Highlights of Uzbekistan

Itinerary :

Day 1: Tashkent (Arrival) (Tue): Upon morning arrival at Tashkent airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Explore the capital of Uzbekistan: Independence Square, Amir Temur Square, and Alisher Navoi Theatre Square; Monument of Courage. Visit to the Museum of Applied Arts located in the former residence of Russian diplomat Polovtsev; metro, Lal Shastri monument. Overnight in Tashkent. (B)
Day 2: Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva (Wed): After breakfast, Transfer to the airport for morning flight to Urgench. Upon arrival direct drive to Khiva. Check in to hotel. Visit the most important monuments of the Khiva city, such as the Kunya-Ark citadel, the mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmoud, the Juma – Friday mosque, the Palace of Tash Hauli, madrassah and minaret of Islam Khodja (XIX c.). Take part in cooking Uzbek bread “non“. Overnight in Khiva. (B)
Day 3: Khiva – Bukhara (Thu): After breakfast, Drive to Bukhara via Kyzylkum dessert. Overnight in Bukhara. (B)
Day 4: Bukhara (Fri): After breakfast, start the day with a visit to the central complex Lyabi Hauz built around the pool with a fountain. The square was founded in the 16th – 17th centuries. The square of Lyabi Hauz is surrounded by several madrassahs, the most important of which are those of Nodir Divan-Begi, Khanaka and that of Kukeldash. Magoki-Attari mosque (XII c., XVI c.). We take a walk under the three ancient trading domes: Tok-i-Sarrafon – Moneychangers Bazaar, Tok-i-Tilpak Furushon – Cap makers Bazaar, Taqi Zargaron – Jeweler’s Bazaar. Enjoy bazaars full of various traditional articles and souvenirs; Kosh Madrassah of Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan. Enjoy tea time to sample teas with various flavours (cardamom, anise, cinnamon, oregano and others). Continue with Poi-Kalyan Ensemble, the symbol of the city. The complex consists of the Kalyan minaret (XII c.), the lighthouse for caravans for centuries; Friday mosque (XV c.) and the Miri-Arab madrassah, active Koran teaching center (outside visit only). Folklore performance with fashion presentation at the ancient madrassah (weather permitting). Overnight in Bukhara. (B)
Day 5: Bukhara – Samarkand (Sat): After breakfast, Countryside excusions to Sitora-i-Mokhi-Khosa, a summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara. Return to Bukhara and continues tour in the city: Samanids Mausoleum – a masterpiece of Central Asian architecture; Chashma-Ayub shrine known as a curative source; Bolo-Khauz mosque; Fortress Ark (citadel) – a fortified residence of Emirs of Bukhara; Chor Minor, a colorful madrassah with four peculiar looking towers, which was used as a library for students. Later in afternoon transfer to the railway station for high-speed train to Samarkand. Arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Samarkand. (B)
Day 6: Samarkand (Sun): Breakfast at the hotel. A full day exploring the marvelous sites of Samarkand, Timur’s capital: the Reqistan square surrounded by the three splendid madrassahs, was intersected by six main trade routes in the time of Timur. The oldest Ulugbek madrassah with its blue tilled facade was built in XV c. Two centuries later the Sher-Dor madrassah was built with the similar blue tilled facade. When in XVII c. the Tillya-Kari madrassah was finished, the square was harmoniously completed. Today Registan square is considered to be the most beautiful square in Central Asia; the Bibi Khanym Mosque, named after one of Timur’s beloved wives, is a little further on. Enjoy a brief stroll through the colourful Siab bazaar; the necropolis of Shakhi Zinda IX–XIV and XIX c. – one of the holiest pilgrimage places in Uzbekistan. The huge gate and 70 m long staircase leads us to the alley between nearly 20 mausoleums. Here we admire the finest works in glazed ceramic of Central Asian and Islamic art. Mausoleum of Gur-Emir of Timur himself and his descendents. The octagonal complex with marble and onyx interior and a gold ceiling was completed in 1404. Overnight in Samarkand. (B)
Day 7: Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand (Mon): After breakfast, drive to Shakhrisabz (90 km, by cars), motherland of Tamerlan. Enjoy tour of Shakhrisabz: Remnants of Ak-Sarai Palace, Kok-Gumbas mosque & Gumbazi-Seidan mausoleum (Dorut Tilovat ensemble, XIV century), Khazret-Imam mosque (Dorus-Siadat ensemble, XIV century). Return to Samarkand. Overnight in Samarkand. (B)
Day 8: Samarkand – Tashkent (Tue): After breakfast, transfer to railway station to take a high-speed express train to Tashkent. Check in at hotel. Continue city tour of Tashkent: visit to Khast Imam Square with Barak Khan madrassah founded in the 16th century by a descendant of Tamerlane who ruled Tashkent for the Shaybanid dynasty, Tillya Sheykh Mosque, the district Friday Mosque and the mausoleum of Kafal Shashi, local doctor, philosopher and poet. Continue excursion by visiting the Ceramics workshop “Usto-Shogyrd” founded by world famous ceramic masters of fifth and sixth generation Akbar Rakhimov and his son Alisher Rakhimov; Chorsu bazaar. Overnight in Tashkent. (B)
Day 9: Tashkent (Wed): After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for flight back home. (B)