Turkmenistan
Snow tops of Pamir
Snow tops of Pamir
Cities: Tashkent - Samarkand - Pendjikent - Dushanbe - Gissar - Dushanbe - Tavildoru - Khorog - Djelondy - Murgab - Kara-Kul - Osh - Fergana - Margilan - Rishtan - Kokand - Tashkent
Duration: 15 days/14 nights
Day 1. Arrival in Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent. Check in to the hotel. Half day sightseeing in Tashkent including Amir Temur Square, Independence Square, Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imom Complex and Chor-Su bazaar, Applied Arts Museum.
Day 2. Tashkent - Samarkand (350 km = 6 h)
Departure for Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand. Check in to the hotel. Half day sightseeing in Samarkand including Registan square - ensemble of majestic madrassahs (XV-XVII cc) ranking first in Central Asia, Guri-Emir mausoleum of Timur and Timurids (XV c).
Day 3. Samarkand
Full day sightseeing in Samarkand including Rukhabad necropolis (XV c), Bibi-Khanum’s gigantic congregational mosque (XV c), Ulugbek’s observatory (1420) - the remains of immense (30 m tall) astrolabe for observing the stars positions, Shakhi-Zinda (“The Living King”) necropolis of Samarkand rulers and nobles.
Day 4. Samarkand – Pendjikent (75 km = 1 h) - Dushanbe (350 km = 6 h)
Transfer to “Djartepa” check-point, Uzbek-Tajik border. Transfer to the ancient Pendjikent. Half day sightseeing in Pendjikent including historical museum. Afternoon transfer to Dushanbe. A picturesque serpentine road goes through the huge gorge along Zarafshan river and then climbs to Anzob pass. A wonderful panorama of high mountains reveals from the pass. Coming down to Varzob gorge. Arrival in Dushanbe. Check in to the hotel.
Day 5. Dushanbe – Gissar (40 km) – Dushanbe (40 km)
Full day sightseeing in Dushanbe including bazaar, historical museum, Independence square. Lunch in exotic “Rohat” tea house. Round trip to Gissar, en route visiting of remains of medieval fortress and local historical museum. Way back to Dushanbe.
Day 6. Dushanbe - Tavildoru (190 km)
Transfer to Tavildoru - a little village on Pamir Highway. En route - unforgettable views of mountain landscapes. Overnight in local guest-house.
Day 7. Tavildoru - Khorog (310 km)
Transfer to Khorog - the centre of Mountainous Badakhshan. Hard way via Khaburabat mountain pass (3252 m) is compensated by wonderful views. Check in to the local hotel on Gunt river bank.
Day 8. Khorog
Full day sightseeing in Khorog including mountain botanical garden. Trip to Garm-Chashma hot springs (40 km). Introducing to locals’ way of life.
Day 9. Khorog - Djelondy
Transfer to Djelondy village (hot spring). The road goes through the small villages. One can observe the way of life of locals just from the bus. Djelondy - is a small mountain village, surrounded by mountains, it is famous for its fountain hot springs. Check in to the guest house. After lunch round walk to Turamtay-Kul lake region (4100 m).
Day 10. Djelondy - Murgab
Transfer via picturesque Alichur valley to Murgab village through Koytezek (4272 m) and Nayzatash (4137 m) passes. The valley is situated on about 3000 m height. and surrounded by snow covered mountains. En route one can observe the yurts – the abodes of locals, grazing yaks. Murgab - is a small village near the Chinese border, the most remote district centre of former USSR. From here Muztag-Ata (7546 m) the dominant peak of the region is revealed. Check in to the guest house.
Day 11. Murgab - Kara-Kul
Transfer across Ak-Bital high pass (4652 m) on Pamir mountains to picturesque Kara-Kul lake. Introducing to local people, walk along the lake. Check in to the guest house.
Day 12. Kara-Kul – Osh
Transfer from Kara-Kul to Osh across Kyzyl-Art pass (1280 m). Go down to Tajik-Kyrgyz border through Alay valley. Crossing the border. Here the best panorama of Alay and Za-Alay ranges with ever ice peaks, including Lenin Peak (7134 m) reveal. Leaving Alay valley, dinner in yurt camp under Taldyk pass, trip down to ancient Osh along the picturesque mountain road. Check in to the hotel.
Day 13. Osh - Fergana (155 km)
Half day sightseeing in Osh including Jayma Bazaar, Suleiman Too (Solomon Mountain) with its 16th century Asaf-bin-Burhia mausoleum, Prophet Salamon mosque, Rabat Abdullakhan mosque, 5-6 thousand year old petrogliphs and historical museum. Transfer to “Dostyk” check point (7 km). Crossing Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. Transfer to Fergana. Check in to the hotel.
Day 14. Fergana - Margilan (11 km) - Rishtan (51 km) - Kokand (34 km) - Tashkent (250 km)
Transfer to Margilan, visiting of a manual silk production in “Yodgorlic” factory. Transfer to Rishtan, visiting of ceramics workshop of Rustam Usmanov. Transfer to Kokand, visiting of Hudoyar-Khan's palace. Transfer to Tashkent. Check in to the hotel.
Day 15. Tashkent - departure
Transfer to the airport, departure.