11 days |
a local professional photographer will be with the group during the whole trip
- Itinerary
- Dates and prices
- Photos
- Reviews
- Itinerary
Travel itinerary: Tashkent – Nukus - Mujnak - Ayaz Kala – Khiva - Bukhara – Nurata yurt camps – Sentob village – Samarkand – Tashkent.
Duration: 11 days, 10 nights
Best time to travel: From March to June and from August to November
Accommodation: Double /Twin accommodations in hotels.
Description: For the travelers who are interested in taking unique photos of modern, historical places, nature and life style of village people on the mountains - this tour will be the best choice.
Note: a local professional photographer will be with the group during the whole trip
- Dates and prices
2020
- DepartureEndDeadlineStatusPrice
- Aug 01, SatNov 30, MonavailableUS$ 830
- Reviews
Tour itinerary:
Homeland – Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent international airport in the morning and get issued Uzbekistan visas at the airport. Meet the driver outside the airport and transfer to hotel for early check-in.
After breakfast, we start our excursion with the old town, overlooked by low houses of brick and mud, ancient mosques and madrasas (Islamic academies), which seems to have been spared by Soviet planners to show the original appearance of the buildings. It continues with the complex of Hazrat Imams, which includes the Barak Khan madrassah (XVI century), the old mosque Djami (Friday) still in the work, and the mausoleum of Kaffal Chachi - the tomb of a great philosopher, poet and teacher of Islam lived in the tenth century. It 'still a place of pilgrimage for the locals. Then we will stop at the bazaar Charsu, the city's most famous farmer's market and a great place to meet many locals coming from the surrounding countryside dressed in traditional costumes. Finally panoramic tour of the modern city: the Independence Square, the square of Amir Temur, the Theatre Square. Dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight in Tashkent.
After breakfast, we start our excursion with the old town, overlooked by low houses of brick and mud, ancient mosques and madrasas (Islamic academies), which seems to have been spared by Soviet planners to show the original appearance of the buildings. It continues with the complex of Hazrat Imams, which includes the Barak Khan madrassah (XVI century), the old mosque Djami (Friday) still in the work, and the mausoleum of Kaffal Chachi - the tomb of a great philosopher, poet and teacher of Islam lived in the tenth century. It 'still a place of pilgrimage for the locals. Then we will stop at the bazaar Charsu, the city's most famous farmer's market and a great place to meet many locals coming from the surrounding countryside dressed in traditional costumes. Finally panoramic tour of the modern city: the Independence Square, the square of Amir Temur, the Theatre Square. Dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight in Tashkent.
Tashkent – Nukus – Muynak - Nukus
Early breakfast at 6:00 am and transfer to local airport at 6:30 for flight to Nukus (1 h. 45 min). 9:45 am Arrive in Nukus and drive to former fishermen’s town Muynak (200 km, 3 h.), which used to be situated on the shores of Aral Sea. On the way stop at archaeological complex Mizdakhan. In Muynak have a look at a former port with abandoned ships in the sand – “Cemetery of ships”. Then visit Local History Museum with art exhibits of the Aral Sea history. In the afternoon return to Nukus.
Overnight at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Nukus – Ayaz Kala
After breakfast in the hotel. We visit the Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum. The museum hosts the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and exposition of Karakalpak applied arts items. Drive to Ayaz Kala. The first stop will be to visit the open air museum of the models of these ancient fortresses. So we begin by Toprak Qala fortress dating back to the first century AD. We consider this as the ancient fort palace of the Shah of Khorezm. Then it continues with the impressive Ayaz-Qala, a complex of three forts dating from the sixth to seventh century who were part of a series of fortifications located on the edge of Kyzyl Kum desert, which served as a defense against the incursions of nomadic peoples. So we reach the fortress Ayaz-Kala before settling in this beautiful location in the local yurts.
Dinner in the Yurt camp. Overnight in Yurtas in Ayaz Kala.
Note: We can arrange national dances and music of the local nomads around the camp fire in the evening by your requirement.
Dinner in the Yurt camp. Overnight in Yurtas in Ayaz Kala.
Note: We can arrange national dances and music of the local nomads around the camp fire in the evening by your requirement.
Ayaz Kala - Khiva
After breakfast, drive to Khiva (80 km). Now Khiva is a large open-air museum. The city tour includes (The order of the visits will be determined by the guide): the statue of the great scholar Al-Khorezmi (Algorithme) founder of algebra, located next to the main entrance of Ichan Kala, the fortified town. Then the tour continues with the Kunya Ark of the seventeenth century. Fortress and residence of the rulers of Khiva, in which there are the harem, the mint, the stables, the armory, barracks, mosque and the palace stables Tosh-Hovli, in which Inside you can admire the most sumptuous decoration of Khiva, including ceramic tiles, stone sculptures and carved wood. The building consists of 2 parts: the private (harem) and the Public (reception room and courtroom). Visit to Djuma mosque or Friday Mosque, with 213 carved wooden columns supporting the ceiling. The columns were brought from different regions of Central Asia (X-XIII centuries). It continues with the mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud - poet, philosopher and legendary wrestler, who became the patron saint of Khiva. It’s considered to be the most sacred and honored place in Khiva and one of the most beautiful monuments of the city, with its magnificent courtyard and beautiful decorative tiles. Finally, the whole of Islam Khodja, the minaret and the medrasa of Islam Khodja.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Khiva – Bukhara
Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast departure to Bukhara, the path crosses the Kyzyl Kum "red sands" and the Karakum "black sands", the road that skirts the edge of the large bed of the river Amu Darya, which offers stirring views of the dry unusual beauty. During the tour, stops are planned for lunch, free and short walks.
Arrival to Bukhara, Bukhara is one of the oldest cities in the world. From the sands of ancient and legendary oasis in the heart of exploding Kyzyl Kum Desert we again start enjoying the city tour in Bukhara - an ancient stopping point for any traveler who traveled the Silk Road.
Hotel accommodation. Dinner. Overnight in Bukhara.
Arrival to Bukhara, Bukhara is one of the oldest cities in the world. From the sands of ancient and legendary oasis in the heart of exploding Kyzyl Kum Desert we again start enjoying the city tour in Bukhara - an ancient stopping point for any traveler who traveled the Silk Road.
Hotel accommodation. Dinner. Overnight in Bukhara.
Bukhara
Breakfast. Full day excursion to Bukhara. The city, one of the oldest settlements in Central Asia, with its age-old buildings and a historic center still inhabited, is located in a desert oasis east of the lower reaches of the Amu Darya river (Zeravshan). Bukhara derived its importance from the location, the junction of caravan routes that linked the 'Saudi to' India to old Cathay, in the region where it was often the capital. The city tour includes (the order of the visits will be determined by the guide): Ismail Samani Mausoleum, the oldest and most valuable in the country, a masterpiece of medieval architecture, built by Ismail Samani for his father Nasr I. Ismail Samani , the founder of the Samanid dynasty. It is called "Jewel of the East". The Chashma Ayub Mausoleum. According to legend, Job went to Bukhara to save the inhabitants from the lack of water and hit the ground with his stick. At that point just flowed a spring of water. Take a walk in the bazaar of Chasma Ayoub, near the mausoleum. We will see the Bolo-Hauz Mosque, the Emirs official place of worship, built in 1718 and located next to the door of the Ark, the center of the city, the official residence of the rulers of Bukhara. The Ark Fort inhabited since the fifth century. until 1920, when it was bombed by the Red Army, now in its interior is almost entirely made up of ruins except some former royal apartments which are home to several museums.
Dinner. Overnight in Bukhara.
Dinner. Overnight in Bukhara.
Bukhara - Gidjduvan - Nurata
Breakfast. Half day excursion to Bukhara. Visit – Lab-i-khauz ensemble, the pool and chaikhana of which is the modern centre of traditional Uzbekistan. Master class making of Uzbek national meal “Palov” for lunch at a local families. After lunch transfer to Nurota region Yurt camps located in Kyzyl Kum desert (230 km, 4 h.*). On the way we stop at Sardoba in Raboti Malik, and the next stop will be on entering to Nur ota region to see petroglyphs of the Bronze Age and Nurata town to visit the Complex Chashma- a local mosque with a holy spring water. Then we continue driving to yurt camp in Kyzyl Kum desert. Arrival and accommodation in the yurts.
In the evening dinner near the camp fire with Kazakh akin singing folk songs.
Overnight in the yurts.
In the evening dinner near the camp fire with Kazakh akin singing folk songs.
Overnight in the yurts.
Nurata - Samarkand
Breakfast. Sentob is a magical place, the walk in this village, brings us to meet the local population that has a more traditional way of life. We will continue visiting to the ruins of the ancient Sentob, ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings) from the Bronze Age, the old mill. In the afternoon departure to Samarkand.
Upon arrival in Samarkand hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Upon arrival in Samarkand hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Samarkand
We start our excursion with the magnificent Registan Square with three Madrasses completely covered with tiles and mosaics of lapis. Lazuli is one of the most extraordinary monuments of Central Asia with the Ulugbek Madrassa, the Sher Dor Madrassa and Tilla Kari Madrassa that are followed by the giant mosque Bibi Khanum built by Amir Timur for his favorite wife. After visiting the giant mosque of Bibi Khanum. We will have a free time for shopping in the Siyab Bazaar. Today the Siyab bazaar - the city’s biggest and the most ancient market. It welcomes the customers with abundance of fruit and vegetables growing in the fertile of Zarafshan valley. Pyramids of water-melons and melons, bags with walnuts, seedless raisins and dried apricots, bunches of grapes and alluring piles of figs attract the visitor with sweet tooth. Red apples and sweet-scented pears lay on counters next to leathery fruits of a pomegranate. The air is fragrant with a strong smell of spices - pepper and saffron, cardamom and nutmeg, zeera (cumin) and caraway seeds.
Lunch in national restaurant with local people. After lunch continue our tour with the Museum of Wine making at Khovrenko Winery. The winery has an interesting wine museum, which familiarizes the visitors with its history as well as that of Samarkand wine making, its international awards and, of course, arranges tasting of Samarkand wines. Visit the Mausoleum Guri Emir, the mausoleum of Amir Timur familial with its beautifully fluted dome.
Dinner at restaurant with dance show. Overnight in hotel.
Lunch in national restaurant with local people. After lunch continue our tour with the Museum of Wine making at Khovrenko Winery. The winery has an interesting wine museum, which familiarizes the visitors with its history as well as that of Samarkand wine making, its international awards and, of course, arranges tasting of Samarkand wines. Visit the Mausoleum Guri Emir, the mausoleum of Amir Timur familial with its beautifully fluted dome.
Dinner at restaurant with dance show. Overnight in hotel.
Samarkand – Tashkent
After breakfast, end of the tour of the city: the complex Imam al Bukhari, great doctor Islam, the master of the Hadiths and the complex Khodja Akhrar with Devonbeghi Madrassa and Mosque Akhrar. Transfer to the station to catch the high speed train to Tashkent (2h10m), arrival and transfer to the hotel. Dinner time.
Overnight in Tashkent.
Overnight in Tashkent.
Tashkent – Homeland
Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the International Tashkent Airport to catch return flight to Homeland with great expressions!!!
Tour price included:
- Accommodation with breakfast;
- Transportation with A/C throughout the whole trip;
- Train tickets (economy class) for high speed premium service train «Afrosiab» (Samarkand - Tashkent);
- Domestic flight economy class (Tashkent – Urgench);
- Sightseeing tour program in all cities, including entrance fees to sights, except camera/video fees;
- Escort guide
Tour price does not include:
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Full board;
- Consular fees paid upon collection of the entrance Visa;
- International airfares;
- Personal insurance and any items not mentioned above.
Accommodation:
Tashkent
Hotel Shodlik Palace 3* or similar
Nukus
Hotel Jipek Joli 3* or similar
Khiva
Hotel Zukhro Boutique 3* or Shokhjakhon 3* or similar
Ayaz Kala
Overnight in Yurts
Bukhara
Hotel Sasha and Son 3* or New Moon 3* or similar
Nurata
Overnight in Yurts
Samarkand
Hotel Zarina 3* or Zilol Baxt 3* or similar