UZBEKISTAN TOURS

This historical study tour will immerse you deeply in the golden era of most ancient towns of the world - Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. World famous monuments of ancient architecture, glories of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, conjures up the images of a region that has played an important role in the evolution of modern civilizations that we see today.

Once Samarkand was the centre of vast Tamerlane's Empire, that flourished on the prosperous silk route.

Tall and elegant minarets, grandiose medressahs and mosques, medieval palaces and mausoleums richly decorated in incredibly fine exquisite ornaments, bustle and colours
of oriental bazaars, thrilling legends, warm hospitality and hoary traditions of local Uzbek people will leave indelible imprints in the memory of a real traveler.

Destination: Tashkent-Khiva-Bukhara-Samarkand
Duration : 12 days

Day 01 : Arrival to Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel for 1 night.

Tashkent was largely destroyed by earthquakes in the 60's and was rebuilt in true Soviet style with pleasant leafy boulevards and lots of fountains to keep the heat down in summer. There are a couple of very interesting museums here and colourful Central Asian markets.

Day 02 : Transfer to the airport board flight Urgench.. Meeting at the airport and transfer to Khiva (about 30 km) for 02 nights.
Khiva - one of the most ancient cities in the world, was attestor of the rise and fall of Khorezm.

The final appearance of old Khiva was formed at the end of 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries. Today the old part of Ichan-Kala is called an open-air museum and is guarded by UNESCO. The rather small territory of Igam-Kala holds - 2 palaces, more than 60 madrassah and small-sized mosques, mausoleums, a cathedral mosque, a covered market, caravans - sheds and bath-houses, and apartment houses. Igam-Kala is surrounded by a strong fortress-like brick wall . Walking around the maze of narrow alleyways protected at both sides by facades of high houses with thick brick walls, crowned by merlons, and domes on corners, one is amazed by the architecture and skill of the local craftsmen. Not only the administrative and cult buildings, but also the apartment houses are decorated with dazzling bright tiles with incredible designs. Special to Khiva is the art of woodcarving. In the city all the columns, doors, gin and shutters are decorated with unique ornament. Khiva is famous for its carpets and jewellery, too. O/n Hotel.

Day 03 : Sightseeing in Khiva (about 6 hours). Visiting of Ichan - Kala - inner cite of ancient settlement, Mohammed-Amin Khan madrassah and minaret (XIX c.), Kunya Ark - Old fortress (XVII c.), Pakhlavan Mahmud complex (XIV-XIX cc.) with its tiled courtyard, Islam Khodja madrassah & Minaret (1908), Jumma mosque (X-XVIII cc.), Tash Hauli Allakuli-Khan Palace (XVIII-XIX cc.).

Many wedding parties and pilgrims come to visit the tomb and drink the water from the well in the courtyard. The beautiful Kalta Minar minaret and the extraordinary Tash Khauli or "stone palace "built in the 1830's and home of the ruling khans. Bazaar. O/n Hotel.

Day 04 : After breakfast drive through Kysyl-Kum desert with its endless widths and ancient caravan routes along Amu - Darya river, to Bukhara (about 500 ?m.). Arrive and transfer to hotel for overnight.
Bukhara one of the most ancient cities of the East is situated in one of oases of the Kizilkum desert. Bukhara celebrated her 2500 year anniversary in 1998. The city has had several names at different times: Numiskat Madaniat - uc Sufia, Fakhirs, Vikhara (translated from Sanskrit - monastery). First written references relate to the 3rd century AD.

In the 9th century Bukhara became the centre of the powerful Samanid state. At that time the trades and professions developed, the irrigation canals were constructed. The famous doctor and philosopher Avicenna spent his childhood here, and poet Rudaki composed his verses here and historian and poet Firdousi lived here, too. The Bukhara library was glorified. In the Middle Ages Bukhara became one of religious centers of Asia: numerous mosques and madrassah (spiritual schools) were constructed. In XVI century Bukhara became the centre of the powerful Bukhara Khanstva, which existed till the beginning of the 20th century.
Modern Bukhara is the centre of a large district in Uzbekistan.
The city has a population of 200 000 peoples. Bukhara's people carefully preserve the history of their native city and strive to promote tourism throughout the world.

Day 05 : Sightseeing in Bukhara (about 6 hours).
Bukhara has some of the most impressive monuments Central Asia has to offer.
Visiting: Kalyan minaret , 47 metres high is one of the most outstanding monuments.
It was known as the "tower of death", because during emir's time criminals were tied up in sacks and thrown from the top. It was one of the few building to survive the rule of Genghis Khan, himself so impressed that he chose not to destroy it.
Chashma Ayub Mazar (graveyard) (XIV-XIX), Poi-Kalan complex (XII-XVI c.), Ulugbek madrassah (it that was built by grandson of Tamerlan - Ulugbek - distinguished mathematician and astronomer). Afternoon sightseeing in Bukhara Lyabi-Hauz complex (XVI-XVII c.); Visiting of Samanid's Mausoleum , a beautiful example of Zoroastrian architecture dating back to the 10th century; Nadir Divanbegi Madrassah, built in 1630. Ark - ancient fortress (VI-VII c.), home to the rules until the last emir left in 1920.
Sitorai Mokhi Khosa - "Palace of Moon and Stars" - summer residence of the last Bukhara Emir (XIX c), Bolo Khauz mosque, Complex Bakhoutdin Nakshbandy (so-called Central Asian Mecca). O/n Hotel.

Day 06 : Extension sightseeing in Bukhara (about 4 hours).
Visiting: Sitorai Mokhi Khosa - "Palace of Moon and Stars" - summer residence of the last Bukhara Emir (XIX c), Bolo Khauz mosque, c.). Complex Bakhoutdin Nakshbandy (so-called Central Asian Mecca).

Day 07 : Drive from Bukhara to Sarmysh gorge (drive about 220 km; 4 hours).
Sightseeing in Sarmysh: "Sarmysh" gorge - a museum under the opened sky, thee are more than 3500 rock pictures (petrogliphs) of "Bronze" period. Transfer to Nurata (90 km). Lunch and excursion in Nurata: Mosque of Khasan and Khusein brothers (XVI-XVII c.), a sacred place of Muslims' pilgrimage, madrassah of Sheikh Khasan Nuri, mosque Namazgokha (XIV c.), ruins of antique fortress. Transfer to yurt camp in the desert. Camel riding. Dinner to the accompaniment of the songs of a local akyn. Overnight in hotel.

Day 08 : Visiting lost in sands to the village Dongelek. Camel riding to Aydarkul lake. Rest. Lunch form fresh fish. Afternoon transfer to Samarkand (about 220 km).
Samarkand ; at the end of the "Golden Road to Samarkand", we will be rewarded with one of Central Asia's most magnificent cities. The merchants of the silk route brought their wares to trade in the bazaars off the city. Their tales created a legendary status for Samarkand for centuries to come. Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane each added further mystique to this oasis town. Enjoy a city walking tour taking in some of the highlights of this centre of the Silk Road.An oasis set on the edge of the Kyzyl Kum desert within the sight of two mountain ranges, Samarkand is watered by the Zeravshan river that runs between them. When the Chinese opened their borders to foreign trade in 184 BC they found that silk, which they alone knew how to make, was worth more than its weight in gold in the empires of the West. With the arrival of the first Chinese, Samarkand and the Silk Route entered an era of invasion-proof prosperity and semi-mythical international status that was to last more than 1000 years. Today Samarkand is full of interesting sites that reflect the prosperity of those times and the influence of the great rulers who resided here. O/n Hotel.

Day 09 : Full day sightseeing in Samarkand (about 6 hours). The Registan is the most spectacular architectural ensemble in Central Asia and the centre of Samarkand since the Mongol invasion.
The complex is made up of three main buildings, the Ulug Beg madrasah, the Shir Dor madrasah directly opposite and the Tilla Kori mosque and madrasah built between 1646-59. The inside of this mosque has been recently restored and is magnificent.
Other highlights include the Shah-I-Zinda complex of mausoleums and the Gur Emir or "rulers tomb", where Tamerlane was buried in 1405.
Nearby is the Bibi Khanym mosque, built between 1399 and 1404 by 500 labourers and 95 elephants brought from India, together with 200 architects, artists, and master craftsmen from the rest of Tamerlane's empire. A 17th century earthquake destroyed more than half of it , but what remains today is still breathtakingly impressive.
Visit of observatory of Ulug Bek, grandson of Tamerlane. The best in the world at the time, the lower half of the 63 metre sextant was only uncovered in 1908.
In Bukhara and Samarkand a visit to the workshop of outdoor clothes, embroidered with golden thread and workshops of beautiful Silk carpets and vegetable bazaar. O/n Hotel.

Day 10 : Full day excursion to Shakhrisabz (about 90 km.).
Sightseeing in Shakhrisyabz. Visiting of Ak-Sarai (white palace), Malik Azhdar Khanagha (XIV c), Jummie Mosque (1915), Kok Gumbaz Mosque (1456), Dorut Tilovat, Dorus Siadat complexes.
Later return back to Samarkand. Overnight in hotel.

Day 11 : Transfer to Tashkent. (about 350 km). Arrive and transfer to hotel for 01 night. Afternoon half day sightseeing tour. Visiting the old city, Barak - Khan madrassah (XVI c.)- founded in the 16 century by a descendent of Tamerlane who ruled Tashkent for the Shaybanid dynasty, Yunus-Khan mausoleum, Kaffal-al-Shashi Mazar - the grave of a local doctor, philosopher and pet who lived from 904 to 979, Kukeldash madrassah (XVIII) - built in the mid-16 century by the ruler's vizier Kukaldash, after secular use as a Soviet warehouse and museum, museum of Applied Art, square of Independence, Friendship peoples square, metro, the building of National Theatre of opera and ballet. O/n Hotel.

Day 12 : Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Departure from Tashkent.