UZBEKISTAN on the silk road

 

 

UZBEKISTAN

 

On the silk road

 

Departure date in 2025

 

Uzbekistan is by far the richest and most extraordinary country in Central Asia. A cradle of civilization for more than two millennia, Uzbekistan can boast an impressive architectural and artistic heritage. Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva captivate and amaze travelers with their fabulous mosques, madrasas and mausoleums. Uzbekistan is a country where hospitalitỳ is an essential part of daily life, and the locals will always make you feel welcome guests.

 

 

 

Itinerary

 

Day 1 Khiva

Arrival. Check-in at the hotel.

Overnight.

 

Day 2 Khiva

Meet with guide at 10:00 a.m. and visit the According to myth it was Shem, son of Noah who founded the city, which already known the days of the Silk Road, became the capital of a small kingdom in 1592. Many sites of great artistic and archaeological interest, suffice it to say that the Itchan Kala (literally “inner fortress”) was the first Uzbek site to be inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1991. The following will be admired: the Kunya-Ark fortress, Kalta minor (known as the unfinished minaret), the Mohammed Amin Khan madrasa and the Friday Mosque (Djuma), whose structure is derived from the old Arab mosque, characterized by its 213 wooden columns supporting the roof, each 3.15 m high. Lunch in a restaurant during the course of the visit. In the afternoon, visit the Mausoleum of Pahlavon Mahmud (poet,philosopher and fighter) and the Islam Khodja complex. End of visit, time at leisure.

Dinner at restaurant. Return to hotel, overnight stay.

 

Day 3   Khiva-Bukhara

 

Breakfast. Depart by car at 9:00 a.m. from Khiva to Bukhara (about 7 hours) crossing the Kyzyl Kym (red sand) desert, the largest desert landscape in Central Asia (belongs to the territories of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan). Lunch at a local restaurant en route. Arrival in Bukhara and check-in at hotel, time at leisure. Folkloric performance at Nadir Divan-Begi madrasa that will give you a sense of the bright and colorful world of Uzbek culture.

Visit to Bukhara’s most famous bazaars:

Toki Furushon and Toki Zargaron. Dinner at a restaurant. Return to hotel, overnight stay.

 

 

*Folk show available from April to October; show may be subject to change.

 

*if operational, option of flight from Urgench to Bukhara or by train from Khiva to Bukhara may be considered.

 

Day 4  Bukhara

 

Breakfast. Meet at 9:00 a.m. with guide and tour of the city: Ismail Samani Mausoleum (founder of the Samanid state), Chashma Ayub Mausoleum (literally “the spring of Job”), Bolo Hauz Mosque with its elegant pillar facade, Ark Fortress, Poi-Kalon complex including Kalon Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasa and Amir Alim Khan Madrasa; continuing with a visit to the Maghoki-Attar Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Central Asia and the Lyab-I Hauz complex, one of the main squares of Bukhara where there is an artificial pond (one of the few surviving ones) and the Nadir Divan-Begi madrasa. Visit of Chor Minor (literally “four minarets”) and departure outside Bukhara to visit the summer palace of the last Emir of Bukhara: Sitorai Mokhi Khossa. Lunch in a restaurant during the course of the visits. End of visit, time at leisure. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight stay.

 

Day 5   Bukhara – Samarcanda

 

Breakfast. Meet at 8:00 am with your guide and depart for Samarkand.

Entering Samarkand you cannot fail to visit the ancient settlement of Afrosiab, located in the northern part of the city and one of the most important archaeological monuments in Central Asia. Walking through these extraordinary places you will feel immersed in the ancient world, touching the objects of history.

Continue the excursion to the mausoleum of Khoja Daniyar (St. Daniel), is one of the most famous places of worship in Samarkand, built in the time of Tamerlane in 1900.

Visit the carpet factory, paper mill.

After visiting all the sights, tourists will have a chance to visit a winery with the name Khovrenko. Today the Khovrenko winery continues to function, producing a range of wines, brandy and vodka. Its cellars store new collections of wines to age for a long time, while the best vintages of Samarkand wines are sold at auctions. The winery has an interesting wine museum, which acquaints visitors with its history and that of Samarkand wine production, its international awards, and, of course, organizes tastings of Samarkand wines.

 

Day 6 Samarkand

 

Breakfast. Meet at 9:00 a.m. with your guide and visit the historic city of Samarkand, a crossroads and melting pot of world cultures with a strategic location on the Silk Road. Its origins date back to 700 B.C. and over the centuries it was also conquered by Alexander the Great, the Arabs and the Mongols, who plundered it. Thanks to Tamerlane it was rebuilt, thus becoming once again the most important city of the Timurid Empire. Today Samarkand retains many medieval-style buildings, and the visit will allow visitors to see some of the most important and interesting sites: mausoleum of Tamerlane (Gur-Emir) where Tamerlane and his descendants are buried; Registan Square (literally “place of sand”), one of the most beautiful squares in the world, with the Ulugh Beg, Tilya-Kori and Sher-Dor madrasas. Continue with a visit to the Ulugbek Observatory, the largest medieval astronomical building, where the remains of an immense 30-meter-high astrolabe can be seen: to the Shah-i Zinda (literally “living king”) complex, a splendid necropolis that is one of Samarkand’s most renowned sites and features rich tile decoration and a history dating back to the 14th century; and to the ruins of the imposing Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Lunch in a restaurant during the course of the visit. Return to hotel. Farewell dinner in restaurant. Overnight stay.

 

Day 7  Samarkand 

 

Early breakfast. Transfer to airport and departure by Turkish Airlines flight for return via Istanbul.

 

NB: The travel program, as well as the order of visits, lunches and flight operations, may be changed on site for technical and/or operational reasons without prior notice.

 

NB: It may also happen that buildings and monuments whose visit is included in the itinerary are inaccessible, in whole or in part, without prior notice, due to sudden closures for maintenance or official commitments imposed by local authorities. Since such impediments are not always communicated to our offices in a timely manner it may be difficult to notify clients in advance and provide alternative activities. In the unfortunate event that such inconveniences occur during the trip, however, it will be our concern to ensure that missed visits, consistent with the itinerary, can be made up at a later date or replaced by alternative activities to the extent possible.

 

Included	Not included
– Accommodation in double rooms – All with early check-in – Comfortable transportation as per the program – Entrance fees to the above monuments as per the program (except photo and video fees) – English-speaking escort guide from arrival to departure – Bottle of water per person per day – Folkloric performance in Madrassa of Nadir Divan – Paper mill – Carpet factory – Hovreno wine factory	– International flights – Gratuities – Services not mentioned in the program – Drinks and extras on menus – Optional cooking masterclasses – Half board with farewell dinner 180 USD PP

 

 

 

 

Considered hotels or similar:

 

Khiva – Pakhlavon 4* or similar *, camera standard

Bukhara – Sahid Zarafshon 4+ or similar*, camera standard

Samarcanda – Kosh Havuz 4+* or similar*, camera standard