Border Information: if joining in Bishkek, you will most likely enter Kyrgyzstan at Bishkek Manas International Airport. There will be a pre-departure meeting at 10:00am - please look out for a note from your leader at the reception of the joining hotel upon arrival with more details about this important meeting. Your leader will need to carefully check your visas at this initial meeting. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this relaxed and atmospheric city. In Bishkek we will stay in a comfortable hotel with good facilities. Hotel for the night: Hotel Asia Mountains Hotel Asia Mountains (Отель Горы Азии) 1a Lineinaja St (Улица Линейная 1А, (на пересечении с улицой Гоголя)) Bishkek 720021 Kyrgyzstan Tel: +996 312 690 235 or +996 312 690 234

Activity Learn all about the 20th-century history of Kyrgyzstan at the Mikhail Frunze museum, dedicated to the Bolshevik genera whose name Bishkek bore until the city was renamed after independence Explore the vast Osh Bazaar, Bishkek's largest market Stroll around the Soviet-built Panfilov Park in Bishkek Explore Bishkek's past at the State Historical Museum on Ala-Too Square KGS 150 Visit the 9th-century Burana Tower outside of Bishkek, the minaret that is all that remains of the ancient Karakhanid city of Balasagun About Bishkek: Bishkek is the relaxed capital of Krygyzstan with a pleasant laid-back atmosphere. The city centres around Ala-too Square, previously known as Lenin's Square under the previous Soviet zegime. Lenin used to stand in his concrete overcoat in the middle of the square, proudly gesturing towards th...

Activity Get off the beaten track with 3 nights wild camping and a leisurely overland journey through the stunning mountains and National Parks of Kyrgyzstan Included in Kitty Explore the beautiful Chong Kemin valley on horseback (if helmets available) KGS 300 Head out on a white-water rafting adventure through the stunning Chong Kemin valley KGS 1800 Walk around the incredible scenery of the Chong Kemin valley. Enjoy a stunning day of wild camping and hiking in the beauty of the Ala Archa Gorge About Chong Kemin Valley: Chong Kemin lies within the Tian Shan mountain range seperating Kyrgyzstan and Kazakstan. Their peaks reach above the legendary threshold of 7000 m elevation in its ruggerd run towards China. This spectacular valley is famed for it's natural beauty, abundant wildlife and rich, varied flora. This is the re...

Today we drive up into the mountains to the alpine trekking region of Jeti- Oghuz. The next day we will have a free day to hike in the incredible scenery here, or take an optional horse ride with some of the local nomads! In Jeti-Oghuz we will camp close to a local family yurt. Drive time - 5 hours. Please note that on trips in the low season we may not be able to camp in Jeti- Oghuz due to low temperatures. If this is the case, we will take a stunning and incredible drive up a mountain in a Russian 4x4 truck to Altyn Arashan, a hot spring development in a stunning alpine setting, staying in dormitory accommodation. We will then stay for 1 night in a local hotel at the base of Jeti-Oghuz Valley (allowing time for some day walks). Activity Trek into the wilds of the stunningly-beautiful Jeti-Oghuz Gorge on the edge of the Tia...

Today we drive to the small village of Kochkor, where we stay in local familyrun guesthouses and enjoy traditional Kyrgyz hospitality! En route we will have an included demonstation from a local 'eagle hunter'. Whilst here we will visit a small museum and women's felt making cooperative that produces 'shyrdaks', the felt carpets for which Kyrgyzstan is renowned. We may also have the opportunity here to see some excellent local musicians playing traditional Kyrgyz folk music and to see how a yurt is put up! In Kochkor we will stay in family-run guesthouses, accommodating up to 8 guests in each home. Drive time - 7 hours. Activity Stay at an overnight homestay at a traditional rural Kyrgyz village Included in Kitty See the traditional felt workshops or Kochkor and learn about how Kyrgyz carpets and hats are typically made here ...

Today we will drive to the incredible Song-Kul Lake, where we will spend the next two nights. We will have free time here to explore the area, and to enjoy some optional activities including hiking, horse-riding or watching a game of goat polo! At Song-Kul we will stay in traditional felt yurts. Drive time - 6-7 hours. Please note that trips during the low season will not be able to visit Song-Kul Lake, as temperatures will be below freezing, the road will be snowed over, and there will be no yurts to stay in! Instead we will likely stay in yurts on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

Activity Experience a slice of the daily life of the Kyrgyz mountain shepherds at Song Kol Lake Included in Kitty Witness the unbelievable game of mountain polo, traditionally played with a goat's head (if available) USD 20 About Song Kol Lake: Song Kol lake is one of the loveliest spots in central Kyrgyzstan. The lake and shore are part of the Song Kol zoological reserve. All around the lake are lush pastures favoured by local nomadic herders, who come here in the summer with their animals. On Dragoman overland trips we spend a couple of days staying in felt yurts, learning about the local culture and traditions. We might get to see the local men play a game of "ulak-Tartys" (goat polo) or have a chance to ride out with the shepherds on their small hardy ponies, or you might prefer to explore the surrounding area on foot, hi...

Today we will complete our drive to Arslanbob in Kyrgyzstan's Ferghana Valley - if we have had a slow journey in the previous days with lots of stops, we may choose to stay in the closer town of Jalalabad instead. In Arslanbob we will stay overnight in a local family-run guesthouse. Drive time - 6-7 hours

Border information: Exit Kyrgyzstan at Dustlik, enter Uzbekistan at Andijon. Today we will have a full day's drive across the Uzbek border to the eastern city of Ferghana. In Ferghana we will stay in a basic local hotel Drive time - 8 hours. Activity Visit the beautiful and ornate Palace of Khudayar Khan in Kokand UZS 3000 Explore the impressive 19th-century Juma Mosque in Kokand in the stunning Ferghana Valley UZS 1000 See the silk-weavers of the Ferghana Valley at the Yodgorlik Silk Factory About Ferghana City: Similar to the Uzbek capital Tashkent, Ferghana is a modern city, far-removed from the ancient Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand. The town is located in the Fergahana Valley, a broad bowl thousands of kilometres wide surrounded by far off mountain peaks. Nearly 90% of people who live here are indigenous Uz...

This morning we travel in local transport to Kokand, where we will have the oppurtunity to visit the Khudayar Khan's Palace and the nearby Margilan Silk Factory before completing the journey over the Kamchik Pass to Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. The truck must pass over the Kamchik Pass without passengers and will rejoin us this evening in Tashkent. In Tashkent we will stay in a comfortable hotel with good facilities. Drive time - 6 hours. About Tashkent: Tashkent was once the fourth largest city in the Soviet Union. Whilst the historic cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva still retain much of the atmosphere of the ancient Khanates, Tashkent is very definitely a Soviet city, because old Tashkent was largely destroyed by a series of earthquakes and Soviet planners. Having said that, it is still a great place to visit. The cit...

Border Information: if finishing in Tashkent, you will most likely exit Uzbekistan at Tashkent International Airport. Today we will have free time to explore Tashkent. Please note that if you are leaving in Tashkent, today is the last day of the trip and there is no accommodation included tonight. Activity Explore the delightful traditional farmer's market at the Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent's Old Town See the grand 16th-century Kukeldash Madrassa and the city's principal Juma Mosque in the Old Town Visit the religious centre of Tashkent at Hast Imam Square and see the Uthman Koran, believed to be the world's oldest extant copy of the Koran Take in an opera performance at the neoclassical Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theater