Uzbekistan grand tour: 16 days of discovery

Tashkent

Tag 1: Welcome to Tashkent

Welcome to Tashkent! Meet your local English speaking guide and start a sightseeing tour. The first discovery is the visit to the complex of Khast-iImam (reconstructed in 2007), the religious center of Tashkent. The architectural ensemble includes several constructions.

Then you will discover beautiful madrasa Kukeldash and Juma Mosque and Chorsu Bazaar –the biggest market of the country.

In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Applied Art of Tashkent, the ancient palace of Russian diplomat Alexander Polovtsev that was transformed into a museum in 1938. After, city tour to Amir Temur Square, Independence Square, and Minor Mosque.

Tashkent - Chimgan - Tashkent

Tag 2: Into the Chimgan Mountains

In the morning, drive to Chimgan Mountains. In Chimgan Mountains, you can take a long ride in a cable car from Beldersay gorge to Kumbel peak, from where the longest ski tracks starts.

Have a walk in the mountain area and relax observing gorgeous view of green mountains. Then, drive to the shore of Charvak Reservoir. There are numerous resorts, beaches, and children summer camps. You can have lunch under the shade of four giant trees at Chinara restaurant. On the territory of the restaurant, you can explore unique petroglyphs, rock carvings made by prehistoric people, reserved until nowadays. You'll return to Tashkent after lunch.

Tashkent - Urgench - Khiva

Tag 3: Explore Urgench

In the early morning transfer to the airport to take a domestic flight to Urgench.

Explore the marvelous city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The sightseeing program includes an excursion in all the monuments of Ichan Kala. Ichan Kala is the inner town (protected by brick walls some 10 m high) of the old Khiva oasis, which was the last resting-place of caravans before crossing the desert to Iran. Although few very old monuments still remain, it is a coherent and well-preserved example of the Muslim architecture of Central Asia. You'll see the Juma Mosque which constitutes a remarkable type of architecture of XVII cc. You'll also see the Kunya Ark, the 'ancient fortress,' established in 1686 - 1688 by Arang-Khan. To the south of Kunya Ark are Kalta Minor and the Medresa of Muhammad-Amin-Khan. You'll also see the Tash-Kauli Palace, built in 1830 - 1838 for Alla-Kulli-Khan.

Khiva - Ayaz Kala - Toprak Kala - Khiva

Tag 4: Expedition in Khiva

In the morning, meet your guide at the hotel and drive to Toprak Kala.

Explore the ancient fortresses Toprak Kala and Kizyl Kala, situated in 80 km of Khiva. The fortress was built in the 3rd century and was used as the residence of khorezmshakhs - governors of the country- up to 305 A.D. Because of aggressive wars that forced the governors to leave the residence, the city gradually fell into decay.

During the expedition in 1938 and the archeological excavations, from the territory of Toprak Kala were found coins, fragments of ossuaries (Zoroastrian’s canopic jars), magnificent samples of art culture, like thin manufactured ceramics, wool, silk fabrics, gold ornaments and a necklace of 300 glass beads, paste, amber, corals, bowls.

Then drive to Ayaz Kala and visit ancient and huge, mud-walled fortress, built on the top of a hill.

Khiva - Bukhara

Tag 5: Discover the Desert in en route to Bukhara

Early in the morning, drive to Bukhara direction by passing red sands of the desert Kizil-Kum. On the road, you'll be crossing the arid steppe with its herds of sheep of astrakhan. Stop at a rest stop and explore the river of Amu-Darya, a blue serpent in the desert.

In the afternoon, get back on the road, doing another rest stop en-route near Gazli. Arrive late in the afternoon, and transfer and check-in to the hotel.

Bukhara

Tag 6: Welcome to Bukhara

In the morning, meet your guide at the hotel and discover the most mysterious city of the Silk Road – Bukhara and its magnificent historical monuments that attract thousands of visitors by their beauty.

The full-day sightseeing program includes visits to the architectural complex Poi-Kalyan which consists of three constructions built in XII-XVI centuries. You'll also see madrasah MiriArab, mosque, and minaret. Kalyan. the “Great minaret” is the main decoration of the complex.

Next, see the madrasa of Ulug Beg and Abdulaziz Khan, remarkable progress of medieval Central Asian architecture. After, see the Tim Abdullah Khan, a covered bazaar built in 1577. Stop at the Magok-i Attari Mosque (today, Museum of Carpets) which is one of the oldest architectural monuments where you will find heathen shrines.

Bukhara

Tag 7: Local Adventures in Bukhara

In the morning, meet the guide at the hotel. On this day, you will visit other monuments situated in the countryside of the Bukhara.

See the mosque Tchor Minor, or "Four Minarets," hidden in the alleys of the ancient district of the city. Also, see the summer residence of Bukhara Emirs, Sitora-i-Mokhi Khosa, which was the second residence of the last emir of Bukhara.

In the afternoon, you will visit the holy site, the memorial complex of Hazrati Bakhouddin Naqshbandi, the founder of Naqshbandiya Order, located in the village of Qasri Orifon and Chor. You'll also see Bakr Necropolis, a complex located in Sumiton village.

Bukhara - Nurata - Yangi Gazgan

Tag 8: Camp in a Yurt in the Desert

In the morning, drive in the Nurata direction. On the way, make a rest stop en-route in Guijduvan, a small village 40 km far from the Bukhara.

Guijduvan ceramic workshop is known throughout the country and is protected by UNESCO. Alisher Narzullaev will demonstrate with great pleasure our National ceramics with beautiful oriental patterns.

Further, make another stop in the naval region, to visit ancient caravanserai Rabat-i-Malik and medieval water keeper Sardoba. After arriving, visit a local house for lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to the ruins of an ancient Citadel of Alexander the Great and finally arrive at the yurt. Delight in your accommodation in the yurt camp, riding Camels, and dinner in a desert around the fire.

Yangi Gazgan - Mitan - Samarkand

Tag 9: Welcome to the village of Mitan

Welcome to the village of Mitan! In the village, you will be a guest in one of the Uzbek local families. Eat lunch at the local house, with traditional Uzbek welcome meals: “bichaks”- triangular baked pastries with meat or pumpkin; “plov”- cooked with rice, fresh mutton or beef, yellow or red carrot, onions and vegetable oil (you can take part in the preparation).

Authentic meetings and various exchanges between the visitors and local residents are the best ways of cross-cultural understanding; as well, participation in various kinds of activities leads to familiarization with the lifestyle of local people.

In the afternoon you can go for a walk in the village and observe the beautiful nature almost untouched by human development. Having a tour in Mitan village, you really feel the Uzbek Life.

Samarkand

Tag 10: Explore History in Samarkand

In the morning, meet your local tour guide and begin a sightseeing tour in Samarkand. 

See the Registan Square (“Sandy Place”), the ensemble of three madrasahs (the Ulughbek Madrasah, the Sher Dor Madrasa, and the Tillya Kori Madrasah which is a unique example of town-building art, a remarkable pattern of the architectural planning of the main town square.

You'll also see the Gur-Amir Mausoleum, a world-known masterpiece of Central Asian architecture. Later, explore the family crypt of the great dynasty of Tamerlane, with a finely ribbed dome and decorated with paper-maché inside.

In the afternoon you will explore other miracles of the city: The Pearl of Samarkand – Bibi Khanum Mosque.

Samarkand - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand

Tag 11: Day Trip to Shakhrisabz

In the morning, meet the local guide and drive to Shakhrisabz city.

In Shakhrisabz, visit the Mausoleum of Jakhongir in Dor-us Saodat Memorial Complex and see the remains of Ak-Saray Palace.

Next, explore Dor-ut Tilavat Ensemble with Kok-Gumbaz Mosque and burial vault of Tamerlane’s father. Have a relaxing lunch time in the afternoon, then drive back to Samarkand.

Samarkand

Tag 12: Sightseeing in Samarkand

In Samarkand, a sightseeing tour will be with a local tour guide. You will visit the Observatory of Ulugbek, the first observatory in Central Asia.

Also, visit the mausoleum of Hodja Daniyar, located near the healing spring and attracts crowds of tourists every day. Some believe that Daniel was a biblical prophet while others associate him with fellow-soldier of Kusam ibn Abbas.

In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Afrasiab.

Samarkand - Tashkent

Tag 13: Journey Back to Tashkent

In the morning, meet the guide and begin a sightseeing tour.

Visits the Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari, the great theologian of the East, who collected and recorded about 600 thousand hadith, sayings of the Prophet. Besides, al-Bukhari selected as “flawless” about 7400 hadith to include into the famous “As-Sahih” which became the second most important book after the Koran for the majority of Sunni. 

See the Shakhi-Zinda ensemble with more than 20 buildings, built from early XI up to XIV cc. Each mausoleum has its own style of decoration and great fantasy of skillful artisans.

After lunch, you will visit the workshop of handmade silk paper, located in Koniguil village. In the workshop, you can explore the ancient technologies of producing silk paper, developed by Chinese handicrafts in VIII century.

Tashkent - Kokand - Fergana

Tag 14: Day Trip to Fergana

In the morning, depart to Fergana Valley through mountains and pass of (2 268m neck) Kamchik, located in the Chatkal mountains range.

Make a rest stop en route in Kokand. Meet your local guide and visit the palace of Khudoyar Khan and Juma mosque.

Going on the road again, make another rest stop en route in Rishtan, the center of ceramics in the region. Visit the house of a well-known ceramic master Rustam Usmanov whose works are exhibited on world exhibitions. Enjoy a pottery workshop and have a look at the ceramic collection in a small museum. Arrival in Fergana, transfer, and check-in to the hotel. A pleasant walk in the park and through the boulevards is a great ending to the day.

Fergana - Margilan - Tashkent

Tag 15: Discover Silk Production in Margilan

In the morning, drive to Margilan, where you will visit Yodgorlik Silk factory and explore the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns.

Observe all steps of the production of worldwide famous Uzbekistan silk. Thousands of meters of the silk travel thousands of miles away with travelers, who come to Uzbekistan just to buy the silk from this factory.

There are also semi-silk, satin, adras that are made. The production is based on handwork. The produced materials are exported to South Korea, India, Iran, Russia, Germany and other countries. After, you will visit the biggest in the region Bazaar. In the afternoon, drive back to Tashkent.

Tashkent

Tag 16: Goodbye Uzbekistan

About 2-3 hours before departure, you'll be transferred to the International Airport for taking your flight home or to your next destination. We hope you had an incredible trip through Uzbekistan!