The orient caravan
Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan Tour: the Main Sights of the Silk Road Cities,
from Bishkek to Khiva, via Fergana Valley
| Countries: | Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan | |
| Tour duration: | 8 days / 7 nights; 10 days / 9 nights | |
| Itinerary, 8 days: | Osh – Rishtan – Kokand – Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara – Tashkent | |
| Itinerary, 10 days: | Osh – Rishtan – Kokand – Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara – Khiva – Urgench | |
GUARANTEE DATES OF THE GROUP TOUR 2023:
8 days, Departure from Tashkent |
10 days, Departure from Urgench |
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| Group №1. 22.07–29.07.2023 | Group №1. 22.07–31.07.2023 | |||
| Group №2. 19.08–26.08.2023 | Group №2. 19.08–28.08.2023 |
This guided group tour covers two countries – Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The itinerary begins in the city of Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and, on its way to the ancient Bukhara oasis (Uzbekistan), traverses the Fergana Valley and includes detailed observations of the most important historical cities.
Apart from green and fertile fields and orchards, the Fergana Valley is famous for its rich ancient crafts and history. We shall visit the region’s three most outstanding cities: Osh, Rishtan and Kokand. Osh is Kyrgyzstan’s second largest city with lively streets, a remarkable oriental bazaar and the sacred Sulayman-Too Mountain towering above the city centre. Rishtan is the main pottery of Uzbekistan. The unique blue-glaze ceramics produced there are incredibly beautiful and very specific to the place, which makes souvenirs from Rishtan highly popular among travellers. Ancient Kokand is a concentration of original architectural monuments built at the time of the powerful Khanate of Kokand.
The tour culminates in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva – Uzbekistan’s most famous cities, historical and cultural reserves boasting colossal architectural masterpieces of the Timurid time and earlier historical periods.
Moreover, a travel to Uzbekistan is always accompanied by the southern sun and warmed by hospitable people, while the famous Uzbek cuisine forms the most delicious background throughout the journey.
- ITINERARY / SERVICES & COST
- VISA
- FAQ
| Tour program | ||
| Day 1. | Arrival in Bishkek. Bishkek (sightseeing). Meeting at the international airport “Manas”. Transfer to Bishkek and early check-in at the hotel. Leisure time. Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan, a cozy green city with a population of about 1 million people which is located in the middle of the Chuy valley, at an altitude of 750 meters, and right at the foot of Kyrgyz part of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range. One of its distinguishing features is that all roads in Bishkek were designed and projected very strictly and cross only at right angles. Sightseeing in Bishkek: visit the central Ala-Too Square, flagstaff (and changing of the guard), statue of Lenin and Freedom Monument, Monument to Manas the Great. Meals: breakfast Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 2. | Bishkek – Osh (domestic flight). Osh (sightseeing). Osh – Rishtan – Kokand (180 km, 5 h). Domestic flight Bishkek – Osh in the morning. Meeting at the airport of Osh. Osh is the “southern capital” of Kyrgyzstan. The city is located on the east side of the Fergana valley, at an altitude of roughly 1000 meters, and is surrounded by low rocky spurs of the Alay Range on three sides. Sightseeing in Osh: sacred Sulayman-Too Mountain and museum in a cave. The national historical and archaeological museum complex Sulayman-Too Sacred Mountain is the main attraction of Osh and the only site located entirely on the territory of Kyrgyzstan that has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Transfer to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities. Transfer to Rishtan, the main ceramics center of Uzbekistan. The city is famous for its incredible glazed ceramics which are popular among tourists as souvenirs. Visiting the Center of Ceramics, acquaintance with the masters and their crafts. Demonstration of ceramic pottery making process. Transfer to Kokand, the former capital of the Khanate of Kokand (18-19 cc.). Meals: breakfast Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 3. | Kokand (sightseeing). Kokand – Tashkent (240 km, 4 h). Kokand is located right at the entrance to the fruitful Fergana valley, used to be an important stop point of the Great Silk Road and used to be a part of the ancient state of Davan. Its flourishing happened in the 18th century when it became the capital of Kokand khanate and the religious center of the region – in the past, there were 40 madrasas and 300 mosques in Kokand. Sightseeing in Kokand: Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Modari-Khan Mausoleum, Djami Mosque, Necropolis Dakhma-i-Shahon. Transfer to Tashkent via the Kamchik pass (2285 m). Meals: breakfast Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 4. | Tashkent (sightseeing). Tashkent - Samarkand (330 km, 5 h). Tashkent is the multifaceted capital of the modern country of Uzbekistan and the republic’s center of cultural and political life. Tashkent’s architecture is striking in its diversity and variety: archaeological monuments from the Zoroastrianism era that are more than 2200 years old, architectural masterpieces of the Middle Ages, monumental buildings of the late 19th century, the most beautiful underground subway in the world, and of course, the numerous modern buildings. Sightseeing in Tashkent (Old town): Khast-Imam Square, Barak-Khan Madrasah, Kafal-al-Shashi Mausoleum, Kukeldash Madrasah, the oldest bazaar of Tashkent “Chorsu”. Lunch at the famous Central Asian Plov Centre "Besh Kozon", where genuine Tashkent plov is cooked in huge cauldrons. There you can see the whole process of cooking from roasting meat to laying vegetables, spices and rice. Transfer to Samarkand, the capital of ancient Sogdiana – Marakanda. Sogdiana was an ancient civilization between the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya rivers. Meals: breakfast, lunch. Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 5. | Samarkand (sightseeing). Samarkand is as old as Rome, it is one of the most ancient cities in the world and former capital of the great Tamerlane empire. It is a museum city, a city which was once the heart of the caravan trade in the midst of the Great Silk Road. Samarkand conserved its unique aura of the Oriental medieval age until this very day. Sightseeing in Samarkand: Gur-e Amir Mausoleum – necropolis of the Timurids; the most impressive square in the entire Central Asia – the Registan Square (Madrasah of Ulugbek, Sher-Dor Madrasah, Tilya-Kori Madrasah); Bibi-Khanym Mosque; the famous Siab bazaar; architectural ensemble Shah-i-Zinda; Ulugbek Observatory museum. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 6. | Samarkand - Bukhara (280 km, 4–5 h). Bukhara (sightseeing). Transfer to Bukhara, another ancient city in Uzbekistan which also used to be part of the Great Silk Road. Medieval Bukhara was one of the main political, cultural, and religious hubs of the Middle East. Over 140 architectural monuments have been preserved here. The historical center of Bukhara is included in the list of World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO. Sightseeing in Bukhara: Lyab-i Hauz Architectural Ensemble, Kukeldash Madrasah, Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah. Visit the shopping district with domed shopping arcade of the 16th century, where national arts and handicrafts workshops are presented. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 7. | Bukhara (sightseeing). Continuation of sightseeing in Bukhara and surroundings: Mausoleum of Samanids, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo-Khauz Complex, Ark Citadel, Po-i-Kalyan Complex, Abdulaziz-Khan Madrasah, Ulugbek Madrasah. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel. ► Option with departure from Tashkent (8-day route): Transfer to Tashkent by train. Meeting at the railway station, check-in at the hotel. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 8. | Bukhara – Khiva (440 km, 7 h). Transfer to Khiva through the famous Kyzylkum desert along the Amu Darya River. We will pass along the road, where many Silk Road caravans once slowly followed. “Kyzylkum” translates as “Red Sands”, and the local sand really has a reddish tint. We will make several stops and walk along the picturesque dunes, admire the amazing panorama of the Amu Darya River from a viewing point. Arrival in Khiva. Walking around the historical district – Itchan Kala (XVIII century) which is the walled inner town of the old Khiva oasis and State Museum-Reserve protected as a World Heritage Site. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel. ► Option with departure from Tashkent (8-day route): Tashkent (departure). Transfer to the airport. The end of the tour program. Departure from Tashkent. Meals: breakfast. |
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| Day 9 | Khiva (sightseeing). Khiva (over 2500 years old) is a bright and almost untouched example of a medieval Orient city. Itchan-Kala will appear before us in the guise of a revived city from an oriental fairytale. Every building of Ichan-Kala is a unique architectural monument and on its own is an attraction for tourists. Sightseeing in Khiva (Itchan-Kala): Pakhlavan Makhmoud Complex, Kunya-Ark Fortress, Islam Hajji Madrasah & Minaret, Tash Khauli Palace, Alakuli Khan Madrasah, Juma Mosque, Mukhammad Aminkhan Minaret & Madrasah. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel. |
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| Day 10. | Khiva – Urgench (departure). Transfer to the airport of Urgench city. The end of the tour program. Departure from Urgench. Meals: breakfast. |
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This tour is guaranteed and will be arranged whatever final number of persons in a group. | ||||||||||||
The cost of the tour includes:
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The cost of the tour doesn’t include:
Additional Services:
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Hotels.
We offer accommodation in cozy hotels often decorated in a national style. It is completely unique: it combines modern comfort and a unique culture of hospitality. This tour comes with the following types of accommodation:
| City | Hotel |
| Bishkek | Olive Bishkek Hotel 3* or similar |
| Tashkent | Reikartz Xon / Sato 3* or similar |
| Kokand | Silk Road Kokand Hotel 3* or similar |
| Samarkand | Arba 3* / Jahon Palace 3* or similar |
| Bukhara | Kabir Hotel 3* / Kavsar Hotel 3* or similar |
| Khiva | Shokh Jahon Hotel 3* / Silk Road 3* or similar |
Transport.
During the tour the following types of transport will be used (depending on the number of people in a group):
In Kyrgyzstan:
| Group | Venicle |
| Group 1-3 pax | "Mitsubishi Delica" |
| Group 4-15 pax | "Mercedes-Benz Sprinter" |
| Group 16-40 pax | "Mercedes-Benz" / "Setra" |
In Uzbekistan:
| Group | Venicle |
| Group 1-2 pax | "Chevrolet Lacetti" |
| Group 3-6 pax. | "Hyundai Grand Starex" |
| Group 7-9 pax. | "Toyota Hiace" / "King Long" |
| Group 10-15 pax. | "Eurise" |
| Group 16-45 pax. | "Golden Dragon" |
Visa to Uzbekistan:
Visa-free regime for up to 60 days has been established for citizens of countries below:
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Visa-free regime for up to 30 days has been established for citizens of countries below:
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A great number of other countries can obtain an e-visa to Uzbekistan by simply visiting the governmental portal e-visa.gov.uz.
Frequently Asked Questions
| 1 |
Is it necessary to get a stay permit (temporary registration of stay) while visiting Uzbekistan? |
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What is Uzbekistan’s currency? Where can I exchange money? |
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Can I use credit cards in Uzbekistan? |
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What is the difference between GMT and Uzbekistan time? |
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Can foreigners to Uzbekistan use the services of a local mobile network operator during their stays in the country? |
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Can I bring alcoholic beverages into Uzbekistan? |
| 7 |
What maximum amount of cash can I bring into Uzbekistan? |
| 8 |
What maximum amount of cash can I take out of Uzbekistan? |
| 9 |
Can I use a photo / video camera at the tourist sites? |
| 10 |
What kind of clothes should I wear in Uzbekistan? Are there any clothing requirements for women in the country? |
| 11 |
What languages do people in Uzbekistan speak? |
Useful Information on Traveling to Uzbekistan
Route map
Photos of the tour:
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Our video gallery:
 Cuisine of Central Asia |
 Pilafs in Tashkent |
 Wine-Making in Uzbekistan |
 Uzbek Fruit and Vegetables |
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