In The Footsteps of Caravans

Breakfast. Arrival in Tashkent and meeting at the airport with our local team. We start our tour with visit of  Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and our first stop is historical site of the old city of Tashkent Hazti Imam complex, this is one of the most famous sites in Uzbekistan.  We continue with Chorsu market and Independence Square. It’s lunchtime so we stop to take a break and enjoy a nice meal in a local restaurant (european or traditional cuisines are available on your choice). After lunch our bus takes us to the train station for transfer to Margilan. On our way to Margilan we have some snacks for dinner. Arrival in Margilan and transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

Breakfast. Visit Margilan which is famous with its silk  “Yodgorlik” visit the farmer’s market, Juma mosque “Khanaka” of the XIV century. Lunch and transfer to Fergana. Visit the market and ride into town, visit the al-Fergany park afterwards return to Margilan. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Today, after breakfast, we return to Tashkent but on our way back we stop by in Rishtan ceramic workshop and Qoqand Khudayarkhan Palace and the mosque of the 18th century.

After lunch we continue our trip to Tashkent. We arrive in Tashkent airport to take a flight to Urgench. Upon arrival in Urgench and transfer to Khiva – the historical town of Khorezm region- we have our dinner and go for overnight in the hotel as it has been a quite exhausting day with a lot of trips and transfers.

In the morning after a good rest and breakfast we start our city tour of Khiva- the town surrounded by huge pink clay ramparts. We visit the madrasa of Mukhammad Amin Khan and Kalta Minor (unfinished minaret XIX century) and the old fortress Kunya Ark (XVII-XIX ss) the madrassa Mukhammad Rakhim Khan (XIX century). In between sightseeing tour we stop for lunch in a nice restaurant in town and PM continue with Juma mosque (X-XVIII ss) and 213 wooden sculpted columns Tash-Hauli, the second residence of the Khiva Khan with his harem (nineteenth century), the mausoleum of Mahmoud Pakhlavan (XIV-XIX ss), Islom Khodja (early twentieth century). We discover other madrasas, mausoleums and mosques dominated by the typical minarets during our walk through the old city. Dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast. The morning is dedicated to completing the tour of Khiva.

After lunch we take a journey to the desert citadels of ancient Khorezm. Tours and walks around the citadels Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala. Back to Khiva. Dinner – Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. Departure to Bukhara. Lunch en-route. Arrival, transfer to hotel. Free time. Having dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast. Two whole days are dedicated to the discovery of Bukhara. The city is a superb presentation of the medieval architecture. First you find the beautiful city center the Liabi-Khauz mosque, the mausoleum of Ismail Samani. In the interval we have a lunch in a local restaurant and continue our tour with Kalyan Minaret, built in 1127, used not only to call the faithful ones to prayer but also as a beacon to guide the caravans that plied the Silk Road. The folk show with performance of traditional songs and dances and the fashion show of the latest traditional costumes are available upon guests’ request in one of the madrasas in the city. Dinner can also be served during the show. Alternatively guests may use their time at own disposal. Overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast. After the breakfast we leave for the camp of yurtas (yurta – the traditional marquee of the Central Asian nomadic tribes) in Nurata. On our trip we visit Sardoba water reserve of the fourteenth century and the remains of a caravansaray (caravansaray- hostelry or inn) and rock paintings dating back to prehistoric times. We continue our trip to Nurata desert town. Upon arrival in Nurata we have our lunch after which we start with Chashma, mosques and Chil Ustun Panjvakhta, the mausoleum of Sheikh Abdul Hasan Nuri and  sacred fish. We proceed to the ruins of the fortress of Alexander the Great and soon arrive at the camp. After the accommodation and short break we transfer to Aydarkul lake and  enjoy a walk by the lake (swimming is possible depending on the season). When we return to the camp upon request we may take a 20 minute ride on Bactrian camel without which the Silk Road would not have experienced such a development. In the evening we enjoy our delicious dinner around the fire listening to the live music of the nomad performed by a Kazakh troubadour. Overnight in a yurta.

Next morning after breakfast we take a trip to the village Hayot there we are accepted by hospitable villagers with very warm welcome and offered tea and homestay accommodation. Hayot is a beautiful village at the foot string of Nurata mountains. The village is well known for its wildlife reserve in the region so we have time to stroll and admire the natural beauty of the place before we go for lunch. After lunch we continue our observation of the local environment. Tonight we have our dinner and overnight at local home.

Today- after breakfast- we leave these beautiful places for the wonderful Samarkand. Upon arrival we stop for accommodation in one of the best hotels of Samarkand and have our lunch.  Afternoon we start our discovery of the legendary Samarkand. The Pearl of the East, The Oriental Rome and The Capital of the Empire of Timur these are just few of the phrases which were used in various sources to describe ancient Samarkand. After introductory tour over Samarkand we have our dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast. Today we dedicate the whole day to sightseeing tour of Samarkand. Among the most famous site of Samarkand we can name Registan Square – a masterpiece of Persian art with Madrassas (Islamic universities) of Ulug Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kari. Another famous site, the Grand Mosque Bibi Khanum named after the wife of Timur. In between our sightseeing tour we enjoy a lunch in a local restaurant. PM visit of the mausoleums of Shakhi Zinda and Gur Emir the burial place of Timur, his son and his grandson.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Next morning after breakfast we drive to Shakhrisabz- a town where Timur was born-  and visit his summer palace Oqsaroy. Here we can walk along the park which is well laid out and discover the local sightseeings. We have a lunch in a local restaurant and then drive back to Samarkand. Back in Samarkand we can visit the evening Panorama show in Registan Square which can be arranged on our request. Alternatively we may use this time for the rest. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast. Today is our last day in Samarkand and we finalize it with our visit to Ulug Beg observatory and the History Museum with the manufacture of the ancient silk paper. Lunch. After lunch we have free time for some shopping and strolling. Transfer to the train station for transfer to Tashkent. Arrival in Tashkent and stop in our hotel. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Breakfast.Transfer to the Tashkent International airport for a flight to home country.