If the changes in the following conditions have been clearly communicated in writing to the client before the conclusion of the contract and they are properly provided for in the program;
Any changes subsequent to the conclusion of the contract are subject to prior agreement of both the agency and the client, except as provided in the "impossibility of comply" clause.
These general conditions comply with the provisions of Decree-Law 61/2011 of May 6th, as amended by Decree-Law 199/2012 of August 24th.
The general conditions, which refer to an organized trip described in this program, along with the specific conditions provided to the client in the travel documentation at the time of booking, constitute the travel contract that binds the agency and the client.
The technical organization and sale of the activities included on this website are the responsibility of Papa-Léguas, a travel and tourism agency, with home office at Rua Manuel Assunção Mestre, nº22, 7780-199 Castro Verde, registered in the Commercial Registry Office of Lisbon with Taxpayer Identification Number 504163590. It has a share capital of €99,759.60 (ninety-nine thousand, seven hundred and fifty-nine euros and sixty cents). Papa-Léguas is also registered with the National Registry of Travel Agents and Tourism Operators (RNAVT) nº2275 and the National Registry of Tourist Animation Agents (RNAT) nº67/2014.
At the time of registration the client must deposit 30% of the service price, paying the remaining 70% up to 21 days before the service begins. If the registration takes place 21 days or less before the service begins, the total price of the service must be paid at the time of registration. Papa-Léguas, Agência de Viagens e Turismo Lda. reserves the right to cancel any booking that has not been paid for under the conditions mentioned above. Reservations are subject to the obtaining of a confirmation from suppliers for all services.
The prices of tours are presented per person and based on the occupation in a room shared by two people. The organizing agency will group clients who sign up individually for the same tour in pairs, by gender, and in chronological order of registration. Clients who are singled out must pay the respective individual supplement, when required by the service provider.
INFORMATION UNDER LAW N.º 144/2015 OF SEPTEMBER 8:
According to Law No. 144/2015 of September 8th, we inform that the customer may resort to the following Alternative Consumer Dispute Resolution Entities:
i) Customer Authority of Travel and Tourism Agencies at provedorapavt.com;
ii) Arbitration Commission of Tourism in Portugal at turismodeportugal.pt;
iii) Or any of the entities indicated in the list provided by the Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumidor.pt, which we recommend consulting.
Complaints will only be considered if submitted in writing to the agency within a maximum period of 30 days after the completion of the services.
In the event of a complaint regarding non-compliance with contracted services, the customer may activate the Travel and Tourism Guarantee Fund provided for in DL 61/2011 of May 6, in its current wording, by submitting the respective complaint:
i) To the Customer Authority, as Papa-Léguas, Travel and Tourism Agency Ltd., is a member of the Customer Ombudsman for Travel and Tourism Agencies at www.provedorapavt.com. To benefit from this service, you must submit your written complaint within 20 business days after the end of the trip. Agencies are bound to comply promptly with any decisions issued by this entity.
ii) To Tourism of Portugal I.P. at www.turismodeportugal.pt within 30 days after: (i) the end of the trip; (ii) the cancellation of the trip attributable to the agency; (iii) the date of knowledge of the impossibility of its realization due to the agency; (iv) the closure of the establishment.
iii) To any of the entities listed on the website of the General Directorate for Consumer Affairs at http://www.consumidor.pt.
1) The agency is responsible for the luggage in the legal terms;
2) The Client has the obligation to complain to the service provider at the moment of subtraction, deterioration or destruction of luggage.
3) In international transport, if the luggage is damaged, the complaint must be made in writing to the carrier immediately after the damage is verified, and no later than 7 days after delivery. If the luggage is merely late in delivery, the claim must be made within 21 days from the date of delivery.
4) The presentation of such a claim will be an essential basis for Papa-Léguas, Agência de Viagens e Turismo Lda. to hold responsible the entity providing the service.
The responsibility of the agency will be limited to the maximum amount that can be demanded from the service providers, in accordance with the Montreal Convention of May 28, 1999, on International Air Transport, and the Bern Convention of 1961, on Rail Transport.
Regarding maritime transport, the liability of travel agencies, concerning their clients, for the provision of transport services or accommodation, when applicable, by maritime transport companies, in the event of damages resulting from their willful misconduct or negligence, will be limited to the following amounts:
a) € 441,436, in case of death or physical injury;
b) € 7,881, in case of total or partial loss of baggage or its damage;
c) € 31,424, in case of loss of a motor vehicle, including the baggage contained therein;
d) € 10,375, in case of loss of baggage, whether accompanied or not, contained in a motor vehicle;
e) € 1,097, for damages to baggage resulting from the damage to the motor vehicle.
Where applicable, the liability of travel agencies and tourism for the deterioration, destruction, and theft of baggage or other items in tourist accommodation establishments, while the client is staying there, is limited as follows:
a) € 1,397, in total;
b) € 449 per item;
c) The value declared by the client regarding the items deposited under the custody of the tourist accommodation establishment.
The agency's liability for non-bodily damages may be contractually limited to an amount corresponding to five times the price of the service sold.
For each reservation the following will be charged:
Reservation Expenses:
Alteration Expenses:
For each alteration (names, dates, type of apartment or room, travel, etc) : 50€ (fifty euros). Please note that the acceptance of such changes depends on the acceptance by the respective suppliers.
The client must have their personal or family documentation in good order (identity card, military documentation, authorization for minors, visas, vaccination certificates, and any other documents that may be required). The agency disclaims any responsibility for visa refusal or the client's denial of entry into a foreign country. The client is solely responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such a situation.
Travel in European Union:
Travel outside the European Union:
If the travel suppliers involved allow it, whenever a customer who is registered for a particular trip wishes to change their registration to another trip or the same trip with a different departure date, or any other changes, they must pay a fee as alteration expenses. However, if the change takes place 21 days or less before the departure date of the trip for which the customer is registered, or if the service providers do not accept the change, the customer will be subject to the expenses and charges specified under the “cancellation (termination)” section.
Once the trip has started, if a request is made to change the contracted services for reasons not related to the agency (e.g., extending the number of nights of stay, changing the flight), the prices of the touristic services may not correspond to those published on the website that prompted the contract.
The customer may transfer their registration by being replaced by another person who meets all the required conditions for the trip, provided that they inform the selling agency at least seven days in advance and such transfer is possible under the applicable air transport regulations. In the case of cruises and air travel, the prescribed period will be fifteen days in advance.
The transfer of the registration makes both the transferor and the transferee jointly responsible for the payment of the trip price and any additional charges incurred.
Whenever there are external reasons that justify it, the organizing agency may change the order of the itineraries, modify the departure times, or substitute any of the planned hotels with others of similar category and location. The agency must inform the client of such changes as soon as they become aware of them.
When the tour is dependent on a minimum number of participants the Agency reserves the right to cancel the organized tour if the number of participants reached is less than the minimum. In such cases, the Client will be informed in writing of the cancellation within 15 (fifteen) days.
The prices in the program are based on the costs of services and exchange rates in effect on the date of printing of the program, and are therefore subject to change resulting from variations in the cost of transportation or fuel, duties, taxes, fees, and exchange rate fluctuations up to 20 days prior to the date of departure.
Once the tour has begun, no refund is due for services not used by the client due to unforeseeable circumstances or for reasons attributable to the client, except for refunds by the respective suppliers. Failure to provide services foreseen in the travel program for reasons attributable to the organizing agency and if it is not possible to replace them with equivalent ones, entitles the client receive a refund for the price difference between the originally anticipated services and the services actually provided.
If, prior to the start of the journey and due to circumstances beyond the control of the organizing agency, it becomes unable to fulfill any essential service included in the travel program, the client has the right to cancel the trip and immediately receive a refund of all amounts paid, or alternatively, accept a modification and possible price variation.
If the aforementioned circumstances beyond the control of the organizing agency result in the cancellation of the trip, the client may choose to participate in another organized trip of equivalent price. If the proposed replacement organized trip is of a lower price, the client will be refunded the price difference accordingly.
The client or their companions are free to cancel the trip at any time.
i) Such cancellation implies that the client is responsible for the payment of all charges arising from the beginning of the fulfillment of the contract and their withdrawal, as well as a percentage that can go up to 15% of the price of the trip.
ii) If applicable, the client will be refunded the difference between the amount paid and the aforementioned amounts.
iii) The cancellation of travel services/organized trips whose reservation has been made using the voucher issued under Decree-Law No. 17/2020 of April 23rd is subject to a cancellation fee equal to the price of the service, in order to prevent simulated or fraudulent reservations made solely with the intention of anticipating the receipt of the voucher-entitled values.
If for reasons not attributable to the client, the agency has to cancel the organized tour before the departure date, the client can choose to:
i) Being immediately refunded all amounts paid;
ii) Optionally, choose to participate in another organized tour and be refunded for any difference in price.
The liability of the travel agency organizing the trips included in this program and arising from the assumed obligations is covered by a civil liability insurance policy with Fidelidade Insurance Company, under policy number 9257343, for an amount of 75,000€ (Seventy-five thousand euros), in accordance with the applicable legislation.
The prices mentioned in this program already include the Value Added Tax at the current rate of 23%
This program is valid from 01/01/2025 to 12/31/2025.
Arrival or departure times:
Departure and arrival times are stated in the local time of the respective country of destination and according to respective airline schedules at the time of printing this program, and may therefore be subject to change.
Hotels / Apartments:
Apartments - In case the accommodation is contracted in apartments, the client is responsible for informing the number of people that will occupy the apartment. If there are more people than booked, the apartments may refuse admittance.
Hotels - The prices shown are per person and are based on double occupancy. Not all hotels have triple rooms and usually an extra bed is placed in the room, which may not be of equal quality. In rooms equipped with two beds or a double bed, the triple may consist only of those beds.
The list of hotels and apartments in the program is indicative, as is their category, which is based on local criteria and classifications that are sometimes different from those used in your home country.
Meals:
Unless otherwise indicated, the prices shown for the Half Board and Full Board supplements do not include drinks.
On arrivals at the hotel after 7PM the first meal service will be breakfast the next day, on the last day and except for the possibility of late check-out, the last service of the hotel will be breakfast.
Check-in and check-out times:
The check-in and check-out times on the first and last day, will be defined according to the first and last service. As a rule, without binding character, the rooms can be used from 2PM on the day of arrival and should be left free by noon (12PM) on the day of departure.
In the apartments, the entry takes place generally at 5PM on the day of arrival and must be left free by 10AM on the day of departure.
Special conditions for children:
Given the conditions applied for children (destination and provider) it is recommended to always question the special conditions that may apply to the tour in question.
Insurance:
The agency offers the sale of insurance that can be purchased depending on the tour to guarantee assistance situations and cancellation expenses.
See our full Data Protection and Privacy Policy here.
Documentation
For this trip, you need to have a passport with at least 6 months validity from the date of departure from the last country visited and two blank pages.
Transfers
For this trip, Papa-Léguas establishes a “group flight.” For travelers with the “group flight” (either purchased through Papa-Léguas or online), transfers are included.
If you arrive at a different time than the “group flight,” you can request an extra transfer from Papa-Léguas.
Trip Leader
This is an adventure and cultural discovery trip. The leader of this trip is someone with experience in the country being visited, possessing a network of contacts and knowledge that facilitates interaction and offers a unique cultural experience. Their role is to lead the group throughout the trip, helping to integrate the group with the local people and places.
The leader’s role should not be confused with that of a tour guide. The leader is not expected to have specific knowledge of monuments, museums, or other tourist sites.
If your trip includes locations that require a specialized guide (due to historical, geological, biological, or artistic complexity), the guide will be hired in advance, and this will be explicitly mentioned in your travel itinerary.
WhatsApp Group
One month before the trip departure, Papa-Léguas will create a WhatsApp group for easy and smooth interaction between travelers and the leader. If you do not agree with this action, please inform us.
O líder desta viagem é disponibilizado pelo operador com quem trabalhamos no destino.
Estamos a preparar o seu programa de viagem.
Aguarde por favor...
On this epic journey with tour leader Lisa Vaz to the heart of the Silk Road, cross some of the most iconic countries of Central Asia, such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan e Kazakhstan.
More than two thousand years ago, a commercial route was established, that connected two great civilizations, the European and the Chinese, attracting traders, adventurers, kings and commoners, to one of History’s most famous routes, the Great Silk Road.
On this trip,we’ll experience in a “modern caravan” the legacy of the past and the current lives that remain in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan of the mythical Silk Road, in the company of tour leader Lisa Vaz.
Flight from your city of origin to Tashkent. As there are no direct flights, you will likely have one or two layovers between Europe and Asia.
Overnight on the flight.
Note: the arrival/departure dates may vary, depending on your origin city. If you have any doubts, contact Papa-Léguas for further clarification.
Arrival in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Assistance at the airport and transfer to the hotel (if you are traveling on the "group flights") located in the city center.
"Early check-in" included.
At the scheduled time, meet the guide at the hotel for a full-day city tour of Tashkent.
The city tour includes the architectural complex of Hasti Iman, the Kaffal Shashi Madrasa, the Muyi Mubarak library, the Chorsu Bazaar, Independence Square, Amir Temur Square, and the Museum of Applied Arts.
Return to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and, at the scheduled time, transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Urgench, departing at 7:00 AM.
The flight duration is approximately 1h30m. Upon arrival in Urgench, assistance at the airport and transfer to Khiva, which takes about 50 minutes.
Upon arrival in Khiva, we will embark on a full-day city tour, which includes the walled city of Ichan Kala, the Allakuli Khan, Arab Muhammad-khan, and Muhammad Amin-khan madrasas, the Khoja Islamic complex, Kalta-Minor, the Kunya-Ark Citadel, the Makhmud Pakhlavan Mausoleum, and the Tash-Khovli Palace.
We will also enjoy the sunset views from the Kunya-Ark Tower.
Return to the hotel.
Today, we will travel by road through the landscapes of the Kyzyl-kum Desert, covering a total of 450 kilometers, with an estimated duration of about 7 hours. We will stop along the route for lunch.
This will be a long day of driving but a unique experience, as we cross one of the largest deserts in Central Asia and the eleventh largest desert in the world.
Arrival in Bukhara and check-in at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
At the scheduled time, meet with the guide for a full-day city tour of Bukhara.
The city tour includes the Mausoleum of the Samanids, the Bolo Hauz Mosque, the Poi Kalyan Mosque, the Ark Fortress, the Kalyan Minaret, the Mir-i-Arab, Ulughbek, and Abdullazizkhan Madrassas, the traditional money exchange trading centers such as Toki Zargaron, Toki Telpak Furushon, and Toki Sarrafon, and finally, the architectural complex of Lyabi Hauz.
Return to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time, depart to the outskirts of Bukhara to visit the Baghautdin Complex, the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, which includes the Chor Minor Madrassa and Sitorai Mokhi Khosa. This complex is also the center of the Nakshbandiya Dervish order.
After the visit, transfer to the train station to board the train to Samarkand, departing at 15:50 and arriving at 17:20. Upon arrival at Samarkand train station, assistance and transfer to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
At the scheduled time, meet with the guide for a full day city tour in Samarkand.
The city tour includes the Guri Emir Mausoleum, where the 14th/15th century tomb of Timur (Tamerlane) is located, as well as the tombs of his descendants, Amir Temur and his grandsons. We will also visit the iconic Registan Square, an exceptional example of 17th-century Central Asian urban architecture, composed of three remarkable madrassas: Ulugbek (1417-1420), Sher-Dor (1619-1636), and Tillya-Kari (1647-1660).
During the city tour, we will explore some of the many stories of Samarkand and visit emblematic sites such as the Bibi Khanum Mosque, the largest in Central Asia and one of the largest in the Muslim world. This structure is truly awe-inspiring due to its grandeur, beauty, and majesty. The silence it carries is as impressive as its size!
We will also visit the Shahi-Zinda architectural complex, dating from the 11th to 15th centuries. It served as the royal and noble burial site during the city’s golden periods. A highlight is the main mausoleum, an imaginary tomb of the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin, Kusam Ibn Abbas, known as "Shahi Zinda," meaning "The Living King" in Persian.
Return to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and a visit to the Siab Bazaar, one of the largest in Samarkand.
Free time for shopping before proceeding to the Ulugbek Observatory, a 15th-century site of significant scientific work by Ulugbek. The observatory features a massive quadrant housed within a cylindrical structure 48 meters in diameter. The original components were uncovered during archaeological excavations.
The city tour continues with a visit to the Tomb of the Prophet Daniel, revered in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Daniel, an Israelite prophet frequently referenced in the Old Testament, is said to have had some of his remains transported to Samarkand by Timur (Tamerlane), according to legend.
After concluding the city tour, transfer to the railway station to take the train to Tashkent. The scheduled departure is 16:27 and arrival at 18:48, subject to confirmation.
Upon arrival in Tashkent, assistance at the station and transfer to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and, at the scheduled time (around 7:00 AM), transfer to the train station to take the train to Kokand (08:25-12:20, schedule subject to changes).
Upon arrival in Kokand, assistance at the station and the start of the city tour.
The city tour in Kokand includes visits to:
The Palace of Khudayar Khan
The Mausoleum of Dhama and Shakton, also known as the "Tomb of Kings"
The Narboutabek Madrasa and Mausoleum
The Djoumi Mosque
At the end of the city tour, we proceed to Rishtan, a 45-minute drive, renowned for its ceramic production. From there, we continue to the hotel in Fergana (60 km).
Arrival, check-in, and free time.
Breakfast at the hotel, followed by transportation to the border with Kyrgyzstan in Dustlick.
After crossing the border, we continue the route to Osh. Today's journey covers approximately 130 kilometers in about 2 hours.
Upon arrival in Osh, we will take a short city tour, including a visit to Sulaiman Too, the sacred mountain of Solomon. This site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place of pilgrimage and offers stunning views of Osh from its location of great natural beauty.
Today will be a long day on the road, filled with breathtaking landscapes. Despite the duration, it is nothing compared to the arduous journeys of the ancient merchants of the Silk Road, who transported goods between Europe and the Middle and Far East.
The journey will take approximately 9-10 hours, covering a total of 280 km on mountain roads.
We will leave Osh early in the morning (no later than 8:00 AM). The first part of the route takes us to the city of Jalal Abad, followed by a climb to the Kaldama Ashuu Pass, located at an altitude of 3,000 meters, before continuing to the village of Kazarman.
Along the route, you will enjoy spectacular views with photo stops along the way.
Arrival and accommodation in a guesthouse. Dinner included.
After breakfast, we continue our journey toward the iconic Son Kul Lake.
Son Kul is a natural gem in the Naryn region, nestled in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan at an altitude of 3,016 meters, covering an area of 270 km².
We will have the unique privilege of spending the night in a yurt camp near the lake's shores, experiencing firsthand the preserved nomadic culture. This area serves as a rich pastureland during the summer months, attracting nomadic shepherd communities who set up their seasonal homes here.
We will arrive at the nomadic camp in the late afternoon. There will be free time before dinner to explore the serene lake surroundings.
In the evening, enjoy a traditional Kyrgyz dinner, followed by an overnight stay in a heated yurt.
Distance covered today: Approximately 200 km, with a travel time of 5-6 hours.
Today is dedicated to exploring and experiencing the unique cultural and natural beauty of Son Kul Lake.
This is a special opportunity to immerse ourselves in the nomadic traditions of the region and connect with its history.
Activities available during the day include:
A hike in the area, leading to a natural viewpoint where we can admire petroglyphs, remnants of the ancient nomadic tribes that once occupied this region.
A horseback ride (optional, additional cost of approximately USD 12 per person for two hours, paid locally).
A demonstration of the Kok-Buru game, Kyrgyzstan's national sport (optional, additional cost depending on the number of participants, paid locally).
All meals are included at the camp, where you can enjoy authentic Kyrgyz cuisine.
Spend the night in a yurt, continuing to savor the tranquil and culturally rich atmosphere of the Son Kul region.
Hoje, continuamos a nossa jornada pela Rota da Seda, envoltos na atmosfera nómada das montanhas do Quirguistão, até um dos seus locais mais emblemáticos, o Caravanserai de Tash Rabat.
Localizado a cerca de 3500 metros de altitude, próximo a um rio com o mesmo nome, este caravanserai remonta ao século XV e serviu como abrigo para caravanas e mercadores que percorriam a Rota da Seda. Originalmente construído como mosteiro, foi posteriormente transformado em um ponto estratégico de abastecimento para a travessia das Montanhas Tien Shan, a fronteira natural para o vasto planalto chinês e a região de Kashgar.
Rota do dia:
Partida do Lago Son Kul em direção a Naryn, atravessando o desafiador colo conhecido como "33 papagaios" devido às suas 33 curvas sinuosas, situado a uma altitude de 3132 metros (a travessia está sujeita às condições meteorológicas).
Paragem em Naryn para uma breve visita à sua Mesquita Azul.
Continuação da viagem até ao Caravanserai de Tash Rabat, com chegada ao final da tarde.
Após a chegada ao acampamento de yurts, faremos uma caminhada até ao caravanserai para explorarmos este local histórico.
Jantar incluído no acampamento e noite em yurt.
Hoje percorreremos cerca de 270 km, com uma duração aproximada de 5 horas de viagem.
Após o pequeno-almoço, iniciamos a nossa jornada em direção ao majestoso Lago Issyk Kul, com pernoita programada na vila de Bokonbaev.
Itinerário do dia:
Saída de Tash Rabat: Pela manhã, seguimos rota, atravessando paisagens deslumbrantes e vales montanhosos.
Paragem em Kochkor:
Visita a uma loja/museu que funciona como uma cooperativa de mulheres especializadas na confecção de objetos de feltro.
Assistiremos a uma demonstração detalhada do processo artesanal, preservado há gerações.
Chegada à região sul do Lago Issyk Kul:
Este é o décimo maior lago do mundo em volume e o maior lago salgado após o Mar Cáspio.
Faremos uma paragem na aldeia de Kyzyl Tuu, onde visitaremos um artesão especializado na construção de yurts e acompanharemos uma demonstração desse trabalho único e tradicional.
Final do dia:
Seguimos para Bokonbaev, onde está localizada a nossa guesthouse.
Jantar incluído e noite na guesthouse.
Distância percorrida: Cerca de 350 km.
Tempo de viagem estimado: 5-6 horas.
After breakfast, we will attend a demonstration of hunting with birds of prey, where we will also have the chance to try the traditional nomadic archery.
We will then head to the capital of Kyrgyzstan, the city of Bishkek. On the way, we will visit the famous Burana Tower and its complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tower, built in the 11th century, is located on the historic Silk Road and is the only remaining structure of the ancient city of Balasagun, destroyed by an earthquake in 1900. Nearby, there are also curious funerary steles known as "Bal-Bals", dating back to the 6th century, displayed outdoors.
Arrival in Bishkek, hotel check-in, and free time.
Dinner included, accompanied by a performance of Kyrgyz folklore, offering a cultural and musical immersion into local traditions.
Distance covered: Approximately 280 km.
Estimated travel time: 5 hours.
Transfer to the airport and flight back to your home city.
