From traditions to the modernity 12d.11n

Direct flight to Tashkent. Arrival at the International airport of Tashkent.
At the airport you’ll be met by the English speaking guide who will follow you during your entire trip.  After the breakfast we’ll start to visit the city of Tashkent. The history of Tashkent counts almost 2000 years and during this period the city passed a long way from a small settlement to the metropolitan center. Nowadays, Tashkent is one of the most important industrial, financial and cultural centers not only in Uzbekistan but also all over the Central Asia. We’ll start with the visiting of the Complex of Khast Imam – the holy heart of Tashkent consisting of Barak Khan Madrassa (XVI c.) which was founded by a descendant of Tamerlane Khan (king) Barak, Tillya Sheykh Mosque – built in the same time as Barak Khan Madrassa, today used as a Friday Mosque and Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum (XI c.) – with the tomb of a local healer, philosopher and poet of Islam who lived from 904 to 979. The museum with the most ancient Koran in the world (VII c.). Then the market Chorsu Bazaar.

In the afternoon the visit of the museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan. It contains a large collection of craftwork from all over Uzbekistan. The departure to Urghench with the flight is at 17.30. Urghench is the administrative centre of Khorezm region. Transfer to Khiva (30 km) by bus after the arrival to Urghench. Khiva is considered to be a city museum; it also was an ancient capital of the Empire of Khorazmia from the XVI to the XX cc. Accommodation at the hotel. Free walk along the Khiva city. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we’ll start to visit the historical centre of Khiva – Ichan Kala. It’s still surrounded by the walls of the ancient city, made of clay and straw: the Complex of Kalta Minor – the short minaret (XIX c.), the royal residence – Khunya Ark (XVI-XIX cc.), Mukhammad Rakhimkhan II Madrassa (XIX c.), and the Friday Mosque – Juma mosque with its 213 columns. Lunch inside one of the historical madrassas, transformed in a restaurant. In the afternoon we’ll continue – with the fortress of Tosh-Khavli – the stone house (XIX c.) where the harem was located; the complex of Islam Khoja (XX c.), the Pakhlavon Makhmud mausoleum (XIV-XIX sec.). Return to the hotel, dinner with the folk consert and overnight at the hotel.

Early breakfast and drive to the ruins of the antique Khorazmian fortresses Toprak-Kala and Ayaz-Kala. After the visiting of the «sand castles» we’ll continue our transfer to Bukhara by bus, through the Kizilkum desert along the ancient carovan roads (480km). Panoramic stop at the riverside of Amudarya (called also Oxus by the Greeks). Lunch in the desert in one of the small local restaurants. Arrival to Bukhara – city that is rich of art, history and Islamic civilization. Accomodation at the hotel. Free time for a walk in the magnificent an fabulous historical centre of Bukhara. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast is at the hotel. We’ll start our visit of Bukhara with the Samanids Mausoleum (IX-X c.) – one of the first funeral Islamic monuments; the Chashmai Ayub mausoleum; the Bolo Khauz mosque; the Ark citadel – the ancient residence of the kings of Bukhara (khan, emir) with the Reghistan square; the complex of Poi Kalon with its majestic minaret (XII c.), the Kalon Mosque (XVI c.) and the Miri Arab Madrassa (XVI c.). Lunch at a local restaurant.  

The continuation of our program by visiting the Trading domes (XVI c.) – toki Zargharon, toki Telpak Furrushon and toki Sarrafon; the Ulughbek Madrassa (XV c.) – the Koranic school of the favorite Tamerlane’s grandson; the Abdulazaz khan Madrassa (XVII c.). The Magokki attori Mosque (XII-XVI c.) – the most ancient mosque of Bukhara, related to the preislamic period, the Liabi Khavuz Complex (XVII c.), we’ll also visit the laboratory of marionettes made of papier-mache. If it’s possible, in the evening we’ll assist in the folk show with the traditional dances, fashion show that is organized in the courtyard of one of the madrassas with the dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast the continuation of the visits of the historical centre of Bukhara: the Chor Minor madrassa “four minarets” (1812), copied from the entrance of the city of Haydarabad in India. The visit of Sitorai Mokhi Khossa palace, the summer residence of the last king of Bukhara. The House of Fayzulla Khodjaev, who was one of the most brilliant in politics of Bukhara at the beginning of XX c. Faizullah Khodzhaev was born in a family of a rich merchant of Bukhara Ubaidulla Khodjaev. And his family house was transformed into a museum of Faizulla Khodjaev. The best architects of Bukhara participated in the construction of this wonderful house making it unique for the decorative technique of the residential houses of Bukhara.

We’ll have lunch in one of the Uzbek houses where you’ll have the possibility to assist in the preparation of the national Uzbek dish plov. In the afternoon free time. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Nurata. During the trip we’ll stop at Gijduvan town (45 km). The visit of the house museum of Abdulla Nazrullaev the family of ceramists in the 6th generation. Master will demonstrate us the process of fabrication of the ceramics, in his private museum he’ll tell about the various ceramics schools of the Central Asia and their characteristics. You can also visit their shop where there are a lot of craftwork made by the members of the family (ceramics, embroidery, etc.). Then we’ll continue our journey, the next stop is Rabati-Malik – the remains of a caravanserai of XI c. and the Sardoba (XIV c.) a water reservoir along the Great Silk Road that is situated in front of the caravanserai. Lunch is at a local restaurant along the highway.

After lunch drive to Nurata through the steppe. Arrival to Nurata. The visit of the city oasis where there is a saint water spring, the ruins of the fortress of Alexander the Great, the Chil Ustun mosque (XIV c.) with 40 columns, the Panjvakhta Mosque (5 prayers) XVI c., the Sheikh Khasan Abdul Nuriy Mausoleum (VIII c.). Then we’ll drive to the yurt camp through the steppe-desert that is situated near the big lake of Aydarkul. Arrival and accommodation at the yurts. Then you can have a walk around the camp and try to ride a camel. Dinner. After dinner the visitors can gather about the fire to listen to some folk music by Akin (folk singer). Overnight at the yurts.

After breakfast drive to Aydarkul Lake. Aydarkul – is a big closed artificial water basin of the lacustrine system of Aydar-Arnasai that occupies a total surface of 4.000 km. of the South-East of Kyzylkum desert. Picnic at the lakeside.

Drive to the village of Hayat through the mountainous region of Djizzak. Arrival to Hayat. Free time for the accommodation in the guest house and to know the family. Free walk to the village where you can see the wonderful mountainous landscape of the natural park of Hayat. You can also assist in the preparation of a traditional dinner of the family. Dinner. Overnight in the guest rooms.

After breakfast drive to Samarkand by bus. Lunch at a local restaurant after arrival. In the afternoon accommodation at the hotel and we’ll start to explore Samarkand city: the Guri-Emir Mausoleum (where the tumb of Tamerlane is located (XIV–XVc.) buit for the favourite grandson of Tamerlane Mukhammad Sultan. Later the tombs of other members of the Timurids’ family were added to the a burial site like Miranshakh and Shakhrukh, and the grandson astronomer of Tamerlane, Ulugbek. Visit to the Registan Square – “sandy place”, the main square of Samarkand with three madrassas Ulugbek, Sher-Dor – the door of lions (XVII c.) and Tilla-Kori – decorated with gold. Dinner at a alocal restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we’ll continue to visit Samarkand to explore the architecture of the Timurids’ epoch: visit of the necropolis of Shakhi Zinda – «living king», one of the most beautiful complexes of the East. Visit of the observatory of Ulugh Beg – important astronomer, scientist, governor and the favourite grandson of Tamerlane.  The  archeologic mueseum of the antique ruins of Afrasiab (antient Samarkand). Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon the visit of the Cathedral mosque of Bibi-Khanum, buit by the wife of Tamerlane (XIV c.),  the Siab bazar (oriental market). The visit of a small Factory of silk paper located 10 km outside Samarkand. At this factory they’re still using the antique techniques to produce paper as our ancestors did. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Shakhrisabz by cars through Urgut, the province of Samarkand bordering with Tagikistan and that is located at the foot of the Pamir Mountains. The visit of the Urgut market, where sometimes you can find some antiquary. Then we’ll drive to Sakhrisabz, passing the mountains, we’ll have a panoramic stop at the place called Ming Chinor where a small market of spices and dried fruits is located. Continuation of the trip to Shakhrisabz, the motherland of Tamerlane that is located in a small valley surrounded by the Mounts of Pamir. The name of the city means “green city” and here we’ll visit some monuments of the Timurids’ epoch of the XV and XVI cc. Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we’ll visit the city: the remains of the Ak-Saray Palace – “White palace”, the summer residence of Tamerlane, the remains of a giant entrance of 38 m high, even if it should have been of 70 m high in origin. The Kok-Gumbaz Mosque – “blue dome” and the Dorut Tilovat – “the house of meditation”, a big Friday mosque that was built by Ulugbegh in 1437 in honor of his father Shakhrukh, son of Tamerlane. Complex of Khazrati-Imom, and the Dorus Saodat mausoleum – terminated by Tamerlane in 1392. After the visit we’ll return to Samarkandand and visit the museum of the wine factory that was built during the period of Russian king 150 years ago and is still active, we’ll partecipate in the degustation of local wine. Dinner at an Uzbek house, overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast transfer to the railway station to take the train to Tashkent. After the arrival to the capital, accommodation at the hotel and lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we’ll have a panoramic excursion of the city: the Independence square, the Tamerlane square and the visit of some undeground station of the unique metro of the Central Asia. Dinner at a local restaurant, overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast transfer to the International airport of Tashkent for the flight of return.

***THE END OF OUR SERVICE***