The legends of ancient cities of Uzbekistan

Cities:  Tashkent - Samarkand - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand - “Aydar” yurt camp - Bukhara - Khiva - Urgench – Tashkent – Chimgan Mountains - Tashkent

Duration: 11 nights/12 days

Tour program:

Fascinating travel to Uzbekistan will introduce you to the ancient cities of the Orient – Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Shakhrisabz. You will encounter an unusual combination of modern and comfortable hotels surrounded by world famous monuments of ancient architecture which memorialize Alexander the Great, Chenghiz-Khan and Tamerlane and experience a stay in yurts - the traditional dwellings of the nomadic people living around the immense and imposing sands of the Kyzyl-kum desert. In the encampment near Aydarkul lake there will be the chance to take a short camel safari. For those who have never been on a camel before it is a very strange but rather interesting experience.

The tour-package consists of a combination of historical, architectural, cultural and natural components. We also advise you to look through a variety of additions that you can add to the main tour program on your free time based upon your wishes and preferences.

Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent

Arrival in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel and check in.
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 - Samarkand (300 km = 5 h)

Transfer to Samarkand.Arrival in Samarkand and check in to the hotel.

Day 3: 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 4: Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand (120 km = 2 h)

Transfer to 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 remains of the  Khazrati-Imam Ensemble, another huge mausoleum containing the tomb of Tamerlane’s eldest son, Ghanjir.
Return to Samarkand.

Day 5: Samarkand - “Aydar” yurt camp in Kyzylkum desert (220 km = 3,5 h)

Transfer to yurt camp via Nurata.
Half day sightseeing in Nurata:  Brothers Khasan and Khusan Mosque  -  "Chashma" holy spring  -  Namozgokh Mosque (10 c) which was reconstructed by Emir Abdullah in 1582  -  Sheykh Khasan Nuri madrassah (16-17 cc)  -  ruins of Alexander the Great citadel.

Arrival in yurt camp. Accommodation in traditional Kazakh yurts with all the necessary equipment: showers, kitchen etc. Experience sandy landscapes, the flora and fauna of the Kyzyl-kum desert. Camel riding. Dinner around the fire with Kazakh akin singing. Overnight in yurts.

Day 6: “Aydar” yurt camp

Transfer to Aydarkul Lake. Fishing, picnicking, swimming. Eat fried fish for lunch caught from the lake. Return to the yurts. Camel riding or relaxing in the peaceful atmosphere of the desert. Overnight in yurts.

Day 7: “Aydar” yurt camp – Bukhara (240 km = 4 h)

Transfer to Bukhara.
Arrival in Bukhara and 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 - 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 10: Khiva -Tashkent

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.

Evening flight from Urgench to Tashkent . Arrival in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel and check in.

Day 11: 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 12: Tashkent - departure

Shopping (if time permits). 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*	1665	965	815	785	745	685	645	90
$/pax 3-4*	1765	1115	1015	945	895	815	765	205

Hotels 2-3*:
Tashkent – Grand Raddus or similar
Samarkand – Karavan Serail or similar
Bukhara – Old City or similar
Khiva – Malika Khiva or similar
In the desert - yurts

Hotels 3-4*:
Tashkent – Tashkent Palace or similar
Samarkand – Asia Samarkand or similar
Bukhara – Asia Bukhara or similar
Khiva – Asia Khiva or similar
In the desert - yurts

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;
- Meals – full board in the desert, camel riding;
- 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 =500 $/group;
- Meals – Half board = 105$/pax;
- Meals – Full board = 165$/pax.