Dates                                                3 Departures (16 days)

Type                                                  Roundtrip in comfortable vehicles (bus) with                                                                              A/C. Domestic flight Bishkek - Osh, Kyrgyzstan and                                                                    train Bukhara - Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Easy day  

                                                           excursions - walking & driving                 

Tourleader                                 One (two) tourleaders: English speaking + local guides. Price                                             From 2.470 USD pr person (from anywhere in Europa)                                                              pr. person in shared DBL room. Discount for children                                                                and students (until age of 24)

Sngl-room                              270 USD

Deposit                                           600 USD pr. person

Visa                                                 Information at booking. 

Vaccination                                   Yes, COVID-19 (alternatively valid PCR-test)

​

Keywords: Kyrgyz nomadic culture · Hospitable Silk Road cultures · Magnificent destinations anytime · Patchwork of ethnicities and traditions · Intoxicating mix of culture, architecture, and dramatic landscapes · Fabled Tien Shan Mountains · Colorful palette of unique places and attractions · Respect for people, culture, and features ·

No compromises in quality · Bishkek, capital of Bishkek · Bishkek city excursion · Nomadic life is still present · Herds of cattle, horses, and sheep’s roam freely · Apricots and mulberry trees · Snowcapped Tien Shan Mountains · Issyk Kul Lake, the second-largest mountain lake in the world · Karakol, the administrative capital of Issyk-Kul Region · Excursions to the beautiful Tian Shan mountains ·

Hot springs · Przhevalsky Museum · Dungan Mosque · Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity · Jeti-Oguz (“Seven Bulls” and “Broken Heart” red rock formations · Breathtaking views ·  Kyrgyz culture · Nomadic traditionally felt and Shyrdak products · Fermented horse milk · Osh, second largest city in Kyrgyzstan · Sulayman Mountain, World Heritage Site in Kyrgyzstan · A journey back to a time when Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand, were once major trade centers on the lucrative Great Silk Road route · Tempting bazaars · Sparkling azure domes · Images of golden desert landscapes · Monuments heralding the religious glory are brought back to life ·

Legendary cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent · Beautiful azure domes · Thousand-year-old mosques · Harem rooms and a colorful tangle of the most beautiful mosaics await everywhere · Myths, history, and culture · Tashkent city tour · Famous Silk Road city Bukhara (UNESCO) · Citadel Ark · Poi Kalan Complex · Kalyan Minaret (Tower of Death) · Gijduvan (ceramic) · Samarkand (UNESCO) · Unique monuments of ancient architecture · Heritage of scientific and arts schools · Registan Square (the world’s most beautiful square) · Guri Amir Mausoleum · Shah-i-Zinda Necropol · Ferghana Valleys fruit basket · Finest ceramic centers in Rishton · Silk-bazars in Margilan · Art and craft culture of Uzbekistan · Engraving on copper, wood, and plaster-based material · Jeweler's arts · Carpet making · Ceramics · Ornamental embroidery · Gold embroidery · Decorative currying of tanned leather · Silk spinning ·

Decorative braids · Inlaid works on musical instruments · Painting on papier-mache · Decorative boxes for local tobacco · Baskets · Cradles · The tour is packaged with International and domestic flights, accommodation and all land arrangements including transport, meals, and excursions · Expert Tour Leader and local guides · Maximum 16 participants · Active journey · Activity level adjusted so it fit all clients · Everyone can enjoy this journey · Excellent service for the participants · Certain flexibility, so individual wishes and pace can be respected ·  We know the areas and the conditions · We are well prepared · Value for money · Comfortable accommodation· Vehicles with experienced drivers · Delicious, tasty, and healthy food mirroring the regions diverse cultures · Central Asia breathes thousands of years of history and adventure · Exotic-scented bazaars · Kyrgyz traditional art craft; handmade Shyrdaks · Kalpak · Pristine landscapes

​

Prior departure, we mail information and a detailed packing list about what to bring

Sovietistan Travel are of course always prepared to assist and explain, so please feel free to ask us about every matter. 

 

TOUR DESCRIPTION

​

This Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan trip is a journey to Central Asia's welcoming and hospitable Silk Road cultures. The two countries are magnificent destinations anytime. Central Asia has always been a patchwork of ethnicities and traditions and travelers have throughout history feasted their senses on the countries intoxicating mix of culture, architecture, and dramatic landscapes of the fabled Tien Shan Mountains, endless steppes, and amazing deserts. We have composed a colorful palette of unique places and attractions representing Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan with respect for its people, culture, and features. We begin in Bishkek, capital of Bishkek; city excursion, continue to Issyk Kul Lake, the second-largest mountain lake in the world, until we reach Karakol. Excursions to the beautiful Tian Shan mountains, hot springs, Przhevalsky Museum, the Dungan Mosque and Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Jeti-Oguz (“Seven Bulls” and “Broken Heart” red rock formations). We also learn about the Kyrgyz culture: nomadic traditionally felt and Shyrdak products, food (fermented horse milk), etc. We depart Kyrgyzstan from Osh and we make an easy stroll up aside Sulayman Mountain. We drive the short way to Dustlik, the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border and enter Uzbekistan.

 

Uzbekistan offers the modern-day traveler a journey back to a time when Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand, were once major trade centers on the lucrative Great Silk Road route. Tempting bazaars, sparkling azure domes, images of golden desert landscapes, and monuments heralding the religious glory are brought back to life. We visit the legendary cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Tashkent. Beautiful azure domes, thousand-year-old mosques, harem rooms and a colorful tangle of the most beautiful mosaics await everywhere. We dive into the myths, history, and culture: Tashkent city tour, famous Silk Road city Bukhara (UNESCO) with its splendid Citadel Ark, Poi Kalan Complex, Kalyan Minaret (Tower of Death), Gijduvan (ceramic), Samarkand (UNESCO) with abundance of unique monuments of ancient architecture, heritage of scientific and arts schools. Registan Square (considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful squares), Guri Amir Mausoleum, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. In Fergana - Ferghana Valleys fruit basket - we visit the finest ceramic centers in Rishton - oldest city of ceramic art, and silk-bazars in Margilan, and everywhere we meet the art and craft culture of Uzbekistan. 

 

The tour is packaged with International and domestic flights, accommodation and all land arrangements including transport, meals, and excursions. The tours are led by our very carefully selected staff of experienced tour leader and local guides. We travel maximum 16 participants! This is an active journey. Of course, the activity level will be adjusted so it fit all clients, and everyone can enjoy this journey. We know the areas and the conditions. We are well prepared and make priority to present comfortable accommodation, vehicles with experienced drivers and delicious, tasty, and healthy food mirroring the regions diverse cultures.

 

Prior departure, we mail information and a detailed packing list about what to bring. Sovietistan Travel are of course always prepared to assist and explain, so please feel free to ask us about every matter. 

 

Active travel! On this trip, a little hiking is included, and it is a prerequisite that you are in generally good physical shape and can move on your own. The trip is not suitable for people who have difficulty walking due uneven terrain. 

 

Climate Distinctive desert climate in Uzbekista, which will feel warm and comfortable. Different in Kyrgyzstan, where the mountain climate is much cooler (and in the summer months much more comfortable). However, the departure time for the tour is spring and late summer/autumn, so the warmest months (June - primo August) is avoided. It makes activities much easier. Prior departure we make sure, you are well informed about all the practical issues; including climate & cloth suggestions "what-to-bring"

​

Visa. Visas are required for some nationalities upon entry into Uzbekistan. Information will be given prior departure by Sovietistan Travel. Please send a clear color copy of your passport (personal information page), a passport photo and a completed visa form to Sovietistan Travel as soon as possible - and no later than 60 days before departure. The visa form will be sent to you once you have booked the trip. Please also note that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the duration of the stay, and there must be at least 2 blank pages in the passport.

​

Transport. The transport is mainly provided by A/C tourist buses with the necessary necessities. There are stretches (Bukhara -Tashkent) covered by train, and domestic flight from Bishkek to Ash in Kyrgyzstan. Included in the tour price.

​

Border formalities. Border crossings in Central Asia are a story in themselves. However, the cumbersome bureaucracy is far less than before, and in most places you get away with it without problems. Sovietistan Travel will inform in advance. Prior departure Sovietistan Travel will send you plenty of information: What to bring, information of Uzbekistan, food, culture, people, health advises (vaccination) etc 

 

Hand on heart. About traveling in Central Asia. 

​

Central Asia is an exciting and for many unknown destination. Tourism is not widespread in large parts of the area and the majority of the population speaks only the local language and Russian. Not everything takes place in the same way as at home and one must expect that changes may occur to the program during the trip. Sovietistan Travel and its partners will of course try to minimize the extent of these changes, but should they occur, take it as part of the experience.

 

Accomodation. There is a big difference in the hotel standard in the different countries in Central Asia. In short, the standard on this journey is comfortable on 3***-and 4**** level hotels, and there is a single guesthouse accommodation in Tamga, Kyrgyzstan. Sovietistan Travel strives to always find the most suitable hotels in terms of price, standard and location. However, this is not a trip with an emphasis on hotel comfort, but more on the exciting experiences that all Central Asian countries have in abundance.

​

General conditions. A safe travel experience. We want you to feel safe as an Sovietistan Travel traveler, from the moment you book your trip until you return home with a lot of good experiences - even in a world with coronavirus. That is why we have made a number of measures to minimize the risk of infection, while at the same time giving you all the travel experiences you dream of. All tour guides are certified in the WHO guidelines for infection control. Extra high demands on our partners in relation to cleaning. We inform all our travel participants about travel insurance and minimization of infection.

​

The requirements of the journey for physical ability. As a general rule, all travel participants must be self-sufficient. At the same time, we must emphasize that our travels are generally not suitable for people with walking difficulties. Even on bus and train journeys, there will often be a need to go to and from sights. On many of our cultural trips, just a day's total visit to sights, etc. will easily exceed 5 kilometers of walking.

​

Travel insurance – mandatory. All participants in Sovietistan Travel must take out travel insurance that at least covers the costs of medical treatment and repatriation. As most public health insurance can no longer be used as travel insurance, it is a prerequisite for participation in our travels that you have taken out a travel insurance. We recommend that the insurance also includes a luggage cover in the event of damage or loss of luggage. 

​

Sovietistan Travel's tour leaders and local guides. On Sovietistan Travel's group trips, the trip will always be led by two tour leaders (might be one if the group size is less than 15 participants, who will either meet the group at the airport before departure or on arrival at the destination. 

​

Gratuity. On our travels you come into contact with everyday life and its customs. There may be conditions you do not like or are not used to, such as the custom of tipping. In many countries, the gratuity system is more organized than we Europeans are used to, and there is an expectation that local guides and drivers will receive a certain amount of gratuity during the journey, as the salary in the service industry is often adjusted accordingly. We indicate an amount in our travel program so that you can take this into account from home. The price of the trip does not include gratuity, as it is an individual matter, and the gratuity system is part of the culture you choose to visit, and which you should therefore respect. For the sake of good order, we must emphasize that gratuity is, of course, voluntary.

​

Supplement for single room. The prices quoted on our travels are based on 2 people traveling together and living in a shared double room. For our guests traveling alone, there will be a supplement for single room. The surcharge is a reflection of the price level we as a tour operator are met with when we buy rooms and cabins from our subcontractors. A single room will always be relatively more expensive per. person than a double room. This is a condition that has been in place in the travel industry for many years and is thus considered customary. The supplement will always appear on our material.

​

Passport. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after returning from the destination. This requirement applies to all our travels, regardless of whether individual countries may require shorter validity. That we as a tour operator make this 6-month validity requirement is to avoid situations where a country's validity requirement may be changed from booking the trip until departure. If you have to travel with children who are not your own (eg grandchildren), or if you and your children do not have the same last name, some countries may deny you entry. It may therefore be necessary to bring a birth and name certificate or a birth and baptism certificate in English and a signed declaration allowing the minor to travel in the company of a named adult. Also remember to check the rules for the validity of the documents - ie. when they must be issued in relation to the departure date, how they must be stamped, etc.

​

Seating in the bus. When traveling by plane, transport to the destination usually takes place by bus. Here you can not reserve a fixed seat on the bus, nor is it possible to buy a specific seat before the start of the journey. It is of course possible to arrange shifts during the journey, so that everyone in turn will sit in front as well as in the back of the bus.

​

Seating in the aircraft. We must point out that it is the airline that is sovereignly responsible for the distribution of seats in the aircraft.

​

Catering on board the aircraft. On most of our trips we use scheduled flights. Most Central Asian companies serve water, juice, coffee or tea for free. On the long overseas routes, food is usually included, and with a few companies also beverages. On flights, special diets such as diabetic or vegetarian food must be ordered no later than 45 days before departure. Note that some airlines require payment for special diets. We always pass on requests for special diets on the flight to the airline, but can not guarantee it. 

​

As a starting point, we do not have the opportunity to offer special diets on our trips, as many of our trips include shared meals, where the menu is determined and ordered in advance. One must therefore expect to eat the same food as the others

participants in the journey. We are happy to note and pass on requests for special diets or information about allergies, but we unfortunately do not have the opportunity to guarantee that you can be served special meals, or that special consideration can be given to allergies

​

Reservations / changes

We reserve the right to make changes to the program. Sovietistan Travel and our local partners always strive to run the trip carefully according to the program, but due to the sights' opening hours or practical circumstances, it may be necessary to complete the route in a different order than stated. In addition, program items may be deleted due to force majeure situations such as weather conditions, road conditions or delayed flights.

​

Finally, we must point out that our travels is continuously revised and improved based on the feedback we receive after each trip. Revision of the trip might therefore result in changes in the program from the time it was purchased until the departure takes place. Before departure, all participants will receive the latest updated program, which intends to serve the customers' best and ensure the most smooth running of the trip.

​

The trip is sold as a whole "package", and it will not be possible to refund the parts of the package that may. not used.

​

© Sovietistan Travel/MWAndersen, 07022023. All rights reserved

​

Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan - 16-days with English speaking Tour Leader. Nb! there will always be local guides and sometimes an extra tour leader included, so you will be guided in your own language: Scandinavian, German, French, Spanish, Italian, etc 

​

Price per person (in shared double-room): 2.270 USD/PAX. 

Deposit: 600 USD/PAX. The final balance is due 150 days prior to departure) 

Single room: 270 USD/PAX

 

PRICE INFORMATION

​

Price include: 

Sovietistan Travels’ rates include all accommodations; all meals, activities and excursions as described in the itinerary; from Tashkent to Tashkent; services of two Sovietistan Travel leaders and local guides throughout the itinerary; airport transfers; permits and entrance fees. 

● In Kyrgyzstan, guesthouses and 3*** hotels, and Uzbekistan; 3*** and 4****hotels

● BLD in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan - all meals included

● Transport in bus with A/C according program in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

● Domestic flight ticket Bishkek - Osh, Kyrgyzstan

● Train ticket Bukhara - Tashkent, Uzbekistan

● Necessary permits for Restricted Area sites 

● Administration from Sovietistan Travel

● Visa support, e.g. Letter of Invitation (LOI)

​

Price does not include: 

Costs not included in the price of your Sovietistan Travel include travel to and from the start and end point of trip; travel insurance (mandatory); airport departure taxes; excess baggage fees; items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, souvenirs, etc.); and independent travel arrangements pre- or post-trip. 

● International flight ticket home - Bishkek & Tashkent -  home

● Alcoholic beverages during the tour and at meals in restaurants and cafes 

● Arrangements not mentioned in the program 

● Tips for local guides and drivers (calculate approx. USD 70, - per traveler)

● Passport and Visa fees.  Visa to Uzbekistan (if needed)

● Sickness cancellation insurance 6% of the trip price

● Luggage handling at accommodations

● Single room supplement

● Photo and video fees for attractions visited

● Everything not mentioned under "Price includes"

 

Payments & Terms 

600 USD will confirm your place on the tour. The final balance is due 150 days prior to departure. All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be paid in U.S. dollars or otherwise agreed with Sovietistan Travel. Per person pricing is based on double occupancy. The solo rate is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations and is subject to availability. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender. However, if a roommate is not available, the published solo rate will be charged. Please note that solo accommodations are limited and cannot always be guaranteed throughout. 

​

​