This 10 day tour is an excellent opportunity to cover the whole country from east to west, like the caravans once crossing the Great Silk Road. This journey will be a real adventure; you will discover diversity of cultural, historical and architectural wealth of Uzbekistan. In the cities of Fergana Valley you will learn the history of the Kokand Khanate, visit workshops of masters who create amazing carpets, knives, and ceramics. UNESCO World Heritage Listed cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, will strike you with their unique architecture.
Tour itinerary:
Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at noon. Meet your guide to start sightseeing 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 to walk through Amir Timur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
At 07:00 transfer to the train station. Take train Ozbekiston departing to Kokand at 08:05. Arrive in Kokand at 12:00. Meet your guide and driver and start sightseeing tour in Ferghana Valley. Visit Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Jami Mosque, Kamol-Kazy Madrasah, and Norbut-biy Madrasah. Drive to Ok Yer village to the house of craftsman Bakhrom-aka to visit a traditional Kyrgyz family manufacturing wool carpets. Afterwards drive to Fergana city (80 km). Visit Akhmad Al-Fergani Park in Fergana. Check in to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
In the morning, drive from Fergana to Margilan and visit Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrasah. Today, madrasah is home to a number of craftsmen producing handmade carpets and silk. Explore a local market and continue to Yodgorlik Silk factory to see the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns. If it is Thursday or Sunday, visit Kumtepa Bazaar, the largest market, bazaar, in Fergana Valley. Drive to Rishtan to the house of a well-known ceramic master Rustam Usmanov whose works are exhibited on world exhibitions. Enjoy a pottery workshop and have a look at ceramic collection in a small museum. After Rishtan return to Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours
Morning transfer to the railway station for the high-speed Afrosiyob
train ride to Samarkand (journey time 2 h 10 min). Your guide and driver will meet you at train station to begin the city tour in Samarkand. 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
train ride to Samarkand (journey time 2 h 10 min). Your guide and driver will meet you at train station to begin the city tour in Samarkand. 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
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. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
In the morning depart Samarkand and drive to Bukhara (280 km, 4 h*). On the way stop at Rabat-i-Malik Caravanserai. Continue driving. Arrive in Bukhara, check in to the hotel. Spend your afternoon in fascinating Old Bukhara which is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Explore Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Magoki-Attori Mosque, madrasahs of Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, trade domes, Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Chor-Minor Madrasah. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.
Start the second day in Bukhara discovering Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Samani dynasty and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Then visit 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. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to Khiva (480 km, 7-8 h*). Today we will have an overland transfer from Bukhara to Khiva through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Khiva late in the afternoon. Check-in to the hotel. Free evening in Khiva.
*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.
Check-out from the hotel till noon. Today you will visit Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour features visits to Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum. Try yourself at climbing Islam-Khoja Minaret, the highest minaret in Uzbekistan. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Old Khiva in Kunya-Ark. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening you will be transferred to Urgench airport (30 km, 35 min) for flight to Tashkent (1093 km, 1 h 40 min). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 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;
to Fergana Valley: 1-3 pax by sedan type car; - Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
- Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary;
- Tickets for trains Tashkent-Kokand and Tashkent-Samarkand (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train);
- Economy class ticket for flight Urgench-Tashkent.
- 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 | |
| Navruz, Praga, Grand Capital | Courtyard by Marriot, Wyndham Tashkent, International |
| Fergana - 1 night | |
| Asia Fergana or similar | Asia Fergana or similar |
| Samarkand - 2 nights | |
| Meros, Boulevard Palace, City, Malika Prime, Rabat or similar | Dilimah, Sultan, Grand Samarkand Superior, Grand Samarkand, Platan or similar |
| Bukhara - 2 nights | |
| Bibikhanum, As-Salom, Fatima, Kavsar or similar | Omar Khayam, Zargaron Plaza, Asia Bukhara or similar |
| Khiva - 1 night | |
| New Star, Qosha Darvoza or similar | Erkin Palace, Bek Khiva or similar |
