Arrive in Manas International Airport, 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 an afternoon lunch and welcome meeting. In the late afternoon, you will take a city tour and visit Ala Too Square, the white house and Oak Park.

Today you will visit Ala-Archa National Park, stopping at base camp. Within this time you will rise from 750 to 2100m above sea level. Spend 1 hour on a leisurely walk taking in the picturesque scenery of snow-capped mountains and freshwater rivers. This is a gentle hike, that includes climbing some hills and slopes and walking uneven terrain. Participants must be able to complete this walk independently, otherwise you it will be able to wait at the bus. The afternoon is at leisure in Bishkek before dinner.

This morning, visit the 12th Century Burana Tower and enjoy the breath-taking views along the road as you continue another 3 hours to Cholpon-Ata, located at the northern shore of Lake Issyk Kul. Explore a large open-air collection of petroglyphs of ibex, wolves and deer etched into glacial stone that date back to the 8th century. Afterwards, cruise on Lake Issyk Kul and view the stunning, alpine scenery. It can get cold on the 1-hour cruise, so we recommend you bring a warm jacket.

Continue this morning with a 3-hour drive to the town of Karakol and check in for a two-night stay. First visit the picturesque Semenov Gorge to enjoy a gentle hike at the gorge for approximately one hour in duration. You will need to climb some hills and slopes with moments of walking over uneven ground. Visit the Kyrchyn Jailoo ethnic village and arrive in Karakol in the early afternoon and check into your hotel. This afternoon visit the interesting Przhevalsky Museum and examine the regions diverse religious influences with visits to the striking Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and the Chinese mosque.

Rise early and travel to the outskirts of town for the unforgettable Karakol Animal Market. In the afternoon, travel to the Valley of Flowers and Jety-Oguz Gorge where you can enjoy a light hike through the magnificent canyon of red sandstone. Sightseeing in the canyon involves 1 hour of leisurely walking on a bush track. Although this is a gentle hike, you will need to climb some hills and slopes and you will be walking over uneven ground at altitude. If you take part in this activity, you must be able to complete it independently. Alternatively, you will need to wait on the bus. In Jety-Oguz you can also enjoy horseback riding, visit a yurt and have a cup of tea or the Kyrgyz national beverage. Later, visit Irdyk village to see a local mosque and enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local Dungan family. Learn the fascinating story of why this Muslim Chinese group immigrated to the region 140 years ago, how they made the area their home, and how families today keep their traditional culture and cuisine alive.

Visit Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairy Tale Canyon. This canyon was named so due to its bizarre rock formations, including depictions of snakes, dragons and hippopotamuses. Continue around 2 hours to Bokonbayevo Village and watch a demonstration of Eagle Hunting. Return to your vehicle for your 3-hour journey with breath-taking views as you make your way to Naryn.

Arrive at the Tash Rabat's historic caravanserai set in a peaceful valley setting where the only habitation is a series of seasonal yurt-camps. The scenery in this valley is some of the finest you will encounter in Kyrgyzstan. The altitude here is 3,200 metres so do prepare accordingly. After visiting Tash Rabat, you will return to Naryn for your overnight stay.

Transfer to Kochkor this morning, the centre of Kyrgyz national felt handicrafts. Visit a local workshop in Kochkor and see the manufacturing of the traditional Kyrgyz wool carpets, called ‘shydak’. Explore a small local market in the centre of the village and visit a local co-op that provides training for local women in traditional handicrafts.

Some areas of Kyrgyzstan look as if artists have sculpted and painted nature. This is especially true on the drive between Kochkor and Chong Kemin National Park., where the latter is set in a quiet valley with small villages surrounded by magnificent mountains and a fir forest. Take in the daily life in Ashu Village. In the afternoon, proceed to Bishkek airport to catch a flight to Tashkent. On arrival, you will check in at your hotel and enjoy dinner.

In the morning, journey back in time exploring Tashkent’s town sights; Barak Khan Madrassah and Kukeldash Madrassah and Tila Shaikh mosque and their archives – known for rare copies of the Koran. Stop at Chorsu Bazaar – the oldest market in Tashkent. In the afternoon you will be invited to the workshop of famous family of ceramists in Uzbekistan - Akbar and Alisher Rakhimov. Here you will learn about their pastime.

In the morning you will drive to Samarkand, where on arrival you will check in at the hotel. No name is so evocative of the Silk Road as Samarkand. It is one of the oldest existing cities in the world and the oldest of Central Asia. Built on the site of Afrosiab, which dated from the 3rd or 4th millennium B.C., Samarkand was known to the ancient Greeks as Marakanda, and the ruins of the old settlement remain north of the present city. You will have a half day tour of Samarkand to see the famous Registan Square which was for many centuries the heart of Samarkand. See the three beautiful madrassahs: the Ulug-Bek Madrassah built in the 15th century; the Tillya-Kori Madrassah built in the 17th century, and the Sher-Dor Madrassah, also built in the 17th century.

This morning we continue exploring Samarkand to see Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerland, the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times – the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum – the Siab Bazaar and Shahi Zinda Necropolis. Later in the afternoon we will also see Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel, which is a unique burial place of the saint, revered in all three world religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The remainder of the day will be at leisure.

In the morning you will visit Ulugbek’s observatory, constructed by Ulugbek (Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Later see the ancient settlement of Afrosiab. Following your tour of Afrosiab, you will head to Konigil Village to visit a papermaking workshop. Try your hand at the unique method of paper making, which involves cleaning tree branches from the bark, polishing paper with a stone and painting on it. Afterwards, you will enjoy lunch in the courtyard of the paper making mill. After lunch transfer back to Samarkand and spend the rest of day at leisure.

This morning you will travel the 2 hours to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of the Great Amir Timur (Tamerlane), located approximately 90km south of Samarkand. Explore the city, visiting sites such as the remnants of Ak-Sarai Palace, Dorus Tilavat cemetery and Kok-Gumbas Mosque. Return to Samarkand this afternoon. Please note that coaches are not allowed on the route to Shakhrisabz so you will travel In cars.

In the morning you will check out of the hotel and make your to Bukhara. En route, you will visit Gijduvan town which is a centre of famous handmade ceramics. Here you will see the fascinating process of making these ceramics as well as witnessing local life in this small town. Arrive in Bukhara this afternoon and check into your hotel, where you have the remainder of the day is at leisure.

You will have a full day exploring fabulous Bukhara. This incredible city, one of the most famous names of medieval Islam, is home to hundreds of registered monuments. On today's tour we visit some of the main highlights as well some lesser known sights along the way. Bring a fully charged camera battery. Today's sightseeing includes Lab-i-khauz ensemble - modern centre of traditional Uzbekistan, Madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga and Mogaki Attari Mosques, Poi Kalon Minaret and Mosque, see Madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek Madrassah. After lunch you will visit the Ark of Bukhara, Balakhauz Mosque and the Mausoleums of Ismail Samanid and Chashma Ayub. We will also visit Hunarmand UNDP Assisted workshops near Lyabi-Hauz. We to see block printing, metal chasing, suzani embroidery, carving and gold embroidery. Women should bring a scarf from home, as you are required to cover your head at some attractions today. Photo fees may be payable at most attractions you will visit in Bukhara, approximately USD7 in total.

Continue your sightseeing of Bukhara with an out-of-town excursion to visit the Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of the former Emir of Bukhara where you can see unique mixture of traditional Russian style of architecture harmoniously mixed with local oriental traditions. The famous white hall decorated with carved alabaster resembles the halls of Petergof Palace in the suburb of St Petersburg. Continue with an excursion to Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum, a famous Sufi spiritual leader of this region in the 14th century. Bahouddin Naqshband's cult was highly venerated among folks. The rulers, too, paid a considerable attention to this architectural ensemble. You have the afternoon at leisure.

Set out for Khiva in the early morning across the famous Kyzyl Kum desert ('Red sands'). During this journey, watch in awe as the scenery changes from saksaul trees to the Amudarya riverbank. we will make several photo stops to see the desert flora and fauna. Upon arrival check into your hotel for a two-night stay. Please be aware that you will be travelling for around 7 hours today. There will be adequate time for toilet breaks and photo stops.

Khiva is made for walking. It is compact and well maintained and basks in beautiful desert light. Participate in this leisure walking tour and see all the major sights of the Ichtan Kala, the citadel. The truncated Kalta Minor Minaret, the Kurkna Ark Fortress, the Madrassah Rakhimkhon, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud and Islam Khodja Minaret - from the latter you will see the entire town beneath you and the desert beyond. The ravages of modern development have been largely kept away from the citadel itself, much to your advantage. In the afternoon we will see the Friday Mosque and the 19th century Tash Hauli Palace.

Today you will transfer 1hour to Urgench airport for your flight to Tashkent. Tashkent is one of the oldest and largest cities in Central Asia and has been the Uzbek capital since 1920. The city is very much a showpiece of Soviet and post-Soviet architecture. Upon arrival in Tashkent we visit the Museum of Applied Arts, Mustakillik Square, Amir Temur Square and the famous Tashkent Metro, opulently decorated with local marble and granite like an underground palace. You have the remainder of the day at leisure.

After breakfast transfer to Samarkand or Tashkent International airport for your flight home.