15 Days The Best of Central Asia

You will be driven out of the city and into the countryside of Kyrgyzstan today.

Burana Tower, one of the few remaining watchtowers along the ancient Silk Road, is located around 80 kilometers from the hotel. With snow-capped mountains in the background, it makes for a striking image. Burana Tower dates back to the eleventh century.

Enjoy lunch and learn more about rural living at the house of a local family, where you'll get a true sense of Kyrgyzstan. Visit Don-Aryk, a tiny village where you may learn how to make felt hats and rugs, to have a greater understanding of the native way of life.

When you awaken in Bishkek, take in the sights and sounds of Osh Bazaar, the city's biggest marketplace, which is brimming with regional handicrafts, fruit, cereals, and vibrantly colored Kyrgyz textiles.

After that, go into the mountains with your guide to have a little trekking and the opportunity to snap pictures of the surrounding area before traveling to the airport.

A guide will be there to greet you when you arrive in Almaty and take you to your accommodation.

After you've settled in, you should visit Ala Archa National Park, which is situated atop a precipitous Ala Archa River valley. It is surrounded by 50 peaks and about 20 glaciers in the Alps.

Before beginning a full day of sightseeing, have breakfast at the hotel.

Shop for local chocolates, clothing, jewelry, toys, fresh produce, and toys at the Green (Zelyony) Bazaar. See the Central State Museum, the Zenkov Cathedral, and Panfilov Park, a verdant haven in the heart of the city dedicated to commemorating the 28 Kazakh soldiers who lost their lives in World War II.

Take a journey to a traditional Kazakh falcon farm to witness the local falconers training their prey as a way to escape the city. Take a ride on the Kok-Tube cable car for a breathtaking perspective of Almaty, if vistas are your thing.

You will be picked up this morning at the hotel lobby and driven to the airport.

You may have time to visit Tashkent or continue exploring Almaty, depending on when your flight is scheduled to depart.

Although Tashkent is the oldest city in Uzbekistan, much of the city has been rebuilt since a significant earthquake struck in 1966. These days, it's a disarray of tree-lined boulevards, enormous Soviet structures from the 20th century, and rebuilt remnants of the old city.

Amir Timur Square, Independence Square, Khast Imam Square, the Chorosu Bazaar, Kukeldeash Madrassah, the Metro's artwork, and the Museum of Applied Arts are just a few of the things that your guide will show you today.

You will be taken to Bukhara after breakfast, where you will cross the magnificent Kyzyl Kum Desert.

The medieval city of Bukhara, an oasis in the desert, is teeming with historical landmarks like the Ark Citadel, the Zindan Prison, and the Kalon Assembly.

With the help of your local guide, spend the day touring the city.

Highlights will include the Bukhara market Trade Domes, the Ark Citadel, the Kalon Mosque and Minaret, the Samani Mausoleum, the Magoki Attori Mosque, the Lyabi-Hauz ensemble, and the Kukeldash Madrassah.

Before boarding the train to Samarkand, make the most of your morning in Bukhara.

Once you arrive in Samarkand, check into your accommodation before visiting some of the city's most famous attractions, such as the blue-topped minarets of Chor Minor, the Bahauddin Naqshband Mausoleum, and the Emir's Summer Palace.

With your guide, spend the day exploring the city more.

The stunning Shah-i-Zinda Complex of tombs and mausoleums, the Bibi Khanum Mosque, the oriental agricultural market Siab Bazaar, the Afrosiab History Museum, the striking Ulug Bek Observatory, and a papermaking workshop are among the site's highlights.

You will travel to the adjacent Tajik border with your guide following breakfast. Your Tajik guide will meet you here, give you a brief tour of Penjikent, and then drive you across the Fan Mountains to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

See places like the Rudaki Museum, the Penjikent Excavations and Museum of Archaeology, the central bazaar, and the Varzob Gorge outside of the city.

See further locations such as the Hissar Fortress, Flagpole Park, Ismail Samani Monument, Museum of Antiquities, and National Museum of Tajikistan.

You'll be driven to the airport today to catch your subsequent journey home.