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Day
01 Monday: Arrive Tashkent (UZBEKISTAN)
Khush Kelibsizlar - Welcome to Uzbekistan! As we are driven to our hotel in
the city center, we get our first glimpse of Tashkent, a city rebuilt after
the 1966 earthquake. Tashkent can rightfully claim to be the capital of Central
Asia. Check in starts from 1500 hrs.
Overnight: Dedeman Hotel, Tashkent (1 night)
Day 02 Tuesday: Tashkent/Urgench/Khiva (Flight - Drive)
An afternoon flight gets us to Urgench, the capital Urgench of the Khorezm
Province lies between the Amu-Darys River and Turkmenistan. It is a halting
point for tourists on their way to Khiva.
Overnight: Hotel Malika, Khiva (2 nights) (B, D)
Day
03 Wednesday: Khiva
Today we explore the World Heritage Site at Khiva, a city where time has stood
still. Our visit starts with the main site of Ichan Kala followed by Kalta
Minor, the Kunya Ark, the Rakhimkhon Madrassah, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan
Makhmud, the Friday Mosque and the Tashauli Palace and Harem. To complete the
feeling, we climb the Khodja Minaret to take in the amazing fairy tale panorama. (B,
D)
Day 04 Thursday: Khiva/Bukhara
(Drive)
Our drive to Bukhara is through the arid setting of the Kyzyl Kum Desert. Along
the way we stop for some refreshments and see how humans have survived over
the centuries in this barren landscape. Prior to arrival in Bukhara, a visit
will be made to Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the Summer Residence of the former Emirs
of Bukhara.
Overnight: Hotel Zargaron Hotel, Bukhara (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 05 Friday: Bukhara
One of the grandest of Uzbek centers, Bukhara is an open museum with many mosques,
madrassahs and a grand minaret. We spend the day visiting some of the finest
examples of Islamic Architecture in the world, where exquisite tile and mosaic
work complements the beautiful brick-work; no wonder the city is a World Heritage
Site. Our visit includes the Lab-e-Khauz Complex with the Nadirkhon Devanbegi
Madrassah, the Mogak Attari Mosque and the Poi Kalon Minaret. We also visit
the Madrassahs of Aziz Khan and the Ulugbek Ark Fortress, the residence cum
army headquarters of the Bukharan Emirs that houses an interesting collection
of objects from those days and the Mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, which features
some of the best 10th century brickwork, with a marked Persian influence. (B,
D)
Day 06 Saturday: Bukhara/Gijduvan/Samarkand
(Drive)
This morning we start off with our visit to a local family ceramic factory
in Gijduvan then continue onto visit the World Heritage Site of Shakhrisabz,
home town of Tamerlane. This historic centre contains a collection of exceptional
monuments and ancient quarters, which bear witness to centuries worth of history,
and particularly to the period of its climax in the 15th century under the
empire of Tamerlane.
Overnight: Hotel Samarkand Plaza, Samarkand (4 nights) (B, D)
Day 07 Sunday: Samarkand
The historic town of Samarkand is a crossroad and melting pot of the world's
cultures and has been declared a World Heritage Site recently. Founded in the
7th century BC as ancient Afrosiab, Samarkand had its most significant development
in the Timurid period from the 14th to the 15th centuries. We start our day
with visit to the Urgut Market, which is known in this region. Next stop is
the Afrosiab Museum, located on the site of ancient Afrosiab and the Historical
Museum of Uzbek Culture & Art, with the wooden coffin of Tamerlane and
a large copy of the Koran. We culminate the day with a visit to the Ulugbek’s
Obervatory & Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane. (B, D)
Day
08 Monday: Samarkand
We save the best for last. Our tour today takes us to the major monuments and
includes the Registan Mosque and the adjoining madrassas, Bibi-Khanum Mosque,
the Shakhi-Zinda compound. (B, D)
Day 09 Tuesday: Samarkand/Penjikent/Samarkand
Today we make an attempt at crossing into TAJIKISTAN. The border crossing is
subject to rules that keep on changing, one of the notorious features of daily
life in Central Asia. Our objective is to the see the site of the ancient city
of Sogdiana at Penjikent. Should the border crossing not be possible then we
return to Samarkand for a free day. (B, D)
Day 10 Wednesday: Samarkand/Tashkent (Drive)
Early morning depart for Tashkent. Upon arrival check in at the hotel then
head out immediately to visit the old part of the city, the Kafelsashi Mausoleum,
the Barak Khana, the Tila Shaikh Mosque and Archives, Kukeldesh Madrassah,
the History Museum of Uzbekistan and the Navoi Theatre. The evening is free,
with an opportunity to see a local opera or ballet (optional).
Overnight: Hotel Dedeman, Tashkent (1 night) (B, D)
Day 11 Thursday: Depart Tashkent
Our tour comes to an end as it is our time to bid farewell with “Sau
Bolinizder”, as you are transferred to the airport for your flight out.
Check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)
| OPTIONAL
EXTENSION TO FERGHANA |
Day
11 Thursday: Tashkent/Ferghana (Flight)
This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Ferghana.
Our tour starts with a visit to Rishton to see the ceramics cottage industry.
We also visit the house/factory of a master ceramist to see the complete processes
of ceramic production. Rishton is known for its Persian blue pottery with unique
designs. Later we proceed to Kokand to see the Palace fort museum of Khudayar
Khan the last of Kokand ruler.
Overnight: Hotel Asia, Ferghana (1 night) (B, D)
Day 12 Friday: Ferghana/Tashkent (Flight)
Day excursion to Andijan & Marghilan. In Andijan we will be visiting the
Babur Literary Museum. Babur was the founder of the famous dynasty of rules
who came to be known as the Mighuls who were well known for their aesthetic
architectures like the Taj Mahal, Shalamar gardens, Red Forts, Jami Masjis,
etc. Later at Marghilan we visit the souvenir factory of “Yodgorlik” – the
only one place in Central Asia where original handmade methods of silk production
is still being done. Silk fabric manufactured here is considered as one of
the best in the world. Evening we are transferred to the airport for a flight
back to Tashkent.
Overnight: Dedeman Hotel, Tashkent (1 night) (B, D)
Day 13 Saturday: Depart Tashkent
Today we bid farewell to Uzbekistan and the many Uzbeks friends we will have
made as we are transferred to the airport for our flight home. We will have
received an unforgettable insight into the rich history, culture and monuments
of Uzbekistan, as we bid Khayir Sogh Buling, the typical Uzbek farewell. (B)
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