- Itinerary
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- Itinerary
Travel itinerary: Tashkent - Samarkand – Shakhrisabz - Bukhara – Ayaz Kala ruins - Khiva - Nukus – Muynak – Tashkent
Duration: 11 days, 10 nights
Accommodation: Double/Twin/ accommodations in hotels.
Description: This tailor-made tour itinerary gives you the chance of attending unforgettable celebrations of Navruz holiday - The Spring Feast and beginning of the New Year in Central Asia through the legendary cities and fortresses’ ruins in the deserts. The special points of the itinerary is that, we take you to Uzbek local families in Tersak village near Samarkand where you can participate for the holiday preparations making and trying national holiday meals and having the chance to attend Ulok – Kupkari games. We specially put the Navruz holiday date for Bukhara part of the itinerary as there in Bukhara you can feel the breath of feast every corner of the city with jolly local people walking in the streets. In the desert part of the itinerary you can ride a camel and shoot photos. There you will also have lunch in the national Yurtas of Uzbek people in Ayaz Kala (fortress ruins). As well after visiting legendary ancient but alive city Khiva we lead our way to Nukus – the capital of Karakalpakistan – from where we go to Muynak to see and learn the history of abandoned ships lying on the sand in the middle of the desert. Be sure for have only fun and getting much nice experiences and memories after such a wonderful trip along amazing Uzbekistan!
- Dates and prices
- DepartureEndDeadlineStatusPrice
- Mar 01, MonApr 30, FriavailableUS$ 760
- Reviews
Tour itinerary:
Homeland - Tashkent 16 March
Dinner time. Free time and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight in Tashkent.
Tashkent - Samarkand 17 March
We start our excursion with the magnificent Registan Square with the three Madrasse 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, the giant mosque Bibi Khanum built by Timur for his favorite wife. After visiting the giant mosque of Bibi Khanum, we lead our way to the Siyob Bazaar situated right next to the main gate to the city. Today the Siab 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. 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. A lot of counters are occupied with a special local delicacy - salty apricot stones baked in ashes. And, of course, a flat bread row offers seventeen kinds of brown Samarkand flat bread for choice. Then visit the spectacular Shahi Zinda Necropolis "the tomb of the living king", the Mausoleum Guri Emir, the mausoleum of Timur familial with its beautifully fluted dome.
Dinner and Free time. Overnight in Samarkand.
Samarkand 18 March
And if the time will be available visit “Samarkand – Bukhara Silk Carpets” factory, where you can observe the whole process of weaving silk carpets based on “handmade” technology.the Ulugbek observatory with its astronomical instrument "sextant" that was the largest of the fifteenth century, 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.
Dinner and free time. Overnight in Samarkand.
Samarkand 19 March
At the end of the day we return back in Samarkand.
Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Samarkand.
Samarkand – Shahrisabz - Bukhara 20 March
Lunch in Shakhrisabz. Continuation of the way to Bukhara.
Arrival in Bukhara and accommodation at the hotel. Free time and dinner. Overnight in Bukhara.
Bukhara 21 March
Today we celebrate Navruz holiday in Bukhara (Navruz - the spring "New Year" holiday, has been celebrated for at least 2,500 years, and perhaps for as long as 5,000 years. Originating in Persia and long associated with the ancient Zoroastrian religion, its name means "new day" in Farsi because for ancient Persians it marked the first day of the New Year.) with townspeople. Today, Navruz is celebrated each year on March 21, when the sun enters the sign of Aries on the astrological calendar. In the northern hemisphere, this date frequently coincides with the spring equinox, the day on which the number of daylight hours equals the number of nighttime hours. We start our tour from the Mausoleum of the Samanids, and architectural jewel of the ninth century, the Mausoleum of Tchashma Ayoub "source of Job", Mosque Bolo Khaouz "mosque over the bath," the Citadel Ark the heart of the old town, was the official residence of the rulers of Bukhara. Lunch time.
Then we continue our tour from the Kalon Complex occupies a central part of the city of Bukhara with its impressive Kalon Minaret of the twelfth century, Poi-Kalyan Complex including: Minaret of Kalyan (XII), Medrese of Mir-Arab (XVI), Kalyan Mosque (XV), The Old Covered Market (Bazaar) belong to civil architecture of the sixteenth century Taki Zargaron (jewelers), Taki Telpakfurushon (hatters), Taki Sarrafon (currency exchange), the Jews of Bukhara. The Madrasse twins: the Madrassa of Ulugbek and that of Abdoulaziz and Madrassa N. Devon Beghi, the Madrassa Kukeldash. Demonstration of silk production and materials, Chor-Minor Medrese (1807).
Dinner at Medrese Nadir Devan Begi with folklore show and national Navruz dishes in menu: sumalak and kuk barak (small dumplings with greens) and etc. Overnight in Bukhara.
Bukhara - Khiva 22 March
Dinner and free time. During the free time in Khiva you will have a chance to feel the charming Khiva night walking.
Khiva 23 March
The day will be dedicated to visiting Khiva. “Ichan Kala”, its old town dating from the fifth century BC was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The excursion starts from the West Gate Ata Darvaza, the statue of the great scholar Al-Khorezmi (Algorithme), founder of algebra; Complex Muhammed Aminkhan (XIX s) with the Madrassa Aiminkhan and Kalta Minor Minaret, the Fortress Kunya Ark, the residence of local rulers with the Reception Hall, the Royal Mosque, the Harem, the Old Prisons, etc., Mosque Djouma (x, s) is the most beautiful Friday Mosque of Khiva from the 213 carved wooden columns, the Palace Tash Khovli, the second residence of the rulers of Khiva with the Harem, the Reception Hall, the Hall of Justice, the Mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, poet, philosopher and legendary wrestler, patron saint of the city, one of the most sacred and beautiful of Khiva, the Complex of Islam Khodja the Madrassa and Khodja Minaret Islam, the West and the East Gate Complex Palvan Darvaza, the Ak Mosque, the Madrasse Allakuli and Kutlimurad, the Royal Caravanserai with its fascinating bazaar and just from this sight you may have a free time for walking and shopping in a Loacal Bazzar in Khiva.
Dinner. Overnight in Khiva
Khiva – Nukus 24 March
Arrival in Nukus and check-in the hotel. Lunch time. After lunch we will visit 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. Free time and dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
Nukus – Muynak – Nukus - Tashkent 25 March
Lunch time in guesthouse. 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.
Transfer to the domestic Airport of Nukus city for taking the flight Nukus – Tashkent. Arrival in Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner & overnight in Tashkent.
Tashkent - Homeland 26 March
Tour price included:
- Accommodation;
- Entrance fees to the museums;
- Sightseeing tours with local guides in each cities;
- Transportation with A/C throughout the whole trip;
- Train tickets (economy class) for high speed premium service train «Afrosiab» (Samarkand - Tashkent);
- Domestic flight (Nukus – Tashkent, economy class);
Tour price does not include:
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Full board;
- Sites entrance fees;
- Consular fees paid upon collection of the entrance Visa;
- International airfares;
- Personal insurance and any items not mentioned above.