The Casket of Oriental Adventures

Cities: Tashkent – Fergana valley - Samarkand - Shakhrisabz – Bukhara – Khiva - Tashkent

Duration: 13 nights/14 days

Tour program:

On the plains of Central Asia there are many cities with hundreds of architectural monuments from different epochs. Among the most famous are Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz and Fergana. These cities were the centers of science and art. Great architects created palaces, mosques and mausoleums, world famous monuments of ancient architecture to memorialize Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan.

Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent

Arrival in Tashkent. Check in to the hotel.

Sightseeing in Tashkent: The old city  -  Barak-Khan madrassa (XVI c.) - Kaffal-al-Shashi Mazar –  Kukeldash madrassah (XVIII)  -  Museum of Applied Art  -  Square of Independence  -  The building of National Theatre of opera and ballet.

Day 2: Tashkent– Fergana (350 km = 5 h)

Transfer to Fergana.

Fergana “Davan” was first mentioned in the Chinese chronicles, during the Middle Ages it was one of the leading principalities of Movarounnahr. Medieval monuments serve the evidence of the fact that in the ancient times this valley was the land of many civilizations. Today Ferghana valley is one of the prosperous regions of Uzbekistan. Fertile oases enclose the region. The big cities of Ferghana valley are Margilan, Ferghana, Kokand, Andijan and Namangan.
Arrival and accommodation at the hotel.

Day 3: Fergana – Margilan (10 km = 10 min) – Rishtan (50 km = 1 h) - Kokand (34 km = 30 min) - Fergana

Sightseeing in Fergana valley.

Transfer to Margilan – is o­ne of the most ancient cities of Uzbekistan. The city is located in the south-east of Fergana Valley, o­n the caravan route of the Great Silk Road which united Europe with East Asia. Margilan is a city of outstanding scholars, creative people, masters, craftsmen and is of vital importance as a trading center of the valley. By UNESCO Resolution, Margilan celebrates its 2000th anniversary in 2007 as o­ne of the oldest cities of the world.

In ancient and middle ages, Margilan was a large center of international trade, and has been known for its art crafts, its art of cotton and silk weavers (buz, alacha, beqasam) and fabrics such as shoi, atlas, han-atlas and adras. The enchanting creations of the traditional culture of Margilan include "sozana" silk embroidery, skull-caps as well as gold and silver accessories. Margilan of today is a modern city with broad streets, where multi-story buildings harmonize with ancient buildings, architectural monuments and bustling eastern bazaars.
From Margilan transfer to Rishtan. This town is in 50 km from Fergana, is administrative centre of Rishtan district. Half Tajik, half Uzbek town. From ancient times was famous for its ceramics. Certainly it's not by mere chance that Rishtan becomes famous for its ceramics. There is a deposit of red clay, natural minerals and mountainous vegetation that is needed for painting process. Rishtan artisans became famous all over the world for their technology of ceramics production. Their impressive blue and green work is shining in the sun, each third family in Rishtan is produces pottery. All works are different. In 1900-1910 in Rishtan were 250 artisans. In 1970 the Rishtan Ceramic Plant started functioning, now its closed. And all families continued work in their houses.Transfer to Kokand. Sightseeing, visiting Khudoyarkhan`s palace (XVI).

Transfer to Fergana.

Day 4: Fergana - Tashkent (350 km = 5 h)

Transfer to Tashkent.
Arrival in Tashkent.  Check in to the hotel. Free time.

Day 5: Tashkent - Samarkand (300 km = 5 h)

Transfer to Samarkand. Free time

Day 6: Samarkand

Sightseeing in Samarkand: Registan Square (XVII c,  Registan is circled with 3 main buildings: Ulugbek Madrasah, Sherdor Madrasah and Tillya Kari Mosque)  -  Guri-Emir mausoleum  -   Ulugbek Observatory (XV c)  -  Bibi–Khanum Mosque (XV c) -  Architectural ensemble Shakhi-Zinda (XII – XV cc).

Day 7: Samarkand – Bukhara via Shakhrisabz (300 km = 4 h)

Transfr to Bukhara via Shakhrisabz.

Sightseeing in Shakhrisabz: The remains of the normous summer palace  -  Ak-Saray and Kok-Gumbaz (Blue Dome) mosque, built by Ulugbek in honour of his father  - The Khazrati-Imam Ensemble, another huge mausoleum containing the tomb of Tamerlane’s eldest son, Ghanjir.

Arrival in Bukhara. Check in to the hotel.

Day 8: Bukhara

Sightseeing in Bukhara : Ark - ancient fortress (VI-VII cc.)  -  Chashma Ayub Mazar (graveyard) (XIV-XIX cc.) -  Poi- Kalan complex (XII-XVI cc.), that includes famous Minaret Kalan (built in 1127, height is 49 meters)  -  Samanid’s Mausoleum (IX-X cc.) -  Lyabi-Hauz complex (XVI-XVII cc.) which includes: Kukeldash madrassah (1568) and Nadir Divanbegi madrassah (1622).

Day 9: Bukhara

Sightseeing in Bukhara: Sitorai Mokhi Khosa – “Palace of Moon and Stars” – summer residence of the last Bukhara Emir (XIX c)  - Bolo Khauz mosque  - Complex Bakhoutdin Nakshbandy (so-called Central Asian Mecca).
After lunch free time.

Day 10: Bukhara - Khiva (450 km = 7-8 h)

Morning transfer to Khiva via Kyzylkum desert with picnic lunch.

Arrival in Khiva, check in to the hotel. Evening walk.

Day 11: Khiva

Sightseeing in Khiva: Ichan-Kala  –  Mohammed-Amin Khan madrassah and minaret (XIX c.)  -  Kunya Ark – Old fortress (XVII c.) - Pakhlavan Mahmud complex (XIV-XIX cc.)  - Islam Khodja madrassah & Minaret (1908) -  Jumma mosque (X–XVIII cc.) - Tash Hauli Allakuli-Khan Palace (XVIII-XIX cc.) - Bazaar.

Day 12: Khiva – Urgench – Tashkent

Transfer to Urgench. Flight Urgench – Tashkent.
Free time.

Day 13: Tashkent – Chimgan Mountains (120 km = 2 h) – Tashkent

Transfer to Chimgan Mountains. For heliskiing or trekking, windsurfing or simply a lakeside barbecue. The road from Tashkent follows the Chirchik river past hydroelectric dams and the modern city of Chirchik, famed for its chemical works. A right fork leads straight to Chimgan, or left to the town of Khodjakent, boasting Bronze Age rock carvings, tea houses and juniper forests. The dam holds back the stunning blue of Charvak Reservoir, built in 1982 at the mountain-girdled confluence of the Pskem, Koksu and Chatkal rivers. The road skirts high above the water until Bakachur, where villas and chaikhana attract weekend crowds. Twenty minutes drive from Bakachur is Chimgan itself, Uzbekistan’s winter sports centre. The name originates in the Turkic for “green slope”, justified by the poplar, maple, acacia and countless fruit trees. When it whitens, skiers flock to the three-kilometre-long Kumbel track. And hiking trails include Aksay and Kyzyldzhar peaks, the Marble river and Gulkamsay waterfalls. Walking around the surroundings of Chimgan mountains, lunch.
Way back to Tashkent.

Day 14: Tashkent – departure

Transfer to the airport. Departure.

The cost of the tour:

Pax	1	2	3-4	5-6	7-9	10-14+1	15-19+1	Single supplement
$/pax 2-3*	1820	1115	930	720	790	720	700	125
$/pax 3-4*	2015	1310	1130	915	985	875	850	290

Hotels 2-3*:

Tashkent – Grand Raddus or similar
Fergana – “Club Hotel 777” or similar
Samarkand – Karavan Serail or similar
Bukhara – Old City or similar
Khiva – Malika Khiva or similar

Hotels 3-4*:

Tashkent – Tashkent Palace or similar
Fergana – “Asia Fergana” or similar
Samarkand – Asia Samarkand or similar
Bukhara – Asia Bukhara or similar
Khiva – Asia Khiva or similar

The price includes:

- Uzbek visa support letter;
- Transport for the whole program;
- Twin/double accommodation with breakfasts;
- Guided tours in the cities;
- Free tour leader for groups more than 10 pax;
- Entrance fees to the main monuments;
- Porterage and mineral water during intercity transfers.

The price doesn’t include:

- Uzbek visa;
- International flight;
- Personal expenses;
- Folk shows, wine tasting;
- Photo and video shooting

Extra charge:

- Escort guide from our agency during the whole tour =600 $/group;
- Meals – Half board = 90$/pax;
- Meals – Full board = 150$/pax.