D-01 Welcome reception and transfer to hotel.
D-02 Short city tour of Tashkent: visit Kukeldash Madrassah and Khast Imam Square. Also visit Barak Khan Madrassah, Tillya Sheykh Mosque and Kafal Shashi Mausoleum.PM drive to Samarkand (300 km – 4 hours)
D-03 FD CSS of Samarkand: Visit to Gur Emir (in Tajik - Tomb of the emir) – mausoleum of Timur and the Timurids (15 c.); Bibi Khanym Mosque (15 c.) – the gigantic congregational mosque, once one of the Islamic world’s biggest mosque and Siab market – colorful main farmers’ market. Lunch at local restaurant.After lunch visit to Shakhi Zinda (The Living King) – necropolis of Samarkand rulers and nobles. The name refers to its original, innermost and holiest shrine – the grave of Qusam ibn-Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, who is said brought Islam to this area. Also visit to Ulugbek Observatory (1420) – the remains of an immense (30 m. tall) astrolabe for observing star position, part of three-storey observatory and Afrasiab ruins and museum with fragments of 7th century frescoes. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
D-04 AM.S/S of Reghistan square (Sandy place) – ensemble of majestic madrassahs (15-17 cc.), ranks first in Central Asia and among the greatest of all the grandiose and magnificent works of the Islamic world. PM. to Shahrezabz (170 km – 2 hours).
D-05 Visit Shahrezabz: Ak Saray (White Palace) – Summer residence of Tamerlane (14 c.), Kok Gumbaz (Blue Dome) – Friday mosque (15 c.), built by Ulugbek in honor of his father and Dorut Tilyavat (House of Meditation) – burial complex of Timur’s forebears. Also visit Crypt of Timur – an underground room, which was discovered in 1963.Drive to Bukhara (300 km – 4 hours).
D-06 Full day S/S of Bukhara: visit Poi Kalon Ensemble (Pedestal of the Great). The square separates the Mir-I-Arab Madrassah and the Kalon Jummi mosque. The Kalon Minaret (in Tajik means “Great”) is one of the defining symbols of Bukhara. When it was built by the Karakhanid Arslan Khan in 1127, the Kalon Minaret was probably the tallest building in Central Asia. It’s incredible piece of work, 47 meters tall, which in 875 years has never needed any but cosmetics repairs. Also visit 3 remaining domed bazaars – Taqi Zargaron (1570), or Jeweler’s Bazaar, Taqi Telpak Furushon or Cap Makers’ Bazaar and Taqi Sarrafon, or Moneychangers’ Bazaar, which were among dozens of specialized bazaars in the town, Magok-I-Atori Mosque – the remains of a Buddhist monastery, a Zoroastrian temple and the mosque of the Arab invaders, all sharing the same space and Lyabi Hauz Ensemble. Lyabi Hauz, a plaza built around a pool in 1620 (the name is Tajik for “around the pool”). To the east, the Nadir Divanbegi Madrassah, built in 1630, on the west side of the square, and built at the same time, is the Nadir Divanbegi Khanaka. North across the street, the Kukeldash Madrassah, once was the biggest Islamic school in Central Asia. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch visit the Ark fortress – royal town-within-town, as old as Bukhara itself, home to the rulers of Bukhara for over a millennium, Bolo Hauz Mosque (“Mosque Near the Pool”) (1712) – the royal court mosque, Ismoil Samani Mausoleum – the town’s oldest building (completed around 905) and one of the most elegant structures in Central Asia, and Chashma Ayub (“Spring of Job”) – built in 12 century over a spring.
D-07 Day drive to Urgench (480 km – 8 hours).
D-08 CSS of Khiva: Visit Ichan Kala (Inner town). Khiva is the most intact and most remote of Central Asia’s Silk Road cities, the final destination from modern Tashkent to medieval slave town. Visit Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah (1852-1855) – the largest of its kind in the city with a capacity of 250 Islamic students, or rather 130 romantic tourists, as the madrassah today houses hotel “Madrassah”; Kelte Minor (“Short minaret”) commissioned by the khan in 1852 to stand (at over 70 m.) as the biggest in the Islamic world, but abandoned in the wake of his death at a frustrated 26 meters. Also visit Kunya Ark (Old Fortress) – the Khiva rulers’ residence, first built in 12th century, then expanded by the khans in the 17th century. The khans’ harem, mint, stables, arsenal, barracks, mosque and jail were all there. Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum – Pakhlavan Mahmud the Hercules of the East, Palvan Pir the "kurash" wrestler-saint, Pirar Vali the antireligious Persian poet, Mahmud the district furrier, all died here, one and the same, in 1325 to enter local folklore as a hero of both brain and brawn and to become the adopted patron of Khiva. With its lovely courtyard and stately tilework it is one of the town’s most beautiful spots. Islam Khoja Madrassah (1908) and Minaret (1910) – Khiva’s newest Islamic monuments. Islom Khodja, who commissioned the Madrassah and Minaret was and early 20th century grand vizier and, by Khivan standard, a liberal. The minaret is 45 meters tall and it’s Khiva’s highest.Juma Mosque (1788) (Friday Mosque) – is interesting for the 213 wooden pillars, each 3,15 m., supporting its roof – a structural concept though to be derived from ancient Arabian mosques. Lunch at private house. After lunch visit Tosh Howli (Stone House) – residence, built by Allah Kuli Khan between 1832 and 1841 as a more splendid alternative to the Kunya Ark; Allah Kuli Khan Madrassah (1835), bazaar and caravanserai.Overnight at the hotel.
D-09 Flight to Tashkent and drive to Ferghana (180 km – 3 hours)
D-10 Full day visit Andijan (Babur park) and drive to Margilan to visit local silk factory and craftsman workshop. (80 km – 1 hour)
D-11 After breakfast at hotel drive to Kokand (60 km) to visit Khudoyar Khan’s Palace. Then drive to Tashkent (250 km) along one of the most picturesque mountain passes in Central Asia.
D-12Transfer to Uzbek-Kazakh border (100 km – 2 hours). PM drive to Taraz via Aisha-BibiMouseleum.
D-13 AM drive to Bishkek. PM CSS.
D-14 AM drive to Issyk-Kul Lake via Burana Tower and Ak-Beshim.
D-15 AM excursion to Ak-Suu gorge. PM drive to Karakol .CSS
D-16 AMdrive to Son-Kyl Lake.
D-17 AM horse riding. PM drive to Naryn.
D-18 AM drive to Tash-Rabat.
D-19 Drive to Kyrgyz-China Torugart border.
QUOTATION:
30+1 PAX – US$per person on h/twin with breakfast
25+1 PAX – US$per person on h/twin with breakfast
20+1 PAX – US$per person on h/twin with breakfast
15+1 PAX – US$ per person on h/twin with breakfast
10+1 PAX – US$per person on h/twin with breakfast
05-09 PAX – US$per person on h/twin with breakfast
04 PAX – US$per person on h/twin with breakfast
03 PAX – US$per person on h/twin with breakfast
02 PAX – US$per person on h/twin with breakfast
01 PAX – US$per person on SGL with breakfast
Supplement for half board – US$per person
Supplement for full board (from dinner on day-02 till dinner on day-11) – US$per person
Single supplement – US$
Air tickets: Urgench – Tashkent – US$per person
Services included:
- Hotel with breakfasts – Tashkent: Shodlik Palace 4*/Uzbekistan 4*/Grand Orzu 3*; Samarkand: Konstantin 4*/Orient Star 3*; Bukhara: Amelia boutique/Malika 3*/Caravan 3*; Khiva: Malika 3*/Madrassa 3*; Fergana: Club 777 3*; Shakhrisabz: Shakhrisabz Yulduzi 3*/Orient Star Shakhrisabz 3*
- English speaking guide
- AC transport
- Entrance fees
