In-depth cultural tour of Uzbekistan

Tashkent

Day 1: Welcome to Tashkent!

Arrival at the International Airport of Tashkent. The driver will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel  You can leave your luggage at the hotel.

You will meet your guide and start the sightseeing tour in Tashkent. You will visit the Architectural complex of Khast-Imam, charming Kukaldash Madrasa, one of the biggest Bazaars of Uzbekistan, Chorsu, and the Museum of Applied Art of Tashkent.

Tashkent - Urgench - Khiva

Day 2: Explore Khiva

In the morning you will meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to the airport and take a domestic flight to Urgench.

Upon arrival at the airport of Urgench, the driver will meet you and transfer you to Khiva. Time to explore the marvelous city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your sightseeing tour includes visits to all monuments and sites of Ichan Kala: Juma Mosque, Kunya Ark fortress, Kalta Minor minaret, the Madrasa of Muhammad Amin Khan, and the Tash-Kauli Palace. After lunch continue to explore other exceptional monuments of Ichan Kala: The Mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, the Mausoleum of Sayid Alauddin, and the Madrasa of Islam-Khodja.

Khiva - Ayaz Kala - Khiva

Day 3: Visit the ancient fortresses Toprak Kala and Kizyl Kala

In the morning meet your guide at the hotel and drive to Toprak Kala. Explore the ancient fortresses Toprak Kala and Kizyl Kala.

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 their residences, the city gradually fell into decay. During the expedition in 1938 and the archeological excavations coins, fragments of ossuaries (Zoroastrian’s canopic jars), and magnificent samples of art culture like glass beads were found.

Then drive to Ayaz Kala and visit the ancient and biggest, mud-walled fortress, built on the top of a hill overlooking the vast Amu Darya plain (IV-II centuries B.C.). Lunch time. In the afternoon drive back to Khiva.

Khiva - Bukhara

Day 4: Picturesque Drive to Bukhara

Early in the morning you will meet your driver at the hotel and drive you to Bukhara direction by passing the red sands of the Kizil-Kum desert.

On the way, there will be rest stop to explore Amu-Darya river, which seems like a blue serpent in the desert. Lunch on the way. In the afternoon going on the road doing another rest stop near Gazli. Upon arrival in Bukhara transfer to the hotel.

Bukhara

Day 5: Sightseeing in Bukhara

During a full day sightseeing tour, you will visit: the architectural complex Poi-Kalyan, the madrasa of Ulug Beg and Abdulaziz Khan, Tim Abdullah Khan – a covered bazaar built in 1577, and the Magok-i Attari Mosque.

After lunch continue to explore other marvelous monuments, such as the architectural ensemble Laybi-Hauz, Ark-Citadel –a residence of Bukhara khans, a massive fortress, built and occupied around the 5th century AD, Bolo-Hauz Mosque, built in the 17th century, the mausoleum of Ismail Samani, which is one of the most ancient monuments in the city and the mausoleum Chashma Ayub.

Bukhara

Day 6: Explore the Tchor Minor Mosque the residence of the last Emir of Bukhara

In the morning you will meet your guide at the hotel and continue your sightseeing tour. You will visit the mosque Tchor Minor, the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara Sitorai Mokhi Khosa.

After lunch 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 –Bakr Necropolis, a complex located in Sumiton village.

Bukhara - Nurata - Yangikazkan

Day 7: Have Tea with a local Family and visit the ruins of the Citadel of Alexander the Great

In the morning you will meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to Nurata direction. On the way make a rest stop in the small village Guijduvan, to visit the ceramic workshop.

Another stop will be in one local family to have lunch and drink a cup of hot, green tea. In the afternoon you will visit the ruins of the ancient Citadel of Alexander the Great.

Upon arrival in the yurt camping, accommodation in the yurt, and later on, optional activities like Camel riding will take place. Your dinner will be in a desert around the fire.

Yangikazkan - Yahshigul's Homestay

Day 8: Meet the Locals

In the morning transfer to Aydarkul Lake to spend some time and enjoy the beauty of the lake, located in the desert.

After, transfer to Asraf village, where you will spend time with a local Uzbek family. Upon arrival lunch with locals. You can also take part in the preparation of traditional Uzbek food. Then walk into the village to explore Uzbek life: people riding donkeys, 1000 years of walnut trees, and children playing traditional Uzbek games.

Yahshigul's Homestay - Samarkand

Day 9: Drive to Samarkand

Breakfast with a local family.

In the morning light hiking to mountains, and exploring ancient petroglyphs. Enjoy a picnic lunch. After that, you will be transferred to Samarkand. Upon arrival in Samarkand transfer and check in to the hotel.

Samarkand

Day 10: Explore Smarkand and enjoy a Cooking Class

In the morning meet your guide at the hotel and start your sightseeing tour to The Registan Square, the ensemble of three madrasas, the Gur-Amir Mausoleum –the family crypt of the great dynasty of Tamerlane, and Bibi Khanum Mosque.

After lunchtime, you will visit the Shakhi-Zinda Ensemble, which includes more than 20 historical buildings, built from early XI to XIV cc. For the evening, you will be a guest of the local Uzbek family and have a cooking class.

Samarkand - Tashkent

Day 11: Visit Smarkand Paper Mill

In the morning check out of the hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel and continue your sightseeing tour. You will visit the first observatory in Central Asia, built by Mirzo Ulugbek in XV c., St. Daniel Memorial complex, and Afrasiab Museum.

After the lunch break, you will visit another interesting place, the Samarkand paper mill, located in Koniguil village. In the later afternoon, your driver will transfer you to the railway station and you will take a fast speed train to Tashkent. Upon arrival in Tashkent, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Tashkent - Kokand - Fergana

Day 12: Drive to Gergana and visit Rishtan, the Center of Ceramics

In the morning check out of the hotel. Meet your driver and guide at the hotel and transfer to Fergana valley passing through mountains and the pass of Kamchik.

The first stop will be in Kokand, to visit the palace of Khudoyar Khan and Juma mosque. After lunch, going on the road, make another stop in Rishtan, the center of ceramics in the region. Visit the house of a well-known ceramic master Rustam Usmanov whose works are exhibited in world exhibitions.

Upon arrival in Fergana, transfer, and check in to hotel. 

Fergana - Marguilan - Tashkent

Day 13: Learn more about Silk in the Yodgorlik Silk Factory

In the morning transfer to Margilan, where you will visit Yodgorlik Silk factory and explore the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns. Observe all steps of production worldwide famous Uzbekistan silk. Thousands of meters of silk travel thousands of miles away with the travelers, who come to Uzbekistan just to buy the silk from this factory.

There they produce also semi-silk, satin, adras, and others. The production is based on hand work. 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. On the way, you can have lunch. Upon arrival, transfer and check-in to the hotel.

Tashkent

Day 14:

In the morning, will meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to International Airport. We will wish you to have a safe flight and always remember your trip to Uzbekistan!