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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.
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 Asia, 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 Shedor, 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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