Silk Road Adventure: Caravanserais
of Uzbekistan
(11 days /
10 nights) |
| Travel the Silk Route from Tashkent
to Khiva across the Kizyl-Kum Desert. With
the fall of the Soviet Union, Central Asia
has become one of the most exciting places
in the world to explore; with the mosaic architecture
of these Silk Route oases and their minarets,
madrasas and mosques you will learn of the
rise and fall of Tamerlane. |
| Day 1 |
Arrive
in Tashkent, meet and greet at the airport and
private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation
at the hotel. |
| Day 2 |
You
will start the day with a tour of Uzbekistan’s
capital - Tashkent. Visit the Museum of Applied
Arts to see some beautiful embroideries, wall
hangings, carved furniture, ceramics and more.
Later in the day you visit the Museum of Antiquities,
and the old city, which has mosques and madrasas
(Islamic schools) housing craft workshops (14th
century). Next you explore the Kukeldash and
Abul Khassim Medressa (16th century Muslim temples)
and the Chorsu Bazaar, a huge open market beside
Kukeldash, which draws crowds of people from
the countryside, many in traditional dress.
An afternoon flight takes you to Urgench for
a tour of the town of Khiva, one of the most
ancient settlements in the world. Your tour
of this living museum includes the Ichon-Qala
gates, Muhammad Amin and Rakhim Khan's Madrasas,
Tosh-Khovli Palace, Islom-Huja Medressa and
Minaret. Transfer to the hotel in Urgench for
an overnight. |
| Day 3 |
Today
you have a long drive by coach (7-9 hours) through
the moonscape lands between the Kara-Kum (black
sands) and Kyzyl-Kum (red sands) deserts to
Bukhara - former capital of the once powerful
Emirate of Bukhara. Arrive in Bukhara and transfer
to the hotel. Accommodation at the hotel and
the evening is free to relax. |
| Day 4 |
This
day will be devoted to exploring the more than
2500-year old city of Bukhara. You will visit
one of the most elegant structures in Central
Asia - Ismail Samani Mausoleum (built in 905
AD, with a Zoroastrian symbol of eternity over
its door). The tour will take you to the Ark
(former residence of the Emirs), and the Kalyan
Minaret (the tallest building in Central Asia
at the time when it was erected, with the first
glazed blue tiles used for its decoration).
You will have a chance to walk the narrow streets
of the Old Town and meet the locals who still
wear traditional Uzbek clothes and jewelry.
Tonight’s dinner at the local restaurant will
introduce you to the traditional cuisine of
Uzbekistan. |
| Day 5 |
You
depart early in the morning by coach for the
town of Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane,
where you tour Ak-Saray Palace, Kok-Gumbaz Mosque,
House of Meditation and the Crypt of Timur -
a man who changed the course of history and
made so much of a difference to Central Asia.
You continue later to Samarkand, the capital
of Tamerlane’s empire and the city that is for
most people as mythical as Atlantis or as remote
and legendary as Timbuktu. Arrive in Samarkand
and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at
the hotel. The evening is free to begin to explore
the city on your own. |
| Day 6 |
Today
you will have a full day tour of the “Rome of
the Orient”, the city that is as old as Rome
and Babylon - Samarkand. You will see the Registan
Square surrounded by three splendorous madrasas;
visit Tamerlane’s burial place in a mausoleum,
the famous Ulugbek Astronomic Observatory built
in 1420, and Shahi Zinda Necropolis - “Tomb
of the Living King”, site of Central Asia's
most sacred Islamic shrine. You also visit a
colorful local market where you can buy saffron
at unbelievably low prices or try some of the
region's local produce, from grapes to the world's
tastiest melons of multiple varieties. Dinner
at the hotel tonight ends the day on a relaxing
note. |
| Day 7 |
The
entire day is free to spend as you please in
Samarkand or join optional excursions. In the
evening, experience the magic of the Central
Asian traditional dance while having dinner
of Uzbek cuisine at a local restaurant - the
folklore performance will be staged especially
for you. |
| Day 8 |
You
will depart in the morning for an exciting coach
ride across the Kamchik mountain pass to the
beautiful green Fergana Valley. En route, visit
the city of Kokand - Bukhara’s deadliest rival
and the most tenacious Central Asian opponent
of the Imperial Russia in the 19th century.
In Kokand you will see the museum in the Fort
of the Last Ruler - Khodayor Khan, and see a
collection of exhibits related to the times
of the khans’ rule. Arrive in Fergana and transfer
to the hotel. The evening is free. |
| Day 9 |
A
full-day tour will take you to the Edgorliq
Khanatlas Silk Factory in Marghilan where you
will see beautiful hand-made and embroidered
garments. You will visit Andijan - birthplace
of Babur, ruler of the Moghul Dynasty in India
and founder of the famous Taj Mahal and the
Shalimar Gardens. The rest of the day is free
to spend as you please. |
| Day 10 |
Today
you depart by coach and drive along the scenic
road as it winds along the eastern spurs of
the Pamir Ranges to Tashkent, the capital city
of the country and the third largest city of
the former Soviet Union. Arrive in Tashkent
and transfer to the hotel. In the evening experience
the rich traditions of Uzbek folk song and dances
as you enjoy a farewell dinner. |
| Day 11 |
Your
exploration of the wonderful land of Uzbekistan
comes to an end as you are taken on a private
transfer to the airport for flight home. |
Included in
this tour |
3 meals a day
All accommodations
Sightseeing excursions
Porterage
Transfers
All transportation during tour |
Book
this tour now |
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