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Silk Road Caravan in Uzbekistan Tour

10
Days
Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Nurata, Samarkand

Uzbekistan once formed the very backbone of the ancient Silk Road trading route, with its cities of grandeur a welcoming destination for weary travelers and shrewd traders who would congregate in its caravanserais. Today, these very cities welcome visitors from the world over to admire their enduring splendor and recollect their history, a past filled with powerful dynasties, magnificent cultural development and the echo of silk road caravans plodding through their streets.
On the Silk Road Caravan in Uzbekistan Tour, you will retrace the steps of these ancient merchants, crossing expansive desert and hilly terrain to reach the famed cities of Urgench, Khiva, Bukhara, Gijduvon, Samarkand and Tashkent. This extensive 10-day Uzbekistan tour includes unhurried time to tour each major city plus an overnight stay in a yurt camp, visit to off-the-beaten-path petroglyphs and tour of a fortress built by Alexander the Great. You’ll be traveling by plane, train and car, but for those truly anxious to relive the Silk Road lifestyle, even camel rides will be provided!

Day 1Tashkent – arrival
Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital. Transfer to the hotel, where check-in begins at noon, and have a rest after your flight.
Your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel to begin your Tashkent city tour. Your private tour will include: Overnight in Tashkent.
Tour duration: approximately 4-5 hours
Day 2Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva
In the morning transfer to the local airport to catch a flight to Urgench (1093km, 1hr 40min). After landing in Urgench, a driver will take you to the hotel in Khiva (35 km, 45 min). Your guide will then meet you at the hotel to begin your walking tour of Khiva, the “Museum Under the Open Sky”.
After beginning your excursion at Kunya-Ark Fortress, the inner citadel of Ichan Kala, you’ll continue on to some of Khiva’s most famous sites:
  • Kalta Minor Tower, once destined to be one of the tallest minarets in Central Asia;
  • Muhammad Amin-Khan, the biggest medieval madrasah (educational institution) in Khiva;
  • Muhammad Rahim-Khan Madrasah, a sprawling complex that once stood as one of the largest in all Central Asia;
  • Juma Mosque, built with 212 wooden columns and a minaret 32.5 m high;
  • Tash-Hauli Palace (Stone Courtyard Palace), which resembles a fortress with high battlements, towers and garrisoned gates;
  • Necropolis of Pahlavan Mahmud, the ancient religious center of Ichan Kala;
  • Minaret and madrasah of Islam Khodja, personal advisor of the last khan. The complex consists of a madrasah and a minaret whose top platform has a height of 45m, the highest observation point in town.
Overnight in Khiva.
Tour duration: 6-7 hours
Day 3Khiva – Bukhara
After breakfast and hotel checkout, begin your drive from Khiva to Bukhara through the Kyzylkum Desert (480 km, 7hrs). Caravans who traversed the Great Silk Road, carrying good of porcelain and spices, used this same route for hundreds of years*.
Arrive in Bukhara in late afternoon. Check in to the hotel and enjoy a free evening in the Old City, the picturesque heart of Bukhara. Overnight in Bukhara.
*Since there is only one cafe on the way, you might want to consider preparing a packed lunch before this trip.
Day 4Bukhara
After a leisurely breakfast, explore Old City Bukhara on a walking tour with your local guide. Enjoy your private tour of the Old City’s most impressive sights:
  • The Lyabi-Hauz ensemble holds the largest artificial reservoir of medieval Bukhara (14th-17th centuries). This ensemble includes some of the largest madrasahs in Bukhara: the Khanaka Madrasah, Kukeldash Madrasah and Nadir Divan Beghi Madrasah (all 16th century);
  • The Magoki-Attori Mosque is the oldest mosque in Bukhara (12th century);
  • Walk through the four Trade Domes (15th-16th centuries);
  • Continue your city tour of Bukhara to the Poi Kalyan Ensemble (12th-16th centuries), consisting of the Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Emir Alim Khan Madrasah and Mir-i-Arab Madrasah;
  • Explore the relatively untouched Ulugbek Madrasah (15th century) and Abdulazizkhan Madrasah (17th century);
  • Head to the Ark Fortress (4th century), the ancient center of Bukharin statehood and currently home to a small museum;
  • Stop by the Bolo-Khauz Complex, consisting of an artfully decorated 18th century mosque, a minaret and reservoirs that once provided water for the entire city;
  • Complete your city tour of Bukhara at the Samanids Mausoleum (9th-10th centuries), the most ancient brick building in Central Asia, and the Chashma Ayub Mausoleum.
Overnight in Bukhara.
Tour duration: 6-7 hours
Day 5Bukhara
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy free time before continuing your tour of greater Bukhara to the following locations:
  • Chor Minor (Four Minarets), an unusual madrasah built by Niyazkul in the 18th century;
  • Emir's Summer Residence, Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa (19th century), a unique site boasting of a blend of Oriental and Russian architecture;
  • Bakhautdin Naqshbandi Mausoleum, an ensemble dedicated to the founder of the Sufi Order "Naqshbandia"; the site includes a mausoleum, mosque, pond, and museum.
Return to Bukhara to visit Fayzulla Khodjaev House Museum, a museum and replica of the architecture and décor of a 19th century Bukharan home. Overnight in Bukhara.
Tour duration: 3-4 hours
Day 6Bukhara – Gijduvan – Sarmish – Yurt Camp
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and drive to a yurt camp located in the Kyzylkum Desert. On the way, stop in the small town of Gijduvan (50 km, 1 hr) to visit the ceramic museum and workshop.
Your next stop along the way is Sarmish (100km, 1hr 30min), an open-air museum of petroglyphs.
Continue to the yurt camp (150km, 2hrs). After arriving to the camp, you’ll have free time for camel rides, resting or walking among the dunes.
Enjoy dinner around a campfire in the evening while a Kazakh akin (skilled improvised singer) entertains with folk songs.
Overnight in the yurt after star gazing in the endless desert sky.
Day 7Yurt camp/Aydarkul Lake – Nurata – Samarkand
In the morning visit Aydarkul Lake (5 km). Walk along its shore or go for a swim in its clear waters.
Have lunch at the yurt camp before leaving for Samarkand via Nurata. Arrive in Nurata village (70km, 1hr) to visit a local mosque known for its holy spring waters and to explore the ruins of a fortress built by Alexander the Great.
Continue the drive to Samarkand (200 km, 3 hrs). Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and have a rest. Overnight in Samarkand.
Day 8Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel before beginning your private tour of Samarkand to the following sites:
  • Registan Square, the commercial center of Samarkand for centuries and Samarkand’s most famous site today. The square includes three madrasahs: Ulugbek Madrasah (15th century), Sher-Dor Madrasah (17th century) and Tilla-Kori Madrasah (17th century);
  • A boulevard lined with workshops and souvenir stores;
  • Bibi Khanum Mosque built by Tamerlane for his favorite wife;
  • Siab Bazaar, a multi-level complex where you can shop for souvenirs and sample sweets, fruits and Samarkand’s famous bread;
  • Shakhi-Zinda, a burial complex built between the 9th-14th centuries. Climb the blue-domed path and explore more than twenty small mausoleums that line the broad alleyway;
  • Gur Emir, the imposing burial site of Tamerlane and Mirzo Ulugbek;
  • Ulugbek Observatory, where you can see the remains of a 14th-15th century sextant and tour the Ulugbek Museum.
Overnight in Samarkand.
Tour Duration: 6-7 hours
Day 9Samarkand – Tashkent
Breakfast and check out of the hotel. Your sightseeing tour of Samarkand will continue with trips to these culturally significant sights:
  • Visit to the excavation site and museum of the ancient city Afrosiab;
  • Tour of the mausoleum of Khodja Daniyar, believed to be the tomb of the prophet Daniel, whose remains were brought here by Tamerlane;
  • Drive to Konigil Village to observe the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry leaves;
  • Excursion to the Oriental Silk carpet factory to see firsthand how top-quality carpets are created. You can even learn basic skills from the masters and try carpet weaving yourself!
Transfer to the railway station to catch the afternoon train to Tashkent (330km, 2hrs 15min). You’ll be met at the Tashkent station and taken to your hotel.
Overnight in Tashkent.
Tour duration: approximately 4 hours
Day 10Tashkent
Check out from the hotel by noon and transfer to Tashkent International Airport. End of the Silk Road Caravan in Uzbekistan Tour.
  • Accommodation based on double/twin room at hotel (7 nights, with breakfast) and 1 night at Yurt camp;
  • Transfers including airport and train station pick-ups and drop-offs;
  • Transfers Khiva-Bukhara, Bukhara-Aydarkul-Nurata-Samarkand;
  • Economy class airline tickets from Tashkent - Urgench;
  • Economy class tickets for train Samarkand – Tashkent;
  • Tashkent city tour (local guide and transport);
  • Khiva walking tour (local guide);
  • Bukhara walking tour (local guide);
  • Bukhara city tour (local guide and transport);
  • Samarkand city tour 2 days (local guide and transport).
  • Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour;
  • Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa and Letter of invitation;
  • International flight tickets before and after the tour;
  • Tips are not included (driver, guide, porter);
  • Hotel charges for additional services;
  • Full board (lunches and dinners);
  • Travel insurance;
  • Entry tickets to attractions;
  • All other charges and services not mentioned under “Inclusion”.

Accommodation:

Tashkent (2 nights)
Standard - Inspira-S, ATECA, Elements, Wyndham Garden or similar
Economy - Uzbekistan, Florence, Alpha Plaza, Human or similar
Khiva (1 night)
Standard - Annex, Malika Kheivak, Isak Hoja, Saroy or similar
Economy - Muhtasham, Nazira, Siyavush, Qosha Darvoza or similar
Bukhara (3 nights)
Standard - Makon Art, Labi Rud, Caravansaray Rashid, Minzifa or similar
Economy - Grand Nodirbek, Dera, B-House, Imran or similar
Aydarkul (1 night)
Yurt camp
Samarkand (2 nights)
Standard - Shohjahon Palace, Wellfort, Aliz Boulevard, City or similar
Economy - Shahristan Art, Siab, Registon Saroy, Dali or similar

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