A Grand Journey Through Uzbekistan

Arrival at Tashkent.
Meeting at the airport, accommodation in hotel from 14:00. Free time without transport and excursion services.
Tashkent is the multifaceted capital of modern Uzbekistan. The architecture of Tashkent creates its own diversity: archaeological monuments of the Zoroastrian era, which are more than 2200 years old. Architectural masterpieces of the Middle Ages, monumental buildings of the late 19th century, the most beautiful metro in the world and, of course, the newest buildings.

ign: inherit;”>Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time in Tashkent or a trip* “Beauties of the Western Tien Shan” (50 USD, transfer by minibuses with free seating + guide + cable car ticket. Booking and payment for the excursion is possible only when purchased with a tour). Transfer by minibuses (~85 km) to the Chimgan Mountains – spurs of the Tien Shan, a vast mountain range stretching across the entire central territory of Asia.

Chimgan Mountains

A fantastic place where nature proves its strength and perfection – terminal canyons, steep cliffs, rapid mountain rivers making their way through harsh rocks. Amazing mountain panoramas. In the evening, return to Tashkent on the way, stop at the observation deck with a view of the Charvak reservoir – a real mountain dam in Uzbekistan with clean turquoise water.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast on the go is possible

Check out. In the morning, transfer to Samarkand by high-speed train “AFROSIAB” (second-class train ticket, comfortable trains with air conditioning and toilet, free seating. Replacement for bus travel and early check-out from the hotel is allowed). Arrival in Samarkand ( ), one of the oldest cities in the world (its age is 2750 years), the same age as Rome, Athens, Babylon.

About the ancient city of Samarkand

In the middle of the first millennium BC, the city was known as “Marakanda” and was founded as the capital of ancient Sogdiana. Samarkand was also the capital of a powerful medieval empire created by Tamerlane, the founder of a crucial route to the British Silk Road. Thanks to Tamerlane’s grandson, Mirzo Ulugbek, the city became a center of world science.

Architectural Wealth Samarkand

Samarkand is a magnificent example of medieval architecture, striking in its architectural solutions, perfection of forms and richness of colors. Daytime sightseeing tour of the city: Registan Square – one of the outstanding examples of urban development art in Central Asia, consisting of three madrassas – Ulugbek, Sher-Dor and Tillya-Kari; Guri Emir Mausoleum – the tomb of Tamerlane, where Amir Temur, his sons and grandsons are buried; Shakhi-Zinda Architectural Complex – the burial place of royalty and nobility; Ulugbek Observatory – Ulugbek’s scientific works were created thanks to this unique observatory, which he erected in Samarkand; Bibi Khanum Mosque is the largest in Central Asia and one of the largest in the entire Muslim

Free time.

We recommend visiting the Siab bazaar, where you can buy famous Samarkand flatbreads, fruits, halva, nuts, oriental sweets, souvenirs and works of local artisans. In Samarkand you can enjoy the most aromatic pilaf, shashlik, manti and of course flatbreads! There are legends about Samarkand flatbreads, as they can be stored for as long as you think, and they will not become stale or moldy.

Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time in Samarkand or* trip “Shakhrisabz – Homeland of Tamerlane” (50 USD, transfer by cars + guide + entrance ticket. Booking and payment for the excursion is possible only when purchased with a tour). Transfer by cars (~85 km) along a mountain road to Shakhrisabz ( ) – one of the oldest and most colorful cities of Uzbekistan, where the great conqueror was born.

Walking tour of Shakhrisabz: 
Dorus Saodat memorial complex, Jahongir Mausoleum, ruins of President Temur – Aksaray, Dorut Tilavat complex, Kok-Gumbaz mosque. The main highway – the great Uzbek highway – passes through Shakhrisabz, repeating the route of the great Italian traveler Marco Polo. Arriving in Shakhrisabz, do not forget to try the local cuisine! Special tandoor kabob. Return to Samarkand in the evening

Night at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out. In the morning, check out of the hotel and transfer (~280 km) to Bukhara. On the way, stop in the city of Gijduvan, known since the 10th century. Sightseeing of the city of Ulugbek Madrasah, Masar Abd-al Halyk Gijduvani and a visit to the workshop of a famous potter. The city is famous for its signature shashlik, Gidduvan shashlik – this is already a brand of incredibly tasty meat on the grill. Arrival in Bukhara, the capital of Islamic culture, one of the tourist pearls of Uzbekistan.

Bukhara
The old city, founded before our era, is a young monument of ancient civilizations. You will learn about the rich history of Bukhara through a scattering of historical sights, as well as cult, sacred places of pilgrimage. Neither in its solid age, exceeding 2500 years, nor in the uniqueness of the preserved sights of Bukhara – the capital of the great Samanid kingdom is inferior to Samarkand. The historian and poet Firdausi lived and worked here, Rudaki wrote poetry. Bukharans consider Khoja Nasreddin – the people’sa favorite and famous sage and wit throughout the East.

Bukhara Sightseeing
In the afternoon, a sightseeing tour of Bukhara: Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Nodir Divan Begi Madrasah, etc. We recommend visiting the Trading Domes and handicraft shops of hereditary craftsmen, where you can buy antique jewelry, national clothing, ikat fabrics, spectacular knives, Hand-made carpets and suzani, hats and fur coats made of karakul, original ceramics, copper and wood products, jewelry with fine patterns and carvings. In Bukhara, you can make a set in the medieval bath complexes Hamam*

Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning, continuation of the sightseeing tour of Bukhara: Ark Citadel – a city within a city (IV century BC), Bolo House Mosque, Poi-Kalon Architectural Ensemble, Ulugbek Madrasah, Abdul Aziz Khan Madrasah, Samanid Mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Chor Minor (Four Minarets). Afternoon free time in Bukhara or trip* “Palaces of Bukhara” (25 USD, transfer + guide + entrance ticket.

Booking and payment for the tour
is only possible when purchased with a tour). Visit to the mausoleum of Bakhuddin Naqshbandi, a Sufi teacher who was considered the founder of the most significant Sufi order of Naqshbandi. Visit to the Sitorai Mohi Khosa Palace (Palace, Bell with Stars and Moon) – the country residence of the Emir of Bukhara, built in the late 19th – early 20th centuries.

Return to Bukhara in the evening.
Folklore show* in the Nadir Divan-begi madrasah (15 USD, booking and payment are possible only when purchasing with a tour, held from 15.03.24 to 15.11.24). We invite you to get acquainted with the embodiment of Uzbek dances in the large courtyard of an ancient madrasah! We recommend trying Bukhara pilaf – Oshi-Sofi, it is prepared only in a copper cauldron. Bukharan dishes also include such dishes as khalisa or kaish

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.
In the morning, leave Bukhara and drive (~450 km) to Khiva through the famous Kyzyl-Kum desert along the great Central Asian river Amu Darya. Exotic desert landscapes will open up to you. On the second morning of the day, arrival in Khiva, check-in at the hotel. Khiva (over 2500 years old) is one of the main cities of ancient Khorezm and the only city in modern Uzbekistan where the entire section of the medieval shakhristan, the “inner city” of Ichan-Kala, remains virtually untouched.

Evening walk
through the historical district of Ichan-Kala, a state museum-reserve, an ancient citadel surrounded by a mighty city wall, appearing in the guise of a living medieval city from oriental fairy tales, each building of which is an architectural monument and a special attraction. It is inhabited by real people who live here in accordance with the age-old teachings of their ancestors. These are mainly hereditary artisans: weavers, blacksmiths, potters, wood carvers.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning sightseeing tour of Uiva with a visit to the outer complex of Ichan Kala: Kunya Ark Citadel, the residences of the Upper Khan, including the Mausoleum of Ismail Khadji, the Madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan, the Madrasah of Muhammad Rahimkhan, the Juma Mosque, the Minaret of the Juma Mosque, the Madrasah of Shergazi Khan, the Mausoleum of Said Alauddin, the minaret of Murad-tura.

Sightseeing tour of Khiva
The Pakhlavan Mahmud architectural complex: Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Islamhoja Minaret, Ak-mosque, Anushakhan Baths, Alpakulikhan Madrasah. Tash-Khovli Palace, Kalta-Minar Minaret, etc. Free time for walking along the ancient streets and visiting craft shops.

Souvenirs and gifts
In Khiva, you can buy local souvenirs – these are Chugurma hats, wooden products, handmade dolls. There is a puppet theater in Khiva, which is the most modest estimate of about 2000 years old! Try the cuisine of Khorezm in Khiva – one of the most unusual in Uzbekistan, for example, Shivit Osh or Green lagman with katyk and meat in vegetable gravy, a version of Khorezm pilaf “Chalov”

Night at the hotel

Early morning check-out.
“Breakfast on the road” is possible. Transfer to Urgench airport. Tourists flying independently from Urgench to their city, independently organize their transfer to the airport or can join a group transfer if the time coincides.