Enjoy the taste and the beauty of Uzbekistan

Route:  Urgench – Khiva – Bukhara – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand – Таshkent

Duration:  8 days - 7 nights

      Uzbekistan – the heart of the Silk Road, the edge of the ancient culture and the repository of historical values. The main cities: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz, and Khiva and have a long and rich history. These cities have absorbed all the originality and beauty of the region, allowing traveling back to the atmosphere of the medieval city, to feel its flavor and the indescribable beauty and fragrance of nature. Getting to know each of the cities will allow learning the history and unique culture of the Uzbek people. Mysterious Central Asia attracts with its bazaars too, where the eyes run to a rich assortment of sweets and juicy fruit, and the air is filled with the enticing aroma of freshly baked cakes, ‘samosa’ and spices...

Arrival in Urgench at 06.00 AM. You will be met at the International Airport in Urgench. Transfer to Khiva. Arrival in and check-in to the hotel.
Discover the ancient city of Khiva. After flying over the endless Kyzylkum desert you will be able to imagine what important role this oasis city played during the times of caravan trade. Apart from its importance as trade metropolis it used to be a religious, cultural and science center. The well preserved old city, Ichan Kala, inside the inner fortification walls, with its numerous mosques, mausoleums, minarets and its four gates has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The sightseeing tour of "Ichan Kala" will start at the West Gate (Ata Darvoza, 17th -18th AD). It leads you past the huge Muhammad Amin-Khan Medressa (19th AD) used today as a hotel, to the unfinished, stout minaret Kalta Minor (1851 AD). You will visit the khan’s residence, the citadel Kunya-Ark (12th -19th AD) that includes a mosque, reception hall, harem, mint, arsenal and a dungeon.
Lunch at a restaurant in the old town.
Continuation of the sightseeing tour at the Muhammed Rahim Khan Medressa (19th AD), which was used until 1873, when the khan surrendered to the Russian invader General Kaufmann and moved out of Ichan Qal’a. The Medressa contains a small museum of the khan who published several poems under the pen name Feruz. The huge fortress like palace, Tosh Khovli (Stone Courtyard), built by Allah Kuli Khan (1832-1841) is one of Khiva’s highlights. The palace had over 100 rooms, beautifully decorated with blue tiles and painted wooden ceilings. Free time.
Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast visit to the bazaar for the ingredients of national dishes. After that we will be heading to the workshop where ceramic products are made (15 km from Khiva, Kattabog village). The master will tell you the secrets of making khorezmian ceramics, You will have a chance to participate in a master-class. Visit the rural houses, familiarise with the life of population. You participate in the preparation of national dishes.
Lunch with a local family. After lunch, return to Khiva and continue the sightseeing tour:  Juma Mosque with more than 200 beautifully carved wooden columns and a minaret (10th-18th AD). Pahlavon Mahmud Mausoleum (1810-1913), a well-known active Muslim pilgrimage site with stunning tiling. Pahlavon Mahmud (14th AD), whose tomb stone is found there, was a famous wrestler, poet and philosopher. The next site is the Islam Hodja Medressa and the adjacent minaret (18th AD), which is the highest observation point in town (57m). The medressa houses the Museum of Applied Arts that exhibits ancient Khorezm handicrafts. Islam Hodja, the vizier of the khan, was a reformer. He introduced the telegraph as means of communication and built the first European style school and a hospital. Inside the Abdulla Khan Medressa, is a small nature museum with the adjacent small Oq Mosque (White Mosque, 1657), located near the Palvan-Darvoza (1838-1842).
Tea break at Allakuli Khan Medressa, including a performance of a traditional Khorezm dancing group.
Dinner in a restaurant in the old town of Khiva. Overnight at the hotel. 

Early breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for Urgench-Bukhara flight (09:40). Arrival in Bukhara. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Tour in Bukhara: Lyabi Hauz  Ensemble (14th-17th century) - It is the largest artificial water basin in Bukhara. It was dug around 1620 m2 between khanaka and medressas, built by the order of the Khan's vizier Nadir Divan Begi.
Lunch at a national restaurant. Continue of sightseeing tour: Ark Fortress, Samanids Маusoleum (9th-10th century), Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo-Hauz Mosque (18th century).
Dinner at a national restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Sightseeing tour: a walk through the ancient streets, "Domes" bazaars - consist of three shopping centers:  «Toki Zargaron» (1570) – bazaar of jewelers, «Тоki Теlpak Furushon» – skullcap bazaar, «Тоki Sarrafon» - exchange bazaar.
Lunch. Visit Poyi Каlyan (аrchitectural ensemble, that is situated at the foot of Kalyan Minaret). The complex consists of three buildings (constructed in  12th-16th century): Kalyan Minaret,  Kalyan Mosque and  Miri Arab Medressa. Visit Ulugbek Medressa (1417).
Dinner. Overnight at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart Bukhara and drive to Shakhrisabz ("Green City"), the birthplace of Amir Timur. After arrival in Shakhrisabz, shout city tour in the city: Summer palace of Tamerlane  Аk Saray (1380 – 1405 yy) - Timur built it on a bare field, rounded up 50 thousand workers, captured architects and craftsmen from all over his empire. The height of the palace is 40 m, decorated with glazed mosaics and majolica.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue the sightseeing tour: Мosque Kok-Gumbaz – which means "light blue dome", Gumbazi «Seydon» - means the dome of Seyids.  Complex «Dorut-Тilyavat», departure from Shakhrisabz to Samarkand.
Arrival in Samarkand and check-in.
Dinner at a restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing tour:
«Registan» Square - means "Sandy place". Gur-Emir Маusoleum -a place where Temur’s, children and his grandchildren were buried, Shah-i-Zinda Маusoleum.
Lunch at a restaurant. Continue the sightseeing tour: Оbservatory and memorial museum of Ulugbek, Bibi-Khanym Мosque, Siyab bazaar - modern traditional «eastern» market in Samarkand.
Dinner at a restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Early breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Tashkent by bus. Arrival in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel and check-in. Free time.
Lunch at a restaurant. Sightseeing tour in the old city: visit Khasti Imam Complex, Kukaldash Medressa, Chorsu bazaar, Independence Square.
Dinner at one of the best restaurants in Tashkent.  Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to the international airport of Tashkent and flight to the next destination.