Tracing Ancient Kingdoms of Uzbekistan

Destination: UZBEKISTAN
Route: TASHKENT – SAMARKAND – SHAKHRISABZ – TERMEZ – BUKHARA –KHIVA – TOPRAKKALA – FERGANA – TASHKENT
Duration: 14 nights, 15 days

Day 1. Tashkent

Arrive to Tashkent International Airport. Tashkent - The Capital of Independent Uzbekistan, the cosmopolitan city in the heart of Central Asia, the crossroad of different cultures. The city was an ancient center of The Great Silk Road, and where still today you can see the parts of the old city. After passport and customs controls you will be met by your guide/driver. Depart airport to hotel. Check in, rest. Depart for a dinner and o/n at the hotel.

Day 2. Tashkent – Samarkand

Breakfast and check out from the hotel and start city tour around Tashkent, visiting the museum of Applied Arts, visit to the old city Khazrat Imam Complex, where you see mausoleums, madrassah and the Chorsu Bazaar, the oldest market in the city. Depart to Samarkand arriving late afternoon. After arrival check in to the hotel, afternoon Time for refreshment, dinner and o/n. at hotel.

Day 3. Samarkand

After breakfast city tour, including: Registan Square-14th century bazaar area and the center of trade and cultural life in medieval Samarkand, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, erected by order of Tamerlane after his victorious Indian campaign in 1399. Gur Emir Mausoleum, family tomb of Timurid’s, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis; visit a site of pilgrimage since the 11th century. There you can enjoy the finest samples of majolica, mosaic and terracotta tile works, mausoleums are concentrated around the shrine of Kusam Ibn Abbas. Among the sites of Samarkand outstanding one is the Museum of Observatory of Ulugbek with the part of instrument-sextant (15th century). Dinner and overnight.

Day 4. Samarkand– Shakhrisabz – Termez

Depart early to Shakhrisabz or “green town” birthplace of Tamerlane, who supported The Great Silk Road, the road goes through the Valley of Khissar Mountains, the part of The Great Silk Road. Upon arrival start your tour: Ak-Saray or white palace, once the grandeurs structure in Temur’s Empire, Dorut-Tilovat Complex – The House of Meditation, Kok-Gumbaz (blue dome) Mosque built by Ulugbek, Dorus-Saodat – the seat of power and might, the family crypt of the Timurids. Afternoon depart to Termez, the ancient centre of Buddhism in Central Asia. The south of Uzbekistan is one of the off beaten tracks of Silk Road. Arrive to Termez and check in to hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5.Termez

Termez or “Termita” the ancient land of Bactria. The land passed by Cyrus the Great, Alexander the Great and many others, the city bordering with Afghanistan. It was here the capital of Kushan Empire, with the Buddhism as the state religion. Here you still find remains of those temples served thousands of pilgrims from Central Asia, Tibet and China. Visit the Museum of History and Archaeology, Mausoleum of At-Termiziy, Fayaz Tepe Buddhist Temple ruins, Kirk-Kiz fort. Return back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6. Termez – Bukhara

Morning check out from the hotel and transfer to Bukhara. The road goes through the part of Hungry Steppe. Upon arrival check in to hotel and time to refresh. Walk around the old city. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 7.Bukhara

After breakfast start your city tour. Bukhara is known as Central Asia’s most ancient living city, as Morocco in the Middle East. Visit to the Citadel Ark, the palace of the rulers of Bukhara, Bolo Khauz Mosque with beautiful ayvan in traditional Bukharian style. Take a walk through the old part of the city towards Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, next is “the pearl of the east” The Samanid Mausoleum. Proceed to covered bazaars which were built on a crossroads of caravan routes, Toki Zargaron – cupola of jewelers, Abdulla khan Tim – a center of silk trade, Toki Telpak Furushon – cupola of the hat sellers, and Toki Sarrafon – cupola of moneychangers, visit Magoki Attor Mosque one of the oldest Mosques in Central Asia, and Lyabi Khauz Complex. The Jewish Quarter and the synagogue will be a part of the tour too. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8. Bukhara

In the morning you drive outside of the city to will visit The Holy place, the tomb of Saint Bakhautdin Nakshbandi, and one the founders of Nakshband Sufi Order. The place of pilgrimage for thousand believers and Sufis, spend some free time to see local customs. Later drive to The Summer residence of Bukhara Amir’s Sitorai Mokhi Khosa palace, the piece of Russian culture in Bukhara built for the reception of Tsar Nicolay II Romanov. Last will be Chor Bakr necropolis, the burial area of local ruler representatives and aristocracy. Dinner and o/n.

Day 9.Bukhara – Khiva

Breakfast and depart to Khiva via the Kyzyl-Kum (red sands) desert. En-route stop to see a panoramic view over The Amu Darya river (Oxus). Arrive late afternoon to Khiva and transfer to the hotel. Time for refreshment and walk in the old city before dinner. Dinner and o/n.

Day 10.Khiva

Breakfast and start city tour with UNESCO World Heritage site Ichan Kala Complex, Kalta Minar, Muhammad Amin khan Madrassah, Kunya Ark, the early period residence of the rulers of Khiva which includes a mosque, the palace of the khan, the residence of his harem, the mint, the arsenal. Other sites tour includes the Tomb of Sayid Allauddin, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud – the Patron of Khorezm, the Shirgazi Khan Madrassah, the Islam Khodja Madrassah and Minaret, the Djuma Mosque and Tash Khauli and the harem. Return to your hotel. Dinner and o/n.

Day 11.Khiva – Ayaz Kala – Khiva

Morning drive to Karakalpakstan, The Autonomous Republic within Uzbekistan, to visit the remains of the ancient civilization, forts: Ayaz Kala, Toprak Kala and Kizil Kala, which were flourishing in antic period of nomads and settled cultures of Central Asia. Afternoon return back to Khiva, enjoy your dinner and o/n.

Day 12.Khiva – Tashkent – Kokand – Fergana

Breakfast, check out from the hotel. Transfer to Urgench (30km) to the airport for the flight HY 1052 at 09.20 to Tashkent. Arrive by timetable to the capital, upon arrival drive to Fergana valley, the ancient area for The Silk route, modern center of Silk industry in Central Asia. The road goes through the parts of Tien Shan Mountains, Kamchik Pass (2200m). Afternoon visit Kokand, capital of the Kokand Khanate in the 17th and 19th centuries. City tour includes visit to the Khan\'s palace museum, Friday mosque and Norbutabiy madrassah. Continue to Fergana city, a green city of the valley which was founded by Russian Cossacks, where the house of the General-Governor still makes a main part of the city center as a part of Russian history. Check in to hotel and o/n.

Day 13.Fergana – Margilan –Rishtan –Fergana

Morning drive to Margilan – the city of silk production in Central Asia. You have a chance to join the old process of silk production and learn from the masters about the unique colors and patterns historically known as Chinese and Persian art. After silk factory you drive to Rishtan, the center of Ceramics in Fergana Valley, visit the ceramics workshop of Usmanov, one of the first private ceramics workshops. Afternoon drive back to Fergana. Dinner and o/n at the hotel.

Day 14.Fergana – Tashkent

After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive back to Tashkent. Arrive to Tashkent check in to the hotel, short rest. City tour around the city, take a walk along the Independence Square, through Pedestrian Street towards Amir Temur Square. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight. Day 15. Tashkent After breakfast check out from the hotel for the flight back home.

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