FDU1. Uzbekistan (8-9 days)

       Uzbekistan is ancient country mainly located between two largest rivers of Central Asia – Syrdaria and Amudaria. 8-9-day tour gives you a chance to visit all main historical and cultural centers of Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand.

       Tashkent is a capital of Uzbekistan and one of the most beautiful cities in Central Asia. Founded more than 2000 years ago Tashkent developed rapidly in the Middle Ages due to its advantageous location on the site of crossing of caravan routes from Eastern Europe to Asia and India (the Great Silk Road) and from Siberia to the Middle East. In 1966 Tashkent was destroyed practicaly in full by terrible earth-quake. New city with wide streets, numerous squares, parks, gardens, fountains and multistory apartment houses was created by builders from all 15 Soviet republics of USSR. But Taskent is not city of contemporary architecture only. The extant architectural monuments date back largely to the Middle Ages. The most interesting of them are: Kukeldash Madrasseh, Barak-Khan Madrasseh, The Kaffal-Shoshi Mausoleum, The Dzhami Mosque.

         Khiva in the Middle Ages was a capital of Khiva Khanate. City has still retained the exotic flavor of a medieval oriental town in the old part of the city Incan-Kala where all monuments of architecture are located. There are places decorated with colorful mosaics, the adobe houses, a lot of madrassahs, minarets and mosques and there are no hight buildings and wide streets in Khiva. Khiva is actualy a museum-city. City is included to the list of the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO.

         Bukhara isalso included to the list of the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO. Bukhara is one of few cities in the World which developed in the same place since the 5th century BC. In 16-19th city was a capital of Bikhar Emirate. Bukhara was one of the most important checkpoints in the Great Silk Road. It is very difficult to enumerate all the historic sites and architectural monuments of Bukhara. The oldest are Ark Fortress and Ismail Samani Mausoleum (9th century).

         Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the World. It was founded in the 5th century BC. Samarkand always was very important point in the Great Silk Road. In the Middle Ages Samarkand was a capital of powerful state Sogdiana. In 1369 Tamerlan made Samarkand a capital of his great empire stretching from the Ind River till Bosporus. You can see all famous Samarkand places of interest: Registan Square, Shakh-i-Zindeh architectural ensamble (chain of small mausoleums dating from different centures), magnificient ruins of the 14th century huge Mosque of Bibi Khanum, Gur Emir Mausoleum (15th century) - the tomb of Tamerlan, famous observatory of the great astronomer and scholar - emir Ulugbek (grandson of Tamerlan).

         If you will decide to spend in Samarkand one additional day you have a chance to visit ancient town Shahrisabz - motherland and the first residence of emir Tamerlan. Shashrisabz was a center of Persian province Sogdiana. In the 7th century after defeat of Persia by Arabs Shahrisabz was a center of Anti-Arab and Anti-Islam resistance. Road from Samarkand to Shahrisabz goes through picturesque Takhtakaracha mountain pass. In Shahrisabz you can see: Ak-Sarai \ Tamerlan palace ruins, Dorut-Tilovat mausoleum where Tamerlan's father and his tutor were buried, Kok-Gumbaz mosque. Now historic center of Shahrisabz is included to the list of the World Culture Heritage of UNESCO.

Type: Discovery
Tour duration: 8-9 days
Months of Operation: Round the year
Recommended Group Size: 2-9 pax
Mode of Travel: car (2 pax), minibus (3-9 pax)

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel Uzbekistan ****. Accommodation. Wellcome dinner at the Nur restaurant designed in ancient Uzbek style. (D)

Day 2. Breakfast. Transfer to airport. Flight HY-1051 toUrgench (07:00-08:40). Transfer Urgench-Khiva (28 km). Accommodation at the Malika hotel *** in Khiva. Khiva city tour: Muhammad Amin-Khan madrassah, Kalta-Minar minaret, Kunja Ark complex (Ak-Sheih-Bobo's cell, Kurinishkhona – reception and registration room, Summer and Winter mosques, harem), Muhammad Rahim-Khan II medressah, Pahlavan Mahmud mausoleum, Shergazi-Khan medressah, Islam Khodzha minaret, Dzhuma mosque, Ak Moscque, Anush-Khan bath-rooms, Palvan-Darvaz gates, Allah-Kuli-Khan medressah, Kutlug Murad Inak medressah, Tim Allah-Kuli-Khan caravan-sarai, bazaar, Tash Hauli palace. Dinner at the Toza Bog residense of Khiva khans. (B,D)

Day 3. Breakfast.Transfer to Bukhara (530 km) through the Kyzyk-Kum (Red Sands) Desert. Accommodation at the Omar Hayam hotel ***. In the evening Old Town walking tour. Dinner at the open-air Lyabi Hauz chaikhana (traditional restaurant in Central Asia) located near ancient basin. (B,D)

Day 4. Breakfast. Bukhara city tour: ancient city walls and gates, Ismail Samani mausoleum, Chashma Ayub mausoleum (Spring of St.Iow), Ark fortress (former residence of Bukhar emirs), Zindan (ancient prison), Poi-Kalon architecture ensamble (Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque, Mir-i-Arab medressah), trade domes (Toki Zargaron, Toki Telpak Furushon, Toki Saraffon), Ulugbek medressah, Abdulaziz medressah, Lyabi Hauz architecture ensamble (Kokeldash Medressah, Nadir-Divan-Begi Medresah), Synagogue. Dinner with folklore programme at the Nadir-Divan-Begi ancient medressah. (B,D)

Day 5. Breakfast.Continuation of sightseeing programme: Chor-Minor medressah, Sitora-i-Mokhi Khosa (Khan's Star and Half-moon) palace – summer residence of the last Bukhar emir, Chor-Bakr necropolis.Dinner at the Doston Hauz national restaurant. (B,D)

Day 6. Breakfast.Transfer to railway station. Train #9 Bukhara-Samarkand (07:20-10:45). Transfer to the Grand Samarkand hotel *** in Samarkand. Rest at the hotel. Samarkand city tour: Registan Square (Ulugbek medressah, Sher Dor medressah, Tillya Kori medressah), Museum of History and Culture of Uzbekistan, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Rukhabad mausoleum, Ak-Sarai mausoleum, Mosque of Bibi Khanum, Shakh-i-Zindeh architectural ensamble, Khazrati-Khizr mausoleum, Khodzha Doniyer (The Prophet Daniel) Mausoleum, Museum of Afrosiab (Museum of origin of Samarkand city), Ulugbek observatory.Dinner at the Kishlak restaurand designed at ancient Uzbek style. Optionaly additional overnight in Samarkand and excursion to Shahrisabz with lunch at the Minchinara restaurant (dishers cooked from young mountain lamb «tandir kebab») is recommended. (B,D)

Day 7. Breakfast. Transfer to Tashkent (330 km). Accommodation at the Uzbekistan hotel ****. Rest at the hotel. Tashkent city tour: Mustakillik (Independence) Square, house of Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theater, Bunyodkor Square, Abdulkasym Sheikh Mausoleum, Museum of Applied and Decorative Art, Khasti Imam architectural complex, The Courage monument, Emir Tamerlan Square.Farewell dinner with show-programme at the Sayor restaurant. (B,D)

Day 8. Breakfast.Transfer to the airport. (B)

Costs for individual tourists - 2010:

Included:

• accommodation at twin rooms
• meals as per programme
• excursions
• transport service during all the programme
• English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Turkish-speaking guide (other languages - on request)
• air tickets Tashkent-Urgench
• 1st class sitting car train tickets Bukhara-Samarkand (36 persons at the carriage, air condition, table with TV for every 2 persons)

Not included:

• air/train tickets to/from Uzbekistan
• visa
• insurance
• early check-in and late check-out at the hotel
• optional excursions
• dinner    

Supplements:

• Shahrisabz tour from Samarkand +21 EUR pp
• SGL accommodation *** +97 EUR
  
• lunch +7 EUR pp
  
• 1st class/2-berth compartment on train Bukhara-Samarkand +21 EUR
• additional overnight in Samarkand:
  • period March,1 — June,9 and August,11 — October, 31 +73 EUR
  • period November 1 -  February, 28 +55 EUR
  • period June 10  -   August, 10 +66 EUR                     

All the costs are valid at the date of publication and are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking