Tashkent

Arrival in Tashkent, our driver will pick you up from the airport/railway station and drive you to hotel.

Tashkent

Our guide will pick you up from the hotel and start excursion in Tashkent

Amir Timur Museum

Established in 2006, the Museum of the History of Timurids, also known as the Amir Timur Museum, has become a prominent landmark in Tashkent. The museum's grandiose building exemplifies refined architecture, featuring a round structure topped by a large blue dome. Graceful columns adorn the entire perimeter, seemingly supporting the roof, while the windows are designed in the form of arched niches. The facade is intricately decorated, and the building is surrounded by fountains, drawing the attention of all visitors to the capital. The museum boasts a collection of over three thousand exhibits, showcasing the ancient history of the region. These include paintings, historical documents related to Amir Timur's life, unique manuscripts, weapons, clothing, utensils, and coins, each representing a piece of history.

Amir Temur Square

mir Timur Square in Tashkent has a rich history dating back to the 19th century when it was established as a small park surrounded by educational and governmental buildings. The square features a monumental equestrian statue of Amir Timur, the 14th-century ruler known for founding a vast empire. The square underwent reconstruction in 2009, transforming into a modern plaza with fountains and greenery. Surrounding the square are notable buildings such as the Uzbekistan Hotel, the University of Law, and the Forums Palace, which hosts important state and international events. The square is also home to the Tashkent Chime, a historic landmark symbolizing the city. With its central location and historical significance, Amir Timur Square remains a vibrant hub in Tashkent, reflecting the city's rich cultural heritage and modern development.

Independence Square (Mustakillik Square)

Independence Square, located in central Tashkent, is a popular gathering spot with beautiful fountains. Its history dates back to the 19th century when it was the site of a Kokand Khan palace. Later, it became known as Lenin Square during the Soviet era, featuring a monument to Lenin. After Uzbekistan's independence in 1991, it was renamed Independence Square, with a new monument symbolizing the country's sovereignty. Today, the square hosts festive events and is adorned with modern buildings and green spaces, making it a vibrant part of Tashkent's urban landscape.

Courage Earthquake Memorial

The Monument of Courage in Tashkent commemorates the devastating 1966 earthquake. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.3, left half the city homeless. The monument features a black labradorite cube with the date of the earthquake and a clock showing the time of the quake. The statue depicts a woman protecting a child, symbolizing the city's resilience and the reconstruction efforts that followed.

Minor Mosque

The Minor Mosque in Tashkent which opened in 2014, is a modern architectural gem. With its white marble finish and turquoise dome, it stands out in the cityscape. The mosque's capacity exceeds 2400 people and features a beautiful open front part with terraces and a grand hall with a gold-plated mihrab. Situated on the Ankhor Channel embankment, it has quickly become a favorite spot for evening walks among city residents.

Chorsu Bazaar Tashkent

The Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, over a century old, is a vibrant hub of activity. Its traditional domed structures offer respite from the hot climate. The complex includes a magnificent three-story building with shops, basement passages, and back rooms. The bazaar offers a variety of goods, including fresh fruits, dried fruits, bread, meat, and local delicacies. Adjacent choykhonas serve delicious meals, while nearby handicraft shops offer hand-made souvenirs. A visit to this historical bazaar is a must when exploring Tashkent.

Ensemble Hazrati Imam

Hast-Imam Square, also known as Hazrati Imam, is a spiritual center and a picturesque attraction in Tashkent. Surrounded by historic mud-brick homes that survived the 1966 earthquake, it houses several architectural treasures including the madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, and the mausoleum of Hazrati Imam. The complex also hosts the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari and a library of oriental manuscripts, including the famous Ottoman Koran. The new mosque, built in 2007, features stunning woodcarving and two minarets in the style of the 16th century, creating a mesmerizing ambiance, especially at night.

Uzbekistan State Museum of Applied Art

The Museum of Applied Art of Uzbekistan has a rich history, dating back to 1927 when it was first established as the Museum of Handicrafts. In 1997, it was granted state status and received its current name. The museum boasts a collection of over 7,000 samples of applied arts, including handmade embroidery, skull caps (tyubeteyka), jewelry, carpets, and other crafts from the 19th century to the present day. The exhibits are categorized into three groups: traditional works, those created since the 19th century, and modern art with colorful ornaments. Additionally, the museum features two gift shops offering works by modern Uzbek masters.

Tashkent Metro

The Tashkent Metro, the first underground system in Central Asia, was completed and opened in 1977. Each station features unique architectural elements such as marble and granite finishes, rows of columns, colorful bas-reliefs, and more.

Nukus

Take a evening flight to Nukus, arrival in Nukus and accommodation.

State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky

Also known as Karakalpakstan State Museum of the Arts or simply Nukus Museum of Art, it has aptly been nicknamed “Louvre in the Sands”. In the summer of 2009, writers from The New York Times’s "Leisure" column and the International Herald Tribune advised art-savvy readers who are generally “difficult to surprise” to “visit the Nukus Museum before dying”, evoking the famous phrase of Ilya Ehrenburg “to see Paris and die!” In 2015, The Telegraph rated the city of Nukus #2 among “10 Extraordinary Destinations You Have Probably Never Heard Of”, citing Savitsky Art Museum as a key reason for this nomination

Ayaz-Kala

After the museum, driving to Desert Fortresses, first of them is Ayaz Kala: On the colorful cliffs of one the Sultauizdag eastern spurs, in the Kyzyl Kum desert there survived ruins of one of the largest castles of ancient Khorezm– Ayaz-Kala. Folk legends associate the name of the fortress of with the name of the legendary warrior-slave Ayaz. Ayaz is a Central Asian Turkic folklore hero. The semi-mythical hero, according to a legend, threw himself at an Amazon princess who lived in the Kirk-Kiz fortress. The archaeologists claim that the Ayaz-Kala fortress belongs to the II century AD – a heyday of the Kushan Empire. Stretching in a chain from East to West it was part of a system of frontiers, built to protect the oasis on the side of the desert. All fortresses were located on a visible distance from each other, probably in order to make transmission of signals of approaching enemy convenient.

Toprak Kala is an excavated town dating back to the 1st to 5th cent. AD and is considered as the most important monument on Chorezm from the Kushan time. It's ground plan is 500m x 300m and it was surrounded by a wall made of bricks, 10 to 15 m high. The King's Palace in the north western part of the town was built on an elevated base rising about 15 m above the rest of the town. Three monumental towers, 25 m high, still exist. In front of the palace was the temple area with the holy fire. The town was divided by streets into several districts with blocks of dwellings with 150 to 200 rooms. The Kings's Hall covered an area of 280 squqre meters.

Khiva

Drive to Khiva, accommodation. Evening walk in a light up old city of Khiva by your own.

Itchan Kala has a history that spans over two millennia. The inner town has 26 hectares and was built according to the ancient traditions of Central Asian town buildings, as a regular rectangle (650 by 400 meters) elongated from south to north and closed by brick fortification walls that are up to ten meters high. Ichan Kala was the site of the Khan's palace. High officials clergy and rich merchants used to live here. The ordinary people, small merchants, craftsmen, and peasants lived in Dishan Kala

Kalta Minor Minaret

The minaret is well regarded, thanks to its unique decor and its incompleteness. The Kalta-minor is a unique minaret completely covered with glazed tile and majolica. It was commissioned in 1851 by Mohammed Amin Khan, the ruler of Khiva, as an architectural marvel intended to rise over 70 meters. But the construction stopped at a height of 29 m, which is why the name the Kalta-minor (or Short minaret) was assigned to it.

Citadel Kunya-ark

Kunya Ark is a fortified citadel at the heart of Khiva, nestled against the western ramparts of the Ichan Kala immediately north of the city's west gate. Originally built as early as the 12th century, the nucleus of its current layout was first constructed by Arang Khan (r. 1688-94). The Ark is the largest of Khiva's myriad buildings.

Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum

Pahlavan Mahmud is a local poet and philosopher who was famous for his heroic strength and the ability to heal people. Originally the construction of the mausoleum was very modest but soon there was built khanaka and a mosque where pilgrims said their prayers. Later the building was rebuilt into a magnificent construction with the largest dome in the city, covered with blue tiles.

Juma Mosque

Khiva's Juma, or Friday Mosque is a unique architecture wonder with 64 hand hand-carved columns of different designs.

Islam Khodja Complex

The Islam-Khodja complex stands to the southeast of the main east-west street in Khiva's Ichan-Kala (old city) and includes a madrasa and minaret. The site is named after Islam Khodja, the grand vizier (and also a first cousin) of Muhammad Rahmi Bahadur II.

Stone Palace (Tash Khauli)

Located in the eastern part of Ichan-Kala, Tash-Khauli Palace built in 1830 - 1838 is an example of Khorezm architectural grandeur of those times. The palace was built by order of Allakuli-Khan.

Bukhara

Take a morning or afternoon train to Bukhara

Lyab-i-Hauz

Dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, the Lyab-i Hauz Ensemble remains a prominent square in Bukhara. It stands out as a popular tourist destination, offering a serene and historical atmosphere. Located in southeast Shakhristan near the main Bukhara trade street, Lyab-i Hauz is often frequented by tourists looking for a peaceful place to rest and admire its grandeur.

Poi Kalyan Mosque

The Kalyan Minaret, standing at 45.6 meters, is the sole remaining section of the Kara-Khalid era mosque constructed by Mohammad Arslan Khan in 1127, predating the Mongol invasions. Despite its age, this remarkable structure survived the early days of the city, even astonishing Genghis Khan to the extent that he chose not to order its destruction. Today, it remains the focal point of the city, situated in the Po-i-Kalyan square.

Ark of Bukhara

The Ark, a regal enclave within Bukhara, stands as the city's oldest edifice, serving as the residence of Bukhara's rulers for more than a thousand years. It is as ancient as the city of Bukhara itself, with its origins lost in the mists of antiquity. However, it undoubtedly served as the nucleus around which the medieval town of Bukhara evolved.

Trading Domes

A vibrant, ancient bazaar with an Eastern ambiance, adorned with workshops of skilled artisans.

The oldest mosque in Central Asia, which has a rich history of serving as both a Buddhist and Zoroastrian temple, showcases remarkable brickwork architecture.

Bolo Hauz Mosque

Bolo Hauz, situated across from the Ark Fortress, forms a Kosh layout with the latter, symbolizing the historical resistance between them. Its name, meaning "above the pool," derives from the octagonal hauz, or man-made pond, situated directly in front of it. Construction began in 1712, during the early years of Abu'l-Faiz Khan's reign (r. 1711-47), making it one of Bukhara's final and most exquisite major structures before the modern era.

Explore the city at your leisure or opt for a half-day tour of the Bukhara countryside, which includes visits to the Summer Residence of the Emir, the Bakhautdin Naqsband Mausoleum, and the Samani Mausoleum.

Samarkand

Afternoon bullet train to Samarkand

Gur Emir Mausoleum

The Gur-Emir Mausoleum stands as a testament to Tamerlane's unparalleled conquests and enduring legacy. Visitors can explore his tomb within the beautifully reconstructed mausoleum, which dates back to 1404-1405 and was further developed in the 15th and 17th centuries. The mausoleum also houses the largest piece of jade (greenstone) in the world, offering a unique opportunity to reflect on Tamerlane's life and achievements.

Registan

Registan Square, with its stunning architectural ensemble, stands as a symbol of Samarkand's rich history and cultural heritage. Once the heart of the ancient city of Afrosiab, the square became a focal point of Samarkand's urban life after the decline of Afrosiab. Over the centuries, Registan has been rebuilt and renovated several times, each iteration adding to its grandeur and significance. Today, visitors can marvel at the three magnificent medreses that surround the square: the Ulugbek, Sherdor, and Tillokori medreses, each showcasing exquisite tilework, intricate carvings, and stunning Islamic architecture. Registan Square truly captures the spirit and splendor of ancient Samarkand, offering a glimpse into the city's glorious past.

Bibi Khanym Mosque

The Bibi-Khanym Mosque, named after Temur's wife, was constructed between 1399 and 1404 and stands as one of Central Asia's most renowned architectural marvels. Ordered by Timur himself after his conquest of Delhi, this mosque was intended to be a symbol of his victory. The mosque's minaret was planned to be the tallest in the region, showcasing Timur's ambition and grandeur. Today, the mosque's imposing facade, intricate tilework, and massive scale continue to awe visitors, offering a glimpse into the architectural prowess of the Timurid era.

Siab Bazaar

Siab Bazaar in Samarkand has retained its impressive charm over the years, offering a vibrant display of Uzbekistan's natural wealth and the talents of its people. The bazaar's bustling atmosphere, filled with the aromas of spices and the vibrant colors of fruits, vegetables, and handicrafts, is a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage. Visitors can wander through the maze of stalls, sampling local delicacies and admiring the craftsmanship of local artisans. Siab Bazaar truly captures the essence of Uzbekistan, showcasing the country's abundance and the industrious spirit of its people.

Necropolis Shah-i-Zinda

The Shakhi-Zinda Ensemble, dating back to the 9th century, is located on the southeastern mound of Afrosiab. This architectural complex comprises more than 20 mausoleums housing 44 tombs. One of the most significant aspects of Shakhi-Zinda is its association with Qusam ibn-Abbas, who was the first cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and is said to closely resemble him. The site holds immense cultural and historical importance, attracting visitors from around the world to marvel at its stunning architecture and rich history.

Samarkand

Optional tour to Shakhrisabz/Penjikent (Tajikistan)

Tashkent

Bullet train to Tashkent in afternoon

Tashkent

Taking a train to Kokand(Fergana Valley)

Kokand

Arrival in Kokand, meet with a guide and start excursion

Khan Palace

The palace complex, built in 1871, occupied a total area of four acres with a foundation three meters thick. It was constructed with a high portal, a highly decorated large entrance arch, and four minarets. Surrounded by a carved stone wall, the palace consisted of seven courtyards and one hundred and nineteen rooms. The inscription above the main gate reads: "Great Seyed Mohammad Khudayar Khan".

Norbut-Biya Madrasah

The Bolsheviks closed the 1799 Narbutabey Medressa, but it opened after independence only to have Karimov shut it down again in 2008. Visitors can visit the mosque (with its original ceiling), which Stalin reopened to win wartime support from Muslim subjects, as well as the non-working madrassa (now named the Mir Medressa).

Drive to Rishtan (50 km/1 hr), Visit the famous Rishtan Blue Ceramic Artisan home workshop, and get acquainted with the ancient tradition process followed by the Uzbek Tea ceremony with the artisan.

Fergana

Drive to Fergana (1,5 hr/75 km), accommodation.

Margilan

Drive to Margilan (17 km/30 minutes)Visiting Famous Silk Factory in Margilan

Tashkent

Taking a train to Tashkent, END OF SERVICES