10-Day Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Tour

Detailed tour program

1. Day 1Almaty – Charyn Canyon – Kolsai Lake – SatyWalks at your pace

   Canyon landscapes and a mountain lake

   Leave Almaty for Charyn Canyon and explore its rock formations on a walk adapted to your pace. Choose a longer route through the canyon or a shorter walk to the viewpoints. Continue to Lower Kolsai Lake for a walk by the water and time to enjoy the mountain scenery. In the evening, arrive in Saty for dinner and an overnight stay in a guesthouse or yurt.

2. Day 2Kaindy Lake – Kegen–Karkara border – KarakolLake visit and border crossing

   Kaindy’s submerged forest and the road to Kyrgyzstan

   After breakfast in Saty, visit Kaindy Lake, known for the spruce trunks rising out of its water. Take time for a walk and photographs before continuing towards Kyrgyzstan. Cross the border at Kegen–Karkara and travel to Karakol. The arrival time depends on road conditions and the border crossing. Overnight in a hotel in Karakol.

3. Day 3Karakol – Altyn-Arashan hot springs or Sary-Jaz – KarakolChoose one destination

   Altyn-Arashan: a UAZ journey and natural hot springs

   In the morning, leave Karakol for Altyn-Arashan in a Soviet-era UAZ. The rough mountain road is a demanding part of the journey: allow about 3 hours to reach the valley and around 2.5 hours for the return drive. Visit the natural thermal pools, have lunch in the valley and enjoy time in the mountains. The UAZ transfer and hot spring admission are included in the tour price. Return to your hotel in Karakol in the evening.

   As an alternative to Altyn-Arashan, choose a day trip to Sary-Jaz for its hills and mountain landscapes. Agree on your preferred destination before the trip: these are two alternative day programmes, with an evening return to Karakol.

4. Day 4Karakol – Jeti-Oguz – Barskoon Waterfall – Skazka Canyon – Kadji-SaiWaterfall hike: 1–2 hours

   Red rocks, a waterfall and a night in a Kyrgyz yurt

   After breakfast, leave Karakol for Jeti-Oguz. Make a short stop to see and photograph the seven red rock formations, then continue to Barskoon Gorge. Allow around 1–2 hours for the hike to the waterfall, followed by lunch in the area. After lunch, explore Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairytale Canyon, on a walk of about one hour.

   In the evening, arrive at a yurt camp in Kadji-Sai for an overnight stay in a traditional Kyrgyz nomadic yurt. If you prefer, a guesthouse in Kadji-Sai or Bokonbaevo can be arranged instead; please discuss your accommodation preference before the trip.

5. Day 5Eagle demonstration – Ak-Sai Canyon – Burana Tower – BishkekNomadic traditions and the Silk Road

   From the landscapes of Issyk-Kul to Kyrgyzstan’s capital

   After breakfast, watch an eagle demonstration introducing the nomadic tradition of hunting with golden eagles. Continue to Ak-Sai Canyon, where striking landforms create a Mars-like landscape with Issyk-Kul in the background. Take time to enjoy the views and photograph the scenery.

   Continue towards Bishkek, stopping for lunch along the way and a visit to Burana Tower, a historic landmark on the Silk Road. In Bishkek, enjoy dinner featuring traditional Central Asian cuisine, followed by an overnight stay in a hotel.

6. Day 6Bishkek – Korday border – Almaty – flight to TashkentCity sights, border crossing and flight

   From Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan via Almaty

   After breakfast, visit Bishkek’s central square and central mosque. Continue to the Korday border crossing into Kazakhstan, then stop for lunch in Korday before the drive to Almaty. Border queues and road traffic can affect the day’s timing.

   A visit to the Tanbaly (Tamgaly) petroglyphs can be arranged on request if there is enough time before the flight. The detour adds around three hours of driving on a poor road, so it must be agreed in advance around the flight schedule.

   In the evening, fly from Almaty to Tashkent. The Almaty–Tashkent airfare is not included in the tour price and must be purchased separately; the cost depends on the fare available when booking. On arrival in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

7. Day 7Tashkent – Samarkand by Afrosiyob trainHigh-speed train and sightseeing

   Registan, mausoleums and Uzbek cuisine

   After breakfast, travel from Tashkent to Samarkand on the high-speed Afrosiyob train, subject to seat availability. Afrosiyob tickets are included in the tour price. The planned departure is around 08:30, with arrival around 10:30; exact times are confirmed when tickets are booked for your travel date.

   We recommend booking the tour well in advance: Afrosiyob is very popular, and seats may already be sold out when booking only 1–2 weeks before departure. If tickets are unavailable, a regular train or a comfortable car transfer can be arranged. The cost of this alternative is agreed separately before booking. The longer journey leaves less time for sightseeing, so the day’s programme is adjusted to the confirmed transport.

   On arrival, explore Samarkand’s main sights: Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Registan Square, Bibi-Khanym Mausoleum, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. Transfers around Samarkand, including the visit to Ulugbek Observatory, are included in the tour price. The order and timing of visits are arranged around your arrival time and preferred pace.

   Stop for lunch at a traditional Uzbek restaurant with an open rooftop terrace overlooking the square. In the evening, enjoy dinner featuring local dishes at the hotel and stay overnight in Samarkand.

8. Day 8Samarkand – Bukhara by Afrosiyob trainTrain journey and sights around Bukhara

   Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, Naqshbandi complex and Chor-Bakr

   After breakfast, travel from Samarkand to Bukhara on the high-speed Afrosiyob train. The planned departure is around 09:00, with arrival around 11:30. Exact train times are confirmed when tickets are booked for your travel date. On arrival, transfer to the hotel, check in and have lunch.

   In the afternoon, explore historic sites around Bukhara: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, the Bahauddin Naqshbandi memorial complex and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Discover their architecture, walk through the grounds and take time for photographs.

   Return to Bukhara in the evening for a dinner featuring traditional Uzbek cuisine and an overnight stay in a hotel.

9. Day 9Bukhara’s old town and crafts – train to TashkentDaytime or overnight train

   Historic monuments, bazaars and Bukhara’s artisans

   After breakfast at the hotel, explore historic Bukhara. Visit the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, also known as the Samanid Mausoleum, Chor-Minor, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum and the Poi-Kalyan ensemble with Miri-Arab Madrasa. The sightseeing schedule is arranged around your chosen train departure.

   Around midday, browse the bazaar and artisan workshops. Bukhara’s makers produce ceramic jugs and plates, handmade dolls and traditional clothing; in the workshops, you can watch craftspeople at work and choose souvenirs. Lunch is at a traditional Uzbek restaurant. Personal purchases are paid for separately.

   Daytime option: after lunch, take the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Tashkent. The planned departure is around 15:00, with arrival around 19:20; exact times are confirmed when tickets are booked. On arrival, transfer to the hotel, check in and have dinner. Overnight in Tashkent.

   Overnight option: depart Bukhara in the evening on a regular overnight train and arrive in Tashkent the following morning, on Day 10. You spend the night on the train instead of in a Tashkent hotel. Both planned return options—the daytime Afrosiyob with a hotel night, or the overnight train—are included in the tour price. Choose your preferred option before booking.

10. Day 10Tashkent: Old City, Chorsu Bazaar and metro – tour completionCity tour and departure

    Chorsu flavours and a walk through central Tashkent

    After breakfast, get to know Tashkent. Spend the first part of the day exploring the Old City and Khast Imam complex, then visit the metro to see the designs of Alisher Navoi and Pakhtakor stations. If you chose the overnight train from Bukhara, the start of sightseeing is arranged around your morning arrival and breakfast.

    At Chorsu Bazaar, explore the food stalls where cooks prepare traditional dishes and you can choose what to taste. Take time to browse the market, experience everyday city life and have lunch.

    After lunch, continue through central Tashkent. For a walk of around two hours, we suggest Independence Square, pedestrian Sayilgoh Street—known as Broadway—and Amir Temur Square. The order and duration of stops are adjusted to traffic and your flight time.

    In the evening, transfer to Tashkent Airport for a flight to Almaty. The Tashkent–Almaty airfare is paid separately at the fare available when booking. If you wish to extend your stay in Uzbekistan, finish the tour with a transfer to your chosen Tashkent hotel instead; additional nights after the tour are paid separately. Agree on your preferred ending in advance.

This tour operates year-round. Mountain stops depend on weather and road conditions, with shorter daylight hours in winter. If a stop is inaccessible, we agree on an alternative. The final itinerary, overnight stays and pace are confirmed before booking; train and flight times are checked for your travel dates.