All Uzbekistan (CUZ 02)

Arrival at the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Rest. Excrusion in Tashkent - Old City: the architectural and cult complex Khast-Imam (Khazret-Imam), with a grandiose Friday mosque, the medieval mausoleum Kafal Shashi (XVI century), Barak Khan madrasah (XVI century), Muyi Muborak madrasah with one from their original Korans of Caliph Osman (7th century), the oldest in the world; operating Kukeldash madrasah (XVI-XVII, colorful oriental bazaar Chorsu. People's Friendship Square; Amir Temur (Tamerlane) square with a park, an equestrian statue of Tamerlane, surrounded by historical and administrative buildings - the Palace of Forums, the Temurids Museum, Tashkent chimes, the original hotel building “Uzbekistan”; the monument “Courage” - a memorial about the devastating disaster - the Tashkent earthquake of 1966; the Opera and Ballet Theater (1945) and the light and music fountain; Mustakillik (Independence) Square with the Independence Monument, the Ezgulik arch, the eternal flame, fountains; Palace of Grand Duke N.K. Ro.

Flight to Nukus – the capital of autonomous Karakalpakstan. Visit to the famous National Museum of  Savitsky with the 2nd most important collection of Russian and Soviet avant-garde in the world, as well as a magnificent collection of historical artifacts of ancient Khorezm and an ethnographic collection of the Karakalpak people. After lunch, visit to the ancient necropolis of Mizdakhkan: “world clock”, the seven-domed mausoleum of the giant hero Shamun-Nabi, the Jumart Kasab sanctuary, the mausoleum of Caliph Eredzheb (XI century), the underground mausoleum of the beautiful Nazlymkhan - Sulu (XII-XIV centuries) decorated with magnificent majolica, ruins of the ancient fortress Gyaur-kala.

Transfer to Khiva, a UNESCO world heritage site (260 km, 5-7 hours). On the way, visit the Zaraostrian dakhma Chalpyk and the ancient fortresses Dzhampyk-kala and Ayaz-kala (I–II centuries).

Walking city tour in Khiva: Ichan Kala - an open-air city-museum, the Kalta Minor minaret (XIX century) decorated with colored tiles, the Kunya Ark fortress (XVII century) - the former residence of the Khiva khans, the complex of Pakhlavan Mahmud (XIV-XIX centuries) - a national hero and poet, Islam Khoja minaret and madrasah (1908), Juma mosque (X-XVIII centuries), Tash Khauli palaces, Allakuli Khan (XVIII-XIX centuries), artisan workshops where you can see technology for the production of Khiva wool and silk carpets, embroidery, ceramics, wood inlay.

Transfer to fabulous Bukhara, one of the most ancient cities of the East (480 km/7-8 hours) through the Kyzylkum desert with photo stops in the desert and on the banks of the Amu Darya River.

Excursions around Bukhara: Mausoleum of the Samanids (IX - X centuries) - the family tomb of the rulers of Bukhara, the oldest in Central Asia; Mazar Chashma Ayub (XIV - XIX centuries) - mausoleum - sarcophagus over an ancient sacred spring; Ark fortress (VII – XIX centuries) – residence of Bukhara rulers - emirs; the Poi-Kalyan complex (XI-XVI centuries) is the visiting card of Bukhara with the Kalyan minaret (XI century) 47 meters high, with the existing Miri-Arab madrasah (XVI century), the Kalyan mosque (XV century) with the original multi-domed gallery; trading domes (XVI century), where since ancient times local craftsmen sold their products. And today tourists can buy magnificent souvenirs and products of folk craftsmen here: gold embroidery, carpets, suzani, ceramics, embossing, knives and much more. Lyabi-Khauz complex (XVI-XVII centuries) - the “heart” of old Bukhara with an ancient swimming pool, Nodir Divanbegi Madrasah (XVII century); Chor-Minor (XVIII century) - a small mosque of an original form with four minarets; Sitora-i-Mokhi Khosa (XIX century) is the summer country residence of the last emir of Bukhara. The interior of the palace rooms is richly decorated with magnificent paintings, stucco, wood carvings and ganch.

Transfer Bukhara - Karshi - Termez (Kashkadarya region: Sardoba (XVI century) - a domed structure for collecting and storing water from burnt bricks, a brick-stone bridge over the Kashkadarya River (XVI century), Odin Madrasah (XVI century), mosques Kok Gumbaz (XVI century), 400 km, 7-8 hours). On the way, a short excursion to Karshi, the regional center.

Excursion around ancient Termez - the southernmost city of Uzbekistan and the immediate surroundings: the Buddhist complex Fayaz-Tepe (1st century) - a UNESCO site, the Kyrk-Kiz complex (IX-10th centuries), the mausoleum of Hakim al-Termezi (748-869 - the founder of an influential Sufi order ), the ancient settlement of Kampyr-Tepa (40 km from Termez), perhaps this is the legendary ancient Alexandria Oxian, a historical museum with a rich collection of artifacts from ancient times to the present.

Transfer to Shakhrisabz - the birthplace of Amir Temur (Tamerlane) - a great commander and statesman, founder of a huge medieval empire (350 km, 5-6 hours). On the way, visit the unique Dzharkurgan “corrugated” minaret (XII century). Upon arrival in Shakhrisabz, excursions: Ruins of the Ak Saray Palace (1380-1404), Doruttilyavat Ensemble (XIV-XV centuries), Dorussiadat Ensemble (XIV century), monument to Amir Temur, Kok Gumbaz Mosque (1435), Jami Mosque ( 1915), Trade dome “Chorsu“.

Transfer to the legendary Samarkand, the same age as Rome (170 km, 3 hours) Excursion: “Heart” of Samarkand - Registan Square (XIV-XVI centuries) with 3 famous madrassas: Sherdor, Ulugbek and Tillya-Kori, a grandiose cathedral the Bibi-Khanum mosque (XV century), the magnificent Gur-Emir mausoleum (XV century), in which Tamerlane, his sons and grandson Ulugbek are buried.

Continuation of the tour of Samarkand. Observatory of Ulugbek (1420) - the grandson of Tamerlane, a famous ruler and astronomer, Shahi-Zinda (XI-XVIII centuries) - necropolis of the rulers and nobility of Samarkand, consisting of many magnificently decorated mausoleums, the exotic Siab bazaar. Transfer to Tashkent (350 km, 4-5 hours).

Transfer by train to Kokand - the ancient city-gate to the “golden” Fergana Valley (08.00:11.50). Excursion to Kokand: the palace-residence of Khudoyar Khan (1871), which houses the local historical museum, Norbut-Biya madrasah (XVIII century), Modarikhon mausoleum (XIX century). Transfer to Fergana (350 km, 3 hours). Through Rishtan, a small town famous for the dynasties of potters and ceramists. Here you can watch them at work and purchase original products as souvenirs.

Excursion to Margilan to the Yodgorlik silk factory (Here you can get acquainted with the process of manual production of silk fabrics, from unwinding the cocoon to painting them, and also buy inexpensive souvenirs made of silk.), the original architectural complex of Pir Sadiq, 17th century. (Mausoleum, mosque, minaret and dovecote). Transfer by train to Tashkent 16:03 -20:45.