Blue domes in the heart of Central Asia

SAMARKAND-SENTOB VILLAGE-AYDARKUL YURT CAMP (270 km, 5 hours*) 

After breakfast transfer to the yurt camp on Lake Aydarkul via the Nurata.

On the way to Nurata visit the village Sentyab (Sentyab Village) – a village located in the mountains, it is old. Village Sentob (Navoi region) was one of the winners of the award ceremony of the nomination "Best Tourism Villages 2023 Awards" which took place in Samarkand as part of the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly. (https://www.unwto.org/tourism-villages/en/villages/sentob/ ). Tourists can see local life, traditions.

Excursion around Nurata, visit the Namazgoh Mosque and the ruins of Alexander the Great's fortress. Lunch in a traditional home in Nurata. Transfer to Aydar yurt camp. Rest and dinner.

Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Optional: Lunch in local house. Dinner in yurta.

AYDARKUL YURT CAMP-SENTYAB VILLAGE-BUKHARA (300 km, 5 hours)

Breakfast in the yurt camp. Camel ride (payment on site). Go to the lake. Rest, picnic at the lake.

Leave for Bukhara. Upon arrival, hotel accommodation.

Overnight stay in hotel.

Meals: Breakfast in the yurt.

Optional: Picnic lunch at the lake. Dinner at a local restaurant.

BUKHARA 

After breakfast start city tour of Bukhara. "If Samarkand is the wonder of the earth, Bukhara is the wonder of the spirit". Visit:

• The Mausoleum of Ismail Samani
• The Kalon Minaret
• The Samanid Mausoleum
• The Mir-i-Arab Madrasa
• Chor-Minor
• The Ark of Bukhara
• The Poi Kalon Mosque
• Madrasa Nadirkhon Devanbegi
• The Ark fortress
• The Mausoleum of Chashmai Ayub
• The Lyabi-Hauz complex - has always been dedicated to markets. Today, three remain, intended mainly for tourists, and all in covered areas surmounted by domes with roofs designed to convey fresh air inside. Here then is the Taqi-Sarrafon, the bazaar intended for money changers, the Taqi-Telpak Furushon, that of the hatters and the Taqi-Zargaron, occupied by jewelers.

Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Optional: Lunch and dinner at local restaurant

BUKHARA-AYAZKALA-TOPRAKKALA-KHIVA (450 km, 7-8 hours)

After breakfast drive to Khiva, take a walk through the imposing fortresses of the Khorezm region (Corasmia). We visit what we believe to be the most evocative and interesting of the fortresses: Ayaz Qala, which is spread over three levels and which we reach after just over an hour of travel. route crosses fields planted with cotton and vegetables. The fortress is located on the edge of the Kyzilkum (red sands) desert proper. Continue the walk towards Khiva. Considered by many to be the most evocative of Central Asia, undoubtedly the most isolated of the Uzbek caravan oases on the Silk Road. According to legend, the city was founded by Sem, son of Noah, who dug a well right where it now stands, between the 10th and 14th centuries, the area's capital became today's Urgench, which was in turn destroyed by Tamerlane.

Upon arrival, accommodation in the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Optional: Lunch Box. Dinner at local restaurant

KHIVA

After breakfast, the day is entirely dedicated to visiting Khiva. The ancient part of the city (which was included in the UNESCO list of places considered "World Heritage" in 1991) is called Ichan Kala and is surrounded by a long and mighty enclosure of mud walls, 2.5 km long on which there are four gates. The most important is the western one, called Ata Darvoza.

• The Kalta Minor
• The Mohammed Amin Khan Madrasa
• The Kunya Ark fortress
• The Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum
• The Islam Khodja Madrasa
• The Tash Hauli Palace

After the excursion transfer to Urgench airport and take flight to Tashkent. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and accommodation.

Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

TASHKENT-KOKAND (by train)

After breakfast transfer to the railway station & catch the train at 07.55-12.16 to Kokand. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel & accommodation.

After lunch the Kokand city tour begins:

• Khudoyar-Khan Palace - The majestic and original building commemorates the last ruler of the Kokand Khanate - Khudoyar.
• Jami Mosque - Kokand's most impressive mosque, built by Umar Khan in 1812, is centered on a 22-meter minaret and includes a colorful 100-meter-long aivan (portico) supported by 98 decorated red wooden columns brought from India in different colors and carving of traditional Ferghana architecture.

Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Optional: Lunch and dinner at local restaurant

KOKAND-RISHTAN-MARGILAN-TASHKENT (by train)

After breakfast we continue with Rishtan (40 km, 45-50 min). We visit:

• The house of the famous ceramist Rustam Usmanov, an acquaintance of the master and his work. Demonstration of the manufacturing, painting and firing process.

We continue with Margilan (50 km, 1 hour). We visit:

• Yodgorlik factory, famous throughout the world for its sublime silk manufacturing, so much so that over the centuries it has acquired the full nickname of "silk capital of Central Asia". We admire the complete process of manufacturing silk fabrics from the preparation of the cocoons to obtaining the finished material. The techniques and methods of processing raw materials, as well as the production technology of finished fabrics, have been passed down from generation to generation for approximately 2,000 years.

After the visits transfer to the railway station & take the train at 16:43-21:45 to Tashkent.

Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel & accommodation.

Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Lunch in a local restaurant or with family. Dinner Box or in a local restaurant.

TASHKENT

After breakfast start city tour Tashkent:

• Architectural complex Khast Imam (Hast Imam square, Barak Khan Madrassah, Kafal al-Shashi Mausoleum);
• Chorsu Bazar - the oldest bazaar in Tashkent 
• Time for lunch (payment on the spot).
• Independence Square (Ezgullik Arch, Monument of Independence, Monument of the Grieving Mother and Alley of Memory);
• The Palace of Konstantin Romanov - an overview of the outside;
• Theatrical square of the Alisher Navoi (Bolshoi Theatre);
• Amir Timur Square and Tashkent "Broadway".
• Tashkent underground (if time permits)

Overnight at hotel.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel

Optional: Lunch and dinner at local restaurant

DEPARTURE

After early breakfast, transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast at hotel 

End of the services.