Along The Silk Road Of Uzbekistan

Destination: Uzbekistan
Route: Tashkent-Fergana-Khiva-Toprak Kala-Bukhara-Shakhrisab-Samarkand-Tashkent
Duration: 12 nights, 13 days

Day1. 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.

Day2. Tashkent –Kokand- Fergana (350km)

Breakfast, check out from the hotel. Drive to Fergana valley, the ancient area for The Silk route, modern center of Silk industry in Central Asia. The drive 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 madrasah. Continue driving to Fergana city, a green city of the valley which was founded by Russian Cossacks, where the house of the General-Governor still making a main part of the city center as a part of Russian history. Check in to hotel and o/n.

Day3. Fergana – Rishtan-Margilan – Fergana (200km)

This morning you 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 Rustam Usmanov, one of the first private ceramics workshops. Afternoon drive back to Fergana, rest before dinner. O/n at the hotel.

Day4. Fergana -Tashkent.

After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive back to Tashkent. Arrive 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’s Square. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day5. Tashkent-Khiva

After early breakfast check out from the hotel for the morning flight to Urgench. Arrive Urgench airport and drive to Khiva (35km), start your city tour with UNESCO World Heritage site Ichan Kala Complex, Kalta Minar next to Muhammad Amin khan Madrasah from the XIXc. Turn towards Kunya Ark, the early period residence of the rulers of Khiva, fortified citadel as the part of the city. It includes a mosque, the palace of the khan, the residence of his harem, the mint, the arsenal, and the jail. Some of the other sites you will see include the Tomb of Sayid Allauddin, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud-the Patron of Khorezm, the Shergazi Khan Madrasa, the Islam Khodja Madrasa and Minaret, the Juma Mosque and Tash Khauli and the harem. Return to your hotel before dinner, rest. Dinner and o/n.

Day6. Khiva- Toprak Kala- Khiva

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

Day7. Khiva- Bukhara (450km)

Breakfast and depart to Bukhara via the Kyzyl-Kum (red sands) desert. After a while you stop on the shore of The Amu Darya (Ancient Greek Oxus River), to see a beautiful panoramic view to the river. Arrive late afternoon in Bukhara and transfer to the hotel. Time for refreshment before dinner. Dinner and o/n.

Day8. 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 Chashmai Ayub Mausoleum in city park area. Continue to the “pearl of the east” The Samanid’s Mausoleum, the family tomb of the Samanid Dynasty. Later proceed to covered bazaars 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 the Lyabi Khauz in the heart of the city. The Jewish Quarter and the synagogue will be a part of the tour too. Return to your hotel for overnight. Dinner and overnight.

Day9. Bukhara

In the morning you drive outside of the city to will visit The Holy place, the tomb of Saint Bakhautdin Nakshbandi, one the founders of Nakshbandia Sufi Orden. The place of pilgrimage for thousand believers and sufies, 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.

Day10. Bukhara – Shakhrisabz - Samarkand

Depart early to Shakhrisabz or “green town”, birthplace of Tamerlane, who supported The Great Silk Road, your drive goes through Hungry Steppe, the part of The Great Silk Road. Upon arrival lunch and start your tour. Monuments you will see include: Ak-Saray or white palace, once the grandeurs structure in Temur’s Empire, Dorut-Tilovat-The House of Meditation, and Kok-Gumbaz (blue dome) Mosque built by Ulugbek, Dorus-Saodat – the seat of power and might, and the family crypt of the Timurids. Continue to Samarkand. Check in upon arrival. Dinner and overnight.

Day11. 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 Qusam Ibn Abbas. Further proceed to Afrasiyab (old Samarkand). Among the sites of Samarkand outstanding one is the Ulugbek\'s Observatory (15th century), with the part of instrument-sextant. Dinner and overnight.

Day12. Samarkand - Tashkent

Depart to Tashkent arriving in time for lunch. After arrival check in to the hotel, afternoon tour around Tashkent, visiting the museum of Applied Arts, visit to the old city where you will see mausoleums, madrasah and the Chorsu Bazaar, the oldest market in the city. Time for refreshment, dinner and o/n. Day13. Tashkent After breakfast check out from the hotel for the flight back home.

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