Tours

Arrive in Tashkent by flight, welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Standard check-in after 14:00.

In the afternoon, we’ll have a city tour, starting with Khast Imam Complex – a religious center of the city consisting of Tillya Sheikh Mosque, Barakkhan Madrasah, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library of Islamic Literature with original Uthman’s Quran of the VIII century.

We’ll explore traditional Chor-Su Bazaar – oldest in Tashkent where you can buy souvenirs, watch Uzbek bread baking process in traditional oven, taste some local food.

We will use Tashkent Metro with its amazing interiors, visiting modern part of Tashkent: Independence Square – symbol of Uzbek capital and popular place for people, and Amir Timur Square – the heart of the city, established on the intersection of two ancient trade roads, with many modern buildings.

Overnight at the hotel.

Early breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the railway station at 07:00 for train Tashkent-Kokand, departing at 08:07. Arrive in Kokand at 12:13, pick up at the railway station and starting city tour: Juma (Friday) Mosque, Khudoyar-Khan Palace.

Drive to Rishtan town, famous for ceramic production where you’ll visit the house of a well-known ceramic master. Drive back to Kokand.

Overnight at the hotel. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Margilan city, well known by its silk production. If Thursday or Sunday, we can visit Kumtepa bazaar, full of handmade silk, seasonal fruits and vegetables.

We’ll visit Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrassah, nowadays it houses artisans’ shops with handmade carpets and silk. Continue to Yodgorlik Silk factory to see the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns.

Transfer to the railway station for train Margilan-Tashkent, departing at 16:48. Arrive in Tashkent at 21:38, transfer to the hotel.

Overnight at the hotel. 

Early breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the railway station for morning train Tashkent-Samarkand.

Arrive in Samarkand and meet your guide. We’ll start sightseeing from Gur Emir Mausoleum (tomb of Tamerlane), continue with iconic Registan Square (which means “desert” in Persian) and three madrassahs (religious study centers) surrounding the square: Ulughbek Madrassah (XV c), Sher-Dor Madrassah (XVII c), and Tillya-Kari Madrassah (XVII c) – covered with gold.

Visit to Shakhi Zinda Necropolis  – ensemble including mausoleums and other ritual buildings of IX-XIV and XIX CC, Ulughbek Observatory, built in XV century by Timurid ruler and astronomer, Bibi Khanym Mosque – built by Amir Timur for his favorite wife in XV century.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Continue sightseeing in Samarkand: ancient settlement and museum of Afrosiab, and Tombstone of Saint Daniyar. The prophet Daniyar (Daniel) is revered by three world religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and mausoleum is still a pilgrimage place for the followers of all three Abrahamic religions. 

Drive to Konigil village to visit Samarkand Paper Mill “Meros”, where you can see the process of making famous Samarkand paper by ancient technology.

Overnight at the hotel. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we’ll depart to Aydar Lake (Aydarkul) in Kyzylkum Desert, where we’ll stay in the yurt camp – our home for the night!

We can go camel riding through the desert and visit a local village Dungalak.

In the evening, we’ll eat under the stars and listen to folk songs around the campfire.

Overnight in the yurt.

After breakfast, we can spend time at Aydar Lake at leisure, the car will be at your disposal.

In the afternoon, we’ll leave the yurt camp and set off to Bukhara. We’ll stop in Nurata, a small town full of legends set in the foothills of the Nuratau Mountains. We’ll visit ruins and fortifications from the time of Alexander the Great; a holy spring; and the medieval Namazgokh Mosque.

Free evening in Bukhara.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we’ll see Ark Fortress – residence of Bukhara khans (closed on Wednesday), Bolo Hauz Mosque, Samanids Mausoleum – Shrine of Ismail Samani and other members of the Samanid Dynasty, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum – Saint Job’s well.

Continue to Poi-Kalyan complex with Kalyan Minaret through orient bazaars with trade domes and other sights, Ulugbek Madrassah, Abdulazizkhan Madrassah. Visiting Lyabi Hauz complex consisting of Kukeldash Madrassah, Magoki Attori Mosque now used as a carpet museum, Nadir Divan-begi Madrassah and Nadir Divan-begi Khanaka, Fayzulla Khodjaev Museum, and Zindan (Prison).

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we’ll drive outside Bukhara for sightseeing: 

Chor Minor Mosque, Sitorai Mokhi Khosa – summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara,Baghautdin Nakhshbandi Mausoleum – center of Sufism and most important pilgrimage site, Chor Bakr Necropolis –city of the dead. You can have a lunch at café Chor Bakr, famous among locals, serving best kebabs in the area.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the railway station for morning/afternoon train Bukhara-Khiva (5-7h). Pick up at the station, transfer to the hotel, and time at leisure.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.Today we’ll explore ancient inner town Ichan Kala (UNESCO World Heritage site, XIV-XX CC) – big open air museum consisting of Muhammad Amin Khan Madrassah, Kalta Minor Minaret, Kunya Ark, Muhamad Rahim Khan Madrassah, Juma Mosque of X century, Tash Hauli – main palace of Khiva rulers, Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrassah, Shirgazi Khan Madrassah, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport in Urgench (40 min from Khiva), for morning/afternoon flight to Tashkent. Pick up in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel, standard check-in after 14:00. Free time.

Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for onward flight. End of services.