In the heart of Central Asia


Itinerary:
" Tashkent-Nukus-Muynak-Khiva-Bukhara-Samarkand-Darband-Boysun-Termez-Tashkent–Fergana Valley-Tashkent "

Duration: 16 DAYS / 15 NIGHTS days

Price of the trip from : 0 $

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

  •  Accommodation (15 nights) in the hotels 4*-3*
  • Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Transfers Airport / Hotel / Airport
  • Surface transport by air-conditioned comfortable vehicle for the whole trip
  • English speaking guide from the beginning to the end of the trip
  • Entrance fee on all mentioned sights
  • One liter of water per day p/pax
  • Dinner at the Nadir Divan Begi madrassah with folk show.
  • Studio of Valentina Romanenko
  • Domestic flight Tashkent – Nukus
  • Domestic flight Termez - Tashkent 

 

NOT INCLUDED:

  • Personal expenses
  • Fee for photos on sights
  • Visa fee
  • Tips for guides and drivers

Program

Day 1 TASHKENT

Arrival at Tashkent. Transfer and accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast. Time for rest.

Lunch.

Sightseeing in the capital: Stroll through the ancient part of the city, visiting Khast Imam square, the spiritual hearth of Muslims of Central Asia with its library keeping the oldest Coran of the Islamic world. In the Barak- Khan madrassah meeting with the renowned artisans: miniaturists, sculptors and painters… Drop in at capital’s big market, Chorsu.

Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2  TASHKENT - NUKUS - MUYNAK - NUKUS ( flight + 200 km A/R )

Transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakistan.  

Arrival and accommodation at the hotel.

Visit famous Sovitsky museum with its rich collection of avant-garde paintings of Russian artists.

Lunch.

Drive to Muynak  for visiting the ships cemetery.

Meeting with karakalpak population.

Back to Nukus.

Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3  NUKUS - TOPRAK KALA - AYAZ KALA - KHIVA ( 200 km )

Depart to Khiva. On the way visit archeological sites Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala, two Zoroastrian citadels hidden in the heart of red sands.  We cross the second big river of Central Asia – Amoudarya (the unrestrained river). Lunch picnic.
Continuation of the way to Khiva. 
Arrival and accommodation at the hotel. 
Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 KHIVA

An amazing city in the blue faience, hidden in the desert Kizilkum (red sands), on the bank of the Amu Darya river (the unrestrained river), Khiva offers to eager travelers the architecture different from that of other Uzbek cities, with her 52 historical monuments. 

City tour of the inner part of Khiva - Itchan Kala.

Lunch during the visits.

Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 KHIVA - BUKHARA ( 480 km )

Depart to Bukhara crossing the Kyzyl-Kum desert and Amu Darya river. On the way we stop to meet the fanciers of the Central Asian karakul sheep. 

Lunch on the way.

Arrival at Bukhara, a monastery-city, a place of education and pilgrimage. Lunch picnic.

Accommodation at the hotel.

First acquaintance with the city, stroll along Lyabi Khauz Place, a former place of Bukhara Emir’s treasurer.

Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

 Day 6 BUKHARA

Full day of touring in Bukhara: Splendid Poi-Kalyan Square, with its minaret of 13c., the main symbol of Great Silk Road, serving in former times as a lighthouse for caravanneers; Abdul-Azizkhan mosque – a royal mosque of 16 c. Ark citadel; Chor-Minor madrassah; Ismail Samani mausoleum – the oldest building in the Central Asia, the pearl of the world architecture; Royal mosque Bolo Khauz.

Lunch during the visits.

Dinner at the Nadir Divan Begi madrassah with folk show.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 BUKHARA

Continuation of the visits: Royal mosque Bolo Khauz;  the residence of Emir of Bukhara - Sitorai Mokhi Hosa; Bakhauddin Nakshbandi ensemble, the place of pilgrimage for the believers of Central Asia.  

Lunch during the visits.

Dinner.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8 BUKHARA - SAMARKAND ( 280 km )

Depart to Samarkand, city situated on the crossroads of caravan ways.

Arrival at Samarkand and accommodation at the hotel.

Lunch.

Sightseeing in the capital of Tamerlane’s powerful empire: Registan Square – the heart of Samarkand with its three madrassahs – representatives of the great past of this city; Gur-Emir mausoleum – the burial place of the Tamerlane and his dynasty (XIV-XV c.).

Visit the studio of famous Uzbek fashion designer Valentina Romanenko.

Dinner.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9 SAMARKAND

Whole day of sightseeing: Bibi-Khanim mosque, its blue dome competes with the firmament; Siyab local bazaar – taste the best breads and fruits of Samarkand; Shakhi-Zinda necropolis appears as the necklace of masterpieces, spreading by the sparkling train on the slopes of ancient Afrosiab; Visit Ulugbek observatory, the first and biggest observatory in the Orient.

Lunch during the visits.

Dinner.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 SAMARKAND - SHAKHRISSABZ - DARBAND ( 300 km )

Drive to Shakhrissabz. The road goes through the beautiful mountains landscapes. Sightseeing tour of Shakhrisabz, place famous thanks to Tamerlane, who was born in the neighboring village. Visit the summer residence of Great ruler - Ak-Saray Palace and other monument of this green city. Lunch and depart to Darband, significant caravan passage between two ancient greek satrapies Bactria and Sogdiana. Arrival at Darband, discovery of Surkhandarya region, the region of musicians, shamans and beautiful nature. Visit the Grand Canyon, and discover the landscape typical for the south of Uzbekistan.

Dinner and overnight in the national house. 

Day 11 DARBAND - BOYSUN - TERMEZ ( 180 km )

Depart for visiting Boysun, city under UNESCO protection.

Situated in the south-east of Uzbekistan, on the road connecting Asia Minor with India, Boysun is one of the most ancient populated regions in Central Asia. Decline of the Great Silk Road and the political shocks reflected on Central Asia, lead to the isolation of the region. These circumstances favored to preservation of ancient traditions, traces of various religions, namely shamanism, Zoroastrism, the Buddhism and Islam. 

Visit Boysun museum; market, a real kaleidoscope of people of various nationalities; artisanal workshop "Boysun Art" with the assistance of UNESCO.

Lunch. Meeting with bakhshi, national musicians-healers.

Depart to Termez. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel.

Visit splendid Archeological museum and Zurmala tower.

Dinner.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12 TERMEZ - TASHKENT ( flight )

Sightseeing in Termez : Kirk Kiz  fortress; Kara Tepem archeological site, the wintess of Kushan Empire and the unique Buddhist site in Uzbekistan,  Fayaz Tepe ; Sultan Saadat mausolem. 

Lunch during the visits.

Dinner. 

Transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Tashkent.

Arrival and accommodation at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 TASHKENT - KOKAND - FERGANA ( 350 km )

Drive to Fergana via Kokand. The road is decorated with snow tops and green slopes. Cross the gorge "Kamchik" -2700 m. The important role in development of Kokand and its crafts belonged to the Great Silk Road, in 10 century the city became important commercial centre at the crossroads of caravan ways. Visits and lunch in Kokand. Continuation of a way to Fergana.

Arrival and accommodation at the hotel.

Dinner.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14 FERGANA - MARGUILAN - RISHTAN

Depart to Marguilan (35km), town famous for its picturesque market and its silk production. Visit Yodgorlik silk factory, where you can see the process of producing silk. Lunch. Continue way to Rishtan (45km), famous for its numerous potters. Visit the ceramic workshops. Back to Fergana. 

Dinner.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15 FERGANA - TASHKENT

Visit the city centre, the most beautiful city of green valley, called Uzbek Switzerland.

After lunch depart to Tashkent. On the way the meeting with cotton growers.

Arrival and accommodation at the hotel.

Dinner.  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16 TASHKENT

Transfer to the airport for the flight home.