Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Silk Road Tour

Spending ten days in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, staying in yurts with the family of the famed eagle hunter musician, the nomads of Son Kul and the shepherds of Tash Rabat & all of whom are great friends of ours & this is a trip that will really introduce you to the ways of
mountain life on the Old Silk Road. In addition to this you can walk over a high mountain pass (or take the jeep that goes round), ride horses and camp beneath the stars. And that's just in Kyrgyzstan. From here you will fly to see the fabled cities of Samarkand and Bukhara
(with a possible extension to Khiva).

For those of you that like to really get beneath a region's surface, rather than simply travel through it, this is the trip for you.

“Every day of the trip was a revelation, from an evening with the charismatic Sogan Bai, an eagle hunter, high in the mountains in his cosy yurts, to trekking over a high pass or gazing with awe at the majesty of Samarkand and Bukhara.” Susie Dowdall

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Itinerary / Highlights

Highlights:
• The Silk Road Caravanserai of Tash Rabat
• Trekking over the Ton Pirival Pass
• Hot water spring
• Staying with the nomads at Son Kul
• The stunning sites of Samarkand, Bukhara (& Khiva)

Day 1: Join tour in Bishkek
(Kyrgyzstan): Accommodation for this night is included in the tour cost, due to the arrival times of our suggested flights. Those on the suggested group flight will arrive early hours of Day 2.
Hotel (no meals)

Day 2: Bishkek: Join the tour in the morning at the hotel. After meeting the group we will have a look around this city, one of the world's more relaxed capitals, visiting the excellent museum and taking a wander round the bustling Osh bazaar.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 3: Bishkek & Bokenbaevo: After breakfast we drive to Tok Mok to visit the restored 11th century Burana Tower. We will then continue on to Bokenbaevo and in the late afternoon arrive to stay with the family of once famed eagle hunter, Sogan Bai. Although Sogan Bai sadly died
in 2009, his family are continuing his marvellous traditions and welcome us into their home.
Homestay with shared facilities (B, L, D)

Day 4: Bokenbaevo & Yurt Camp: Taking a morning walk up through the foothills of the verdant Tien Shan, the Mountains of Heaven, we stop at a Yurt camp for lunch and have time to watch the eagles hunting in the afternoon. There will be plenty of opportunities for walks and
horse rides should you prefer. Evening in yurts with dinner cooked at camp by Sogan Bai's children… followed by vodka toasts and, if we're lucky, entertainment by the family singing songs and playing local guitar! Communal Yurts (there are usually up to 6 people sharing a yurt). Toilets are of the “long drop” variety.
(B, L, D)

Day 5: Yurt Camp & Mountain Camp: Trek from the yurt camp, over the 4100m Ton
Pirival Pass and down to an unmade track to camp by the river and a natural hotwater spa. Though the scenery on this walk is magnificent, it should be made clear that it is a reasonably tough day trek that will take between 9 and 11 hours. If you prefer not to walk, you can
travel in one of our vehicles, via Sari Bulak, to meet up with the trekkers at our campsite. Dinner will be cooked in camp by our own cooks.
Wild camp using tents (B, L, D)

Day 6: Mountain Camp & Narin: Today we take a beautiful drive following the Little Narin river along a quiet road to Narin, stopping en route for a picnic lunch.
Guesthouse (B, L, D)

Day 7: Narin & Tash Rabat: Driving on to Tash Rabat, the famous ancient Silk Road caravanserai, we stop en route at At Bashy to view 11th century ruins. An easy day's drive with lunch and photo stops, we will arrive in plenty of time to enjoy the caravanserai and its stunning
mountain surroundings. The walking in this area is wonderful and those wishing to ride can do so. Dinner will be provided by the local family.
Communal Yurts (B, L, D)

Day 8: Tash Rabat: Today is free to ride or walk. We might head up to the 3,500m Tash Rabat Pass or follow another beautiful circular route, or you could just do your own thing. This valley, just 35km as the crow flies from the Chinese border, is lush and green, groaning with horses, yaks and sheep and the nomads who live by them. We will take a packed lunch with us, as the ride or walk will take most of the day. We'll have a traditional dinner again in the yurts. Communal Yurts (B, L, D)

Day 9: Tash Rabat & Son Kul: In the morning we'll take another beautiful drive on to Son Kul, the spectacular 3000m mountain lake, to stay with local nomads in their Yurt camp. Arriving late afternoon, we will have dinner cooked by the shepherds.
Communal Yurts (B, L, D)

Day 10: Son Kul: Walk or ride up into the hills for a picnic lunch and enjoy the mind-blowing views. Those wishing to can hang out at the camp, watching the plethora of bird life.
Communal Yurts (B, L, D)

Day 11: Son Kul & Bishkek: On our last day in Kyrgyzstan, we return to Bishkek and check back into the hotel late afternoon, in time to freshen up. Dinner will be at a good restaurant in town.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 12: Bishkek & Tashkent &
Samarkand (Uzbekistan): Today we take a morning flight to Tashkent, Uzbekistan and then after lunch and a look around the town, we'll transfer to fabled Samarkand where we will pay an introductory visit to the world-famous Registan Square.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 13: Samarkand: We have all day in this amazing town, wandering through the gargantuan sights. In the morning we will visit Tamerlane's tomb, followed by another more thorough look at the Registan. After that we will visit the Bibi Khanym mosque and the town's excellent
bazaar. After lunch we will visit the Shah-i-Zindar & the street of the dead, and then take some free time to explore this city at our leisure. Dinner will be at a local restaurant.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 14: Samarkand & Bukhara: After breakfast we'll drive along the Royal Road to Bukhara, stopping during the 4-hour journey to look at the remains of an old caravanserai. On arrival in Bukhara we'll check into our guesthouse superbly located in the Labi Hauz region, the 17th century pool and eating area. The afternoon will be free to wander through the quiet mellow streets.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 15: Bukhara: We have all morning for sightseeing. We will start at the Ismaili Samani mausoleum; continue via the Jama Majid (or the mosque of forty pillars) to the Arc where Connolly and Stoddard & two luckless British officers & met their deaths while playing the Great
Game. From here we will visit (and climb if you wish) the Kolan Minaret and the beautiful mosques and madrassas that lie beneath it. En route there is silk weaving, knife making and metal engraving. After lunch there will be another free afternoon for shopping and generally
relaxing in this most characterful of the old Silk Road towns. Dinner and traditional dancing will be in the grounds of one of the madrassas.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 16: Bukhara & Tashkent: Today we'll fly back to Tashkent where there'll be free time for last minute shopping, sightseeing or just relaxing in this city that once played a pivotal role during the Great Game between the expanding 19th century British & Russian Empires. We'll have our final dinner in a local restaurant.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 17: Tashkent & UK: The tour will finish after breakfast.
(B)

Those on the ‘suggested' flights will transfer to airport for their flights this morning.

Wild Extensions:
Arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts. Explore the country after your our on a bespoke Wild Extension or just allow a few days to relax afterwards. Maybe choose all of the above and get cheaper flights mid-week.

Khiva Extension (with a local guide): Day 16: Bukhara & Khiva: Those taking the extension will bid farewell to the rest of the group (and the tour leader) this morning and take the last major drive of the trip across the desert towards Khiva. En route you'll cross the famous Amu- Darya River (Oxus) before checking into the converted Madrassa in the heart of this UNESCO protected old town. This evening there will be time to take a first wander around the quiet streets of this wonderfully preserved Silk Road city.
Converted Madrassa (B, L, D)

Day 17: In Khiva: There'll be ample time to soak up the atmosphere of Khiva. You'll visit some of the most colourful and sumptuous sites, including the Kukhna Arc and the Mohammed Khan Madrassa. In addition there'll be the opportunity to climb up the Kalta Minor minaret, explore the Jama Masjid mosque with its amazing wooden pillars and the Alloquli Khan Madrassa, bazaar and caravanserai.
Converted Madrassa (B, L, D)

Day 18: Khiva & Tashkent: Today you'll fly back to Tashkent where there'll be free time for last minute shopping, sightseeing or just relaxing.
Hotel (B, L, D)

Day 19: Tashkent: The tour will finish after breakfast at the hotel.
(B)

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Accommodation will be in small hotels and guesthouses with Western style bathrooms and also yurts and tents with basic communal facilities. Please note there are usually up to 6 people sharing a yurt and toilets here are of the “long drop” variety.

All hotels mentioned in the itinerary are subject to availability and if not available substitutes will be of a similar quality.

Transport in Central Asia varies with the country. Generally we use converted Soviet Army trucks in Kyrgyzstan and coasters in Uzbekistan.

Fitness:
Anyone in a decent state of health will enjoy this trip. It should be noted that on some itineraries through certain parts of Central Asia you will be camping and staying in yurts so you should be prepared for long-drop toilet facilities and no showers for part of the trip. But don´t panic too much – what you will be witnessing will easily make up for any discomfort.

Insurance:
Insurance is compulsory for all tours. Please note that it is very important that your insurance policy is relevant to the Wild Frontiers style of travel and be you should be aware that most standard insurance policies will not cover you adequately for Wild Frontiers trips.

Responsible Travel:
Responsible travel and sustainable tourism are fundamental ideas that Wild Frontiers has been committed to since our birth. It is our
strong belief that these words should not be simply ‘tagged on´ to dossiers and websites but should be at the very core of each trip, and our adventures are therefore designed with the local people, culture and eco-system in mind. We believe that a successful trip not only
delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our clients, but that it also benefits the peoples whose lands we are privileged to visit.

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Sat 10 Jul 2010 to Mon 26 Jul 2010
Sat 14 Aug 2010 to Mon 30 Aug 2010

+44 [0]20 7736 3968