Uzbekistan
Set Departure Tour
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Uzbekistan Highlights - Itinerary
This set departure tour offers an insight in to what makes Uzbekistan such a rewarding destination. Many of its well preserved medieval cities were once at the heart of the Silk Road and much of their grandeur can still be seen today. Highlights include the magnificent Registan and Bibi Khanum Mosque in Tamerlane’s former capital of Samarkand. Bukhara and Khiva are fascinating places to walk around, littered with medrassas, mosques and minarets – all wonderfully decorated.
Day 1
Arrive Tashkent
Meet upon arrival and transfer to your hotel.
An afternoon sightseeing tour of Tashkent. The country’s capital and largest city with over 2.3 million people, Tashkent is characterised by the mixture of modern and traditional buildings. The city has wide straight avenues, parks and fountains, elegant European architecture and Soviet era concrete blocks. We visit the Old City with its Hast Iman complex and the Tila Shaikh Mosque. Next we go to the covered Chorsu Bazaar, the imposing Friendship Square, the Navoi Theatre and Fine Arts Museum.
Day 2
Tashkent – Samarkand
After breakfast, take the train to Samarkand, a journey of 330km which on the new fast train only takes 2 hours.
Transfer to hotel and rest of the day is free at leisure.
Included:
Breakfast
Day 3
Samarkand
Today is a full day’s guided sightseeing of old Samarkand. This former capital of Timur’s empire, Samarkand was at the heart of the Silk Road where ideas as well as commerce were traded. The scale and beauty of its numerous monuments are truly breath-taking. We start at the Registan at the heart of the old city. This huge public square flanked on three sides by Madrassas with huge portals is a sight to behold. Next we venture to the giant Bibi Khanum Mosque initiated by Timur and the Shahi Zinda necropolis.
After lunch we visit the Afrosiab Museum and Ulugbek’s Observatory followed by Gur Emir, Timur’s mausoleum considered by many to be the architectural highpoint in Samarkand.
Included:
Breakfast
Day 4
Samarkand – Bukhara
We depart Samarkand for Bukhara. Along the way we stop at Shakre Sabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane (Timur as he is known in Uzbekistan). This tyrannical conqueror founded a kingdom which stretched from Eastern Turkey to Pakistan, referring to himself as the Sword of Islam. We walk around the ruins of his former palace Ak Saroy and other historic monuments.
Continue to Bukhara and check in to the hotel.
Included:
Breakfast
Day 5
Bukhara
Located on the Silk Road Bukhara has been a centre for trade, learning, culture and religion. At one time it was the intellectual epicentre of the Muslim world. It can trace its roots back 2,500 years and is rightly proud of its many mosques and madrassas. This morning we explore some of the old city’s best known sites including Lyabi Khauz, the towering 45m high Kalon Minaret and the Ulugbek Madrassah.
We explore Bolo Khauz – the Emir’s mosque located opposite the Ark Fortress and dating back to the 17th century and also go inside the Ark. Our finish visit is to the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, one of the oldest monuments in Bukhara dating back to the 10th century. Return to hotel.
Included:
Breakfast
Day 6
Bukhara – Khiva
We depart Bukhara for the the walled citadel of Khiva. We drive through the Kizikum Desert and make a stop at the Amudarya (Oxus River). The journey takes approx. 6 hours.
We arrive in Khiva in the late afternoon and check in to the hotel.
Included:
Breakfast
Day 7
Khiva – Tashkent
In its heyday Khiva was a major staging post on the Silk Route but by the 19th century it had become synonymous with wild tribesmen and the slave trade. Today the old walled city is wonderfully preserved and Ichan Kala, the historic centre is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site.
We spend the day exploring this amazing open air museum including Ichan Kala with the Kalta Minor (literally short minaret) and the Kunya Ark (old fortress) founded in the 17th century. We also see the Pakhlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, the holiest site in Khiva. It is the shrine of Khiva’s patron saint, Pakhlavan Mahmud, who was a fur hat maker and a famous poet of Khiva. Later we visit the Islam Khodja Minaret and the Djuma Mosque (Friday Mosque) and round off the day with the Tashauli Palace Harem and Caravan Bazaar.
In the late afternoon we transfer to the airport at Urgench for the evening flight to Tashkent.
Included:
Breakfast
Day 8
Tashkent
Transfer to Tashkent Airport for your onward flight.
Included:
Breakfast
Additional Information
What's Included?
- Room accommodation in twin share
- Private transportation by air-conditioned minivan
- Experienced English speaking Uzbek guide
- Daily breakfast only
- Train tickets Tashkent – Samarkand
- National dances and show in Bukhara
- Uzbekistan Visa support (Letter of Invitation)
- Entrance and sightseeing fees as mentioned in the itinerary
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
What's Not Included?
- International Flights
- Drinks during meals
- Optional tours
- Uzbekistan visa
- Any personal expenses such as laundry, hotel phone etc
- Tips and gratuities
Accommodation Information
| CITY NAME | STANDARD HOTELS |
|---|---|
| Tashkent | Hotel Shodlick Palace / Hotel Asia Tashkent or similar |
| Samarkand | Hotel Asia Samarkand / Hotel Malika Classic or similar |
| Bukhara | Hotel Lyabi House / Hotel Malika Bukhara or similar |
| Khiva | Hotel Orient Star / Hotel Malika Khorezm or similar |
Uzbekistan Highlights Summary
Details
Type: Set Departure
Duration: 8 Days
Best Time to Travel: May – October
Places you'll discover
Bukhara
Khiva
Samarkand
Tashkent
FROM
£899
Per person based on 2 people sharing
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01279 507 956
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