Uzbekistan 11 Days

Breakfast in the hotel. City tour in old part of the city: the architectural complex « Khazrati-Imam »: Barak-Khan Madrasah (16th c.), The Kaffal-Shashi mausoleum (15th c.), Kukeldash Madrasah (16th c.), the Juma mosque (9th c.), Chorsu gigantesque oriental bazaar on the right of the square Chorsu. Free lunch. Transfer to airport. Departure to Urgench with flight. Arrival in Urgench – the administrative centre of the Khorezm region. Transfer to Khiva – the only « Museum-city under the open sky » in Central Asia that has been completely preserved up to the present day (35 km, 30 min) and accommodation. Dinner athotel.O/n at hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. City tour around the architectural complex Ichan-Qala – the historical center of Khiva, which has been inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List: Kunya-Ark khan’s castle – the inner citadel of Ichan-Qala (16-17th cc.), Kalta Minor Tower (Short minaret) that would have become the biggest and tallest minaret in Central Asia (19th c.), Muhammad Amin-Khan – the biggest medieval medressa in Khiva (1845-1855 yy.), Djuma Mosque with 213 wooden columns and a minaret 32,5 m height (10th c.). Free lunch at local restaurant. Following tour of Khiva: Tash-Hauli (Stone courtyard) palace looking like a fortress with a high battlements, towers and fortified gates (19th c.), Ak-Mosque (White Mosque) – a small quarter mosque by the gates of Palvan-Darvaza (1838-1842), necropolis of Pahlavan Mahmud – the cultic center of Ichan-Qala (1810-1913 yy.), residence of Islam Khodja (1910 y.) – the Vizier (Minister) of the last khan. Ensemble consists of the smallest medressa in Khiva and a minaret whose top platform has a height of 45 m and is the highest observation point in town. Dinner in open air restaurant with local red dry wine offered by local agency (1/4 bottle/person)*. O/n at hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Starting at 07:00 drive to Bukhara (480 km, 8hrs)through the desert along the course of the Amudarya River. You’ll make a short photo stop at the sight of Amudarya (Oxus River).Picknick lunchbox on road riverside teahouse. We arrive late this afternoon in Sacred Bukhara – one of the most esteemed cities of Islamic civilization. Accommodation. Free time. Walking around streets of ancient Bukhara. Free dinner.O/n at hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Visit the Jewish Quarter with Sinagogue. SS of Bukhara: Poikalon (XII—XVI c) architectural ensemble of “Masjidi Kalon”, “Miri Arab” madrasah and minaret Kalon (46 m). Ulugbek Madrassah 1417 was the earliest of three commissioned by the enlightened Timurid ruler. Abdul Aziz Khan Madrassah (1652). Trading Domes including TogiZargaron, Togi Telpakfurushon and Togi Saraffon Afghan trades. Tim Abdullakhan and one of the most elegant trade halls. Magoki Attori mosque, Labi-Hauz (XVI—XVII c) — a complex with Nodir — Devon Begi madrasa. Free lunch.ARK Fortress (VI — XIX c) — in middle ages it was a whole town with the emirs house, with wives, mosques mint place, government institutes, store rooms, a prison and a square for public executions, Bolo Khous Ensemble, Samanid mausoleum (IXc) 1st brick building shaped as cube covered by dome with unrepeatable geometrical brickwork design, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum. Dinner with european classic music at Minzifa cafe*. O/n at hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. A trip out of the city for a visit to summer residence Sitorai-Mokhi-Hossa (19th c.), Fayzullah Khodjaev House (Merchant house) (XIX c) — House of a Bukhara merchant 150 years old. Visit Shavkat Boltaev’s photogallery in Caravansary. Free lunch. PM, free time: possibility to go to bazaar, hammam, massage of legs*. Dinner at local restaurant. O/n at hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Departure to Shakhrisabz at (270 km, 4, 5 hours). On the way, short stop(to drink a cup of tea or coffee,water).Free lunch on road at Tea House. On arrival in Shakhrisabz, city tour around Shakhrisabz: ruins of Ak-Saray Palace (14-15th c.), Dor-ut Tillavat complex: Gumbazi-Sayidon, Kok Gumbaz Mosque (15th c.), Dor-ut Saodat complex: Khazrati Imam Mosque (14th c.), Jahongir mausoleum (14th c.), walking in oriental bazaar. After that departure to Samarkand by plain road (145 km, 3 hours). On the road, stop 2-3 times where tourists could take pictures of beautiful landscapes. Arrival to Samarkand. Accommodation. Dinner at hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Sightseeing to Ulughbek Observatory, Saint Daniel mausoleum,visit to the workshop of artisans – potters, located near the river of Siob on the eastern wall of Afrosiyob, famous museum of the ancient city of Afrosiab, Architectural complex Shakhi-Zindeh (11—15th c.). Free lunch. PM Visit, Mausoleum Guri Emir – Tamerlane’s Tomb (14—15th c.). Visit famous silk paper factory. Visit « Aiesha » – a small oriental costume & textile workshop of Valentina Romanenko. In the workshop « Aiesha » travelers have the opportunity to see ethno fashion show. Dinner in the city with local red dry wine. O/n at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel, following tour of Samarkand: Registan square: Medreseh Ulughbek (15th c.), Medreseh Shir-Dor (17th c.), MedresehTilla-Kori (17th c.). Bibi-Khonum Mosque, market place, Free lunch in city. PM free. Dinner in the city in the national house with possibility to familiarize with host family. After dinner “Samarkand by night” on bus. O/n at hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Coach trip to Tashkent (310 km, 5 hrs ). On the route (in 110 km from Samarkand), stop to see the Gate of Tamerlan , well-known in Central Asia historical place, laying in gorge of mountains Nura-tau on which the fast mountain small river Sanzar proceeds.. Arrival to Tashkent. Free lunch. Accommodation. Afternoon city tour in modern part of the city: Museum of Art, Amir Temur Square, Broadway, Tashkent Metro, Independence Square. (Possibility to see Opera or Ballet evening performance in Theatre. Farewell dinner at restaurant. O/n at hotel.

Transfer to airport. Departure.