Escorted Tours 2022-23 2nd Edition

42 Visit our website or call 0800 954 9329 to book or for further details Central Asia Day 1: UK to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Depart the UK on your overnight flight, via Istanbul. Day 2: Bishkek D On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. In the evening have a welcome dinner. Day 3: Bishkek B/L/D Set off this morning for Osh Bazaar before driving to Ala Archa National Park. After a lunch by the river, take a walk through the fresh alpine scenery. Day 4: Bishkek to Kajisay B/L/D Drive to Burana Tower; a piece of Silk Road history. The 11th century tower is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun. Continue to Kajisay, a village on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, on the way stop at Kyzyl and a woman’s cooperative that weaves Shiyrdak, a colourful felt carpet, ubiquitous throughout Central Asia. Day 5: Kajisay to Karakol B/L/D Learn how to make Boorsok. The doughy mixture is deep-fried before being spread across the ‘dastorkan’, doubling as a table decoration. Wind your way to iconic Lake Issyk Kul, dubbed ‘The Pearl of Kyrgyzstan’. Trace your way along its southern shores to the village of Kyzyl Tuu, one of the centres for yurt production. Our final stop of today’s journey is in Bokonbeavo where we meet an Eagle Hunter. Day 6: Karakol B/L/D Tour Karakol including the Dungan Mosque and the Russian Orthodox Church. In the afternoon visit the mountain valley of Jety-Oguz. The rock formations are a deep-red sandstone rising out of the green valley below. Day 7: Karakol to Almaty, Kazakhstan B/L/D Head into the Tien Shen mountains and cross the border at Kegen, entering Kazakhstan. Stop at Charyn Canyon visiting a part known as the ‘Valley of Castles’ due to its unusual rock formations. Later, continue onwards to Almaty. Day 8: Almaty B/L/D Spend the day touring Almaty including the Park of 27 Guards, Ascension Cathedral and Green Market. Day 9: Almaty to Dushanbe, Tajikistan B/L/D Fly to Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s enigmatic capital that rose to prominence under the Soviets. Explore the city including the Archaeological Museum and Rudaki Park. End the day with a traditional Tajijk meal. Day 10: Dushanbe B/L/D Visit beautiful Navruz Palace. Initially planned as a tea house it was deemed to impressive and turned into a palace! Also, visit the Museum of Musical Tour highlights ✔ Take in the natural beauty of Ala Archa National Park ✔ Marvel at the 11th century Burana Tower, one of the oldest architectural constructions of Central Asia ✔ Witness the spectacular might of Charyn Canyon ✔ Journey to the beautiful Seven Lakes in Tajikistan and be amaze by there ever- changing vibrant colours ✔ Experience the unusual wonder of Darvaza Gas Crater, known as “The Door of Hell”, in Karakum desert ✔ Discover centuries of rich history and breath-taking architecture with visits to Samarkand and Bukhara P R I V A T E T O U R U P G R A D E S F R O M £1,199 A epic journey through vast deserts and rugged mountains, past turquoise glacial lakes, ancient cities, giant burning gas pits and nomadic yurt camps. Trace the footsteps of Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great and the adventurers, traders, philosophers, and kings that plied the Silk Road for a thousand years.   Bishkek Karakol Almaty Kajisay Dushanbe Panjakent Samarkand Bukhara Khiva Derweze Ashgabat < < Kazakhstan Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan    Coach Air Fann Mountains and Seven Lakes, Tajikistan NEW The Five Stans of the Silk Route