Experience Uzbekistan: Highlights of the Silk Road - 15 Days

Arrival in Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in a 4-star Hotel. Meals: -/-/-

After breakfast at hotel we start our Tour in Tashkent. Tashkent, the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan where the history of modern and old stands side by side is located in the northeast of Uzbekistan and with circa 3 million inhabitants the biggest city in Central Asia. Along with modern hotels, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, opera, disco, oriental bazaars, the city also offers a thousand years of history. Khazrati Imam Complex consisting of Barak Khan Madrasah (16^thc.), Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum (15^thC.), Muyi-Mubarak Mosque – storehouse of the well-known Koran of Khalif Osman and gold hair of Prophet Muhammad, Djuma Mosque of Khodja Akhrar Vali. Dinner at local city Restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star Hotel. Meals: B/-/D

After Breakfast Transfer to the Railway Station and we will drive by train* to Kokand. The city of Kokand, with 251 700 (2019) inhabitants, is the junction of the Great Silk Road. Kokand was once the capital of the eponymous Khanate in the 19th century. In Kokand we will visit the Palace of Khudayar Khan, built between 1833 and 1873, with it’s about seventy-meter-wide and infinitely colorful facades. We visit Juma Mosque (1809-1812) and the Madrasah Amin Beg. In the afternoon we drive to Chust. Lunch at lokal restaurant in Chust. The city is known for its knife tradition. We will drive to Namangan. After the city tour in Namangan we will drive to Andijan (Andijon). In Andijan check in to the hotel. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 2-star Hotel (*5 or more travellers; 2 to 4 travellers by car or van). Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast at the hotel, drive across the border to Osh in Kyrgyzstan. According to legend, the city was founded by the biblical King Solomon. In Osh, we visit the sacred Suleyman-Too Mountain, an important pilgrimage site, as well as the lively traditional bazaar, one of the oldest markets in Central Asia. In the afternoon, return to Margilan in Uzbekistan. The day ends with a leisurely dinner in a traditional tea room. Overnight stay: 3-star hotel in Margilan. Meals: B/-/D

After Breakfast we will visit historical-traditional Silk Factory “Yodgorlik”, which continues centuries of tradition. We will also visit the bazaar in Margilan. Lunch at the lokal restaurant in Margilan. Then we will drive to Rishtan. We visit a ceramic craftsmen family in Rishtan. We will learn how to produce Ceramics in the traditional way. In the afternoon we drive back by train* to Tashkent. Dinner at the local restaurant and overnight at a 4-star hotel (*5 or more travellers; 2 to 4 travellers by car or van). Meals: B/-/D

Early morning transfer to the airport and flight to Urgench. Upon arrival in Urgench, we continue to Khiva (35 km). In Khiva, we visit the old town of Ichan-Kala (Itchan-Kala), which has been under UNESCO protection since 1990 and is therefore a World Heritage Site. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel. Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast, we will visit the old town of Ichan-Kala (Itchan-Kala), which has been under UNESCO protection since 1990 and is therefore a World Heritage Site. Dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast drive: Khiva → Buchara (480 km). During the drive through the Desert Kysyl-Kum (Red Sand). The Kysyl-Kum Desert is about 200 000 km² and belongs to the territories of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. There you can find the red Sand, from which the Desert gets its Name. On the way to Bukhara we make a stopover at the teahouse “Bukhoro-i-Sharif”. In Bukhara check-in at the hotel. Dinner at the local Restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel. Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast we visit Poyi Kalon Ensemble consisting of Kalon Minaret (12^th c.), Kalon Mosque (12^th C.), Miri Arab Madrasah (16^th C.), domed bazaars Toqi Zargaron (15^th C.), Toqi Telpak-Furushon (16^th C.) and Toqi Zaroffon (16^th C.). Continue we visit Lyabi-Khauz Complex (14^th-17^th C.) and Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah. Dinner at a local restaurant and then live Folklore in the Medresse Nodir Devon Begi. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel. Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast we visit Citadel Ark (4^th c. BC), Bolo-Khauz Mosque (beginning of the 20^th c.), Samanides Mausoleum (9^th-10^th c.), Chashmai Ayub (14^th c.). Lunch at local city restaurant in Bukhara. Afternoon we visit: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Complex, summer residence of the last Emir (ruler) of Bukhara, Bakhouddin Naqshbandiy Memorial Complex, Chor Bakr (19^th c.) and Chor Minor. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star Hotel. Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast we drive to Shakhrisabz, to the City of birth Amir Temur (known in the West as Tamerlan). The city was already known to Alexander the Great as Nautaca. We visit the summer palace “Ak Saray” (White Palace, 1380-1405). “Ak Saray” was added to the list of World Heritage by UNESCO. We also visit Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Darus Soadat Complex and the Jahongir Mausoleum. Afternoon we will drive to Samarkand. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel. Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast we visit in Samarkand the three Medressen of the Registan – the Ulugbek-Medresse (built 1417-1420), the Sher-Dor-Medresse (1619 – 1636) and the Tillo-Kori-Medresse (1646 – 1660). The legendary Timurid mausoleum Guri Amir (XIV-XV century) enchants the viewer with its golden interior decoration. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel. Meals: B/-/D

Breakfast at hotel. You will enjoy hearing some legends while visiting the Bibi-Chanum Mosque and the Medresse (XIV century). We visit the traditional oriental Siyab Bazaar. Near the Siyab bazaar there is an ensemble of Shohi-Zinda (the living king, “IX.-XIV century), one of the world’s most famous group of mausoleums, which fasinate you with its beautiful architecture. Next we will visit the famous Ulugbek Observatory (1428-1429 which was built on one of the hills of Chupanata). The observatory was a unique design in his time. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 3-star hotel. Meals: B/-/D

After breakfast at hotel we will drive to Imam Al Bukhari Complex. We will visit the Imam al-Bukhari Mausoleum, one of the most important places of the Muslims. Mausoleum is located 30 km far from Samarkand. In the afternoon we will drive back to Samarkand and we have lunch at restaurant. Afternoon Transfer to the train station. We will drive by Train to Tashkent (dep. 17.00 – arr. 19.20). Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight stay in a 4-star hotel. Meals: B/-/D