SECTION 3: ASHGABAT TO KASHGAR – UNVEIL CENTRAL ASIA Dates: October 16 – November 03, 2014 Length: 19 days Countries to be visited: Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan – Xinjiang, China Total distance: ±3646 km DAILY ITINERARY Day 01. Thursday, October 16. Arrive Ashgabat Those who joins the group for the Central Asia section should arrive Ashgabat today and will be transferred to hotel in Ashgabat. Welcome dinner. D Grand Turkmen Hotel Day 02. Friday, October 17. Ashgabat Explore Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat while waiting for vehicles and the rest of the group members to arrive. The group should arrive in late afternoon. B/L/D Grand Turkmen Hotel Day 03. Saturday, October 18. Ashgabat Today we will have a full day of sightseeing in and around Ashgabat; including a city tour, a visit to the Carpet Museum, visiting the Bakharden underground lake as well as Kipchak Mosque. Later, we will tour the Old Nisa – the remains of the Parthian kings’ residence. Continue to National museum and return Ashgabat. B/L/D Grand Turken Hotel Day 04. Sunday, October 19. Ashgabat – Darvaza (driving distance: 255 km) Morning at leisure in Ashgabat. After lunch depart for a night of camping in the Karakum Desert. Tonight there will be an amazing experience of a life time! B/L/D Desert Camping Day 05. Monday, October 20. Darvaza – Dashoguz – Khiva, Uzbekistan (driving distance: 395 km) Drive through the desert and arrive at Dashoguz, a small town by the Uzbek border. After lunch, we will cross the border to enter Uzbekistan. Upon arrival in Khiva, check into the hotel and walk around the old city at leisure. B/L/D Hotel Kheivak Malika Day 06. Tuesday, October 21. Khiva Khiva was the capital of the Khiva Khanate in the 17th century, and has still retained the exotic flavour of a medieval Oriental town. Today we will tour Ichan-Kala (the inner town), which is encircled by brick walls, whose foundations are believed to have been laid in the 10th century. Our visits will include: Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah, Kunya Ark, Islam Khoja Madrassah and Minaret, Jummi Mosque, and Tash Hauli Palace. We will also see desert sights such as Toprak Kala and Koi Krylgan Kala. B/L/D Hotel Kheivak Malika Day 07. Wednesday, October 22. Khiva – Bukhara (driving distance: 410 km) Drive to Bukhara through the KizilKum Desert. The drive can be very difficult if the new road is not yet ready. En route we stop to see the Amudarya River, known to many western explorers as the Oxus River. Local fish restaurant for lunch. We will arrive at Bukhara in the late afternoon. In the evening we will see a folk performance in Nadir Devanbegi Madrassah. B/L/D Asia Hotel Bukhara Day 08. Thursday, October 23. Bukhara Bukhara is the only city in Central Asia where the flavour of the East has been preserved intact. It is a town-museum with about 140 architectural monuments dating back to the Middle Ages. Today our excursion in Bukhara includes visits to the mausoleum of Ismail Samani, a masterpiece of classical Eastern architecture, and the Poi Kalon Ensemble with its 50 meter-tall minaret decorated with unique patterns, towering over the centre of ancient Bukhara. In evening we will have dinner in a local traditional style restaurant. B/L/D Asia Hotel Bukhara Day 09. Friday, October 24. Bukhara – Samarkand (driving distance: 280 km) After breakfast we will start our trip to Samarkand, arriving in the afternoon where we will have lunch and some leisure time. B/L/D President Hotel Samarkand Day 10. Saturday, October 25. Samarkand Samarkand was once known as the Garden of the Universe. It reached the height of its glory during the reign of Tamerlane who cherished the dream to make his capital the most beautiful city in the world. Today we will have a city tour of Samarkand including the famous Registan, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble, Ulugbek Observatory (15th century), and Chupan Ata (1440s). Later we will visit Khoja Abdi Darun, Khoja Abdi Birun and Ishrat Khana Mausoleums, and the famous Samarkand carpet factory. B/L/D President Hotel Samarkand Day 11. Sunnday, October 26. Samarkand – Tashkent (driving distance: 310 km) In the morning we will start out for the capital, Tashkent. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and rest. Leisure time in the afternoon. B/L/D Tashkent Palace Hotel Day 12. Monday, October 27. Tashkent – Ferghana Valley – Osh (driving distance: 426 km) Today we will start early in the morning heading towards Eastern Uzbekistan: the famous Ferghana Valley. The road from Tashkent to Ferghana Valley is a bit challenging, crossing many mountain passes on the way. We will arrive in Ferghana for lunch. In the afternoon drive to the Kyrgyz border and continue to Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan; reputed to be about 3000 years old. There are several legends about the origin of the city, including claims that it was founded by Solomon or Alexander the Great. Even if such a grand personage did not establish Osh, its position at a crossroads along the ancient trading routes that became known as the Silk Road almost guaranteed that it would become a major settlement. Excursion to Osh Bazaar, one of the biggest bazaars in Central Asia, stretching for about one kilometre along the river. Visit holy mount Suleiman-Too (Solomon’s Throne). According to legend this mount appeared after King Solomon rested here. For Central Asian Muslims, “Taht-I-Suleiman” is the 3rd most sacred place after Mecca and Medina. At the top there is a 16th century mosque and a museum. B/L/D Sunrise Hotel Day 13. Tuesday, October 28. Osh – Chichkan Valley (driving distance: 430 km) Drive to the Chichkan Valley. Following the Ferghana Valley the road climbs through spectacular mountains and follows the Naryn River. We will overnight in the valley at a newly built lodge by the river. B/L/D Oson Lodge Day 14. Wednesday, October 29. Chichkan Valley – Kochkorka (driving distance: 260 km) Today the drive becomes challenging after 155 km of paved road. The route takes us through some of the alpine mountains and meadows of Kyrgyzstan. Along the way we will get a chance to meet Kyrgyz shepherds, and learn about their paths and their nomadic life. Drop in at a local nomadic yurta for tea. In the afternoon, arrive the village of Kochkorka and stay at a local B&B-style accommodation. Enjoy a Kyrgyz dinner and folk show. B/L/D Family stay Day 15. Thursday, October 30. Kochkorka – Naryn (driving distance: 130 km) Today we will drive along the gravel road to Naryn. En route visit villages and trek a bit in the mountains. B/L/D Family stay Day 16. Friday, October 31. Naryn – Kashgar, China (driving distance: 330 km) Our departure will be early in the morning! Drive from Naryn to the border; we need to arrive at the border before noon. After the border-crossing, drive onto Kashgar via the Torugart Pass. Arrive into Kashgar late in the afternoon. B/L/D Shenhang International Hotel Day 17, Saturday, June 08. Kashgar Kashgar, the largest oasis city in China and Central Asia, used to be the last outfitting station on the centuries-old Silk Road. Today we explore this exotic city by visiting the Great Id Kah Mosque and the tomb of Abakh Hoja. B/L/D Grand International Hotel Day 18, Sunday, June 09. Kashgar A city of bazaars, two-wheeled carts, dusty streets and 4000 mosques, Kashgar reveals a strong Islamic influence. Its narrow maze of alleyways and open air markets display all the myriad faces of Central Asia with Uygur, Kyrgyz, Tajik and Kazakh merchants and locals, all busy haggling over camels and sheep, brightly coloured fabrics, fur hides and hats, handmade carpets and knives. Trade remains timeless still, especially on Sundays, when the entire community gathers at the one of the worlds liveliest markets. B/L/D Grand International Hotel Day 19, Monday, June 10. Depart Kashgar After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. This will be the end of the third section and the beginning of the fourth section of the journey. B
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 08:07:03 +0000
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