Experience the best of 4 Central Asian countries with its own distinctive highlights. We begin in Kazakhstan, and then Kyrgyzstan. Both these countries are famous for its natural landscapes. Next is Tajikistan which offers a mixture of nature & history. We finish our journey in Uzbekistan for its stunning architecture, home to several UNESCO listed sites.
HIghlights of this trip include:
- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan offers valleys and lakes for easy walking and scenic mountain road journeys.
- Explore some of the world's oldest civilisations which were important bases along the ancient Silk Route in Tajikistan & Uzbekistan
- Discover the local culture through its handicrafts, food and bustling bazaars. The variety of culture includes ancient Persian, Kyrgyz nomads, Soviet influence and post-independence modernities.
B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D=Dinner
Day 1 Airport - Almaty: Assemble in KLIA2 by 9.30AM TUES 15 SEPT 2026 for AirAsia morning flight D7 600 departing 1:00PM, arriving Almaty 7:40PM. Meet our Kazakh guide and transfer to Almaty hotel. Overnight (O/N) Almaty hotel 2 nights with breakfasts provided. Rest of evening free to explore city on own.
Day 2 Almaty (B): Today we explore Almaty city and its surroundings. This include the Park of 28 Panfilovs, Zenkov Cathedral Church and Square of Republic. Afternoon we drive towards Medeu, located about 40minutes from Almaty. This is home to the world's highest skating rink at 1,691m. Nearby is the Symbulak ski resort. Located at 2,200m, it is the largest ski resort in Central Asia. Back to Almaty for own dinner. O/N Almaty hotel for 2nd night. Lunch and dinner on own expenses.
Day 3 Bashi Village (B/L/D): We travel 3-4hr eastwards towards Bashi Village, gateway to the Altyn-Emel National Park. Check in and enjoy included lunch. Afternoon we head towards the Singing Dunes which can reach up to 150m. Return to Bashi village for dinner and rest. O/N simple guesthouses in Bashi Village for next 2 nights. Lunch and dinner included
Day 4 Aktau Mountains (B/L/D): After breakfast, we drive about 80km on unpaved road towards Aktau mountains. Easy walk around to enjoy the multi-colored mountains and canyons. Packed lunch provided here. We return to Bashi village for our 2nd night stay with dinner included.
Day 5 Charyn Canyon & Kaindy Lake (B/L/D): We move towards Saty Village about 6hr away. Along the way, we will stop at the beautiful Charyn Canyon. This canyon is carved by the Charyn river which flows from Tian Shan mountains. Many millions years of wind and water erosion carved out the beautiful landscape from the red sandstone. Check in to our guesthouse in Saty Village. We then travel 13km off-road towards Kaindy Lake where you can enjoy short walks. It was formed back in 1911 when an earthquake blocked one end of the gorge. O/N simple guesthouses in Saty Village. Lunch & dinner included today
Day 6 Kolsai Lake - Karakol (B/L): We continue our nature exploration to Kolsai Lake which is famously known as the "Pearls of Northern Tian Shan". Return to Saty Village for lunch before our border crossing at Kegen. Meet our Kyrgyz team and drive about 1.5hr south west towards Karakol. When we arrive at Karakol, we proceed to visit the Dungan mosque - built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail and a wooden Orthodox Church. O/N hotel for next 2 nights. Own dinner today
Day 7 Altyn Arashan-Karakol (B/L/D): Morning transfer to Altyn Arashan gorge by Russian military 4WD vehicle. Altyn Arashan ("Golden Spa") gorge is one of the most famous gorges in Karakol. Here one will see wonderful fir tree forests and thermal springs along the whole gorge. Picnic lunch provided. After arriving at Altyn Arashan camp, members can enjoy walking around valley or sample the local hot springs (own expenses). Our 4WD vehicle brings us back to Karakol for our 2nd night stay. Tonight enjoy dinner with Dungan family, who are Chinese Muslim followed by local folk show. Stay 2nd night in Karakol
Russian 4WD military ride into Altyn Arashan / Jeti-Oguz gorge
Day 8 Kochkor (B/L/D): After breakfast, we drive to Jeti-Oguz Gorge. Its name in Kyrgyz language means “Seven bulls”. The name is symbolic, because there is a 35 km long wall of seven huge red-brown cliffs resembling furious bulls standing together. We will also have look at Kyrgyz traditional eagle-hunting demonstration. Another stop at Skazka canyons (Fairy Tale canyons) for a short walk around, before our transport takes us towards Kyzyl-Tuu village famed for their yurt-making residents. Experience how the Kyrgyz members set up yurts and lunch provided here. Final transfer to Kochkor for our overnight stay. O/N hotel with dinner provided.
Day 9 Song Kul (B/L/D): Drive 3-4 hours towards the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan - Song Kul located at 3,015m above sea level. Song Kul is the best place to experience the nomadic lifestyle of the Krygyz people who bring their herds here during summer time. This is also wonderful place to gaze at the stars because of minimal light pollution. Optional horse-riding experience here at own expenses. O/N Yurt Camp with outdoor shared toilets. Lunch & dinner at yurt camp.
Day 10 Kazarman (B/L/D): After breakfast, we drive south west towards Kazarman. Today is a long drive, but we will have few photo stops to enjoy the scenic views along the journey. Upon arrival in Kazarman, own free time to explore this tough mining town which used to be bustling from its gold mining activity. O/N Kazarman in guesthouse with shared toilets, lunch & dinner provided.
Day 11 Osh (B/D): After breakfast, we travel southwards towards Osh. Upon arrival in the afternoon, we go for sightseeing tour around Osh, which is the 2nd largest city in Kyrgyzstan. Legends said Osh was founded by King Solomon ages ago and had an important position on trading routes of the Great Silk Road. We walk up sacred Sulaiman Too Mountain, its Museum and Osh Bazaar. O/N in hotel. Kyrgyz farewell dinner included.
Day 12 Fergana, Uzbekistan (B): Continue balance of sights not covered day before in Osh. Enjoy lunch at nearby Osh bazaar. Afternoon, we will cross into Uzbekistan via the Fergana valley. Meet our new set of Tajik guide and drivers. O/N hotel for 1 night. Own meals today.
Day 13 Kokand-Khujand, Tajikistan (B): After breakfast, we continue our journey to Kokand. Kokand is at the cross-roads of Tashkent, Fergana valley and Khujand of Tajikistan. We visit several key highlights of Kokand, including UNESCO listed Khudoyar-Khan Palace which now houses the Kokand Regional History Museum. After Kokand, we continue about 50km towards Rishton, famed for its many pottery workshops. Late afternoon border crossing between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. We end our journey at Khujand for our 2 nights hotel stay. Own lunch & dinner today
Day 14 Khujand (B): Khujand is the furthest point where Alexander the Great reached in Central Asia. It has also grown into a major entreport along the Silk Road and is now the 2nd biggest city of Tajikistan. We visit several important sites today such as Khujand Fortress, Muslihiddin memorial complex and Panjshanbe Bazaar. O/N hotel for 2nd night. Own meals today.
Famous sleeping Buddha inside Tajikistan Museum of Antiquities / Colorful parks around Dushanbe
Day 15 Dushanbe (B): Today we travel towards the Dushanbe, capital city of Tajikisan. Along the way, we make a stop at Istaravshan well known for their blacksmiths. We visit Hazrati Shoh complex, Fortress Mug located on the site of the ancient civilisation dating back to 7th-8th centuries and the local bazaar. Arrive Dushanbe by late afternoon and proceed to check-in for next 2 nights. O/N hotel with breakfasts provided.
Day 16 Dushanbe (B): Full day to explore Dushanbe, the biggest and capital city of Tajikistan. We start off at Hisar Fortress, located about 30km away. We return to capital city to cover other sights, which includes Tajikistan National Museum of Antiquities, where a famous sleeping Buddha statue can be seen. We then walk through Rudaki park, dedicated to the great Persian poet and visit the great Ismail Somoni statue. Being the capital city, Dushanbe offers plenty of eating options for lunch and dinner. O/N hotel for 2nd night
Day 17 Saritag (B/L/D): Today we began our nature explorations for Tajikistan. We drive about 130km towards Iskanderkul, named after Alexander the Great or Iskander as he was known in the East. Included lunch enroute. We continue our scenic drive towards Saritag village (2,380m above sea level) for our 1 night simple homestay with dinner included.
