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Road to Samarkand

23 days Fully Inclusive Go Beyond Group Tour

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Road to Samarkand

Journey through the heart of Central Asia crossing beautiful deserts and mountain landscapes. Discover ancient cities full of intricate Islamic architecture, thriving bazaars and a mystical old-world atmosphere, all linked with the legends of the Silk Road.

  • Fully Inclusive
    Touring with Guides and entrance fees
  • Included Meals
    Breakfasts: 20 , Lunches: 19 , Dinners: 20
  • Flights
    International flights and current taxes
  • Group Tour
    Max Group Size: 18
  • Physical Rating 3
    A good level of fitness is required as you need to be comfortable walking for 2-3 hours and covering longer distances. Other activities such as cycling will be at a gentle pace and will involve straightforward terrain.
    Learn More
    Longer walking and gentle paced physical activities.
Go Beyond Group Tour
23 DAYS
From $15,780PP
Bishkek Cholpon Ata Karakol Bokonbaevo Tash Rabat Kochkor Chong Kemin Fergana Tashkent Samarkand Bukhara Khiva Tashkent
18 Reviews
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Tour Highlights

Our Road to Samarkand tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.

Day by Day Itinerary

Bishkek (2N) - Cholpon Ata (1N) - Karakol (2N) - Naryn (2N) - Chon Kemin Valley (1N) Tashkent (2N) - Samarkand (4N) - Bukhara (3N) - Khiva (2N) - Tahskent (1N)
  • Days 1-2
    Fly to Bishkek (via Dubai)
    Dinner
    DAYS 1-2: Fly to Bishkek (via Dubai)

    Fly to Bishkek where upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at leisure before dinner.

    Dinner
  • Day 3
    Ala Archa National Park
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 3: Ala Archa National Park

    This morning, drive to Ala Archa National Park for a leisurely hike through its picturesque scenery of rugged peaks and dramatic gorges. Return to Bishkek for a free afternoon.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 4
    Lake Issyk Kul
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 4: Lake Issyk Kul

    Visit the magnificent 12th-century Burana Tower before departing for Cholpon-Ata. Set on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul, visit the astonishing collection of 8th Century petroglyphs etched into glacial stone nearby. Later, take a cruise on the beautiful Lake Issyk Kul, admiring its spectacular alpine-esque surroundings.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 5
    Drive to Karakol
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 5: Drive to Karakol

    Drive to Karakol, stopping at Semenov Gorge for a gentle hike, and Kyrchyn Jailoo ethnic village en route. This afternoon visit the Przhevalsky Museum, dedicated to the Russian explorer, and visit the striking Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and the Chinese mosque.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 6
    Jeti-Oguz Gorge
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 6: Jeti-Oguz Gorge

    Rise early to immerse yourself in the hustle and bustle of Karakol's Sunday morning animal market which rivals Kashgar's famous animal market. In the afternoon, travel to the Jeti-Oguz Gorge for a walk through the canyon of red sandstone. Visit an Irdyk village and enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local Dungan family.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 7
    Eagle Hunting
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 7: Eagle Hunting

    Depart Karakol early and travel to Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairy Tale Canyon, due to its unusual shapes and colours. Travel further to the village of Bokonbaevo to watch an eagle hunting demonstration, a millennia-old Kyrgyz tradition practised with majestic golden eagles. Continue to Naryn, where you will stay the night.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 8
    Journey To Tash Rabat
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 8: Journey To Tash Rabat

    Pass through dramatic mountain and valley landscapes to reach Tash Rabat, a small stone caravansary that was of great significance at the height of the Silk Road. Enjoy the peaceful valley said to contain some of the finest landscapes in Kyrgyzstan before returning to Naryn.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 9
    Kochkor
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 9: Kochkor

    Transfer to Kochkor, the centre of Kyrgyz felt handicrafts. Visit a traditional 'shyrdak' (wool carpet) workshop and a co-op that provides training for local women in traditional handicrafts. In the evening you will travel to a guesthouse near Chong-Kemin National Park.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 10
    Chong Kemin National Park
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 10: Chong Kemin National Park

    Travel from Kochkor to Chong Kemin, a quiet valley with small villages surrounded by magnificent mountains. Enjoy a walk in the foothills before travelling to Bishkek airport for your flight to Tashkent.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 11
    Tashkent
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 11: Tashkent

    Explore Tashkent's sights, including the Barak Khana Seminary, Kukeldash madrassas, Tila Shaikh mosque and their archives. Browse the wares of Chorsu bazaar before experiencing a ceramic workshop.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 12
    Golden City of Samarkand
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 12: Golden City of Samarkand

    Travel to the legendary city of Samarkand where you will enjoy a tour of Registan Square, the Ulug-Bek and Tillya-Kori madrassah. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring at your leisure.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 13
    Samarkand
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 13: Samarkand

    Explore Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane, the grandest structure of Amir Temur's times - the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum and the Siab Bazaar and Shahi Zinda Necropolis. Later in the afternoon see Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 14
    Konigil Village
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 14: Konigil Village

    Visit Ulugbek's observatory, constructed by Ulugbek (Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Later see the ancient settlement of Afrosiab. Continue to Konigil Village to visit a paper-making workshop. In the afternoon, return to Samarkand and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 15
    Shakhrisabz
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 15: Shakhrisabz

    Travel to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of the Great Amir Timur (Tamerlane). Explore the city, visiting sites such as the remnants of Ak-Saray Palace, Dorus Tilavat cemetery and Kok-Gumbas Mosque. Return to Samarkand this afternoon.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 16
    Bukhara
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 16: Bukhara

    Journey to Bukhara. En route, visit Gijduvan, a centre of famous handmade ceramics. Here you will see the fascinating process of making these ceramics. Continue on to Bukhara where you will have the afternoon to begin to explore this fascinating city.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 17
    Bukhara
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 17: Bukhara

    Explore the legendary Poi Kalon minaret, the Ark Fortress, and Bolo Hauz Mosque. Wander on to the peaceful 16th-century Chor Minor and Chor Bakr necropolis to tour the colourful Khonako-Medrassah-Mosque complex. Later, visit the mausoleum of Ismail Samanid.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 18
    Bukhara
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 18: Bukhara

    This morning, visit Sitora-i Mohi Khosa, the Emir's summer palace, a 20th Century confection of a building! Continue to the Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausolem of a famous Sufi spiritual leader of the region. The afternoon is at leisure. Return to Bukhara and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 19
    Khiva
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 19: Khiva

    This morning, you will set out for Khiva, a journey that will take you across Kyzyl Kum desert and a stop at Amudarya River. The route runs 480 kilometres through the stark beauty of the desert, the scenery changing from sparse saksaul trees to the lush riverbanks of the Amudarya.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 20
    Itchan Kala
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 20: Itchan Kala

    Explore ancient Khiva, discovering the sights of the UNESCO World Heritage inner-walled city of Itchan Kala including the mighty Kunya Ark and the turquoise tiled Islom-Khodja. Wander through the fascinating Madrassa Rakhimkhon, a beacon of religious, astronomic, geographic and mathematical studies, and see the 19th Century Tash Hauli Palace, decorated in blue fine china tiles.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Day 21
    Fly To Taskent
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    DAY 21: Fly To Taskent

    Transfer to Urgench to fly to Tashkent. Upon arrival visit the Museum of Applied Arts as well as the Mustakilik Square and the famous Tashkent Metro. With its marble and granite decorations the Metro feels like an underground palace.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Days 22-23
    Fly Tashkent To New Zealand
    Breakfast
    DAYS 22-23: Fly Tashkent To New Zealand

    Today according to your flight times, transfer to Tashkent Airport for your onward journey back to New Zealand, arriving home the following day.

    Breakfast
Road to Samarkand map

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Accommodation

We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.

Book With Confidence

When to go

City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • -7
    3
    -2
  • 26
  • Karakol
  • -19
    -7
    -13
  • 9
  • Khiva
  • -7
    2
    -2
  • 9
  • Naryn
  • -20
    -10
    -15
  • 10
  • Samarkand
  • -2
    7
    3
  • 41
  • Tashkent
  • -2
    7
    3
  • 58
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • -5
    5
    0
  • 35
  • Karakol
  • -17
    -6
    -12
  • 10
  • Khiva
  • -6
    5
    0
  • 8
  • Naryn
  • -17
    -7
    -12
  • 13
  • Samarkand
  • 0
    9
    4
  • 46
  • Tashkent
  • 0
    9
    5
  • 57
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 0
    11
    6
  • 55
  • Karakol
  • -9
    2
    -4
  • 19
  • Khiva
  • 1
    13
    7
  • 18
  • Naryn
  • -6
    3
    -2
  • 20
  • Samarkand
  • 4
    14
    9
  • 69
  • Tashkent
  • 5
    15
    10
  • 65
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 6
    18
    12
  • 67
  • Karakol
  • -1
    11
    5
  • 35
  • Khiva
  • 9
    22
    16
  • 18
  • Naryn
  • 2
    14
    8
  • 34
  • Samarkand
  • 9
    21
    15
  • 60
  • Tashkent
  • 10
    22
    16
  • 60
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 11
    24
    17
  • 61
  • Karakol
  • 4
    16
    10
  • 51
  • Khiva
  • 15
    30
    22
  • 11
  • Naryn
  • 6
    18
    12
  • 48
  • Samarkand
  • 14
    26
    20
  • 36
  • Tashkent
  • 14
    28
    21
  • 41
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 16
    29
    22
  • 34
  • Karakol
  • 7
    20
    14
  • 56
  • Khiva
  • 19
    35
    27
  • 3
  • Naryn
  • 8
    22
    15
  • 55
  • Samarkand
  • 17
    32
    25
  • 6
  • Tashkent
  • 18
    33
    26
  • 11
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 18
    32
    25
  • 21
  • Karakol
  • 9
    23
    16
  • 60
  • Khiva
  • 22
    37
    30
  • 3
  • Naryn
  • 11
    24
    18
  • 37
  • Samarkand
  • 19
    34
    26
  • 4
  • Tashkent
  • 20
    36
    28
  • 4
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 16
    31
    24
  • 13
  • Karakol
  • 8
    22
    15
  • 53
  • Khiva
  • 19
    34
    26
  • 1
  • Naryn
  • 10
    25
    18
  • 21
  • Samarkand
  • 17
    33
    25
  • 1
  • Tashkent
  • 18
    35
    26
  • 2
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 11
    26
    18
  • 19
  • Karakol
  • 4
    18
    11
  • 37
  • Khiva
  • 13
    29
    21
  • 1
  • Naryn
  • 6
    20
    13
  • 17
  • Samarkand
  • 13
    28
    20
  • 4
  • Tashkent
  • 13
    29
    21
  • 6
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 5
    18
    11
  • 45
  • Karakol
  • -2
    10
    4
  • 25
  • Khiva
  • 5
    20
    12
  • 5
  • Naryn
  • 1
    13
    7
  • 15
  • Samarkand
  • 7
    22
    14
  • 17
  • Tashkent
  • 8
    22
    15
  • 29
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • 0
    11
    5
  • 42
  • Karakol
  • -10
    1
    -4
  • 16
  • Khiva
  • 1
    12
    6
  • 9
  • Naryn
  • -8
    2
    -3
  • 11
  • Samarkand
  • 3
    15
    9
  • 34
  • Tashkent
  • 4
    15
    10
  • 41
City
Min
Average Temperate(°C)
Max
Monthly Rainfall(mm)
  • Bishkek
  • -5
    5
    0
  • 35
  • Karakol
  • -16
    -5
    -10
  • 11
  • Khiva
  • -4
    5
    0
  • 13
  • Naryn
  • -16
    -6
    -11
  • 10
  • Samarkand
  • 0
    9
    4
  • 47
  • Tashkent
  • 0
    9
    4
  • 54

Pricing & Availability

All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price unless a land only option is selected

2024
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Departure: All
  • Departure: All
1 Room, 2 Guests
  • 1 Room, 2 Guests
  • 1 Room, 1 Guest
    Depart NZStart Date
    Return DateEnd Date
    Price
    Availability

    Additional Price Information

    • Prices include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as at 12 August 2020, subject to change.
    • Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
    • Customary tipping amount approximately US$110pp is paid locally in Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan.
    • Based on departures from Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch
    • Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available upon request
    • Land only (Bishkek - Tashkent) 21 days from $11,490 per person, twin share
    • Single supplement from $1,800
    • Price listed is based on new bookings only

    Group Tour includes

    • 20 breakfasts, 20 lunches, 20 dinners
    • International flights and current taxes
    • Domestic transportation
    • 3 – 4 star accommodation, plus guesthouse
    • Touring with guides and entrance fees
    • Visas not required for New Zealand passport holders

    Important Information For Your Tour

    Before Booking
    Travel Protection, Booking Conditions
    and more
    Before you go
    Passports & Visas, Travel Guides & Packing Lists, Holiday FAQ’s and more

    What our Customers Say

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