Ancient Treasures of Central Asia

Destination: Uzbekistan - Turkmenistan
Route: TASHKENT–KHIVA–DASHOGUZ–ASHGABAT–MARY–BUKHARA–SHAKHRISABZ–SAMARKAND–CHIMGAN-TASHKENT
Duration: 13NIGHTS, 14 DAYS

 

Day 1. Tashkent

Arriving Tashkent International Airport, after clearing Customs and Immigration you will be transferred to your hotel. 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. Check in to hotel and overnight.

Day 2: Tashkent-Khiva

Early breakfast and transfer to the airport for the flight to Urgench, the modern city of the Khorezm region, transfer to Khiva, the capital of the ancient Khorezmian Kingdom, sightseeing tour to get a feel of this magical and once fabled ancient Silk Road city. Full day tour of Khiva, visit to Ichan Kala, the inner fort, the Muhammad Amin khan Madrasah and Kalta Minor; Kunya Ark and the Juma Mosque with 218 wooden pillars; the Harem of Khiva Khans; and the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, a famous ancient wrestler and poet who patronized Khiva. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Khiva-Dashoguz (Turkmenistan)

Breakfast and morning depart to the border point at Dashoguz between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, after border formalities drive to the famous city of Kunya-Urgench whose almost complete destruction by Genghis Khan more than 800 years ago is an example of the incredible destructive power of the Khan. But later city was again rebuilt and become center of the Khorezmian Culture, under Tamerlane it was one of the centers in the Empire. Evening flight to Ashgabat. UPon arrival Check in to the hotel and overnight.

Day 4: Ashgabat T

oday visit Fine Art Museum of Turkmenistan which has a fine collection of Russian and Turkmen paintings. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Ashgabat – Nissa

Morning visit to the ancient Nissa, the ancient capital of Parthian and probably the best preserved ancient site in Turkmenistan. Afternoon visit the Carpet Museum of Turkmenistan, where you can see the biggest carpet in the world, included in Guinness book and learn about the history of famous Turkmen carpet weaving. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Ashgabat

Breakfast and city tour in Ashgabat, Independence Square, surrounded by extravagant palaces and ministry buildings, and the National Museum with its fine collection of historic artifacts and relicts. Later visit the famous and largest bazaar Tolkuchka Market to see the displays of Turkmenistan real source of arts and crafts. The color and beauty of different people, carpets, kilims, felts, hats, belts, Kaftans, jewelries are astonishing and unique. Together with regular market you may see live stock market too. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 7: Ashgabat – Mary

Early breakfast and morning flight from Ashgabat to Mary, the third-largest city in Turkmenistan. On arrival transfer to Gonur Depe or Margush, the largest archaeological excavation in the Near East where experts have confirmed it to be the site of the fifth great center of civilization (joining Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and India). Some of the highlights of Gonur Depe include the palace excavations, the Zoroastrian temple "Temenos", the Necropolis, and the Temple of Water. Late afternoon return to Mary. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Mary - Bukhara (Uzbekistan)

Breakfast and explore one of Turkmenistan's greatest attractions, the historic city of Merv. Vast and complex, this is the country's only UNESCO World Heritage site and is considered of vital significance to the culture of Central Asia. Visit the remains of Alexandria, Antiokhia, Sultan Kala, the Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, Ibn Zaid. Later travelling through the Kara-Kum desert and crossing the Amu Darya River proceed to cross the border at Farap. After custom and border formalities, drive to Bukhara – the holy city. Bukhara's old city is essentially an architectural preserve that is being restored, enjoy some free time to walk around to feel the atmosphere. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Bukhara

Sightseeing tour in Bukhara visiting; The Ark, Old Citadel – the Palace of the Emirs of Bukhara, Bolo Khauz Mosque holding unforgettable ayvan with 20 columns. Walking by the market lines you stumble in front of the Mausoleum of Chashmai Ayub (Spring of Prophet Job) still worshipped by the locals. From a distance you may see the Samanid’s Mausoleum, coming closer admire its masterpiece brickwork. Afternoon visit majestic Kalon Minaret, wonder in the Kalon Mosque, the biggest functioning Mosque in the country, and visit Mir-Arab Madrassah, the one still holding classes of Qur’an for its students, further is Ulugbek Madrasah. Abdul Aziz Khan’s Madrassah is astonishing with its mosaic and colorful decoration of inner rooms. Proceed to Lyabi Khauz Ensemble, through the Old Bazaar and Caravan Street, passing Tim Abdulla Khan, Trade Domes and Magoki Attor Mosque. Dinner with cultural show in Nadir Divanbegi Madrassah, overnight.

Day 10: Bukhara – Shakhrisabz - Samarkand

After breakfast drive to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. The road goes through the steppes, and the part of desert. Arrive to Shakhrisabz and visit the ruins of Ak Saray (White Palace)- Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Dorus-Saodat Complex and Dorut-Tilovat Complex. After lunch continue to Samarkand, check in to hotel and have some free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: Samarkand

Morning start city tour of Samarkand by visiting the Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum - the Tomb of Tamerlane and Timurid’s, which also contains the tomb of Mir Said Baraka, Tamerlane's spiritual Master. Next visit the tremendous Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane's order to symbolize the power of Allah, after his campaign to India. Afternoon continue by Shakhi Zindah complex, which contains the Mausoleum of Qusam Ibn-Abbas, who is considered to be the missioner of Islam in Central Asia at the time of Mohammed, and other mausoleums from the time of Tamerlane, Museum of Ulugbek’s Observatory and the Afrosiyab Museum. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12: Samarkand – Tashkent

Breakfast and morning drive to Tashkent. Upon arrival check in to the hotel, and later begin your Silk Road experience with a city tour of Tashkent. You will see the monuments and religious centers at the Hasti Imam Square, consisting of Barak-khan Madrassah, the Mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi, Mui Mubarak Madrassah, Khazrat Imam Mosque. Explore Independence Square and Amir Timur Square, the gorgeous Theater of Alisher Navoi, the Museum of Applied Arts with its refined samples of Uzbek handicrafts, and the Chorsu Bazaar.

Day 13: Tashkent – Chimgan – Tashkent

Today drive outside of Tashkent towards the Tien Sian Mountains around Tashkent, enjoy a beautiful landscape view and mountains. Take some time for hiking and continue to Charvak Lakeside, a lake on 1600m elevation. Afternoon return to Tashkent. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: Tashkent

After breakfast drive to International Airport of Tashkent for your return flight home.

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