Uzbekistan - Pearl of Magic East

International flight to Tashkent from your destination.

Arrive in Tashkent in the morning. Meet at airport by the driver. Breakfast. Check-in to hotel after 14h00.
The history of Tashkent is almost 2000 years old, and for this period the city passed a long way from small settlement to the metropolitan center. Nowadays, Tashkent is one of the most important industrial, financial and cultural centers not only in Uzbekistan but also all over Central Asia.
Spend the day exploring Tashkent through the Independence square, Amir Timur Square, Opera House Square. Take ride through the most beautiful stations of the Tashkent metro. Visit to Khast Imom complex including Barak-khan Madrassah, the only world-known original version of Khalif Osman’s Koran dated from 7th century is kept here in the library of Mui-Muborak Madrasah, visit to Chorsu bazaar (closed on Mon) in the old city and to Kukeldash madrassah (XVI c.). Visit to the Museum of Applied Arts, housed in the ancient palace of tsarist diplomat.
Overnight at hotel.
 

Transfer to airport for morning flight to Urgench. Upon arrival direct drive to Khiva (40-50 min drive). Arrive in Khiva. Check-in to hotel after 14h000
Walking tour in Ichan Kala , architectural complex of the inner city, surrounded by the large fortress wall with four gates. There are more than sixty architectural monuments: palaces, mosques, madrassahs, minarets and mausoleums inside the inner town: Muhammed Aminkhan Madrassah and its minaret; Kunya Ark and Juma Mosque with 218 pillars (one of the most ancient structures in Central Asia; Tash Khauli palace (the Harem of Khiva Khans); Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud; Islam Khodja complex and other monuments.
Overnight at hotel.

Take in the undulating landscape of Central Asia and drive to Bukhara across the Kyzylkum desert (450 km/app. 7-8 hrs). This journey presents an unprecedented opportunity to view this arid landscape, and glimpse the sheep farmers or hunters roaming across it.
We arrive in Bukhara in the early evening. Perhaps, take a stroll in the old town to stretch your legs.
Accommodation at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 
Option: Train ride Khiva/Bukhara (08h23/13h35) on Tue, Fri, Sun

Architectural heritage of Bukhara  is very rich – caravan-sarais and trading domes, public baths and big pools, defensive walls and city gates, khanakas and mausoleums, mosques and madrassahs, individual structures and big complexes. Decorative methods, splendor designs and original ideas of architects strike the imagination of anyone.
Full day tour of Bukhara: Liabi-Khauz Complex; puppet wokshop; walk through the old Jewish quarter; Tok-i-Sarrafon – Moneychanger’s Bazaar; Magoki-Attari mosque (XII c., XVI c.); Tok-i-Tilpak Furushon – Cap Maker’s Bazaar; Ulugbek’s madrassah (XV c.) and Abdulaziz-khan madrassah (XVII c.); Tok-i-Zargaron (1570) – Jeweler’s bazaar; Poi-Kalyan Ensemble; Bolo-Khauz mosque (XVIII c); Fortress Ark (citadel), a fortified residence of Emirs of Bukhara).
Overnight at hotel.

Today we continue to explore Bukhara: Chashma-Ayub shrine known as a curative source; walk along Bukhara city wall (XIXc.); the Samanids Mausoleum, the most precious Bukhara monument dated back to the 9^th century; Chor Minor, a colorful madrassah with four peculiar looking towers, which was used as a library for students; Fayzulla Khodjaev’s Home Museum, fine example of the Bukharian architectural style of the late 19th c., with traditional Bukhara clothing (XIX c) presentation.
After lunch transfer to Kagan train station for high-speed train “Afrosiab” Bukhara/Samarkand (15h48/17h20).
Arrive in Samarkand, transfer to hotel. Accommodation. 
Overnight at hotel.

 

Samarkand , a key city on the Great Silk Road, has witnessed a lot of upheavals during the times of Alexander the Great (Macedonian), the Arabic Conquest, Ghengis-Khan Conquest and lastly Tamerlane’s. Hence, Samarkand’s culture was developed and mixed together with the Iranian, Indian, Mongolian and a bit of the Western and Eastern cultures.
Explore ancient city of Samarkand: visit Gur-Emir Mausoleum (graves of Tamerlane and his descendants, 15c); world famous Registan Square (meaning “sandy place”) that ranks first in Central Asia and among the greatest of all the grandiose and magnificent works of the Islamic world; visit to the impressive remnants of Mosque Bibi-Khanum built in honor of the ruler’s eldest and favorite wife; Siab bazaar, the city’s main bazaar (closed on Mon); Necropolis Shakhi-Zinda (The Living King) and ensemble of mausoleums of the 11th-19th centuries.   
Overnight at hotel.

A day trip to Shakhrisabz, where the national hero Timur, also known as Tamerlane, was born (90 km, 1.5-2 hrs drive one way by car, or 150 km, 2.5-3 hrs drive on way by minibus/bus). It was only a small town at the time of Tamerlane, but at his behest, his descendants continued the development of Shakhrisabz long after his death. Visit the Ak Saray “White Palace” (14th c), Kok Gumbaz Friday mosque, the Dorut Tilavat mausoleum, the Dorus Siadat mausoleum.
Return to Samarkand. Transfer to hotel. 
Overnight at hotel.
 
Option: Trip to Shakhrisabz by cars (3 persons per car) via Takhta-Karacha mountain pass (90 km, 1.5-2 hrs drive one way)

Today we explore more of Samarkand: Afrosiab Museum of city foundation with the unique wall painting dated back to VII c.; unique Ulugbek’s Observatory (Timur’s grandson, 1428-1429); a visit to the Silk Paper Center to get acquainted with handmade paper making.
Free time.
Overnight at hotel.

Transfer to the airport for International flight home