Fairy tales of the East

Tour itinerary:

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet up with ESG. Start of the tour.
Start a half day sightseeing of Tashkent. Old part of the city: an architectural complex "Khazret-Imam" incl. necropolis of imam Abu Bakr Muhammad al-Kaffal Shashi who was one of the first Muslim imams and famous divine and poet (16th c), "Barak-khan Medressa" - built by Suyunidj-khan - the first ruler of Uzbek dynasty of Sheibanid's (16th c), "Tellya Sheikh Medressa" also called "Khast Imom Mosque" where Osman Quran VIIc- the world's oldest is kept (19th c), "Juma Mosque" (15-19th cc). "Monument of Courage" - the epicenter of Tashkent earthquake of 1966."Abdulkasim Medressa" now is the centre for traditional arts with attractive souvenirs by local artisans (19th c).
Overnight at Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Fergana Valley* (320 km drive till Fergana city). The steep road which connects Fergana Valley with the rest of Uzbekistan runs via picturesque mountain pass Kamchik (2267 m. above the sea level). The first stop will be in the city of Kokand where you will visit the Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Jami Mosque and Norbut-biy Madrasah XVIIIs. Continue driving to Fergana city (80 km). Visit Akhmad Al-Fergani Park in Fergana. Check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. *Subject to change - you can use train Tashkent – Andijan for extra fee +45 USD per PAX.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, drive from Fergana to Margilan and visit Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrasah. Today, madrasah is home to a number of craftsmen producing handmade carpets and silk. Have a walk on traditional market and continue to Yodgorlik Silk factory to see the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns. Drive to Rishtan to the house of a well-known ceramic master Said Ahmedov whose works are exhibited on world exhibitions. Enjoy a pottery workshop and have a look at ceramic collection in a small museum. Drive to Tashkent 240 km. Transfer to hotel.

Morning flight to Nukus (1255 km, 2 h. 45 min.). Arrive in Nukus and drive to former fishermen’s town Muynak (220 km, 3 h.), which used to be situated on the shores of Aral Sea. On the way stop at archaeological complex Mizdakhan. In Muynak have a look at a former port with abandoned ships in the sand – “Cemetery of ships”. Then visit Local History Museum with art exhibits of the Aral Sea history. In the afternoon, return to Nukus. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum. The museum hosts the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and exposition of Karakalpak applied arts items. In the afternoon depart to Khiva (200 km, 4-5 h.). On the way visit archaeological monuments of Ancient Khorezm: You are taken to see ancient Khorezmian clay fortresses Tuprak-kala and Ayaz-kala dating back to the 2nd century AD. If lucky, you may still find in the dust archaic debris, such as pieces of ceramics, coins and arrow heads in the gloomy dark of half-buried rooms. You will have lunch in a Yurt (nomadic tent) on the top of a hill right next to the huge clay fortress with a smaller fortification on the slopes of the hill. Drive to Khiva. Arrive in Khiva, check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend a day in UNESCO World Heritage site Itchan-Kala Fortress, living museum under the open sky. Khiva – the most ancient and unique city-museum under open sky.
Monuments here are located close to each other, inside the walls of Ichan Qala internal city: UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will see the following monuments: Allakulikhan Madrassah(XVIII – XIX cc), Muhammad Amin Khan Madrassah (XIX c), Kalta Minor, Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Islom Khoja Minaret, Juma Mosque, Toshhovli and others. Overnight at the group hotel in Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h.). The Great Silk Road once routed through Bukhara and Khiva ran through the Kyzyl Kum Desert, Stop en-route to enjoy views of Amu Darya River and the desert. Lunch at local chaikhana (free to choose). Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast beginning of the city tour. Bukhara is the real Oriental fairy-tale, city with small romantic streets, which unsurpassed has preserved the beauty and charm of the ancient walls.
Monuments here are located close to each other and that’s why sightseeing tour will be organized without use of vehicle.
Today you will see: Kalon ensemble, Madrassah Miri-Arab, Madrassah Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, Tim of Abdoullakhan XVIc, Lyabi Hauz complex (XVI-XVII), caravanserai Sarrafon XIXc, Kukeldash Madrassah (1568), Kosh Madrasa complex XVIc, Samanids’ dynasty mausoleum (IX-X cc), Oriental Bazar, Chashma-Ayub burial-vault (XIV-XIX cc), Bolo Khauz mosque XVIIIc, Arc Fortress (VI-VIIcc). Don’t forget to visit trade domes of ancient Bukhara bazaar-even in case you won’t buy any souvenir or Bukhara ancient adornment (that is highly unlikely)you will get many pleasant impressions and gain extensive insight about Orient and its inhabitants.
Overnight at the hotel in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to Bakhouddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to yurt camp located in Kyzyl Kum desert (230 km, 4 h.*). On the way stop in Gijduvan pottery masters workshop and Nurata town to visit a local mosque with a holy spring water. In the afternoon, continue driving to yurt camp in Kyzyl Kum desert. Stop on Nurata pass to see petroglyphs. Arrive in Aidar Yurt Camp, accommodation in yurt. Camel riding and free time. In the evening dinner near the camp fire with Kazakh akin singing folk songs. Dinner & Overnight in the yurt.

Breakfast at the saloon-tent and then - transfer to Aydarkul Lake.
Then you will have a lunch (made of lake fish) in tent located in lakeside of Aydarkul.
You can enjoy the rest swimming in water of the unique Aydarkul Lake, become brown laying in chaise longue set closely to the lakeside. Then transfer to Samarkand 210km. Upon arrival to Samarkand have an accommodation at hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of sightseeing tour in “Eden of the Orient”- that name was given to Samarkand by the philosophers and poets of the past.
Today you will see this famous city in all its beauty : visit Registan square (XVII c) including Ulugbek Madrassah (1417-1420), Sher-Dor Madrassah (1619-1636), Tillya-Kori (1647-1660) Madrassah, Gur-Emir mausoleum , Bibi-Khanum mosque (XVc.) and oldest bazaar of Samarkand – Siyaab bazaar. Enjoy tasting of fabulous Samarkand sweets there!
Overnight at the hotel in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive 40 km from Samarkand at the foot of Zeravshan mountains at an altitude of 1000 m is an ancient city Urgut of great interest to tourists as a major center of traditional crafts.
In Urgut is the biggest bazaar of Samarkand selling old and modern folk crafts products. The main market days - Saturday and Sunday. Here you can buy carpets, hand embroidery (Suzane), leather shoes, jewelry, art metalwork, pottery, wooden chests.
Today you will see this famous city of Urgut: visit of Urgut bazar, visit of pottery workshop in Urgut and old part of Urgut, return to Samarkand Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Shokhi-Zinda (XII-XVc) architectural ensemble – third holy necropolis in Islam world. Than visit Ulugbek observatory (XVc.) where ruler and astronomer Ulugbek compose his astronomical map. Visit house of the local baker, where you can see how legendary Samarkand’s bread is producing. You can buy and taste it freshly baked! Free time.
Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Transfer to the railway station to depart to Tashkent. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to city center with Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum. Enjoy free time in the afternoon.
Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.