From Tashkent to Fergana valley

ATTENTION! The excursion is individual, for any day you need and DOES NOT IMPLY joining any group.

This exciting, adventure-filled, and discovery-filled express tour of the Fergana Valley will introduce you to this amazing region of Uzbekistan. The Fergana Valley is not only a land of ancient history and culture, but also a Garden of Eden. The most delicious peaches, apricots, and grapes in Uzbekistan grow here. During the tour, you'll see the most fascinating monuments of Kokand and Margilan. You'll learn about the traditions and craftsmanship of Rishtan's ceramic artisans, and see how the famous Fergana silk is created and how the magical khan atlas and adras fabrics are woven. You can also participate in master classes. Overnight stays in hotels or artisan guesthouses are available upon request.

Places to visit:

- Khudoyar Khan's Palace and Residence (1871), which houses the local history museum

- Norbut Biya Madrasah (18th century)

- Modarihan Mausoleum (19th century)

- Silk Center (here you can learn about the process of hand-made silk fabrics, from unwinding the cocoon to dyeing, and also buy inexpensive silk souvenirs.)

- The original architectural complex of Pir Sadik, 17th century (mausoleum, mosque, minaret, and dovecote).

- Ceramicist R. Usmanov's workshop

- Khoja Ilgor Religious Complex (19th century)

Margilan, silk thread extraction

Margilan, abr fabrics

Rishtan, mausoleum of Khoja Ilgor (19th century)

Margilan, making khan-atlas

Rishtan, ceramics center

Kokand, shaman at the Madari Khan complex

Margilan, aerial silk

Rishtan, master ceramist R. Usmanov

Rishtan, workshop of ceramist A. Nazirov

Margilan, center of silk

Margilan, interior of the national house

Tour program

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Tashkent - Kokand - Rishtan

9:00 - 1:00 PM Transfer Tashkent-Kokand (240 km). After breakfast, we depart for the Fergana Valley, the most densely populated region of Uzbekistan, a land of farmers, gardeners, and artisans. Our route takes us through numerous villages, the mountain serpentines of the Kamchik Pass (2 km), and picturesque mountain valleys and gorges. Our first stop will be ancient Kokand, the capital of the once powerful Khanate and an important trading city on the Silk Road.

After lunch, a tour will take in the main sights of Kokand: the Khudoyar Khan Palace (1871), the Jami Mosque (1818), the Modari Khan Necropolis (1825), and Dakhmai Shakhon (1825).

We then continue to the small town of Rishtan (50 km, 1 hour), renowned since ancient times as the largest center for the production of unique glazed ceramics in Central Asia. We will visit the original Khoja Ilgor Mausoleum (19th century), the home and workshop of one of the famous ceramic masters, where we will learn about ceramic craftsmanship, from clay mining and preparation to molding, sculpting, painting, and firing. Here you can also purchase original handmade ceramics. Here, the family will serve a traditional Uzbek dastarkhan – dinner. Accommodation at the Guest House.

Fergana – Margilan – Fergana - Tashkent air

8:00 AM. Today, we'll take a fascinating and educational excursion to the small town of Margilan, the Silk Capital of Uzbekistan. Margilan, a satellite city of Fergana, is located just 20 km away, a 30-minute drive and 60km away, and 70-minutes drive from Rishtan. Here, we'll visit a silk center where the entire silk production process is brought together in one place, from unwinding the cocoons to dyeing the threads into the original "abr" pattern, weaving the fabrics on hand looms, and producing finished products: scarves, original clothing, and carpets.

We'll bid farewell to the splendor of silk and return to Fergana Railway Station, where we'll depart for Tashkent at 16:03 and will arrive at 21:10.

Highlights

picturesque landscapes, mountain lacets of Kamchik pass, blooming fields and gardens, villages and towns, parks of Fergana valley;
in Kokand: Khudoyarkhan’s Palace (1871), Jami mosque (1818), Modarikhan Necropolis (1825), Dakhmai Shakhon (1825);
in Rishtan: workshop of ceramics painter Rustam Usmanov, Khodja Ilgor’s Complex (XIX century);
in Margilan: silk factory, the center of national crafts in madrassa of Sayd Akhmad-Khodja (XIX century), Complex of Pir Sadyq (1742).