11-Day Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan Tour from South Africa11 Days | Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand, Almaty, Charyn Canyon, Astana

When travelling from South Africa to far-flung Central Asia, you want to see a lot in one trip. On this 11-day Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan Tour from South Africa, you'll see all the colours of the region - modern cities made of glass and concrete, medieval mosques and minarets made of brick and clay, spectacular natural beauty and historical sites associated with the defunct USSR.
After a long flight you will find yourself in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. After a little rest, you will start exploring the largest city in Central Asia. Then you will set off to explore the historical and cultural sights of Bukhara and Samarkand. This is the end of your exploration of Uzbekistan and the introduction to Kazakhstan begins. First you will travel to the city of Almaty, which for many years was the capital of the country. From there you will make a fascinating one-day trip to the Charyn Canyon and back. And the end of the big tour will be a tour of Astana, the current capital of Kazakhstan, as well as a trip to the memorial complex ALZHIR (nothing to do with Africa).
This tour to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan from South Africa will give you hundreds of vivid emotions and memories of Central Asia and the people who inhabit it. Check out the detailed tour itinerary and start preparing for an unforgettable adventure.

Tour itinerary:

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Day 1: Tashkent – arrival

Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at noon. Meet your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman – Ottoman has been preserved. In Khast-Imam visit Barak-Khan Madrasah, Tillya Sheykh Mosque, Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to city center to visit Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 2: Tashkent – Bukhara

Transfer to the railway station at 06:30 in the morning. The high-speed train, Afrosiyob

, leaves from Tashkent at 07:30 and arrives in Bukhara at 11:17. Upon arrival you will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Leave your luggage at the hotel. Check in at noon. Take a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in historic center of Bukhara which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 3: Bukhara – Samarkand

Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to Bakhouddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum and Chor-Bakr Necropolis.
In the afternoon depart Bukhara and drive to Samarkand (275 km, 4 h.*). Arrive in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
*The road on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 4: Samarkand

Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur Emir Mausoleum – authentic shrine of Tamerlane. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 5: Samarkand – Tashkent

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. Late in the afternoon transfer to railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Pick-up and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 6: Tashkent – Almaty

Transfer to the International Airport to take flight to Almaty. Arrive in Almaty, transfer to the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Almaty

Your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby to start the sightseeing tour in Almaty: visit Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Central State Museum (closed on Tuesdays) and Republic Square. In the afternoon a short drive (25 km) will take you to Chimbulak. Here, visit the ski resort and ride the cable car to enjoy the amazing views of the snowy peaks of the Tian Shan Mountains. Our last stop of the day will be the Sunkar Falcon Farm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays), where you’ll enjoy a spectacular show with specially trained hawks – hunting with these magnificent birds is a distinguishing feature of the Kazakh way of life (from March till October, on Wednesdays-Sundays). Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 8: Almaty – Charyn Canyon – Almaty

Your guide and driver will meet you at hotel lobby. Depart Almaty and drive to Charyn Canyon (220km, 3-4h). Charyn Canyon located to the east of Kazakhstan, with an unforgettable view of a huge gorge with cliffs and of various colours and shades. The canyon is a part of the Charyn National Park territory has an opportunity to see the old ash-tree grove, the Castle Valley, one part of 154-meter canyon with cliffs resembling towers. Despite a long way to go, the beauty of the Canyon makes you forget long hours of drive and this sight of nature in Kazakhstan will stay long in your memories. Arrive in Canyon. Have some time for picnic and rest. After that walk along canyon and enjoy its beautiful view. In the afternoon return to Almaty. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 9-10 hours

Day 9: Almaty – Astana

Transfer to the airport to take morning flight to Astana. Upon arrival meet your guide and driver at the airport to start sightseeing in the capital of Kazakhstan. Visit “Old center”, town of merchants in the past. Visit Millennium Axis line named by Kisho Kurokawa, chief architect and creator of Astana general layout. Visit Astana Opera building, the Round Square with numerous fountains. Continue to Nurzhol and Green Water boulevards with skyscrapers of exceptional architectural forms. You will go up the Bayterek monument and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view at the top of the monument and observation tower. The city tour will be rounded up with a visit to Khan-Shatyr, shopping and entertainment center. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 10: Astana – Alzhir – Astana

In the morning, depart Astana and drive to memorial complex ALZHIR, located 40 km away from the city. Concentration camp was built in the middle of vast Kazakh steppe in 1938 and stopped functioning in 1953, the year Stalin died. For 15 years, just as much as 20,000 women were brought to the camp from different regions of USSR. In 2007, memorial complex was opened on the territory of the former camp ALZHIR to commemorate those who have fallen under Stalin repressions.
In the afternoon, return to Astana. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 11: Astana – departure

Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Astana International Airport. Departure. End of the 11-day Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan Tour from South Africa.

Price includes:

All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by van type car; 8-13 pax by 20 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 40-50 seat bus;
Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
Tickets for trains Tashkent-Bukhara and Samarkand-Tashkent (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
Economy class ticket for flight Tashkent-Almaty-Astana;
Meals as per itinerary.