Treasures of the Great Silk Road
Name of tour: Treasures of the Great Silk Road
Length: 10 days and 9 nights
Overnight stays: Tashkent, Nukus, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand.
Day 1: Tashkent
Today you will arrive to the wonderful country Uzbekistan. After landing at Tashkent international airport you will be met with your driver with signboard at meeting area. This day is dedicated to a city tour where you will observe the amazing attractions of the capital. The main square of Uzbekistan –Independence square will offer you fascinating attractions and amazing fountains. Then you will head to the local Broadway where you will observe the magnificent square of the capital Independence square and Amir Timur square. Then you will have a ride in fabulous Tashkent Metro that is the one of the most charming subways in the world and attracts people by its beauty. This metro opened in 1977. The next spot of the tour is the old parts of the city such as: a Chorsu Bazaar, Kukaldash Madrasah and Hast Imam complex. This complex includes several madrasahs, mosques and mausoleum. You will be inspired today by the important site of the city - the Othman Quran. You will know that this is the world’s oldest Quran copy dating back to 8th c. You will rest the night in the hotel.
Day 2: Tashkent – Nukus (domestic flight)
This day you are going to have flight to Nukus from Tashkent. You are going to explore the fascinating city and the main attractions. The I. V. Savitsky Museum of art of the Republic of Karakalpakstan is one of the largest and most interesting museums in all of Uzbekistan. This Museum contains works of forbidden art in Soviet times, which was carefully collected by Igor Vitalievich Savitsky. The Museum contains materials from the 20th century such as Sokolov, Komarovskiy and Amaravella group. The state Museum of arts of Karakalpakstan was established in 1966 on the initiative of the Moscow artist Igor Vitalyevich Savitsky (1915-1984). Currently, this is the largest art collection in the Central Asian region, with about 100 thousand items of storage with a chronological coverage of more than four millennia. After that you will transfer to Mizdakhan necropolis. It was the ancient city before. Today you will also explore the ancient site Chilpyk – Zoroastrian ancient monument that is 2200 years old. The night will be in the hotel.
Day 3: Nukus – Ayaz Qala – Tuprak Qala – Khiva
The next day of the tour you are going to transfer to the oldest city of Uzbekistan. This beautiful city, where almost all the beautiful architecture has been preserved, the whole city is an open-air Museum. The history of Khiva is continuously connected with the state of Khorezmshahs. It was a large city on a deserted stretch of the Silk Road. In those ancient times, it played an important role and was a state where countless caravans of loaded camels passed through open gates that did not open from dawn to sunset. After you are to stop near two fascinating fortresses and its names is Ayaz Qala and Turpak Qala. Ayaz Qala is dated to the IV century BC, it is now a unique historical monument of the times of Zoroastrianism. Ayaz Qala fortress is located in the ellikkalinsky district of Karakalpakstan and is named after the brave hero Ayaz. Tuprak Qala it was a large city and a dynastic capital, with a population of about 3 thousand people. Toprak-Kala ("clay fortress") has the shape of a regular rectangle 500x350 meters. Over time, due to frequent warriors and attacks on the fortress, life in this place disappeared without a trace. This night will be in the hotel.
Day 4: Khiva
Today you will explore the ancient city Khiva that has a lot of architectural sites. During the tour you will have a great opportunity to discover the history and observe the inner city – Ichan Qala, rounded with majestic walls. There you will explore the ancient buildings, palaces, mosques, Madrasahs, Mausoleums, Minarets, Caravan-Sarais and Bathhouses transformed Ichan-Qala into unique city-monument. You will be admired by 400 traditional dwelling and about 60 monuments. It is interesting fact that in 1969 Ichan-Qala started to be historical and architectural maintaining area. There are located such prominent sites as Kunya-Ark fortress that was built in the 17th century and explored by Muhammad Arang Khan. Kalta Minor minaret and Tash Khouvli palace are the fascinating sample example of Khorezm architecture of 1830s was also found by him. The night will be in the hotel.
Day 5: Khiva – Bukhara
Today you will drive to fabulous city of Uzbekistan. You will travel to Bukhara. People proudly call this city as “town museum” that belongs more than 140 architectural monuments. Bukhara is a city that dates back to the middle ages and also attracts tourists with its colorful buildings and blue domes. Bukhara is called a Holy city because of the large number of mosques, mausoleums and madrassas. There are located green and narrow streets, big parks and beautiful gardens, historical and architectural monuments. Although they were built at different times, they are located next to each other. During the tour you will be admired by the fascinating views of Kizilkum desert. This day you will also drive through the amazing Amu Darya River that considered to be the deepest river in the Central Asia. After arrival to the city you will have free time. Night is in the hotel.
Day 6: Bukhara
You are going to have incredible city tour in this sacred city. You will begin the tour with exploring one of the ancient sites of the city called Citadel Ark. This Citadel dates back to the 4th century and it is the last evidence of the reign of Bukhara Emirs. You will be inspired by the mastership of architecture Samanids mausoleum (9th- 10th century). Then you are going to explore the amazing Chasma Ayub "The source of Saint Job" is a revered place. And today you will be inspired by the views of Bolo – Hauz mosque that was built in honor of Bukhaar governor Abu – Fabyud Khan and has forty columns. You are going to discover the amazing shopping domes where you will have a chance to buy interesting goods explore the souvenirs and immerse into the national atmosphere. Then the tour route will take you to the outstanding creation– Nodir Divan Begi mosque. This is one of the most attractive sites of Bukhara that is the part of Nodir Divan Begi of Lyabi Kalon Ensemble. The last attraction of the day will be Poi Kalon complex. There you will have a chance to find Is three structure (12th- 16th centuries) they are Kalon minaret , Kalon mosque and the last one is Mir Arab Madrasah. You will spend the night in the hotel.
Day 7: Bukhara – Shahrisabs – Samarkand
Today you will have a chance to explore the birthplace of Amir Timur in the town Shahrisabs. During the tour you will be admired by the attraction Ak Saray Palace. They started building it in 1379, after the fourth victorious campaign of Amir Temur to Khorezm. A complex consisting of a large number of buildings, including luxurious rooms for receiving guests, Inns for famous travelers. After looking at the Palace, you will be amazed by the grandeur of the building, which will surprise you. Then you will explore the outstanding sight see Jahongir’s mausoleum erected in honor of the eldest son of the Amir Timur. It was built for the twenty-two-year-old beloved eldest son of Timur-Jahongir, who died suddenly in Samarkand. After that, Amir fell into grief for 30 years. This day you will also explore such interesting highlights as the Dorus Siadat and Dorus Tillavat memorial complexes where all Amir Timur’s descendants and relatives were buried.
Day 8: Samarkand
Today you will explore the ancient city of Uzbekistan. The location of Samarkand is right on the beautiful Zeravshan river valley. Samarkand is an ancient city of Uzbekistan and dates back 2500 years. It is the same age as Babylon and Rome. Many travelers want to visit Samarkand for its unsurpassed architecture and culture. During the tour you will explore such interesting sites as Registan square, Shakhi-Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanum Mosque. Registan Square, this is a beautiful square in Samarkand with interesting madrassas that date back to the 15th and 17th centuries and will amaze you with their incredible beauty. After that you will explore the outstanding Shakhi – Zindeh complex it is notable for its large collection of mausoleums that belong to the 11th-15th centuries and belong to the UNESCO world heritage site. Bib Khanum Mosque will impress you with its grandeur and beauty, you can enjoy the charming architecture built in honor of Tamerlane's wife after his trip to India.
Day 9: Samarkand – Tashkent
You are going to continue exploring the fascinating city Samarkand today. The city offers you to explore the Ulughbek observatory. He was glorious scientists and the great ruler of the city. He built this site in 15th century by him. It is important to note that he explored about 1018 heavenly bodies in his manual “Zidji Guragoni” that he published in 1437. Unfortunately he was murdered by his own son. You will aslo get to the local Broadway and admire this fabulous street full of souvenir shops, teahouses, sweets and workshops. This day you will also be offered to visit National bazaar Siab. There are you will have a chance to walk and buy traditional handmade products and sweets. Then you will head to carpet factory where around 400 women sew handmade carpet. This night will be in the hotel.
Day 10: Tashkent – Departure
In the morning will be breakfast. Then driver will take you to Tashkent international airport for your flight to next destination.
Price per person:
02 pax – 850 $
04 pax – 670 $
06 pax – 575 $
08 pax – 605 $
10 pax – 560 $
Single – 135 $
Early check-in – 35 $
Single early check-in – 40 $
Half board – 80 $
Full board – 145 $
Entrance fees in UZ* (with escort guide only) – 75 $ per person
English speaking local guides in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva – 265 $ per group
English speaking escort guide – 580 $ per group
Service includes:
- Transport
- Accommodation:
Tashkent – “Samir” Hotel 3*
Samarkand – “Ideal” Hotel 3*
Bukhara – “Porso” Hotel 3*
Nukus – “Jipek jo’li” Hotel 3*
Khiva – “Old Khiva” Hotel 3*
- Visa support
- Train tickets (if any)
- Mineral water supply
Service does not include:
- Visa
- Guides
- Full board
- Flight tickets
- Travel insurance
- Entrances to all museums