Heritage of Uzbekistan

Welcome to Tashkent! Our driver will offer you a pick-up from the airport to the hotel. A while later, the driver and the guide will accompany you to start with Khast-Imom Complex, the sacred religious center of the whole country. There, we're going to explore Barak-Khan Madrasah with many old manuscripts of ancient Asian authors, Tilla Sheikh Mosque and Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi. The Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari is new in this complex founded in 2007. After that, we're to stroll around Chorsu Bazaar - the local market in the well-designed hemispheroidal building.

Then you will experience the subway ride to Tashkent city center, with the guide alone. We'll witness the subway stations in unique styles, and later meet the driver after arrival. In the city center, we'll go sightseeing the garden-like Independence Square, small but vibrant Amir Timur Park, and State Museum of Applied Art with many dazzling Uzbek artifacts. After today's tour, send you back to the hotel.

Accommodation: Wyndham Tashkent

Fly to Urgench after the driver send you to the airport. The flight time is 1h 40min. On arrival, the local driver will offer you a 34 minutes' drive to Khiva 30km (18.6 miles) away.

Leaving your luggage at the hotel, our guide in Khiva will escort you to walk around Ichan Kala, the inner city as well as the best-preserved Muslim complex in Central Asia. In Ichan Kala, Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasah was the grandest educational institution in ancient, and the opposite Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah houses a special short minaret - Kalta Minor. We'll also see hundreds of well-carved pillars in Juma Mosque, and go to the masterpiece complex Toshkhovli Palace, and Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum. After climbing Islom Khodja Minaret, we're to look down to Khiva city at Kunya-Ark Fortress. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Asia Khiva or Bek KHiva

Today, the driver will take you to Bukhara. It takes 7-8 hours to cover the 480-km (298.3-mile) distance. Midway, we will drive across Kyzylkum Desert along ancient Silk Road, to view the vast desert and Amudarya River. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Volida or Fatima or Sultan Hotel

A day tour with the local guide in Old Bukhara - the living fossil on Silk Road by foot. First, we will come to the very city center to visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, the madrassah complex by a pond. Then Magoki-Attori Mosque, a temple of Zoroastrianism, and reconstructed into a mosque later. Afterwards we'll visit Chor-Minor Madrasah, Trade Domes market, madrasahs of Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, Kalyan Minaret and Kalyan Mosque in turn. Next, we'll walk to Miri-Arab Madrasah, the most majestic madrasah in Old Bukhara. Following, go to Ark Fortress and Bolo Khauz Mosque opposite to each other, both are great Islamic architecture. After, continue to visit Samanid Mausoleum, a small medieval construction built in late 9th century. The last stop today is Chashma Ayub Mausoleum which is like a large yurt.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Volida or Fatima or Sultan Hotel

At first, we'll drive to Summer Palace. It's called Sitorai Mohi Hosa as well, meaning the garden of moon and stars. It is a Europe-styled palace but with Uzbek decorations insides. Then we'll sightsee the mausoleum and necropolis of Bahauddin Naqshabandiy, the tomb complex of Uzbek Sufi founder. Finally, we'll go to Chor-Bakr Necropolis, the city of the dead. Chor-Bakr means four Bakr brothers, as four men had the Bakr title were buried there. The rest time of the day will be free for you. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Volida or Fatima or Sultan Hotel

Taking an hour, the driver will send you to Gijduvan. Upon arrival, our local guide will escort you to Gidjduvan Ceramics Center and Workshop. At the Ceramics Center, you will watch and try the skill of ceramic embroidery, and appreciate varieties of ceramics at Ceramic Museum. After that, take part in a cooking class, to learn to cook some local cuisines. In the afternoon, our driver will send you to Samarkand 233km (144.8 miles) away, taking 3.5 hours to arrive. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Samarkand Superior

Our itinerary today will begin with Registan Square, Samarkand's most famous attraction embraced by three magnificent madrasahs. Then we'll head to Siyob Bazaar - the largest market in this city, and Bibi Khanym Mosque, once one of the largest mosques globally. Next, the 15th-century Ulugbek Observatory, the largest observatory in ancient Central Asia. Then, we will go to Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, a quite grand royal tomb complex. Finally we'll pay a visit to Gur-Emir Mausoleum, where the famed emperor Timur and his family members were buried.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Samarkand Superior

We're going to visit the historical town Shakhrisabz today. Upon arrival, the local guide will lead you to Mausoleum of Jakhongir, the tomb of Emperor Timur's eldest son inside Dor-us Siodat Memorial Complex. Then we're to visit Timur's Summer Palace - Ak-Saray Palace. Regretfully, only two giant run-down walls have been preserved. We will also go to Dor-ut Tilovat - the mausoleum of Amir Taragai, Timur's father, and Kok-Gumbaz Mosque where Shamseddin Kulyo, Timur's spiritual mentor was buried. In the late afternoon, drive for 2 hours to get back to Samarkand, covering the distance of 90km (56 miles). 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Samarkand Superior

We will get to Afrasiab Museum at first today, where there are so many relics unearthed from the Afrasiab settlement site, once a trade and culture center on the Silk Road. Then the Tomb of Saint Daniel taken as a holy site, as the prophet Saint Daniel's remains have been preserved there. Next, go to Koni Ghil village to learn how the Samarkand paper is made in the traditional method. After that, you'll be sent to the train station, to take the high-speed train to Tashkent in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Our driver in Tashkent will transfer you to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Wyndham Tashkent

On the last hours of this best private Uzbekistan tour, our driver will see you off to Tashkent airport. Enjoy your trip home!

Meals: Breakfast