Breakfast. At 09:00, your guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby to start a sightseeing tour of Almaty. Highlights of this morning will include Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Republic Square, and the Almaty City Museum. Welcome lunch at a local restaurant will be provided.

In the afternoon,we will take a short drive to Chimbulak (also spelled "Shymbulak"). Chimbulak is a popular resort and ski destination in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. We will ride a cable car and enjoy the stunning views of the valleys and snowy peaks of the mountains surrounding the area.

• Breakfast / Lunch
• Mercure or similar

After breakfast, we leave Almaty and drive to Kyrgyzstan via a newly built highway, enjoying natural landscapes en route. The distance is approximately 250km, and reaching the capital city, Bishkek, takes about four hours.
Upon arrival, a three-hour sightseeing tour of Bishkek with a local guide will take you to Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, and the Statue of Manas. Philharmonic Hall and Victory Monument are bright examples of Soviet architecture.

• Breakfast
• Ambassador Hotel or similar

After breakfast, we depart Bishlek to explore the Kyrgyz countryside. On our way, we will visit the famous Burana Tower, a remnant of the ancient city of Balasagun. We will enjoy a national Kyrgyz horse game called “Ulak Tartysh” (goat pulling). Also known as Kok Boru, the game involves two teams of horse riders fighting for a goat carcass. We will have lunch with a local Kyrgyz family in the village of Don Aryk. At the end of the lunch, local Kyrgyz women will explain the meaning and use of each part of the yurt. 

We then transfer to Bishkek Airport and take a short flight (1h 20m) to Tashkent. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you and transfer to the hotel.

• Breakfast / Lunch
• Hampton by Hilton or similar

In the morning, we will go on a sightseeing tour of Tashkent. We will visit the Old City, which encompasses the Khast-Imam Complex. Here you will see one of the earliest copies of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam. We will also visit Chorsu Bazaar, one of Central Asia's oldest and largest bazaars, where you can witness local life and watch people shopping for fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, and other produce. A variety of local spices, dried fruit, nuts, crafts, and textiles might attract your interest.

Take the Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit the Applied Arts Museum. Housed in a charming former residence, the museum showcases traditional Uzbek handicrafts, including carpets, textiles, ceramics, and jewelry. It is a wonderful place to appreciate the intricate artistry and craftsmanship that are a hallmark of Uzbek culture.

Walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square, where you will end the Tashkent city tour around 14:00.

Take the rest of the day to explore on your own. Tashkent is a modern, safe city, delightful for walking around, window shopping, and watching people.

• Breakfast
• Hampton by Hilton or similar

Early morning transfer to the railway station. We board the high-speed Afrosiob train and in approximately 2 hours arrive in Samarkand. Upon arrival, we go on a sightseeing tour of Samarkand. The tour starts with a visit to the spectacular Registan Square, followed by the Gur Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Explore the Bibi Khanum Mosque and Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, and then take a short drive to Konigil village to find out about the traditional techniques used to make the famous Samarkand paper from mulberry bark. Free evening in Samarkand to rest or explore on your own.

• Breakfast
• Platan or similar

After breakfast, at 10:00 am, transfer to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Jartepa border point (50 km, 1 h). You will have to leave the car and follow passport control procedures on both sides. Once you pass both countries' customs and passport control (the procedure might take 1-2 hours), you will meet your local  Tajik driver and tour guide. After another 1.5-hour drive, you will reach Panjakent, the ancient town established by the Sogdians in the 5th century BC. The name "Penjikent" is derived from the Persian language, and it translates roughly to "five villages" (from "penj" meaning five and "kent" meaning town or village). Sogdians were ancient  Iranian people who played an essential role in the evolution of Central Asia, especially as Silk Road traders and cultural bridge builders. Sogdian nation flourished until the Arab conquest in the 8th century AD, as Islam gradually replaced many ancient religious practices. However, the Sogdian people and their culture left an enduring legacy, the evidence of which you will find in Panjakent. You will visit the site with excavated ruins and see the foundations of houses, a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples, and the remains of the city bazaar. In the newer part of Panjakent, visit a mosque and the Rudaki Museum (Penjikent is the birthplace of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, considered by many to be the father of Persian poetry).  After a 3-hour sightseeing tour, check into the hotel. Free time.

• Breakfast
• Panjakent Plaza

Breakfast. Drive to the Seven Lakes (80 km, ~2 h). Seven Lakes (or Haft Kul) is a stunning series of lakes located in the Fann Mountains in central Tajikistan. They are situated at an altitude ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 meters above sea level, making them a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts. The Seven Lakes are known for their beautiful scenery, crystal-clear waters, and the diversity of colors seen in the lakes, which change from turquoise to blue, green, and even reddish hues.

Lunch at the guest house next to the 4th lake. Those who would like to enjoy the view from the 7th lake there is an opportunity to hike from the 6th lake up to the 7th lake. In the afternoon, drive to the Jartepa border crossing (120 km, 2 h 30 min). Complete the border formalities. Return to Samarkand for free evening and overnight.

• Breakfast / Lunch
• Platan or similar

In the morning, transfer to the train station. The train ride takes less than 2 hours. Upon arrival, leave your luggage at the hotel and take a sightseeing tour of Bukhara. Walk the ancient streets of the Old Town, past the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasa, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasa, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrasas, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub Mausoleums, and various trading domes. Enjoy some free time for shopping from 15:00 until the folk show at Nadir Divan-begi Madrasa, which starts at 18:00. 

• Breakfast
• Minzifa or similar

A drive from Bukhara to Khiva takes us through the heart of Uzbekistan, across the vast Kyzylkum Desert. The distance is approximately 450 kilometers, and it will take us 6-7 hours to cover. The desert stretches between the Amu Darya River to the north and the Syr Darya River to the south, and it mainly consists of dunes and occasional vegetation. We will pass a few small villages and towns, offering a glimpse into rural life in Uzbekistan. We will make a few stops to stretch, grab a drink, and purchase local snacks or souvenirs.

Once you reach Khiva, you'll be greeted by the city's stunning historical architecture, including its Ichon-Qala (Old City), filled with well-preserved Islamic monuments, madrassas, and minarets. Khiva is much smaller than Bukhara, but its preserved old town offers a magical atmosphere and is often considered one of the most charming cities on the Silk Road.

• Breakfast
• Asia Khiva or similar

Spend the morning at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ichan-Kala Fortress. Highlights of the morning walking tour include the Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasa, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasa, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, and Minaret of Islom Khodja. Farewell dinner. Transfer to Urgench Airport at 20:30 (30 km, 35 min). Your flight to Tashkent departs at 22:55 and arrives at 00:15+1 (1,093 km, 1 h 40 min). Transfer to the hotel in Tashkent for overnight.

• Breakfast / Dinner
• Asia Khiva 3* or similar

In the morning, we check out of the hotel and drive towards Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan border. We will reach the Shavat border crossing in less than an hour. Customs and border formalities on both sides can take 1-2 hours.  After you cross into Turkmenistan, continue to Derweze. The famous feature of Derweze is the Darvaza Gas Crater, a massive hole in the ground over 60 meters (200 feet) in diameter and about 20 meters (66 feet) deep that has been burning since the early 1970s. The crater's continuous fire has earned it the nickname "Door to Hell." The site is illuminated at night, and creates a dramatic, almost surreal atmosphere as visitors can see the glowing orange flames against the vast, empty desert landscape.  Note: At Darvaza camp toilets and basic washing facilities are outside.

• Breakfast / Dinner
• Yurts (bathrooms are outside)

Camp-style breakfast.  Drive to the capital of Turkmenistan Ashgabat thorugh the Karakum Desert. Upon arrival, sighseeing of Ashgabat.  Ashgabat is Turkmenistan's capital. It is located in the southern part of the country, near the border with Iran and at the foot of the Kopet Dag Mountains. Known for its striking modern architecture, wide boulevards, and ambitious national identity, Ashgabat is a unique blend of traditional and futuristic architecture. It is one of the most distinctive cities in Central Asia, particularly because of its white marble buildings and the heavy influence of the state's leadership on urban planning and design. The city holds the world record for the largest white marble buildings in a city. This marble is sourced from local quarries and used to construct significant buildings, giving the city a gleaming, surreal appearance, particularly when the sun reflects off the surfaces.

• Breakfast
• Oguzkent Palace 5*

Today, you will visit Nisa Fortress (also known as Old Nisa or Nisa of the Parthians), one of Turkmenistan's most significant and well-preserved archeological sites, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. You will explore the ruins of the ancient Parthian Empire, which ruled a vast region stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia from around 247 BC to 224 AD. As you walk between the ancient ruins of palaces, temples, and other buildings, you will learn about its history, culture, and architectural achievements.

The rest of the day is at leisure, so you can explore, shop, or rest before your long flight back home.

• Breakfast
• Oguzkent Palace 5*

Check-out from the hotel. Private transfer to the airport.

• Breakfast
• Transfer