Classic Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan
Example Itinerary
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Overview
The two most popular of the ‘Stans, these neighbouring countries lie at the centre of the region and provide a complimentary look at the most emblematic scenes of Central Asian landscapes, traditions and heritage.
The two most popular of the ‘Stans, these neighbouring countries lie at the centre of the region and provide a complimentary look at the most emblematic scenes of Central Asian landscapes, traditions and heritage.
Tashkent offers an ideal starting point and a taster of the culture and history of the region, evermore associated with the Great Silk Road. You’ll then swiftly move on to the Silk Road showstoppers of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand for a week to get lost amongst their incredibly well-preserved mosques, madrassahs, mausoleums and minarets, showcasing some of the world’s finest examples of Islamic architecture. Refuelling with homecooked meals and breaks at renowned teahouses between touring these majestic cities, there’ll also be the opportunity to meet local artisans and traders and hear about their award-winning work.
A short flight between capitals brings you to Bishkek next, where the focus shifts from grand history and Islamic architecture to great natural landmarks and nomadic culture, providing an eclectic overview of the various elements Central Asia is best known for. After insight into the area’s Soviet influence in Bishkek and Karakol, the second week will largely be spent exploring the valleys, canyons and national parks around Kyrgyzstan’s magnificent lake, Issyk Kul, on foot and horseback and learning about the area’s nomadic peoples and traditions.
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Example Itinerary
This is an example itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes and budget, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 Arrive Tashkent: The Capital’s Highlights
A very early arrival to Tashkent sees your guide meeting you at the airport ready to take you straight to your hotel where a comfy bed is waiting. After recuperating from the flight, this afternoon you’ll have another chance to get acquainted during a tour of the city. A visit to the central Amir Timur Maydoni square, dominated by a statue of Tamerlane on horseback, and the Alisher Navoi theatre, designed by the architect responsible for Lenin's tomb, provide a good background to the most influential aspects of the country’s history. Meanwhile, the Applied Arts Museum and the extensive Chorsu Bazaar are great places to delve into Uzbek culture. Depending on energy levels, the capital also has a selection of 16th and 17th-century madrassahs, mausoleums and mosques to explore, though these a sure to be surpassed in grandeur by those in Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand.
Day 2 Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva: Wander Medieval Streets
An early morning flight to Urgench followed by a short drive brings you to the UNESCO city of Khiva. Dropping your bags off at your boutique hotel located within the fortified walls of the ‘Ichan Qala’, you’ll immediately head out on foot to explore the historic madrassahs, mausoleums and palaces enveloping you. A huge part of Khiva’s allure is how the unique, walled oasis town has been preserved in its entirety since medieval times. Individual sites of note within it include the ‘Kunya Ark’ which was the Emir's residence, comprising a magnificent summer palace and harem, and Juma Mosque, with its 200 individually carved wooden pillars. Enjoy an evening at leisure in this truly magical setting.
Day 3 Khiva – Bukhara: Across the Kyzylkum Desert
Driving through the desert, today’s full-day drive of around eight hours evokes moments of reflection on the journeys of the past as you pass through the vast Kyzylkum, or Red Sand, desert to the magical city of Bukhara. Along the way, you’ll stop at a viewpoint overlooking the region’s bloodline, the Amu Darya river, known to the ancient Greeks and Romans as the Oxus. Making stops to stretch your legs, take photos and get a bite to eat at a remote café, you’ll arrive to Bukhara in the late afternoon with the evening free to settle into your boutique hotel set in a historic Jewish merchant’s home.
*History buffs may be interested in taking an old Soviet sleeper train to Bukhara instead of a road transfer.
Day 4 Bukhara: History Tour & Homecooked Plov
Begin with a walking tour this morning by navigating the narrow streets of the Jewish quarter around your hotel, stopping at one of the country’s oldest synagogues and the old house of a wealthy 19th-century merchant. Moving on to the Islamic heart of the city is the central Lyabi Hauz, a serene complex of madrassahs built around a 17th-century pool. Within walking distance are also the massive Ark Citadel and Zindan Prison and the Kalon minaret and ensemble. After a break at a typical tea house, you’ll then continue on to the historic trading domes for a lesson in Silk Road trade, and perhaps the chance for some shopping at one of the stalls. Enjoy some downtime at the hotel before heading to a local Bukharan’s home this evening for a cooking demonstration and a homecooked plate of the national dish, plov.
Day 5 Bukhara – Samarkand: Award-winning Pottery & High-Speed Train
Head out of the city along the Golden Road to meet the potters of Gijduvan, stopping to admire the grand minaret of Vabkent along the way. During your visit of this celebrated local pottery workshop, the family’s 5th generation of potters will talk you through their refined craft and why the earth in Gijduvan is renowned across the country. After lunch you’ll catch Uzbekistan’s high-speed rail to the legendary Silk Road city of Samarkand.
Day 6 Samarkand: Grand Islamic Architecture & Silk Carpets
With a history dating back 2,700 years, Samarkand became famous as the capital of the vast state created by Tamerlane and later ruled by his grandson Ulugbek in the 14th-15th centuries. After breakfast, you’ll be whisked around the fabled city’s star attractions including the iconic Registan Square, surrounded on three sides by glittering blue tiled madrassahs, and the captivating Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. During the course of the day, you’ll also pay a visit to a silk carpet factory run by an Afghan family to learn about the infamous commodity that made the city famous the world over. From its humble beginnings, this factory has grown over just two generations to win awards for the quality of their carpets as well as the training and employment opportunities they have provided to surrounding villages.
Day 7 Samarkand – Tashkent: Time at Leisure
Enjoy a morning and an afternoon free in the captivating Silk Road city, perhaps making use of its teahouses, dining options and shopping opportunities - it's a great place to pick up some precious silk souvenirs with many establishments offering international shipping options. For those that prefer to keep busy, your personal guide will still be on hand to advise on other sites to be explored before you take the swish, high-speed train back to the capital later in the day.
Day 8 Tashkent – Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan): Fly Between Capitals
After a fond farewell to your Uzbek team at the airport and a short flight, you’ll be met with a warm welcome in Bishkek, splendidly set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Take the rest of the afternoon to settle and relax into your new surroundings.
Day 9 Bishkek: Ala Archa National Park & City Tour
Escape the city this morning and head to Ala Archa Canyon, part of the Ala Archa National Park, about an hour south of the capital. Here, you can walk one of the various routes into the mountains for amazing views over the pine and juniper-covered park. Ala Archa is a favourite getaway of the citizens of Bishkek and you can follow their lead hiking through its unspoilt nature and a stopping for a picnic at one of the many scenic spots, perhaps under a cooling waterfall. Head back to the city later for an afternoon exploring its highlights such as the main square, the State National Museum and the Osh Bazaar filled with aromas of freshly baked Kyrgyz bread.
Day 10 Bishkek – Karakol: Burana Tower & Issyk Kul Lake
Departing Bishkek, you’ll head for the ‘warm lake’, Issyk Kul. The second largest mountain lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America, Issyk Kul measures 182km by 58km and is heated from below by volcanic activity, never freezing even in the depths of winter. Stops at the Burana Tower and petroglyphs, said to date from between 500 B.C. to 100 A.D., and lunch at one of the lakeside towns break up the day’s journey. Arrive to Karakol in the early evening and check into your guesthouse in the sleepy provincial town sandwiched between the lake and the imposing Tien Shan Mountains.
Day 11 Karakol: Jety Oguz Excursion
Today you’ll drive one hour along the southern shore of lake Issyk Kul into the Jety Oguz valley. One of five beautiful valleys located in this eastern province, Jety Oguz is named after the ‘Seven Bulls’ rock formation which you will stop to see at a nearby viewpoint. There are various walking opportunities, as well as horses to rent, to explore the peaceful landscape dotted with mountain pastures and grazing flock. Your guide can advise on the best route for you before you set off past ice-cold charging rivers and slopes shrouded with forests of Tien Shan spruce, walnut trees and wildflowers. After a stop to enjoy a picnic with a view, begin heading back towards the car and return to Karakol for the evening.
Day 12 Karakol – Chon Kemin Valley: Yurt Making
Explore the backstreets of Karakol this morning, full of Russian flavour and cottages shaded by white poplars. Included on the tour of the characterful town is the wooden Holy Trinity Cathedral built in 1895 and the Chinese Dungan Mosque. Later on, you’ll circumnavigate the lake’s southern shore to your next guesthouse near the Kazakh border. Stop at one of the lake’s lesser-visited southern villages to meet a yurt frame maker and learn about these traditional Kyrgyz homes.
Day 13 Chon Kemin Valley – Bishkek: Hike or Horse Ride
Spend the morning exploring the beautiful Chon Kemin valley the local way, on horseback. Venture as far as you like, spending as little or as long as you feel, upon your sturdy steed with the option to take a packed lunch for longer journeys or head back to your guesthouse for a homemade lunch following a shorter, leisurely ride. In the afternoon, you’ll transfer from the rural alpine countryside, along the valley river with the hills on either side eventually flattening out to agricultural land, arriving back to the busy capital for your final evening.
Day 14 Depart Bishkek
Depending on your flight time, you may have the morning free for some last-minute shopping or sightseeing, before you’re taken back to the international airport where your adventure through Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan comes to an end.
EXAMPLE ACCOMMODATION
Sasha & Son, Bukhara
Sasha & Sons was a 16th-century Jewish merchant’s house that has been renovated and converted into a beautiful, boutique hotel. Located in the heart of city, and within walking distance from ancient Labi-Hauz complex, the family-run hotel is decorated with art pieces and wall paintings hand made by well-known Uzbek craftsmen and painters, reminiscent of 18th-century Bukhara. Guests can walk through the peaceful, inner courtyard and up the ornate stairs to the guestrooms. With 20 rooms in total, each offers an individual interior design brimming with local character and comes with standard amenities including air-conditioning and a mini bar. Meals and refreshments can be enjoyed in the dining room or served in the property’s central courtyard.
Hotel Bibikhanum, Samarkand
The Bibikhanum in Samarkand is set right in the heart of the historic town, only a short walk to Bibi Khanum Mosque, Registan Square and Siyab bazaar. The towering and impressive sights of Samarkand can be viewed from the hotel's rooftop terrace, the perfect accompaniment to a delicious buffet breakfast. The architecture of the hotel is traditional to Uzbekistan, perfectly decorated with Uzbek sculptures, stucco and paints. The eighteen rooms are placed around a leafy courtyard, providing guests with calm and privacy during their stay.
Navruz Hotel, Tashkent
The three-star Navruz Hotel, located within a 20-minute drive of the city's main sites, opened in 2018. Great value for money, this property offers quality service and 38 spacious rooms with all the necessary amenities. Every room is air conditioned with a seating area, private bathroom and mod cons such as a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi and a kettle. Most rooms are light and airy with pretty, cosy decor and come with orthopaedic mattresses and walk-in showers. This is a simple yet comfortable base from which to explore the capital. In addition to breakfast at the property, there are a number of restaurants around the area for dinner and lunch. During the summer months guests can also make use of the rooftop terrace.
Kemin Guesthouse, Ashu
Located in the small rural village of Ashu, Kemin Guesthouse offers a wonderful way to relax in remote Kyrgyzstan, surrounded by the scenic hills and mountains of the Chon Kemin Valley. The quaint, wooden restaurant serves local, homemade meals. Rooms are simple with single beds, individual portable heaters and characterful Kyrgyz design and colour. Bathrooms in the accommodation are also simple, but provide Western facilities and hot water. Featured throughout the guest house, restaurant and rooms are handmade wooden furniture and large windows with views to the surrounding valley landscapes.
Matsunoki Guesthouse, Karakol
Found in central Karakol, the Matsunoki makes a great base for exploring the city's main sights on foot and providing a bit of comfort before or after a challenging trek towards the Tien Shan. The family-run guesthouse offers a welcoming and homely stay with a notably personable and helpful service. A wonderful home-made breakfast is included and there are restaurants within walking distance for other meals of the day. The guesthouse is set in a quaint building made with wooden support beams, doors and flooring, and there is also a large wooden sun terrace. Rooms and bathrooms are simple yet well done, modern and comfortable. The bright and airy dining area overlooks and allows access to the back porch leading out to a bit of green space.
Zarafshon Boutique Hotel, Khiva
Zarafshon Boutique Hotel is a comfortable and well-located, mid-range option in Khiva offering plenty of local flavour. Embracing a modern but classic design that many properties have adopted throughout the country, the hotel offers clean and spacious rooms, an on-site restaurant and bar and quiet seating area on the terrace.
Garden Hotel Bishkek, Bishkek
Approximately 20 minutes from most of Bishkek’s highlights, including the main square and the Osh Bazaar, the Garden Hotel offers a bit of greenery in the capital with trees and flowers bordering the building and its outdoor dining area. The mid sized hotel houses around 50 rooms, well furnished in a classic-style décor, patterned carpets and curtains, and wooden desks and furniture. Standard hotel mod cons such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi and flat screen T.V.s can be found in all the rooms whilst the higher categories are set apart for their spaciousness and additional seating areas. Hotel facilities include a gym room with a range of machines, a restaurant serving international dishes and a sauna, perfect for use after a long journey. Overall, the Garden Hotel is a great middle-of-the-road option offering standard hotel comforts with a touch of elegance and character within reach of city’s the tourist sites.
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Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
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Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
Positive Impact of this Trip
Making a Difference
Community Tourism
People and local communities have always been at the heart of Wild Frontiers and the travel experiences we offer. Through community tourism we have the opportunity to generate real positive impact, supporting people we visit through sustainable local development, and in turn help to alleviate poverty and protect culture and environments in often more vulnerable destinations. While doing so, our clients gain richer travel experiences and more meaningful connections with the people they meet.
Conservation and Climate Action
As a travel company, we hold a responsibility to minimise our environmental footprint and contribute to sustainability, and work closely with local communities to support their efforts. By implementing initiatives such as carbon measuring, tree-planting, reducing single-use plastic and promoting eco-friendly practices, we can help mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on fragile ecosystems and local communities. Additionally, prioritising conservation efforts helps preserve natural habitats and wildlife, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the wonders of our planet.
Wild Frontiers Foundation
The Wild Frontiers Foundation aims to provide a platform to create awareness, raise money and deliver funding to projects in countries where we operate as a travel company. Through the foundation, we are able to channel money into grass roots projects, which we have either established ourselves or support through charity partners. These include initiatives focused around education, the empowerment of local people and community conservation.
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Whether you are looking for a boutique hotel, homestay, local guesthouse, luxury spa, tented camp or heritage hotel, our experts can select the perfect property for you.
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Our local agents are there to help you on the ground should you need any assistance, and in addition you will be given a 24-hour UK emergency phone number.Meet the expert, Natalie
Natalie is our Central Asia expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Natalie by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
OTHER ITINERARIES IN KYRGYZSTAN
Check out our group tours in Kyrgyzstan
As well as private tailor-made trips, we also offer small group tours (max size 12) to Kyrgyzstan. Led by an experienced tour leader, travel with a group of like-minded people on one of our award-winning group tours.
View Group Tours in Kyrgyzstan