Colourful Uzbekistan

1st day. Arrival – Tashkent

Fly with Turkish Airlines or others, depending on your flight connection, to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Flight time is about 7 hours. Your tour guide will meet you at the international airport and accompany you to your Hotel. One overnight stay in Tashkent.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Hotel City Palace in Tashkent

2nd day. Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva

Today we go to the old town and visit historical complex Khast Imam. In the large square you will see Tilla-Sheikh Mosque, Barakkhan Madrasa and Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum as well as the library in which the oldest Koran in the world is kept. Then we go to the Chorsu Bazaar, which was already well-known in the Middle Ages and stood at the crossroads of the caravansaries of the Great Silk Road. In the afternoon we will walk through the modern town and visit Independence Square and Amir Timur Park.

In the evening we fly to Urgench. Transfer to the hotel in Khiva, about 35km from Urgench. Typical local dish for dinner. Two overnight stays in Khiva.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Erkin Palace in Khiva

3rd day. Khiva

Visit to Ichan Kala («the inner town citadel» of Khiva). It still looks as historical as it did centuries ago. It is one of the few preserved places in Central Asia where one can imagine life as it was in the time of Khanate. The famous buildings of Central Asia which have long become landmarks are to be found in Ichan Kala (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Walking around the historic centre, you will admire the Oriental ornaments and turquoise tiles of the richly decorated buildings, and will understand why the old town of Khiva, “Ichan Kala”, is called an “open-air museum”. In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset over the oasis. Sumptuous dinner in the summer palace of the Khans called „Toza-Bog “(at least 8 people). Let the magical impressions of the day take effect.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Erkin Palace in Khiva

4rd day. Khiva - Bukhara

Impressive trip through the vegetated „Kyzylkum “(«Red Sand») desert and the vast steppe to Bukhara (approx. 420 km). On the way, we will have lunch break in an Uzbek «Roadhouse». In the late evening we arrive in Bukhara and you have time to explore Bukhara by yourself. Dinner in a local restaurant. Two overnight stays in Bukhara.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Komil Boutique in Bukhara

5th day. Bukhara

Excursion in the old town starts with the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani. Then we visit Chashmai Ayub Mausoleum. After we will wander around the old town where you will feel transported to the world of the stories from ‘One Thousand and One Nights’. It is hard to believe that, just like 100 years ago, teaching and learning still takes place in the mosques and madrasas, such as the Miri Arab madrasa. You will admire the «classic» architectural complex Lyabi Khauz with its trading domes and several mosques, madrasas as well as the dervish monastery Khanaka in the old town, and will understand the honorary title «noble town».

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Komil Boutique in Bukhara

6th day. Bukhara – Rabbati Malik – Samarkand

We drive on to Samarkand, the town of the stories in 1001 nights (UNESCO World Heritage Site). In the Middle Ages, this was considered to be one of the most beautiful towns in the world and still today it has lost none of its charm. On the way, we will visit the Rabbati Malik Caravansaray and Sardoba (water reservoir).

Then we go to one of the visiting cards of Uzbekistan, the famous Registan Square with its three unique medrasas Ulughbek, Sherdor and Tillya Kori. We will also visit a palace-like mausoleum Guri Emir of the ruler Timur. Dinner in the Restaurant „Samarkand “, where you can experience the culture of the country and people. One overnight stay in Samarkand.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Ideal in Samarkand

8^th Day. Samarkand – Tashkent

Excursion to the paper-making factory of Samarkand, where silk paper has been produced since 2005 using the technology of 8^th century. Then we visit Ulugbek Observatory, once the greatest research centre in Central Asia, and Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, the grave complex «living king», where today Timur’s family members are buried. We go to the largest mosque in Central Asia Bibi Khanym. Then we walk to Siyob Bazaar which is just next to the mosque. The selection of dry fruits alone is very impressive. At 18:00h we take a fast train "Afrosiyob" to Tashkent. Dinner in Tashkent. One overnight stay in Tashkent.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Ideal in Samarkand

8th day. Tashkent – Return flight

Early morning flight home.

Meals : breakfast

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Notes:

· The right is reserved to make programme changes.

· From two guests upwards, you can travel individually, at a date of your choice!

PLEASE NOTE!

SILK ROAD DISCOVERY reserves the right to change the hotels if a chosen hotel is full or for similar reasons.

Payment for travel services must be made 45 days before starting the trip. Cancellation fees are as follows:

44 to 21 days before travel date: 35% of the travel price

20 to 11 days before travel date: 50% of the travel price

10 days before travel date: 75% of the travel price

Up to 45 days before the travel date, a handling fee of 20 Euro will be charged

Your travel team wishes you a pleasant trip!