Ancient cities of Uzbekistan / 8 days

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Itinerary:  Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva – Bukhara – Samarkand – Tashkent

Highlights: Fascinating tour around Uzbekistan, the land which in different times called Sogdiana by ancient Greeks, or Transoxiana by the Romans and Mawaranahr by the Arabs, the country with bright dazzling sun and hospitable people. Visiting of the ancient cities Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand, with sightseeing of ancient and Middle Ages architectural monuments, craft workshops of national textile and ceramic, testing of Uzbek cuisine and shopping on oriental bazaars.

Duration: 8 days/7 nights
Accommodation:  twin/double in hotel
Season: year round

Tour program:

Day 1: Tashkent  The capital of Uzbekistan and peoples’ friendship.
Arrival to Tashkent international airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel and dinner. Overnight at the hotel in Tashkent.

Day 2: Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva  
Guided sightseeing tour around Tashkent. Explore the old part of Tashkent city. Visit Khast-Imam Complex, where the world famous Quran, holy book that belonged to Caliph Uthman, has been preserved. The complex consists of Barak-Khan Madrasah, Tillya Sheykh Mosque, Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Visit Chorsu handicraft Bazaar. Continue to the city center, walk around Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and visit Applied Arts Museum.
Transfer to domestic airport, evening flight HY057 to Urgench departing at 19:00 (1093 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrival in Urgench at 21:20, transfer to Khiva (30 km, 35 min). Overnight at the hotel in Khiva.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 3: Khiva The only city-museum under the open sky in Central Asia.
Guided sightseeing tour in Khiva. Visit a UNESCO World Heritage site Ichan-Qala fortress: Kunya-Ark, Sayeed Alauddin Mausoleum, Arab-Mukhamadkhan Madrasah, Oq-Masjid Mosque, Madrasah of Hodjan Berdi-biya, Shirgazikhan Madrasah, Abdullakhan Madrasah, Juma Mosque, Allakulikhan Madrasah, Tosh-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islom-Khoja. Overnight in Khiva.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 4: Khiva - Bukhara
In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara through the Kyzylkum desert along the Caravan Road (490 km, 7 h). On the way stop to see Amu-Darya river (Oxus by ancient Greeks). Arrival to Bukhara in the afternoon. Accommodation at the hotel. Free time, walking through the backstreets of Bukhara. Overnight in Bukhara.

Day 5: “Sacred Bukhara” - one of the most esteemed city of Islamic culture.
Guided sightseeing tour in Bukhara. Visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Dinner and national show at Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah. Overnight in Bukhara.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 6: Samarkand (Marakanda to the ancient Greeks) - One of Central Asia’s oldest settlements. The capital of Tamerlane’s  empire Mawaranahr.
Spectacular Registan Square: Ulugbek, Shir Dor and Tillya-Kari madrasas, Gur-Emir - mausoleum of Tamerlane, remains of Bibi-Khanum mosque, Ulugbek observatory and Siab bazaar. Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 7: Samarkand - Tashkent
 Continue sightseeing tour in Samarkand. Visit Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Transfer to Koni Ghil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Farewell lunch in Samarkand. At 16:30 transfer to the railway station to take the high-speed train departing at 17:30 (300 km, 2 h) and arriving in Tashkent at 19:40 pm. Transfer to the restaurant and dinner. Transfer to the airport.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 8: Tashkent
Transfer to the airport, departure.

Accommodation:   

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