Uzbekistan Tour - The Pearl Cities of the East, 8 Days

DAY 1: HOMELAND - TASHKENT - Arrival at the international airport of Tashkent. You will be met by the driver & guide and start your excursion. --Visiting the complex of Khast Imam – the religious heart of the city, which includes the Barak Khan madrassah (XVI century), the old mosque Djami (Friday), and the mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi - the tomb of a great philosopher, poet, and teacher of Islam lived in the tenth century. Visiting the Kokaldosh madrassah at, visiting the Minor mosque, which is the most attractive in the city. Lunch at “Central Asia Plov center” at 13:00. After lunch, we visit the “Tashkent TV tower” to enjoy the overview of the City. There is also a restaurant on the TV Tower where you can have some light snacks or soft and cold drinks. - After that at 14:30 we continue our tour in the modern part of Tashkent with the Panoramic view: Museum of Applied Arts, Temurids museum, Amir Temur Square, Independence Square. From the Independence square station to Charsu station, we go to explore the beautiful metro (underground) in Tashkent, where every station is decorated in various themes. - Then we will stop at the bazaar Charsu, the city's most famous farmer's market. The bazaar is the heart of every oriental city, the center of public life, the breadwinner of the whole city. Since the dawn of time bazaars appeared on the intersections of trade roads, on big squares of cities. On counters of this oriental Bazaar, you will find fresh fruits, amber-colored dried fruits, toasted Uzbek bread, fresh-killed meat, kazy (horse meat sausage), and whatnot. And all these things are so attractive that one can’t stand to pass by them. You can enjoy the local market until 18:00 PM. - After a whole day excursion in the city, you will have free time until dinner time. - The driver will pick you up for dinner at 19:00 from the hotel to the “Navvat” restaurant. And after dinner transfer to the hotel. - Overnight in Tashkent. DAY 2: TASHKENT - URGENCH - KHIVA - After early breakfast in the hotel transfer to Tashkent Local airport at 07:00 for the flight to Urgench. - At 09:30 arrival in Urgench. - Transfer to ancient Khiva to begin the full-day excursion. You will see palaces with the rich mosaic, unique beautiful minarets, madrasahs and mosques such as: Kalta-Minor Minaret (1855), Medrese of Mukhamad Amin-Khan (XIX), Kunya-Ark Fortress (1868-1888), Mausoleum of Pahlavan Makhmud (XVII-XIX), Mausoleum of Said Alauddin (XIV), Minaret and Mosque of Islam Khodja (1908-1910), Medrese of Shergazi-Khan (1718-1720). - Lunch at the local Fish House around the lake where you have the chance of trying fried fish prepared by a local chef. - Continuation of the fascinating excursion. Karavan-Saray (XVIII), Tim of Alla-Kulikhan (XIX), Medrese of Abdulla-Khan (1865), Palvan-Darvaza Gate (XIX). Tosh-Khovli Palace (Harem) (1830-1836). - Some free time to take a rest or shower and to prepare for going to an Uzbek wedding party being a part of 700-800 guests attending the wedding party. - After the wedding party transfer to the hotel. - Overnight in Khiva. DAY 3: KHIVA - BUKHARA - Breakfast in the hotel. - After breakfast departure to Bukhara, the path crosses the Kyzyl Kum "red sands" and the Karakum "black sands", the road that skirts the edge of the large bed of the river the Amu Darya, which offers stirring views of the dry unusual beauty. - During the tour, stops are planned for lunch, free and short walks on the way. Arrival in Bukhara. - Hotel accommodation. Free time. - Visiting the Madrassa Nadir Devan Begi to watch the national folklore and fashion show and have dinner. - Overnight in Bukhara. DAY 4: BUKHARA. - Breakfast at the hotel. - The city tour: including Ismail Samani Mausoleum (IX-X )-vault of Bukhara rulers dynasty and Bolo-Hauz complex (XVIII ); Ulugbek (XV c), Abdulaziz (XVII c), Chashma-Ayub, Ark Fortress (XVI c), the Poi-Kalan Ensemble including Minaret (XII c), Mosque (XV c), functioning Madrassah Miri-Arab (XVI c); Taqi Zargaron, Taki Telpakfurushon, Taki Sarrafon trading domes. - Lunch at the restaurant around Labi Hauz at 13:00. - After lunch visiting Emir-Alim-Khan Madrassah (XIV c), Magok-i-Attari Mosque (XVI c). - At 15:00 we invite you to SPA and massage at the Bazaari Kord hammam. - At 15:00 the driver picks you up for taking to the Old Hammam to the center. - Dinner at the "Old Bukhara" restaurant. - Overnight in Bukhara. DAY 5: BUKHARA - GIJDUAN - NURATA. - After breakfast, at 9:00 a.m visit Chor Minor madrassah and Kukeldash Madrassah (XVI c). At 10:00 visit Doston house restaurant, where you have the master class making of Uzbek national meal “Palov” for lunch and have lunch there. - After lunch drive to Nurata Nature Reserve, located in Kyzyl Kum desert (170 km, 3 hours). - On the way a short stop in Gijduan (46 km, 1-hour drive from Bukhara) to see the works of Uzbek ceramic handicrafts. Since ancient times, Gijduvan is considered to be an important trading city and center of traditional craft. Ceramic products played an important role in the household economy. Gijduvan pottery is well known in Central Asia and is unusual for its original color. - Visit the ceramic center of Alisher aka and enjoy the master class of making ceramics and have lunch at this local house with national meals. - After ceramics center, we continue our way to Nurata yurt camps. We take a break from the architecture and spend one night in the Nurata region Yurts - decorated with handmade carpets and sherdaks (felt rugs) of local craftsmen, where you can watch the beautiful view of the sunset over the vast desert and you will have a jolly night enjoying dancing around the fire at night. - Dinner. - Overnight in the yurts. DAY 6: NURATA - SAMARKAND - After breakfast, you will have your most wanted camel riding in the vast desert-like an ancient Caravans did on the Great Silk Road. - Then you’ll have an unforgettable excursion to Aydarkul Lake, which is also known as “geographical miracle” that formed in the waterless desert. - Free time on the lake. - In the afternoon departure to Samarkand. Upon arrival in Samarkand hotel accommodation, free leisure time for refreshing and changing closes. - After some free time at 17:00 PM, we’ll visit the interesting wine museum which familiarizes the visitors with its history as well as that of Samarkand winemaking, its international awards and, of course, arrange wine degustation, tasting of Samarkand wines. - After wine degustation, we go to the restaurant Samarkand at 18:00. - Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Samarkand. DAY 7: SAMARKAND - TASHKENT - Breakfast at the hotel (from 7:00 to 10:00). - We start our excursion at 8:30 AM a little bit earlier with the Mausoleum of Guri Emir, the mausoleum of Timur familial with its beautifully fluted dome then we go to the magnificent Registan Square with three Madrasses - the Ulugbek Madrassa, the Sher Dor Madrassa and Tilla Kari Madrassa that are followed by the giant mosque Bibi Khanum built by Amir Timur for his favorite wife. - After visiting the giant mosque of Bibi Khanum. visiting the spectacular Shahi Zinda Necropolis, the Ulugbek observatory with its astronomical instrument "sextant" that was the largest of the fifteenth century. - Have lunch in a local house. - After lunch, you will visit the “Siyab” bazaar for some shopping. - Transfer to Railway Station at 16:30 PM to catch a fast train “Afrosiyob” back to Tashkent (17:30 - 19:44). - Arrive at Tashkent railway station at 19:45 and transfer to the hotel for some refreshing and changing closes. - At 20:30 we will go to farewell dinner with live music and dance at the "Sal-Sal " restaurant. - Transfer to the hotel and check-in. - Overnight in Tashkent. DAY 8: TASHKENT - HOMELAND - After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Tashkent International Airport to take your return flight back home. - End of your wonderful trip to Uzbekistan. - Thank you and see you again.