Feel the charm of the East in an eventful Eight-Day Cultural Uz-2 tour by train, where you will have detailed excursions to historical places of Tashkent, Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara. You will enjoy unique monuments of the IX-XIX centuries and learn the rich culture and traditions of the Uzbek people. The main tour program includes a visit of the well-known Registan Square, the Bibi-Khanum Mosque of Tamerlane’s beloved wife in Samarkand; the Mausoleum of the Bukhara rulers from the medieval Samanid dynasty, Kalyan Minaret - the highest one in Old Bukhara, grandiose Ark Fortress-Citadel in Bukhara; and Itchan-Kala, a town of oriental fairy tale in Khiva.
Tour itinerary:
Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by our driver and transferred to the hotel.
Meet your guide and driver and start sightseeing capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman– Ottoman has been preserved. In Khast-Imam visit Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to walk through Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum.
At 19:00 transfer to the train station. Take an overnight train to Urgench departing at 20:15, and arriving on the next day at 12:55 (1093 km, 16 h. 40 min.). Overnight in the train.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Meet your guide and driver and start sightseeing capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman– Ottoman has been preserved. In Khast-Imam visit Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to walk through Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum.
At 19:00 transfer to the train station. Take an overnight train to Urgench departing at 20:15, and arriving on the next day at 12:55 (1093 km, 16 h. 40 min.). Overnight in the train.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Arrive in Urgench at 12:55, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 35 min.). Enjoy free day in Khiva. Overnight at the hotel.
Spend a day in Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Kunya-Ark, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-khodja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h.*). The Great Silk Road once routed through Bukhara and Khiva ran through the Kyzylkum Desert, as the present road does nowadays**. Stop en-route to enjoy views of the desert and Amudarya River.
Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest. Overnight at the hotel.
*Since there is only one cafe on the way, you might want to consider preparing a packed lunch before this trip.
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.
Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest. Overnight at the hotel.
*Since there is only one cafe on the way, you might want to consider preparing a packed lunch before this trip.
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.
Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Start the second day in Bukhara with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir (ruler), unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhoutdin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. At 14:40 transfer from the hotel to the train station. Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Samarkand departing at 15:52, arriving at 17:25 (270 km). Upon arrival the driver will transfer you to the hotel in Samarkand. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Meet your guide and driver at the hotel to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar and Gur Emir Mausoleum – the mausoleum of Amir Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Ulugbek Observatory and Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. At 16:00 transfer to railway station. Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent at 17:00 (300 km). Scheduled arrival time is 19:10. Pick-up and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
- All transfers: 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by minivan type car; 8-13 pax by 20 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 40-50 seat bus;
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itienrary;
- SV-class (compartment for two) ticket for train Tashkent-Urgench;
- Business/Economy-class ticket for trains Bukhara-Samarkand-Tashkent as per option;
- Visa support letter for Uzbekistan visa;
- Starting 8 persons English speaking tour leader from Advantour;
- Starting 10 persons +1 person travels free of charge accommodated in single room.
- Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole period of the tour;
- Full board (lunches and dinners);
- Hotel charges for additional services;
- Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa;
- Personal travel insurance.
Accommodation:
| Tashkent - 2 nights | |
| Ichan Qala, Sharq or similar | Miran, City Palace or similar |
| Khiva - 2 nights | |
| Malika Kheivak, Qosha Darvoza or similar | Asia Khiva, Bek Khiva or similar |
| Bukhara - 2 nights | |
| As-Salom, K.Komil or similar | Omar Khayam, Asia Bukhara or similar |
| Samarkand - 2 nights | |
| City, Billuri Sitora or similar | Sultan, Platan or similar |
