Visit 7 cities of Uzbekistan in 12 days with the bright cultural Uzbekistan Tour. This is an unforgettable journey, with the start in Muynak, a former fishing village where once there was a shore of currently dried Aral Sea. You will also visit Savitsky Museum in Nukus which keeps a unique collection of Russian avant-garde. Explore Uzbekistan’s ancient cities, where you will enjoy an amazing beauty of architectural monuments of the antiquity and Middle Ages, visit famous oriental bazaars and, of course, learn more about national Uzbek culture, traditions, way of life coupled with a true oriental hospitability.
Tour itinerary:
Arrive in Tashkent. Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Morning flight to Nukus (1255 km, 2 h 45 min). Arrive in Nukus and drive to former fishermen’s town Muynak (220 km, 3 h), which used to be situated on the shores of Aral Sea. On the way stop at archaeological complex Mizdakhan. In Muynak have a look at a former port with abandoned ships in the sand also known as the "Cemetery of Ships”. Then visit Local History Museum with art exhibits of the Aral Sea history. In the afternoon return to Nukus. Overnight at the hotel.
Visit the Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum*. The museum hosts the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and exposition of Karakalpak applied arts items. Have a short drive around center of Nukus: see statue of Karakalpak poet Berdakh, Nukus City Hall, and Drama Theatre. In the afternoon depart to Khiva (200 km, 4-5 h). On the way visit archaeological monuments of Ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk, a Zoroastrian dakhma (funerary tower), and Toprak-Kala, the capital of Khorezm dating back to the 3rd century A.D. Arrive in Khiva, check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
* Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum is closed on Mondays.
Due to renovations at Savitsky Museum, the archeological and applied arts exhibitions remain closed indefinitely.
Spend a day in Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a walking sightseeing tour in Khiva with a guide: visit Kunya-Ark Citadel, Tash-Khovli Palace, Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-Khoja. 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*). Today we will have an overland transfer from Khiva to Bukhara through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel.
*As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.
*As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
**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 Complex, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and 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 with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to Samarkand via Shakhrisabz (275 km, 4 h*). Stop in Shakhrisabz for city tour. Visit Mausoleum of Jakhongir in Dor-us Saodat Memorial Complex, remains of Ak-Saray Palace, Dor-ut Tilavat Ensemble with Kok-Gumbaz Mosque and burial vault of Tamerlane’s father. In the afternoon continue driving to Samarkand (90 km, 2 h*). Arrive in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
*The road on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
*The road on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 2 hours
Meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours
Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the 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. Late in the afternoon transfer to railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob
train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Pick-up and transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Pick-up and transfer to the hotel for overnight.Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Guided sightseeing tour in the 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 has been preserved. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to city center to walk through Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.
- All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by minivan type car; 8-13 pax by 30 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 (except for city tour in Nukus and trip to fortresses of Ancient Khorezm);
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
- Economy class ticket for flight Tashkent-Nukus;
- Ticket for train Samarkand-Tashkent (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train).
- 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;
- Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
- Travel insurance.
Accommodation:
| Tashkent - 3 nights | |
| Ateca, Navruz, Praga, Grand Capital | Wyndham Tashkent, Courtyard by Marriot, Hampton by Hilton, Lumiere |
| Nukus - 1 night | |
| Jipek Joli or similar | Jipek Joli or similar |
| Khiva - 2 nights | |
| Muso Tura, Polvon Qori, New Star, Orient Star or similar | Zarafshan Boutique, Asia Khiva, Erkin Palace, Bek Khiva or similar |
| Bukhara - 3 nights | |
| Minzifa, K.Komil, Bibikhanum, Amulet, As-Salom, Fatima, Kavsar or similar | Omar Khayam, Minor, Asia Bukhara, Zargaron Plaza or similar |
| Samarkand - 2 nights | |
| Usman, Meros, Asia Samarkand or similar | Dilimah, Sultan, Grand Samarkand Superior, Grand Samarkand, Platan or similar |
