Road through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan! This tour will take you off-the-beaten-track to mingle with nomads in traditional yurt camps, to stroll through vibrant bazaars and discover timeless, ornately-decorated cities.
PLANE COACH TRAIN
Discover scenic Kyrgyzstan
Walled City of Itchan Kala, Khiva
DAY 11: INTO UZBEKISTAN Transfer to Bishkek airport and fly to Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. DAY 12: THE FERGANA VALLEY Explore Tashkent’s sights, including the Barak Khan and Kukeldash madrassahs and the Tila Shaikh mosque and archives before browsing the wares of Chorsu Bazaar and admiring the opulent Tashkent Metro. Later, travel to the city of Fergana located in the heart of the rich Fergana Valley. DAY 13: SUNDAY BAZAARS Rise early and travel to Kumpeta Sunday Bazaar in the town of Margilon, where you can immerse yourself in the colours, sounds and smells of this vibrant market. Arrive in Kokand and visit Khan’s Palace and Jami Mosque Museum then drop by a local Kyrgyz family who manufacture traditional woollen carpets. Return to Fergana. DAY 14: TASHKENT After a relaxed morning travel back to Tashkent by road. On arrival, the afternoon is free to explore more of the city. DAY 15: GOLDEN CITY OF SAMARKAND Travel by train to the legendary city of Samarkand. Upon arrival, wander into the heart of the city for a first glimpse at some of its most significant sights – Gur-e-Amir – the majestic mausoleum of conqueror Tamerlane and Central Asia’s most spectacular architectural ensemble, Registan Square. Wander through a local market and visit the Shah-I-Zinda mausoleum.
CA L L
DAY 16: ULUGH BEG OBSERVATORY This morning, you have free time to relax or explore more. This afternoon, visit the Ulugh Beg Observatory, founded in the 15th century and considered one of the finest observatories in the Islamic world as well as a papermaking workshop and the Bibi-Khanum Friday Mosque. DAY 17: EXPLORE BUKHARA Travel to the holy city of Bukhara, a place of astounding history, by train. Explore the legendary Kalon Minaret, the Ark of Bukhara, and Bolo Hauz Mosque. Wander on to the peaceful 16th-century Chor Minor and Chor Bakr necropolis to tour the colourful Khonako-Medrassah-Mosque complex. Later, visit the mausoleum of Ismail Samanid and the ornate Aziz Khan and Ulugbek madrassahs. DAY 18: DISCOVER SITORA-I MOHI KHOSA This morning visit Sitora-i Mohi Khosa, the Emir’s summer palace, a 20th-century confection of a building! Drive out to the pottery town of Gijduvan where you’ll explore the town and visit a ceramics centre. Return to Bukhara and spend the rest of the day at leisure. DAY 19: ACROSS THE DESERT TO KHIVA Enjoy a free morning before transferring to the station to catch the train to Khiva. The route runs 480 kilometres through the stark beauty of the desert, the scenery changing from sparse saksaul trees to the lush riverbanks of the Amudarya.
01 485 4161
PRICES & DEPARTURES Departing Tuesday returning Tuesday
2020 DATES 05 May-26 May
€5,090 01 Sep-22 Sep
€5,090
Flight and supplement information • Based on Dublin departures • Regional departures available • Flight upgrades available on request • Land only from €4,490 (Bishkek - Tashkent ) • Single room from €720 • Tipping paid locally USD$110 DAY 20: WALLED CITY OF ITCHAN KALA Explore ancient Khiva, discovering the sights of the UNESCO World Heritage inner-walled city of Itchan Kala including the mighty Kukhna Ark Fortress and the turquoise-tiled Islom-Khodja. Wander through the fascinating Madrassah Rakhimkhon, a beacon of religious, astronomic, geographic and mathematical studies, and see the 19th century Tash Hauli Palace, decorated in blue fine china tiles. DAY 21: FLY TO TASHKENT Today you will have free time to wander Khiva’s old town before transferring to Urgench to fly to Tashkent, arriving in the evening. DAY 22: FLY TASHKENT TO IRELAND Fly to Ireland, arriving home later the same day. NOT LOOKING TO JOIN A GROUP? Call us to arrange this itinerary as a private tour.
O R V I SI T YO U R LO C A L T R AV E L AG E N T
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