Central Asia's Five 'Stans

Independent departures from the U.S.

Connect via a gateway city on the way to Bishkek.

Arrive in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in the morning. After settling in at your hotel, take some time to rest. Later in the day, join the group to explore Bishkek.

Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, was founded as the Russian garrison of Pishpek and is situated against the northern edge of the Ala-Too Mountains. Originally a forested stop on the Silk Road, it was taken over by the Russians in 1877 and later renamed Bishkek when Kyrgyzstan gained independence. The city is known for its wide boulevards, friendly locals, and abundant trees. On clear days, breathtaking views of the snowcapped mountains are revealed.

Stop at Ala-Too Square, the central square of Bishkek, which features a large statue that has undergone several changes over the years, from Lenin to Freedom, and finally to the hero of the national epic, Manas. Explore the National History Museum, located in Ala-Too Square, which houses a diverse collection of Soviet art and artifacts from ancient Kyrgyz history, including gold, jewelry, and coins. Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue to the State Museum of Fine Arts, focusing on art from the Soviet era, with over 15,000 paintings, sculptures, and decorative pieces. The museum also features a permanent exhibition on Kyrgyz folk art and life, showcasing a yurt, costumes, and traditional crafts. In the evening, gather for a casual dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Hyatt Regency Bishkek or similar

Meals: B, L, D

In the morning, attend a lecture by your Harvard Study Leader at the hotel.

Head out to Oak Park, Bishkek's central park, named for the oaks planted here after the city's founding. The park is divided into sections, one featuring artwork, sculptures, and monuments, and the other a green, blooming area. Although officially renamed for Kyrgyz literary figure Chingiz Aitmatov, it is still commonly known as Oak Park.

Explore the covered open-air art gallery where local artists display and sell their works. Stroll along walkways lined with contemporary and traditional artworks, including paintings of Kyrgyzstan’s famous mountain scenery and cityscapes.

Erkendik (Freedom) Boulevard, originally laid out and planted in the late 1800s and once called "Dzerzhinsky" by the Soviets, features ice cream trucks, cafés, restaurants, gardens, and trees, ending in Oak Park.

Youth Alley, west of the Philharmonic building, runs from the mayor's office up to the National University. The tree-lined avenue is known for its first art installation, a large pair of sunglasses called "Point of View."

After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the new campus of the American University of Central Asia, founded in 1993. Meet with students and professors to learn about education in Kyrgyzstan since the fall of the Soviet Union.

In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner at Supara Ethno-Complex, where costumed waiters serve traditional Kyrgyz dishes and drinks. The venue reflects various Kyrgyz nomadic lifestyles, with authentically re-created yurts and ancient stone houses showcasing unique themes and decorations.

During dinner, enjoy a traditional folklore concert with a Manas performance. Manas, a Kyrgyz mythical hero, fought against the Uighur people in the 9th century. The Epic of Manas, a Kyrgyz epic poem with nearly half a million verses, is listed by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A performance of selections from the poem is often given at Kyrgyz festivals, accompanied by the komuz, a traditional three-stringed instrument.

Overnight: Hyatt Regency Bishkek or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy a leisurely morning with free time for rest or independent exploration before check-out.

Head to a meeting at the U.S. Embassy (subject to embassy approval and scheduling) to discuss current affairs.

After lunch, transfer to the airport for your flight to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Upon arrival, clear immigration and customs and transfer to your hotel.

The remainder of the afternoon and dinner are left independent, considering the potential for a late arrival.

Overnight: InterContinental Almaty or similar 

Meals: B, L

Explore Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, nestled at the foothills of the Zaili Ala-Too Mountains in the Tien Shan range. The city's name means "the place with apples," believed to be where apples were first domesticated.

Visit Panfilov Park, named after the 28 Kazakh soldiers led by General Panfilov who died near Moscow during WWII. Explore the park's monument honoring the soldiers and the Eternal Flame memorializing all war victims. Also in the park is Zenkov Cathedral, a wooden Orthodox church built at the turn of the century.

Experience local culture at the Green (Zelyony) Bazaar, shopping for fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, flowers, spices, and more. Discover traditional Kazakh instruments at the Museum of Musical Instruments, where a guide demonstrates and explains each instrument.

Have lunch at a local restaurant and head to Republic Square, Almaty's main square, featuring the Monument of Independence, an obelisk topped by the legendary Golden Man standing on a winged snow leopard. Explore the Central State Museum, showcasing Kazakhstan's history from the Bronze Age to the present day.

After dinner, meet with political scientist Bakhytnur Otarbaeva to discuss modern Kazakhstan. Dr. Otarbaeva teaches at Almaty Management University, specializing in political science, Kazakh history, global security, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development.

Overnight: InterContinental Almaty or similar 

Meals: B, L, D

In the morning, stop by the U.S. Consulate to meet with staff and discuss current affairs (subject to consulate’s approval and scheduling).

Have lunch at a local restaurant before exploring the area surrounding Almaty.

Travel to the Small Almaty or Maloye Almatinskoye Gorge, which ascends to approximately 5,000 feet, home to the Medeo Sports Complex. The complex's Olympic-size skating rink has witnessed over 180 world records. Admire the dam overlooking the Medeo complex, constructed in 1966 to protect the valley from mudslides and floods, offering a stunning view of the landscape below.

Take a cable car to Shymbulak, a ski resort near Almaty situated in the upper Medeo Valley, where the 2011 Asian Winter Games were hosted. The cable car transports you to Talgar Pass, at an altitude of 10,500 feet.

Continue to the Sunkar Falcon Center. For millennia, steppe nomads used birds of prey for hunting, with the saker falcon being a favorite due to its keen eyesight and ability to survey the grasslands from great heights. However, habitat loss and poaching nearly drove them to extinction in the 1980s and 1990s. To raise awareness, the center was established as a breeding facility to reverse the decline of falcons and educate the public about falcon hunting history. The center also serves as a sanctuary for other birds of prey, including owls, golden eagles, hawks, and vultures. Led by Kazakhstani-German ornithologist and bird trainer Pavel Pfander, the center has bred and released hundreds of saker falcons and golden eagles back into the wild. Learn about these incredible birds' history while watching a demonstration.

Dinner is independent this evening.

Overnight: InterContinental Almaty or similar 

Meals: B, L

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Almaty and head to the airport for your flight to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Upon arrival, clear immigration and customs and transfer to your hotel.

Have lunch at a local restaurant and embark on a city tour of Tashkent. Despite its modern appearance, Tashkent is one of Uzbekistan's oldest cities, with evidence of human presence dating back to around 2000 BC.

Visit the Applied Arts Museum, founded in 1898 by a wealthy czarist diplomat, featuring exhibits of Uzbek arts and crafts including suzani (embroidered wall coverings), ceramics, jewelry, rugs, and musical instruments. Explore the Courage Monument, honoring workers from across the Soviet Union who helped rebuild Tashkent after the devastating 1966 earthquake.

Independence Square, formerly known as Cathedral Square, Red Square, and Lenin Square, reflects the city's history through its various names. Enter the square through a silver arch adorned with white storks and admire the Monument of Independence, erected in 1991, and other monuments honoring WWII victims.

Stop at the Navoi Opera and Ballet Theater, built in 1947 by Japanese prisoners of war. The theater's six foyers represent the main cities of Uzbekistan and are decorated with carved and painted plaster, woodcarvings, and frescoes.

Dinner this evening is at the hotel.

Overnight: Hyatt Regency Tashkent or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Explore Khast Imam Square, home to some of Tashkent's oldest monuments.

First stop at the 16th-century Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, the Barak-Khan Madrassah, the al-Bukhari Madrassah, and the Tillya Sheikh Mosque, which houses the Uthman Koran, considered by Sunni Muslims to be the oldest Koran in the world. The manuscript, written on calfskin, is believed to have been compiled by Uthman, the third caliph of Islam, in Medina. Only a third of the manuscript remains, about 250 large pages bound into a huge book, and it is inscribed onto the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.

Continue to Chorsu Bazaar on Chorsu Plaza, where traders and shoppers gather to buy and sell spices, produce, woodwork, and embroidery. The bazaar is particularly lively on weekends.

Descend into the Tashkent Metro, the first metro in Central Asia, known for its unique stations that serve as "art galleries for the people," with granite, marble, chandeliers, and mosaics reflecting Central Asian and Russian influences.

After lunch, visit the U.S. Embassy to meet with staff and discuss current affairs (subject to embassy approval and scheduling).

Take a stroll along Broadway (Sayilgoh) Street, a pedestrian walkway lined with shops, art galleries, and eateries. Experience the vibrant atmosphere with street performers, people strolling, and children playing games.

Overnight: Hyatt Regency Tashkent or similar

Meals: B, L

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Tashkent and head to the railway station. Board the Afrosiab (high-speed) train to Samarkand, arriving around 11:00 AM. Upon arrival, explore the city before checking in at the hotel.

Samarkand, a fabled oasis on the fringes of the Kyzyl Kum Desert, has been settled since the 6th century BC and served as a major Silk Road crossroads. Begin at Registan Square, the centerpiece of Samarkand, framed by three emblematic madrassahs and known as the "Crossroad of Cultures" by UNESCO.

Enjoy a lunch of traditional favorites at a local restaurant and continue to the massive and beautiful Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane to be the largest mosque in the Islamic world. Explore the animated Siab Bazaar, just across the street from the mosque.

In the evening, have drinks and hors d'oeuvres on the rooftop of the charming Sultan Hotel with its spectacular views.

Continue to the 15th-century Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Tamerlane's final resting place, after regular opening hours for an exclusive experience not available to regular visitors.

Dine at a local restaurant this evening.

Overnight: Kosh Havuz Hotel or similar

Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, attend a lecture by your Harvard Study Leader at the hotel.

Explore the ancient city of Afrosiab, just outside modern-day Samarkand, an archaeological site guarding treasures of antiquity. Stop at the Afrosiab History Museum, which houses artifacts from the area, including pottery and tile found among the excavated walls of the town, on a private tour with an archaeologist.

After lunch at a local restaurant, head to Shah-i-Zinda, a row of tombs and mausoleums stretching between modern-day Samarkand and the ancient city of Afrosiab. Explore the mausoleums and the active cemetery behind the complex.

Learn about Ulug Bek's observatory, one of the most advanced observatories of the ancient world, where he made groundbreaking astronomical observations with the naked eye.

Next, attend a demonstration of traditional Uzbek bread making, known as non, in a clay oven called a tandir.

Dinner this evening is on your own.

Overnight: Kosh Havuz Hotel or similar

Meals: B, L

Take a full-day excursion to Panjakent in Tajikistan, returning to Samarkand in the evening. Explore the ruins of Bunjikath, an important Sogdian trade center, and visit the newly renovated Rudaki Museum, filled with Sogdian artifacts and exhibits.

In the foothills of the Fan Mountains, see the turquoise-tiled tomb of Muhammad Bashoro, a Sufi saint and companion to the Prophet Muhammad, known for its Timurid architecture.

Explore Panjakent's lively bazaar, known for its seasonal fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and the ancient archaeological site of Sarazm, Tajikistan's first UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dine at a local restaurant this evening.

Overnight: Kosh Havuz Hotel or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Travel by train to Bukhara, an oasis in the desert with preserved ancient architecture.

Upon arrival, visit the Old Town with its unified feel and major monuments. Learn about Bukhara's history, including its role in the Great Game between Russia and England, and its significance to the Sephardic Jewry.

Stop at Labi-Hauz Plaza, a historic meeting place, and explore Bukhara's old Jewish Quarter, home to a unique community with its own dialect, dress, and form of Judaism.

Also enter the Magoki Attori Mosque, now a carpet museum, and wander the covered bazaar with its vibrant carpets, felt hats, jewelry, and embroidered suzani.

Dine at a local restaurant this evening.

Overnight: Wyndham Bukhara or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Following a lecture by your Harvard Study Leader, continue to explore Bukhara with visits to Poi Kalon, the Ark Citadel, and the Ismael Samani Mausoleum. Learn about the history and architecture of these significant sites.

Continue to the Zindan Prison and the Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, which features a sacred spring and the Water Supply History Museum of Bukhara.

Admire the Chor Minor Madrassah and ascend the enclosed water tower for drinks and hors d'oeuvres with a panoramic view of Bukhara.

Dine at a local restaurant for dinner.

Overnight: Wyndham Bukhara or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Explore Bukhara with a morning guided tour, visiting sites like the Summer Palace of the last Emir of Bukhara and its Museum of National Crafts, Bahauddin Naqshband Mausoleum, and a village studio specializing in the art of suzani.

After lunch, enjoy free time for rest and independent exploration.

Overnight: Wyndham Bukhara or similar

Meals: B, L

Check out of your hotel in Bukhara and embark on an approximately 8-hour drive across the Kyzyl Kum Desert to Khiva. Have lunch at a rest area along the way.

Upon arrival in Khiva, take a walk in the old town and have dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Farovon Khiva Hotel or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Attend a lecture at your hotel by your Harvard Study Leader before spending the day exploring Khiva with your guide.

Khiva's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a well-preserved example of a Silk Road oasis. Visit the Tash Hauli Palace, the largest existing building in Khiva, which was the home of the Khan and his four wives. Admire the Islam Khoja Madrassah & Minaret, known for its towering minaret—the tallest in Uzbekistan.

Explore the Muhammad Amin-Khan Madrassah and the Kalta Minor, an unfinished minaret with stunning turquoise tiles. See the Tash-Hauli Palace, the former residence of the Khan, and the Kunya Ark, the khan's fortress and residence.

Have lunch at a local restaurant before learning about Khiva's wood carving tradition at the Juma Mosque and meeting with an expert from the Khorezm Academy of Mamun.

Also see the mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, built in 1810 to honor the patron of Khiva.

Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Farovon Khiva Hotel or similar

Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Khiva and transfer across the border to Turkmenistan. Be prepared for some walking between border checkpoints and a change of vehicles at the borders. Customs formalities can be time-consuming, so patience is advised.

Dashoguz, located in northern Turkmenistan near the Uzbek border, is a small regional capital with a rich history as a stopover for Silk Road travelers. Stop here for lunch and, time permitting, a visit to a local market before transferring to the airport for your flight to Ashgabat.

Upon arrival in Ashgabat, take a scenic transfer to your hotel, allowing you to see the capital city illuminated in a bright rainbow of neon lights.

Have dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Oguzkent Hotel or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Have a full day exploring Ashgabat with your guide.

Start at the archaeological site of Nisa, located 15 miles outside Ashgabat, which was once a major center of the ancient Parthian Kingdom. Explore the remains of Nisa with a local archaeologist.

Next, see the impressive mosque in Kipchak, former Turkmen President Niyazov's hometown. This mosque, inaugurated in 2004, is large enough to hold 10,000 people and features a 164-foot golden dome. The mosque also houses the family mausoleum where Niyazov is buried.

Continue to the National Museum of Turkmen Carpets to admire an abundance of gorgeous carpets, kilims, cushions, and costumes. Learn about the nuanced differences in carpet and textile patterns among different Turkmen tribes and regions.

After lunch at a local restaurant, take a leisurely stroll through Independence Park, a huge green space in the center of the city lined with monuments and statues.

Visit the Monument of Neutrality, originally built by Niyazov with a revolving golden statue of himself. The monument now includes the Museum of Neutrality and a transparent elevator.

In the evening, gather for a festive Farewell Dinner featuring a folk show with Turkmen costumes and music.

Overnight: Oguzkent Hotel or similar

Meals: B, L, D

Check out and head to the airport in time for your outbound flight(s).

Meals: B