Bukhara City Tour: Two-Day Trip and Excursion

Bukhara City Tour (2 days)

This 2-day excursion covers the main sights in the center of Bukhara, as well as several just outside the city. With lots of history and cultural sites, this is the best tour for exploring Bukhara in depth.

Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes etc.

2 Days | All year round | from US$ 130 per personDetails

Landmarks and Attractions of Bukhara

You will need at least two days to visit and see Bukhara main architectural sights. Bukhara is a holy city of Muslim world. A great many mosques, shrines, madrasahs, with the latest one among them dating back to the XIX century, preserved there. All the excursions start from Lyabi-Khaus pond, which decorates the entry to the Nadir Divan-begi madrasah of the XVII century.

The Bukhara symbol is the 47-m high Kalyan minaret, built under the Karakhanids in the XII century. At that time it was the highest minaret in Central Asia, which as a light house, showed the way to Bukhara to trade caravans and pilgrims. You must visit the Ark fortress – a citadel which was a residence of local rulers for several centuries. The Samanid Mausoleum – Bukhara oldest monument erected early in the century, features elaborated beauty of décor and orderliness of proportions. Not far from it there is another Bukhara sight - Chashma-Ayub with a holy spring, which according to a legend was formed by strike of Saint Job’s staff.

Bukhara historical center includes altogether 140medieval structures, which managed to preserve their look unchanged for centuries. There, you will find yourselves in the world of the medieval East with narrow paved side streets and magnificent structures, decorated with intricate ornament, majolica, Arab ligature and blue domes. Bukhara four trade domes are extant almost intact, where even now Bukharian residents offer gold embroidery products, karakul, carved furniture, silk and spices.

Poi Kalyan Ensemble, Bukhara
Miri-Arab Madrasah, Bukhara
Chor-Minor Madrasah, Bukhara

Popular Landmarks and Attractions of Bukhara

Kalyan minaret was designated to summon Muslims to prayer five times a day. Normally, each mosque had its own minaret, but the main minaret was situated near the Djuma Mosque. It was from the gallery, at the top of the minaret, that the muedzin summoned the believers to prayer at the top of his voice. More

Khoja-Gaukushon is one of the largest ensembles of the city and includes mosque, minaret and madrasah. In past Gaukushon was the large trade square of Bukhara. It got its name due to the slaughter-house, which once existed on this site, because "Gaukushon" is translated as "killing of bulls". More

Lyabi-Hauz rectangular (36 – 46 meters height), stretched from the east to the west, is buried in shadow of venerable chinaras. Its shores are formed with stair launch to the water, made from massive blocks of yellow limestone. In old times there was «tea bazar», there sold sweets, dainties, bread and made food. More

Nadir Divan-begi madrasah is a part of the architectural complex located round well-known Lyabi-Hauz in Bukhara. The madrasah building, as well as khanaka nearby, were named after vizier Nadir by whose order they were constructed. Vizier Nadir served at a court yard of one the strongest and powerful representatives of Ashtarkhanid dynasty Imamkuli-khan, who ruled in Bukhara in 1611-1642. More

Samanids mausoleum was erected as a family crypt immediately after the death of Ismail Samani's father. Later, Ismail himself and his grandson Hasr were also buried in it. It is interesting to note that erecting crypts was against Islamic law at that time, for Islam forbade erecting any post-mortem monuments upon the tombs of Muslim believers. More

Chashma-Ayub well means Saint Job’s Source. A legend has it that the Bible prophet Job, having visited this land, decided to help the people who suffered from water shortage in the desert. He struck the ground with his stick, making a source of crystal clear water sprang at that place.More

Abdullaziz-khan madrasah built it in 1651 – 1652 and it is the last large madrasah in Bukhara. The building is typical by composition, with four-ayvans yard, but with unordinary divergent fan of hudj groups after side ayvans and cupola buildings on the central axis. More

Miri-Arab madrasah is one of the best Bukhara sights of 16 century. Architecture and décor of Miri-Arab distinguish by highest culture and taste. At present in this monument, which underwent catastrophical destruction, portal and whole northern wing of main fasadewere restored up, cupola and yard-arcades construction were strengthen. More

Magoki-Attori mosque in the city's centre is an example of an urban mosque in a residential quarter. The mosque was built on the site of the pre-lslamic Moh temple mentioned above. Excavations have revealed the fact that even under the Samanids there was a six-pier mosque, which apparently was also domed. More

Trading domes are stretching in procession from Lyabi-Khauz to the Miri-Arab madrasah. Long ago, in the XVI century under the Shaybanides dynasty, Bukhara became the capital giving rise to unprecedented growth of the city, and since it was located on the Great Silk Road, the markets and trading stores even more congested cross-roads of public roads. More

Ark Citadel is a residence of Bukhara khans. According to the last excavations, it was determined the citadel was on this place from 4 century BC. For many years of building and destruction, 20 meters height artificial hill was formed; its upper layers were built over in the time of last Bukhara emirs. More

Bukhara Vicinity – Where to go

Gijduvan Museum of Ceramics

Gijduvan ceramics school has its deep roots. The skills have been passed from father to son from generation to generation. Today Gizhduvan is home for the sixth generation of potters from Narzullayevs family which glorified Gijduvan school ceramics all over the world. More

Jeyran Ecocenter

Jeyran Ecocenter was established in 1997 for the purpose of the breeding and protection of rare and endangered species of animals.The breeding center is located in the south-west of Kyzyl-Kum Desert, 42 km from Bukhara and has the status of protected natural area. More

Memorial complex of Naqshbandi

Memorial Complex of Khoja Bakhautdin Naqshbandi is one of the most important Muslim shrines. Every self-respecting Muslim knows and reveres this name. The great theologian of the XIV century, founder of the Sufi Order "Naqshbandia" was buried 12 km from Bukhara in his native village of Kasri Orifon. More

Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace

Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace is the only remained sample of Bukhara emir country palaces. The palace was quartered on two territories. Old palace of Abdul-Akhad-khan (1892) is a traditional three-house complex with one- and two-storey building in the spirit of bukharian dwelling houses. More