Wonders of Surkhandarya, canyons and valleys

Day 1

Tashkent

Arrival at the airport of Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel. Leave luggage and additional breakfast. Check-in at 14:00. At 09:00 – start excursions around the city, very dynamic and modern, with its own history. Visit to Hast Imam Square, where there are Barakkhan’s medersa, Tillya Sheikh Mosque and Kaffal Ash-Shashi Mausoleum (XVI c.), walk around the biggest and most dynamic market of Uzbekistan – Chorsu. Then by Tashkent subway you will go to the city center and visit the Museum of Applied Arts. Visit to Tashkent City amusement park. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Tashkent – flight to Termez

Breakfast. Panoramic tour of Tashkent: Independence Square, Opera and Ballet Theatre Square, Amir Temur Square. At 11:00 – transfer to Tashkent airport for domestic flight HY-065 to Termez (13:30/14:50). Arrival in Termez and transfer to hotel in Termez. Free time. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Termez

Breakfast. Excursion to Termez – one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia and an ancient centre of Buddhism. Visit to Kokildor-Ota khanaka, Kyrk-Kyz fortress – summer residence of Samanid rulers, Sultan-Saodat complex and Zurmala (Buddha stupa). Continuation of the excursion to Buddhist archaeological monuments. Visit to Karatepa, Fayaztepa and mausoleum of Al-Hakim at-Termezi. Visit to Termez Archaeological Museum, where all artefacts found in Termez and its surroundings are presented. Lunch and dinner are not included  Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4

Termez – Darband – Boysun

Breakfast. Transfer to Darband. Visit Darband gorge and walk along the picturesque mountain ledges. Visit to Hujamaykhona natural spring. Transfer to the picturesque village of Sayrob to view 1000 year old chinar trees. Visit to the red canyons of Tangisar. Visit to Padang village. Arch forest with Zaurboshi gorge. Transfer to Boisun. Visit to Art Suzane craft centre. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5

Boysun – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand

Breakfast. Departure to Shakhrisabz (200 + 150 km), the birthplace of Tamerlane. Then city tour (duration about 2-3 hours), including the remains of Tamerlane’s palace Ak-Saray, which means “white palace”, the construction of which was left unfinished after his death. Tours of the complex: Friday mosque Kok-Gumbaz, built by Ulugbek in 1432 in honour of his father. Imam Hazrati Mosque with a shady summer terrace; Darus Siadat – the tomb of Timur’s eldest son Jahangir. Dor-ut Tilovat Memorial Complex was built in 1370-1371 after the death of Shamsiddin Kulol, a great pious figure, founder of Sufism, mentor of Amir Toragai and teacher of Bahovuddin Naqshbandi. Arrival and accommodation. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Samarkand

Breakfast. The Great Silk Road has long passed through this city, and the famous conqueror Tamerlane, a descendant of Genghis Khan, made it the capital of his vast empire in the 14th century and built here many architectural masterpieces, many of which have survived to this day. The tour starts with a visit to the famous Registan Square, where the madrassahs of Ulugbek, Tilla Kori and Sherdor are located. Visit to Gur-Emir Mausoleum. Visit to the mausoleum of St Daniel, Afrosiab Archaeological Museum. Visit to the silk paper factory “Konigil Meros”. Lunch and dinner are not included. In the evening – visit to the historical and ethnographic park “Eternal City”. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7

Samarkand

Breakfast. We will resume our tour of Samarkand with a visit to the necropolis of Shahi-Zinda. Visit to Ulugbek Observatory, Bibi Khanim Mosque and the busiest market Siab. Visit to the Muslim religious building – Khazret-Khyzr Mosque, where the mausoleum of the first President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov is located. Visit to Khujum carpet factory. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8

Samarkand – Yurt Camp

Breakfast. Departure to the yurt camp (approx. 240 km). First acquaintance with the life of nomads. Lunch at the yurt camp.

Dinner in the restaurant of the camp accompanied by traditional songs. Overnight in yurts (traditional nomadic tents).

Day 9

Yurt Camp – Nurata – Bukhara

Breakfast. Transfer to Nurata. On the way visit Gijduvan and ceramists’ workshop. Continuation of the trip to Nurata. Tour of Nurata: well, pool with sacred fish – its magical and religious origin. Historians connect the formation of the city with the fortress Nur (translated as “ray”, “ray of light”), built here by Alexander the Great in the IV century BC. The fortress served as a border between the wild steppes and agricultural areas. The ruins of the fortification have survived to this day and are one of the sights of Nurata. Lunch at the house of one of the locals in Nurata. Nurata was the northern gateway to the Zerafshan valley. Continuation of the trip to Bukhara. Arrival and accommodation in Bukhara. Free time for strolling through the narrow streets of the old city. Dinner – not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10

Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel. Start of Bukhara sightseeing: Ismail Samani Mausoleum, built in the X century, a masterpiece of Arab geometry, including a mosque (XVIII century). Chashma Ayub Mausoleum. Bolo House complex, Visit to the majestic Ark Citadel, which was the residence of the Emir until 1920. Visit to the magnificent architectural complex Poi Kalon (XII-XVI centuries.), including the mosque Masjidi Kalon, Miri Arab Madrasah and the highest minaret of its time in the East. Visit to Ulugbek Madrasah, built by Tamerlane’s grandson in 1417, Abdul-Aziz Khan Madrasah (XVII century), Abdullah Khan Tim Madrasah (XVI century), built in 1577 and used by Afghan silk and wool traders, Visit to the 16th century covered market known as “merchant domes”. Gold embroidery, copper, blacksmith and weaving workshops are discovered during the visit. Walk around the old city of Bukhara: tour of Lyabi Hauz complex of XVI-XVII centuries with Nodir Divan-Begi Madrasah, Kukeldash Madrasah and Nodir Devon-Begi Khanaka. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11

Bukhara

Breakfast. Departure for country excursion: Sitorai-Mokhi-Khosa Palace is a country residence of Bukhara Emir, built in the late XIX – early XX century. Nowadays it houses a museum of decorative-applied art. Visit to the Bahauddin Naqshband Memorial Complex is a cult ensemble located in the vicinity of Bukhara. It is located at the burial place of the head of the Naqshbandi dervish order. It consists of a madrasa, two mosques and a minaret.Lunch – not included. Visit to Romitan Varnet greenhouse. Visit to the house-museum of Faizulla Khodjaev. Visit to Chor Bakr necropolis. Dinner – not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12

Bukhara – Khiva

Breakfast at the hotel. Long transfer to Bukhara (450 km, 7-8 hours) through Kizilkum desert (red sands). Arrival and check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13

Khiva

Breakfast at the hotel. At 09:00 – start of the tour to the ancient complex of Ichan Kala: Kunya Ark, Mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, Minaret and Madrasah of Ichan Kala, Minaret Kalta Minor, Tach Khovli Palace, Ak Mosque, Anusha Khan Bath, Mohammad Rahimkhan Medersa, Friday Mosque. Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14

Khiva/Urgench – Fly home

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport of Urgench.