Uzbekistan Tours: The Beauty of the EAST

Country:           Uzbekistan
Tour route:       Tashkent - Samarkand - Bukhara - Tashkent 

Duration:          6 days, 5 nights

Transportation:  coach + plain

Season:            March - November

Group:             15 PAX

Hotel type:        3 starts

Meal:                Full Board (B, L, D)

Placement:       DB / TWN

Description:  

Due to its geographical location the land of the Uzbek people were always at the crossroad of migrations and invasions. This brought different cultures and civilizations to the region. The Great Silk Road passed through this land making famous the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. Tashkent is now modern city and the Capital of Uzbekistan. It is also the largest city in Central Asia. Samarkand and Bukhara are known for monuments from the bygone days. Minarets and mausoleums, mosques and madrassah of the remarkable brick and tile structures - are masterpieces of many constructors and artisans. One of the largest open-air museums is Khiva, near Urgench. It is the most preserved ensemble of all the ancient Central Asian settlements.   

Day 1: Tashkent

Arrival at Tashkent International Airport in the morning. Welcome at the airport through CIP and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Time for rest.

13:00 Lunch in a restaurant. City sightseeing tour around Tashkent: Museum of Applied Arts - bright carved plaster decorations(ganch) and carved wood the building of museum itself is an attraction. There is also an exhibit of ceramics, textiles, jewellery, musical instruments and toys.

Navoyi Theater Square - by 1940, Soviet planners had decided a theatre would greatly enhance an area known as the Drunken Bazaar for its wine-soaked market. Japanese prisoners of war completed construction in 1947.

Amir Temur square and Broadway

Barakkhan Madrassah (XVI c) - was the headquarters of the Sunni Mufti of ex-Sogdian Central Asia & Kazakhstan. It is interesting for its mosaic and Arabic calligraphy of the late 16 cent. Brick facade and the intricately carved doors made by Samarkand craftsmen Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum - which is the grave of a local doctor, philosopher and poet of Islam who lived from 904 to 979. The portal, inner dome and arcade dated 16th century, when his holy reputation attracted a cemetery.

Kukeldash Madrassah (XVI c). - The grand 16th c. madrassah has domed courtyard. Now the building is returned to service as an Islamic school. Next to it is the tiny 15th c. Juma mosque. 19:00 Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight in Tashkent.

Day 2: Tashkent – Samarkand

7:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

9:00 Transfer to Samarkand (320 km. 4 hours). Samarkand - the Eden of ancient East, the most precious pearl in the Islamic world.Samarkand - called Marakanda in the 4th century BC, whoever tried to conquer it! During the centuries the city has been invaded by troops of Alexander the Great, Arabian invaders, Chenghes Khan and Tamerlane. Today romance of Samarkand still works its magic, alluring the travelers with a dreamlike quality.

13:00 Arrive to Samarkand. Lunch in a restaurant.

14:30 Check in Hotel. PM tour in Samarkand: Ulugbek’s Observatory (XV c) – 1st observatory in Orient with 30m sextant built by Ulugbek to make exact astronomical catalogue.

Afrasiab Hill – is a place of hill-fort Afrasiab, named after legendary king of Turan. Behind defensive ramparts with corridors, arrow slits built of unbaked brick, waterproof reeds and anti-seismic juniper, lived Sogdians.

Afrasiab Museum - each hall of the museum contains exhibits of some period of history of Afrosiab. There is also a hall with remarkable ancient wall paintings special lightening. Bibi Khanum mosque (XIVc) - Architects, craftsmen & painters re-constructed it in 5 years.

19:00 Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 3: Samarkand

07:00 Breakfast at the hotel. Full day city sightseeing tour around Samarkand: Gur Amir Mausoleum (XV c) - Timurids dynastic burial vault, unique monument of architecture. Pay a visit the Tomb of Tamerlane, visit the tomb of Mir Seyid Bereke, Tamerlane's spiritual tutor. Gur Emir Mausoleum - Tamerlan's tomb (14-15th c.) that was built for Temur's Ruhabad Mausoleum ("House of Spirit") - the legend says that under the dome there is a box with seven hairs of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) (14th c.), Registan square (XV – XVII c) - consist of grand madrassah of Ulugbek, Sher Dor & Tillya Kari. Siyob Bazar

13:00 Lunch in a restaurant.

After lunch you are taken 12 km north from Samarkand to visit the spectacular Complex of Imam Al-Bukhoriy, a celebrated personality of Islamic world, which was built with the support of the entire Muslim world. Then, you go to see the Mausoleum of Khodja Daniar or Saint Daniel, a prophet of the Old Testament. This holy place is recognized by Islam, Christianity and Judaism as one of eminent pilgrimage destinations Shahi - Zinda mausoleum (XIV - XVc) - 'Nown of Dead' a complex of more than 20 unique buildings. Museum of History and Art of Uzbekistan.

19:00 Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 4: Samarkand – Bukhara

07:00 Breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Bukhara the City of 1000 and 1 night. Bukhara – this is one of the best places in Central Asia which was as capital of Samanid state in the 9th and 10th centuries and known in history as “Bukhoro-i Sharif”

13:00 Arrive to Bukhara. Lunch in a restaurant.

14:30 hotel check-in.

16:00 City tour in Bukhara. Poikalon (XII - XVI c) - ensemble in the center of old Bukhara - includes the cathedral mosque "Kalyan Mosque", "Miri Arab" madrassah and the Kalyan minaret (46 m). Lyabi - Hauz (XVI - XVIIc) - a complex with Nodir - Devon Begimadrassahs big pool surrounded by trees

19:00 Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight in Bukhara.

Day 5: Bukhara

07:00 Breakfast at the hotel. Full day City sightseeing tour around Bukhara: Ulugbek Madrassah (1417) - was the earliest of three commissioned by the enlightened Timurid ruler (the other two stand in Samarakand and Gijduvan) and his secular influence dominates the exterior design of the religious college. Abdul Aziz Khan Madrassah (1652) - glittering in mercifully un-restored 17th century glory. Tim Abdullah khan - was built in 1577 and was one of the most elegant trade halls in Bukhara where silk and wool was sold by Afghan trades. Trading Domes consists of three trading centers: Tok-i-Zargaron (1570) – Jeweler’s Bazaar, Tok-i-Tilpak Furushon – Cap Maker’s Bazaar,Tok-i-Sarrafon – Moneychanger’s Bazaar.

13:00 Lunch in a restaurant. Magoki Attori – in 937 the four-pillared mosque was burn the ground in a city-wide fire and in the 12th century the present mosque was erected, from which the focus of the mosque, the original southern portal remains.

19:00 Dinner in a restaurant. Transfer to Bukhara airport for evening flight to Tashkent. (Bukhara –Tashkent) Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Tashkent.

Day 6: Tashkent

07:00 Breakfast at the hotel. Free Time.

Transfer to the Tashkent International Airport for flight back to home.

End of the tour.

Included - specific

• Airplane tickets Bukhara - Tashkent
• Folklore concert Nodir Devan Begi in Bukhara
• Hotel placement: 5 nights (early check-in and late check-out is included)

Check-in time after 14:00
  Check-out time before 12:00

• Breakfast – 5, lunches – 5, dinners – 5 included according to the program

Included - general

• Visa support
• CIP transfer by arrival
• AC Comfortable transportation for the whole trip
• Professional guide (available in different languages) will accompany you and try to give you the best explanation of the site's history, traditions and culture
• Tour operator and Group Leader will make you feel comfortable and assist you in case of problem 24/7
• Entrance fees to historical places
• For each transfer 0.5 L of mineral water
• Single / Double / Twin hotel rooms as indicated above
• Luggage handling at the airports and hotels

Excluded

• Visa application fee in Uzbek embassy in your country
• Fees for the use of cameras and videos in the monuments and tourist sites
• Expenses of personal nature like laundry, telephone, fax, internet, beverages, camera / video camera fee at monuments, medical expenses, airport departure tax etc.
• Personal expenses
• Local payments in domestic currency, such as tips and gratuities
• Expenses for things which are not listed in the tour package

Opportunities

In addition, our program may include special arrangements such as:

• Similar standard hotels will be provided if in case mentioned hotels are not available at the time of reservation or does not suit travelers
• Lunches or dinners in private homes of Uzbek families to get closer to the traditions, culture and way of life of local people, to see the process of baking the traditional round bread and cooking tasty osh (pilaf)
• Different dance shows and entertainment varying from region to region in traditional costumes
• Special tours to different studios and workshops where You can see various traditional crafts in real.

You can use our suggested programs as they stand or create Your own itinerary according to Your wishes and preferences. We will be happy to assist you in this task.

Hotels

All hotels are located close to main sightseeing places. After a long and tiring day of walking, you can relax and spend the night pleasantly in those hotels.

Stars		Le Grande Plaza
Name	Le Grande Plaza
Type	High class
Rooms	Single($55), Double($65)
City	Tashkent
About	Good view, good location, good service
More	Hotel Le Grande Plaza

Stars		Afrosiyob Palace
Name	Afrosiyob Palace
Type	High class
Rooms	Single($80), Double($110)
City	Samarkand
About	Good view, good location, good service
More	Hotel Afrosiyob Palace

Stars		Asia Bukhara
Name	Asia Bukhara
Type	High class
Rooms	Single($45), Double($55)
City	Bukhara
About	Good view, good location, good service
More	Hotel Asia Bukhara

Tour price

Group size (PAX)	1 - 2	3 - 9	10 - 15	16 - 25	26 - 35	over 35
Price per PAX	$1400	$1120	$980	$840	$700	$560
Price per child*	$470

Note: * - Price per child is given as an extra bed placement

Note: * - Discounts are available upon request

Contact information:
Khusanov Davron
Sales & Marketind department
http://www.uzbektraveller.com
info@uzbektraveller.com
skype id: uzbektraveller.com
mob: +998974409440