20/06/2018
«The Pearl of Central Asia»
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Duration: 14 days/13 nights
Places to visit: Tashkent, Kokand, Rishtan, Margilan, Khiva, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz, Samarkand
Tour type: cultural, historical
Group size: min - 4 persons
Language: English, French, German, Spain, Italian etc.
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Tour itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by _________ driverand transferred to the hotel.Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Tashkent
Breakfast at the hotel.Sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia with a guide. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Qoran of Caliph Uthman has been preserved. In Khast-Imam visit Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore Chorsu Bazaar.
Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to city center with Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Tashkent – Kokand
At 07:00 transfer to the train station. Take train “Uzbekistan” departing to Kokand at 08:05. Arrive in Kokand at 12:00. Meet your guide and driver and start sightseeing tour in Ferghana Valley. Visit the Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Jami Mosque, Kamol-Kazy Madrasah and Norbut-biy Madrasah. Check in to the hotel for overnight.
Day 4: Kokand –Rishtan–Ok Yer village - Margilan – Tashkent
Early breakfast at the hotel.In the morning, drive to Rishtan to the house of a well-known ceramic master RustamUsmanov whose works are exhibited on world exhibitions. Enjoy a pottery workshop and have a look at ceramic collection in a small museum. Then drive to Ok Yer village to the house of craftsman Bakhrom-aka to visit a traditional Kyrgyz family manufacturing wool carpets.
Free time for lunch. After lunch drive to Margilan and visit Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrasah. Today, madrasah is home to a number of craftsmen producing handmade carpets and silk. Have a walk on traditional market and continue to Yodgorlik Silk factory to see the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns.
At 15:40 transfer to railway station to take the train “Uzbekistan” departing to Tashkent at 16:40. Scheduled arrival time is 21:20. Pick-up and transfer to hotel in Tashkent. Overnightatthehotel.
Day 5: Tashkent – Urgench - Khiva
Breakfast at the hotel.Early morning transfer to local airport for flight to Urgench (1093 km, 1 h. 40 min.). Arrive in Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 35 min.). Later proceed for guided walking sightseeing tour. Spend a day in UNESCO World Heritage site Itchan-Kala Fortress. Visit Kunya Ark Citadel, Tash-Khovli Palace, MukhammadAminkhan Madrasah, MukhammadRahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, PakhlavanMakhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-Khoja. Free time in the afternoon.Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Khiva – Fortresses of Ancient Khorezm – Khiva
Breakfast at the hotel.Our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Khiva at 09:00. Trip to Kyzylkum Desert (150 km, 1,5-2 h) and visiting of archaeological monuments of Ancient Khorezm: you will visit Kyzyl-Kala - a unique monument of Ancient Khorezm architecture relevant to Kushan- Afrigid period of antique history, Toprak-Kala -ancient settlement which was the capital of Khorezm in the III century AD. Not without reason Toprak-Kala is called "the museum of fine arts of Ancient Khorezm". It is the only completely dug out monument of architecture of Khorezm. Its sizes and genius of architectural design make Toprak-Kala one of the most unique monuments of Khorezm. There is a legend that the ancient subterranean passage connects Toprak-Kala and Kyzyl-Kala. It is quite possible that Kyzyl-Kala carried out the protective functions. Then we’ll visit one of the largest fortresses of Ancient Khorezm –Ayaz-Kala, II century AD, relevant to the period of Kushan Empire prosperity. Ayaz- Kala was neither a city nor a settlement, it was a fortress complex where nearly 19 centuries ago boundary groups of Kushan dynasty settled down. Return to Khiva.
Day 7: Khiva – Bukhara
Early breakfast at the hotel.In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h.). The Great Silk Road once routed through Bukhara and Khiva ran through the Kyzyl K*m Desert, as the present road does nowadays**.
Stop en-route to enjoy views of Amu Darya River and the desert. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel.
*we advise preparing lunch-boxes for this trip.
**some parts of the road are presently being renovated.
Day 8: Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel.Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel.Start the second day with a visit to SitoraiMokhi-Khosa – summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to Bakhouddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Bukhara - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel.In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to Samarkand via Shakhrisabz (275 km, 4 h.*). Stop in Shakhrisabz for city tour. Visit Mausoleum of Jakhongir in Dor-us Saodat Memorial Complex, remains of Ak-Saray Palace, Dor-utTilavat Ensemble with Kok-Gumbaz Mosque and burial vault of Tamerlane’s father. In the afternoon continue driving to Samarkand (90 km, 2 h.*). Arrive in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel.Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum – authentic shrine of Tamerlane.Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Samarkand - Tashkent
Breakfast at the hotel.Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour.
At 16:00 transfer to railway station to take the fast-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent at 17:00 (300 km). Scheduled arrival time is 19:10. Pick-up and transfer to hotel in Tashkent. Overnightatthehotel.
Day 13: Tashkent – Beldersay – Chimgan – Charvak – Tashkent
Breakfast at the hotel.At 08:30 pick-up from hotel lobby and transfer to Beldersay. At 10:00 am start of cableway working hours (Beldersay). Ascent by chair-lift to the height of 2300 m (25 min.). View of the surrounding from the top. Descent by chair-lift.Meeting of the group and transfer to Chimgan (15 min.) Free time to explore the area (possibilities for horse ride, drive on quadrocycle). Meeting of the group and return to Tashkent.Photo-stop in Charvak. Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to hotel.
Day 14: Tashkent – departure
Breakfast at the hotel.Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.
ACCOMMODATION:
City Hotels Number
of nights
Tashkent Uzbekistan3+*, Golden Valley 3* 5
Kokand Khan 3*, Dangara 3* 1
Khiva Arkanchi 3*, Old Khiva 3* 2
Bukhara Kukaldosh 3*, Modarikhon 3* 3
Samarkand Orient Star 3*,Platan 3* 2
TOUR PRICE per person in USD:
Pax: Price upon request
Full board (lunches and dinners): + 15-16$ per day.
Price includes: 1. Transportation throughout the tour, including airport/train stations pick-ups and drop offs;
2. Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
3. Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
4. Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
5. Economy-class ticket for train Tashkent – Kokand;
6. Economy-class ticket for train Margilan -Tashkent
7. Economy class ticket for flight Tashkent-Urgench;
8. Economy-class ticket for train Samarkand-Tashkent;
9. Visa support for Uzbekistan tourist visa.
Price does not include: 1. International tickets;
2. Full board (lunches and dinners);
3. Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa;
4. Travel insurance (upon request);
5. Hotel charges for additional services.
