Uzbekistan - 10 Days
Day 1 Arrival to Tashkent
Welcome to the cross road of the Silk Road on this Central Asia Tour! You are landed in a heart of Central Asia.
You will be transferred from the airport of Tashkent to a hotel, and on the way to the hotel you will be given a short summary describing Uzbekistan in this Central Asia Tour. Once we have checked into the hotel, we will have some time to rest before Welcome Dinner before starting this tour of Central Asia. Today we’ll overnight in Tashkent.
Day 2 – Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
We will have breakfast at the hotel, we’ll have a full day of sightseeing in the historical city of Tashkent. First we will explore the oldest part of the city, where you will see vividly colorful and eclectic bazaars, as well as spectacular architectural wonders. After lunch we will continue on to the modern part of the city, where you will see beautiful contemporary buildings flanked by walls of fountains. We will visit the Amir Timur museum and a museum of Handcrafted Art, and then have dinner at a local restaurant before spending the night in Tashkent.
Day 3 – Tashkent – Samarkand (Uzbekistan) – 190 mi.
After breakfast we will take a train to world famous Samarkand located 190 mi from Tashkent. The road to Samarkand is via Syrdarya and Jizzakh provinces and takes approximately 3 hours. We will arrive to Samarkand in the afternoon, check in to hotel and have lunch. After short rest we’ll start our excursion of Samarkand by visiting Paper Mills Factory where we’ll have a presentation of paper production from mulberry tree, Afrasiyob Museum, Ulugbek’s observatory – dated to 1428 - 1429 – known as biggest observatory of the East with best equipment to the time. After dinner at one of the local restaurants we’ll transfer to hotel for overnight in Samarkand.
Day 4 – Samarkand (Uzbekistan)
After breakfast at the hotel today we’ll have a full day sightseeing of Samarkand. Visit heart of the city – Registan Square which played great role in commercial and scientific life of the time. Gur Emir Mausoleum - mausoleum for the males of Temurid’s dynasty, real masterpiece of Central Asian architecture. Shaki Zinda Necropolis in the northern outskirts of Samarkand. Bibi – Khanum Mosque construction of which started in 1399 after Victorian campaign of Temur to India. Central bazaar of Samarkand- Siyobian where we’ll taste famous round bread (non) made only in Samarkand. After this long day, we’ll have dinner at one of the local restaurants and overnight in Samarkand.
Among the impressive sights we will visit are the Gur Emir Mausoleum, Ulugbek’s Observatory, and the Bibi-Khanum Mosque. At the end of the day we will dine at a local restaurant and retire for the night at the hotel in Samarkand.
Day 5 – Samarkand – Bukhara – 172mi. (Uzbekistan)
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart Samarkand for Bukhara. Stop on the way at the ruins of medieval monument Caravanserai Rabat-i-Malik. Continue driving to Bukhara via Gijduvan where we’ll visit Abdulla’s pottery house where we’ll be offered short presentation and a cup of tea. Upon arrival to Bukhara, we’ll accommodate at the hotel. Visit Chor Minor memorial. Today we’ll dinner in one of the local restaurants and will overnight in Bukhara.Today we’ll overnight in Bukhara. abz is a scenic ninety miles through mountain ranges, fruit orchards, fertile fields and vineyards. When we arrive in the city we will do quite a bit of sightseeing, visiting monuments and mosques, and mausoleums. One of the sights we will visit is the imposing Ak-Saray, called the White Palace. This spectacular architectural wonder was the favorite and most ambitious undertaking of the great ruler Tamerlane.
We will have lunch in Shakhrisabz before continuing on to Bukhara, which is approximately a four –hour drive from Shakhrisabz.
Upon arriving in Bukhara we will check in to our hotel accommodations, and then head out for dinner at one of the local restaurants. We will spend the evening at the hotel in Bukhara.
Day 6 – Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
After breakfast we’ll have a full day of sightseeing of this ancient city. Bukhara is one of most historically rich cities on the Great Silk Road attracting attention of thousands of people with its unique heritage. Today we’ll visit: Samanid’s dynasty mausoleum known to be one of the best architectural samples of the Samanids period (875 - 999). Chashma Ayub Mausoleum – legend say is it of Prophet Jove. Bolo – Khauz Mosque. The Ark Forteress – Citadel is the most ancient memorial of Bukhara, on archeological matter dated to the 3rd century B.C. Kalon Complex – consists of minaret, Mosque and Madrasah both of which are still active. Magoki Attori Mosque. Ulugbek and Abdulazizi Khan madrasahs. Next we’ll visit most popular place of Bukhara – reservoir Lyabi Khauz complex built in 1620 by khans’ dignitary Nodir Devan Begi. We’ll end the day with a dinner at the local restaurant followed by a show program. Today we’ll overnight in Bukhara.
Day 7 – Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
After breakfast we’ll continue second full day of sightseeing in Bukhara: former summer palace of Bukhara Emir Said Olimkhan – last Emir of Bukhara, Sitora – iMokhi – Khosa, Museum of Decorative Applied Art. We’ll be back to Bukhara in time for dinner and have another overnight in Bukhara.
Day 8 Bukhara – Khiva -350 miles (Uzbekistan)
After breakfast at the hotel, today we’ll have a long day ahead making our way through Kyzyl Kum desert going from Bukhara to Khiva. We’ll cover over 350 mi and spend most part of the day on the road. While it is a rather hard day, it is the only way to get from Bukhara to Khiva and we’ll try to make it as pleasant as possible. On the way we’ll make stops to visit ancient ruins Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala. We’ll have a picnic lunch and upon arrival accommodate in hotel in Khiva for rest and relaxation. Khiva is a fascinating place, walk through Ichan Kala – old walled city of Khiva, will give you an insight into the life led there from ancient days up to the present time. We’ll have a dinner at the local restaurant followed by a show program. Overnight is at the hotel in Khiva.
Day 9 – Khiva – Urgench
After breakfast at hotel today we’ll have a full day sightseeing in Khiva: visit Ichan Kala – a UNESCO World Heritage Site including madrasah Muhammad Amin Khan, Kelta Minar, Kunya Ark, madrasah Muhammad Rakhimkhan. We’ll have lunch at local restaurant and continue sightseeing program: visit Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrasah, Djuma Mosque and Minaret, Tash Hovli Palace. After dinner at the local restaurant we’ll proceed to airport for a flight back to Tashkent by HY-1058 08:40/10:10 (subject to change). Upon arrival to Tashkent, we’ll accommodate in hotel for overnight and rest.
Day 10 Khiva – Tashkent – Departure
All that has a beginning comes to an end. Today is the end of our Central Asia Tour. After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll take you to for airport of Tashkent for a departure home. Thank you for being with us!