Uzbekistan Grand Tour

Country: Uzbekistan Itinerary: Tashkent-Samarkand-Shakhrisabz-GilonVillage-Bukhara-Khiva-Tashkent Duration: 10 days / 9 nights Day 1: Flight to TASHKENT Breakfast. The visit to the Khasti Imam complex, where you can see the oldest Koran written on deer skin. Then visit to Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Barak Khan Madrasah and the Kaffal Shashi mausoleum. Afterwards visiting the most famous bazaar which was known in the Middle Ages. It was well-known for its location at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road. In the afternoon a visit to the Museum of Applied Arts. You will also go sightseeing to Independence Square, Navoi Theatre Square and the Memorial to Earthquake Victims. In the end of your tour you will go on a metro ride. Dinner in a traditional restaurant. Overnight in Tashkent. Day 2: TASHKENT-SAMARKAND Breakfast Transfer to railway station Tashkent. 07:26 Depart to Samarkand by bullet train (about 300km ) 09:45 Samarkand, a city which is situated at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, a flourishing cultural and commercial centre at the intersection of the caravan routes, is today a modern city that has lost none of its appeals. During your tour you will explore both the ancient and modern monuments of Samarkand. Visit to the Afrosiyob Museum, the Ulugbek Observatory, the Shakhi-Zinda complex, the remains of the Bibi-Khanum Mosque and the oriental Siab Bazaar, which is located right next to the mosque. Afterwards you can participate in plov making process in a house of a local family. Overnight in Samarkand Day 3: SAMARKAND Breakfast. The whole day is spent for the many sights of the 2700-year-old city- Samarkand. During the tour, you will first visit the palatial mausoleum of the ruler Amir Timur, the Gur-Emir mausoleum. Then drive to the heart of Samarkand - the Registan Square which has three impressively huge and artistically decorated madrasahs. Afterwards, a visit to the once largest mosque in Central Asia - Bibi Khanum Mosque. Impressed by the temple in India during his campaign, Timur decided to construct the most beautiful mosque in the eastern world which would surpass the one in India in volume and splendour. Afterwards, you will visit the Siab bazaar to taste different dried fruits and oriental sweets. There are different kinds of plov in various regions of Uzbekistan Overnight in Samarkand. DAY 4: SAMARKAND - GILON VILLAGE (180 km 4 hours) Breakfast. After breakfast, we will go to the village of Gilon through picturesque landscapes And sharp turns. The village of Gilon is located at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. The village has a population of 5000 people. There are two schools and one college. We can say that this village is already a small mountain town. Lunch in the village at a local resident's house and a walk through the mountain village. We will visit the blacksmiths' workshop. And talk with the artist. Dinner in the village. DAY 5: GILON VILLAGE - SHAKHRISABZ – SAMARKAND-BUKHARA. Breakfast.Transfer to Shakhrisabz - located in the north-east of the region, 80 km south of Samarkand. The altitude is 622 meters above sea level. The former capital of Sogdiana - a province of the Achaemenid Empire. In the 7th century, it was conquered by the Arabs, for a long time it was the center of anti-Arab and anti-Islamic resistance. One of the last rulers of Shakhrisabz was Bobo-Bek. Shakhrisabz is known as the birthplace of Tamerlane (Timur). In the 14th - early 15th centuries it was his residence. Excursion to Shakhrisabz: → ruins of Ak-Saray Palace - the summer residence of Tamerlane, which shocked the imagination of contemporaries (14th-15th centuries), → Mausoleum of Jakhongir - the mausoleum of the eldest and favorite son of Tamerlane (14th century), → Dorus-Saodat complex: "Khazrati Imam Mosque" - a multi-stage mosque with a domed hall and decorative aivans (14th century) → Gumbazi-Seyidan - the mausoleum of possible descendants of Timur, → Kok Gumbaz Mosque ("Blue Dome") - was built by Ulugbek on behalf of his father Shahrukh (15th century). End of the excursion At 21:20 p.m. transfer to the train station for the train journey to Bukhara by fast train at 22: 20-00: 04 p.m. Moving to Bukhara. Overnight in Bukhara DAY 6 : BUKHARA Breakfast.Start all day city tour & visit the Samanids mausoleum (IX-Xc.), Chashma Ayyub complex (XIVc.), Bolo Hauz mosque (1712y.).Ulugbeg Medressa (15th c.); Abdulaziz-Khan Medressa (17th c.); Magoki-Attari Mosque (10-16th cc.); Toki-Zargaron, Toki- Sarrafon, Toki-Tilpak-Furushon - shopping mall (15th-16thcc.), Chor Minar complex. Lyabi-Hauz ensemble: Khanaka and madrassah of Nadir Divan-Beghi (1620); Kukeldash Madrassah (Kulba-Kukeldash) (1568-69). Synagogue visit Visit the Ark Citadel (Early Residence of Bukhara Emirs) & Complex Poi Kalon (Beneath the Great): Kalon Minaret (12th c.), Kalon Mosque (12th c.) and Miri Arab Medressa (16th c.). Tea break at Bukhara Silk carpet showroom for short info about Bukhara carpets history. End of tour. Overnight in Bukhara Day 7: BUKHARA - Countryside excursion Breakfast. Sitorai Mohi Khosa the wonderful summer residence of the last ruling emir . Nakshbandiya the tomb of the founder of the Sufi order .Chor Bakhr a holy place and a big necropolis under the open air. Lunch at 13.00 Free time you can enjoy Bukhara by yourself. Overnight in Bukhara Day 8:BUKHARA - KHIVA Transfer to Khiva (about 490km 6-7 hours) Overnight in Khiva Day 9: KHIVA Breakfast. Full day city tour in Ichan Kala, inner town of old Khiva. Visit: Ichon-Qala Gates & Walls, Mohammed Amin Khan Medressa - 1850s, Kalta Minor minaret, Kukhna Ark, Mohamed Rakhim Khan Medressa, Sayid Alauddin Mausoleum & Music Museum, Juma Mosque & around. Mosque is interesting for the 218 wooden columns supporting its roof. The few finely decorated columns are from 10th century mosque. Continue city tour & Arabhana Medressa - 17th c., Dost Alyam Medressa, Abdulla Khan Medressa - 1855, Aq Mosque - 1657, Anusha Khan baths, Alloquli Khan Medressa - 1835, Kutlimurodinok Medressa - 1809, Caravansarai, Tosh-Kholy Palace - 1832, Islom-Huja Medressa 1910. Pahlavon Mohammed Mausoleum & Sherghozi Khan Medressa - 1326, Dishon-Qala -1906. End of tour & transfer to the hotel for rest. Later night walk at Ichan Qala old town as well as dinner in nearby restaurant. Lunch & Dinner suggested restaurants. Overnight in Khiva Day 10: TASHKENT Breakfast Than transfer to the airport of Urgench.08:00 Than transfer to the Internetional airport of Tashkent departure.