Highlights of Uzbekistan

Arrive in Tashkent, welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Check-in at 12:00 – 14:00. Sightseeing tour of Tashkent: Abdul Kasim Madrassah, Khast Imam Complex – a religious center of the city consis ng of the Barakkhan Madrasah, Tillya Shaykh Mosque, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library of Islamic Literature with Uthman Quran of the VIII century. Explore tradi onal Chor-Su Bazaar. Lunch at local restaurant. Visi ng modern part of Tashkent: Amir Timur Square, Applied Art Museum, Earthquake Memorial, Independence Square. Welcoming dinner at local restaurant with show. Overnight in Tashkent.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for morning flight to Urgench. Arrive Urgench, transfer to Khiva. Leaving luggage at the hotel and star ng city tour – walled inner town Ichan Kala (UNESCO WHS, XIV-XX CC) with Muhamad Amin Khan Madrassah, Kalta Minor Minaret, Kunya Ark, Muhamad Rahim Khan Madrassah, Juma Mosque and Minaret, Tash Hauli Palace, Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrassah, Shirgazi Khan Madrassah, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel. At 08:00 drive to Bukhara through Kyzylkum Desert (7-8 hours). Stop at Amudarya River bank. Lunch in a local café. Arrive Bukhara, free time. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Star ng city tour in Bukhara at 09:00. City tour with visits to the Ark Fortress – residence of Bukhara khans (I-XX CC), Bolo Hauz Mosque (XVIII C), Samanids Mausoleum – Shrine of Ismail Samani and other members of the Samanid Dynasty (IX-X CC), Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum – Saint Job's well (XII-XVI CC). Lunch at local restaurant. Con nue sightseeing by walk: Poi-Kalyan complex with Kalyan Minaret (XII C) through orient bazaars with three trade domes of Toki Zargaron (XV C), Toki Sarrafon (XVI C), Toki Telpak Furushon (XVI C), Ulugbek Madrassah (XV C), Abdulazizkhan Madrassah (XVII C). Visi ng Lyabi Hauz complex consis ng of Kukeldash Madrassah (XVI C), Magoki A ori Mosque now used as a carpet museum (XII C), Nadir Divan-begi Madrassah and Nadir Divan-begi Khanaka. Dinner at local house, master class on tradi onal bread (non) baking and making plov – Uzbek main dish. Overnight in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we drive outside Bukhara for sightseeing: Baghautdin Nakhshbandi Mausoleum – center of Sufism, Sitorai Mokhi Khosa – summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara. Drive back to Bukhara and visit to Chor-Minor (Four Minarets). Overnight in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Aydarkul with a stop in Nurata. Visi ng ruins and for fica ons remained a er Alexander the Great, saint spring and medieval mosque Namazgokh. Transfer to the yurt camp. Camel riding instruc ons and then camel riding (around camp – for free). Overnight in yurts.

After breakfast camel riding to the Aydarkul Lake through the desert (10 km, 3 h.). Swimming, fishing on the lake. Camel riding to the lake is an op onal service and subject to extra fee – about 20$ per person. In the a ernoon depart yurt camp and drive to Samarkand (270 km, 5 h.). Arrive Samarkand, transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start sightseeing from gem of Samarkand – Registan Square and three madrassahs (religious study centers) surrounding the square: Ulughbek Madrassah (XV c), Sher-Dor Madrassah (XVII c), and Tillya-Kari Madrassah (XVII c) – covered with gold. Visit to Gur Emir Mausoleum – tomb of Tamerlane, Shakhi Zinda Necropolis – ensemble including mausoleums and other ritual buildings of IX-XIV and XIX CC, Ulughbek Observatory, built in XV century by Timurid ruler and astronomer, Bibi Khanym Mosque – built by Amir Timur (Tamerlane) in XV century and Siyab Bazaar. Overnight in Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out. Con nue sightseeing in Samarkand: Excava on of an ancient city and museum of Afrosiab, and Tombstone of Saint Daniyar. The prophet Daniyar (Daniel) is revered by three world religions: Chris anity, Judaism and Islam, and mausoleum is s ll a pilgrimage place for the followers of all three Abrahamic religions. Drive to Konigil village to visit Samarkand Paper Mill “Meros”, where you can see the process of making famous Samarkand paper by ancient technology. Transfer to the railway sta on for evening train. Arrive in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Tashkent.

Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.