Aral Sea Tour – biggest ecological disaster in the World

Following breakfast, a city tour introduces you to Tashkent, the vibrant capital of Uzbekistan, where ancient traditions blend harmoniously with contemporary architecture. You will visit the Hazrati Imam Complex, featuring the Barak Khan Madrasah, the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, and the Khazrati Imam Mosque. Of particular note is the library of oriental manuscripts, home to a unique Quran dating back to the reign of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (the third rightly guided caliph of Islam, who ruled from 644 to 656), consisting of 353 parchment leaves. This sacred text was once kept in Medina, Damascus, and Baghdad before Timur brought it to Samarqand. Afterwards, visit the Kukaldash Madrasah, the colorful Chorsu Bazaar, and Independence Square. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the 4-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight from Tashkent to Nukus. Upon arrival, explore Nukus. Karakalpakstan is one of the regions most severely affected by the desiccation of the Aral Sea. We visit the renowned Savitsky State Museum of Art. In the afternoon, we drive to Moynaq, once a thriving fishing village and port on the Aral Sea. Dinner and overnight at a guesthouse. Meals: B/-/D

Following breakfast, explore Moynaq, the formerly bustling fishing village on the former shoreline of the Aral Sea. Here, visitors are met with a striking view of the dried-up lake basin. Once one of the largest inland bodies of water in the world, the Aral Sea was known as the “Sea of Khorezm” or the “Blue Sea”. Today, its water level has dropped by more than 22 meters, and the former Rebirth Island has transformed into a peninsula—a poignant symbol of one of humanity's greatest environmental disasters. In the afternoon, continue the journey to Khiva, enjoy dinner at a traditional restaurant, and stay overnight at the 3-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

After breakfast, we dedicate the day to exploring Ichan Kala, the historic inner town of Khiva, entirely enclosed by massive defensive walls that preserve a unique medieval atmosphere. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it impresses visitors with countless masterpieces of Islamic architecture and an authentic oriental ambiance. In the evening, we enjoy an atmospheric dinner accompanied by live folkloric music in a traditional restaurant. Overnight at the 3-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

Following breakfast, we continue our exploration of the Ichan Kala old town, which has been under UNESCO protection since 1990 as a designated World Heritage site. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the 3-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

After breakfast, drive from Khiva to Bukhara (480 km). Traveling across the Kyzylkum Desert (Red Sand), you will experience the singular vastness of Central Asia’s desert landscapes. Covering approximately 200,000 km², the Kyzylkum Desert spans the territories of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, and is named for the distinctive red sands found throughout the region. En route to Bukhara, we make a stop at the “Bukhoro-i-Sharif” teahouse. Dinner at a traditional restaurant. Overnight at the 3-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

Following breakfast, we drive to Shahrisabz, the birthplace of Amir Timur (known in the West as Tamerlane). The city was already known to Alexander the Great as Nautaca. Under Amir Timur in the 14th century, when it was still called Kesh, the city achieved worldwide renown and was given the name Shahrisabz. Here we visit the ruler's summer palace, Ak-Saray (White Palace, 1380–1405). The 65-meter-high palace ruins convey a sense of the immense scale and height of the original structure. Ak-Saray is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. We also visit the Kok Gumbaz Mosque, the Darus Saodat Complex, and the Jahongir Mausoleum. In the afternoon, we drive to Samarkand, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the 3-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

After breakfast, a tour of Samarkand. With a population of 353,347 (as of January 1, 2008), Samarkand is also inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city's history spans over 2,500 years. You will be captivated by the ancient walls of Afrasiyab, the capital of the ancient realm of Sogdiana (9th century BC), whose archaeological remains still stand in the northern part of Samarkand. It is not without reason that Samarkand is called a jewel of the earth. Your fairytale journey of “One Thousand and One Nights” begins at the renowned Registan Square, construction of which began during the Timurid era and continued over the following three centuries. The three madrasahs of the Registan—the Ulugbek Madrasah (built 1417–1420), the Sher-Dor Madrasah (1619–1636), and the Tilya-Kori Madrasah (1646–1660)—leave every visitor in awe. The legendary Timurid mausoleum Gur-e-Amir (14th–15th century) enchants observers with its intricate interior gold ornamentation. Dinner at a traditional restaurant. Overnight at the 3-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

Following breakfast, we explore the city that gave birth to many world-renowned scholars, including Avicenna (Ibn Sina), Al-Bukhari, and numerous others. Bukhara, with a population of 235,517 (as of January 1, 2008), has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. We visit the legendary Po-i-Kalyan Minaret and the Po-i-Kalyan Complex (12th century), along with three remarkable domed bazaars: Toqi Sarrofon (Money Changers' Bazaar, 16th century), Toqi Telpak Furushon (Cap Makers' Bazaar, 16th century), and Toqi Zargaron (Jewelers' Bazaar, 16th century). Afterwards, we tour the Labi-Hauz Complex (16th–17th century) and the Nadir Divan-begi Madrasah (1630). Dinner at a traditional restaurant. Overnight at the 3-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

After breakfast, we visit the Ark of Bukhara (the former residence of the Emirs of Bukhara), which recent excavations confirm has occupied this site since the 4th century BC, as well as the Bolo Hauz Mosque (Friday mosque, erected in 1712). With the Samanid Mausoleum (9th century), you will experience the oldest surviving monument of Islamic architecture in Central Asia and the sole architectural legacy of the Samanid dynasty. We also visit the mausoleum of the founder of the Naqshbandi order, Baha-ud-Din Naqshband (14th century), one of the most significant pilgrimage sites for Muslims. Dinner at a traditional restaurant. Overnight at the 3-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D

Following breakfast, we visit the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Madrasah (14th century) and listen to the legends entwined with its construction. Next, we visit the traditional oriental Siyab Bazaar. Near the bazaar stands the Shah-i-Zinda ensemble (“The Living King”, 9th–14th century), one of the world's most renowned collections of mausoleums, whose exquisite tilework captivates every visitor. Afterwards, we tour the famed Ulugh Beg Observatory (built 1428–1429 on one of the hills of the Chupanata ridge), which was a singular engineering achievement of its time. We then visit the Afrasiyab Museum. In the afternoon, transfer to the Samarkand railway station for the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Tashkent (departure at 17:00, arrival in Tashkent at 19:20). Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the 4-star hotel. Meals: B/–/D