Tashkent (Chinaz) – Samarkand - Shakhrisabz (Kitab, Karshi) – Termez - Bukhara –Urgench (Khiva) – Tashkent (Khodjikent, Chimgan) (17days)

 

 

Programme
 

1Day. Arrive Tashkent.

On arrival in Tashkent, met and transfer to a hotel for check in,  free time. Lunch. Enjoy sightseeing around the city of Tashkent for 4 hours included visiting   the ruins of  heathen and fire temples  ( Unus abad Ak Tepe (V-XII c.c.)),under the protection of UNESCO,  90 % excavated. Ak –Tepa is considered to be the residence of a feudal lord, one of the rulers of Shash, where  rich complex of things found during the excavations is evidence of location of this ancient settlement. Dinner.

2 Day. Tashkent-Samarkand via Chinaz        

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Chinaz (70 км). Sightseeing of the ancient settlement Chinaz (IV-XII c.c.), situated not far from the Sir-Darya (Jaxartes) river. Transfer to Samarkand (220 km). Lunch on the way. Upon arrival to Samarkand, check in a hotel. Dinner.

3 Day. Samarkand              

Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion in the State archeological reserve of Afrosiab (IV c B.C. until  XII c. A.D.).There are many objects corroborating high development of various handicrafts and trade,coins of various States in ancient times including epoch of Alexander the Great when in 328 BC. the city (ancient name is Marakanda) was absolutely destroyed  by the troops of Alexander the Great..Excavations of the ancient Afrasiab revealed several cultural layers, unique remains of wall paintings and frescos of  IV c. BC and later period were preserved.. In the museum located on the territory of ancient Afrosiyab, weapons, objects of art, samples of Sogdian literature, coins, monuments of applied art, jewelry adoring, wall paintings, wood carving and other monuments and relics of spiritual culture are exhibited. Lunch  Afternoon sightseeing around the city of Samarkand for 4 hours: the Registan square (XV-XVIIc.c.) with three madrassah: Ulugbek, Tilla-Kari, Sher-Dor and Gur-Emir mausoleum of     Tamerlane’s dynasty (XIVc).Dinner

4 Day. Samarkand              

Breakfast at the hotel.AM excursion around Samarkand including visiting the History Museum of the city, Shakhi-Zinda necropolis (CCXIV-XV), Lunch. Go on sightseeing tour for 3 hours:Bibi-Khanum Mosque (CCXIV-XV),  Khodja Akhrar Complex (CXVII),Dinner

5 Day. Samarkand-Shakhrizhabz, Shakhrizhabz         

Breakfast at the hotel. AM transfer to Shakhrisabz-home town of Tamerlane the Great (D=160km, T=2-2.5hrs.). On arrival,  check in a hotel.Sightseeing tour around the town of Shakhrizhabz for 2 hours including visits to Ak-Saray Palace (CCXIV-XV), Darus Saodat Complex (CCXIV-XIX). Lunch.Go on sightseeing tour for 4 hours:  Darut Tillavat Complex (CCXV), Orient Saunas (CCXIV-XVII) Dinner.

6 Day.     Shakhrizhabz

Breakfast at the hotel. AM guided tour to Kitab (South-West of the town of Shakhrisabz) (C II  BC.), well known under the name of Kesh. This town occupies the territory about 40 ha . Ancient part of the town – Kalandar-tepa hill, the citadel of the ancient town of Suse. Free time, visiting the orient market. Dinner in an Uzbek family.

7 Day. To Termez

Breakfast at the hotel. AM transfer to Termez (420 km, 6,5 h). On the way to Termez around the town of Karshi, there are the ruins of Erkurgan settlement, founded in the beginning of  I millennium BC and was cultural and economical center of Kashkadarya until V-VI c.c. AD.

The old name of this town was Nautaka (the town which was not conquered by Alexander the Great). Later some part of the population  moved from Erkurgan to the valley of Kasan river, where modern Karshi town – the capital of Kashkadarya region  is situated

Lunch on the way. Evening arrival in Termez, check in a hotel. Guided tour to Sultan – Saodat mausoleums’ ensemble (CC-XV c..). Dinner.

8 Day. Termez      

Breakfast at the hotel.AM guided tour to Buddhist temple complexes Kara-Tepa (CIV BC), Fayaz-Tepa (CIV BC.),and Termez settlement, the monastery ruins, stone sculptures , wall-paintings. Profile slabs and big cylindrical things - mortars and a statue of sitting Buddah  were found during the excavations. In old Termez there were found twenty six burials from CC V-VI. Lunch. Go on sightseeing tour: Kiri-Kiz palace (CCIX-X.),Al-Khakim-At-Termiziy (CCIX-X ). Dinner.

9 Day.  Termez-Bukhara    

Breakfast at the hotel. AM transfer to Bukhara (570 km). Lunch on the way.Upon arrival in Bukhara, check into a hotel .Dinner.

10 Day.   Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel. AM sightseeing tour in Bukhara for 4 hours includes visiting Ark Fortress- Citadel (CCV-XIX), Bolo-House Mosque (CXVII), Ismail Samani Mausoleum (CIX), Lunch. Go on Sightseeing tour for 4 hours afternoon with visits to the old part of the city, from Poi-Kalan Complex with Kalan Minaret (CXII) through orient bazaar with tree cupolas of Toki Zargaron (CXVI), Toki Sarrafon (CXVI), Toki Telpak Furushon (CXVI) to Laby –House Complex (CCXVI-XVII). Dinner in a cafe .

11 Day.   Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive out of Bukhara to the ancient settlement of Varakhsha (35 km) for sightseeing tour. Varakhsha – the capital of Ephthalits. By technique of performance, by drawings and style of fragments found there coincide with things found during the excavations of Samanid’s palaces from CC III and V AD in Iran. These monuments are evidence of wide cultural and economical relations between people of Central Asia and Iran, India, China. Varakhsha hold an important place in trade, diplomatic and political relations , but was absolutely destroyed in the period of Turkish approach. Return to Bukhara. Lunch. Free time for 2 hours). Sightseeing in Bukhara including visit to the summer residence of Emir Sitora- i- Mokhi- Khosa  (CXIX). Dinner.   

 

 

12 Day.   To Paikent and back to Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel . AM transfer and guided tout to the ruins of ancient Paikend. (60 km).In medieval arab manuscripts Paikend was called “ the city of merchants” and was 2 кмin circumference . Currently archeological excavations are held .Return to Bukhara .Lunch. Free time for 2 hours,  PM guided tour to house-museum of  merchant F. Khodjaev (CXIX )  with tea drinking and a show of national clothes from  (CCXIX-XX). Dinner.

13 Day. Bukhara-Urgench

Breakfast at the hotel. AM drive to Urgench(470 km, 7hrs). Lunch on the way in Kizilkum desert, picnic in a picturesque nature not far from Amu Darya river (Oxus). Upon arrival in Urgench , check into a hotel. Free time. Dinner.

14 Day.   Urgench

Breakfast at the hotel. AM transfer to the ruins of Tuprak Kala (2 hours) through the town of Beruni. Excavations of Tuprak Kala began in 1940. It was a firm fortress with numerous towers and  arrow- shaped loop-holes,inside there was a ruler’s castle of 25 m. Earthenware sculptures and monumental  paintings from III c. AD(about 30 statues) were the most valuable exhibits among the things found during the excavations. The paintings contain Indo-Buddhist индо-буддийскоеinfluence, but by stylistics  they are notable for their originality. Also, fragments of clothes, domestic utensils and weapons were found. Lunch (Dry ration). Return to Urgench. Dinner.

15 Day.   Khiva, Urgench-Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel. AM transfer to Khiva (30 km). Sightseeing tour in Khiva – a town in the open (architectural complex Ichan Kala (CCV-XX ).Lunch in an Uzbek family. Revening return to Urgench for the flight Urgench – Tashkent (1,5h).On arrival in Tashkent, check into a hotel. Dinner.

16 Day.   To Khodjikent

Breakfast at the hotel. AM drive to Khodjikent (60 km). Guided tour to the mountain (2-3h): stops of primitive man in neolit epoch, carvings and drawings on the rocks. Lunch in “Chimgan” tour complex (20 км). Survey excursion on the mountain zone of rest, horse riding,, chair - ski lift . On the way to Tashkent excursion along the mountain lake Charvak. Return to Tashkent.Dinner.

17 Day. Depart Tashkent.  

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Departure from Tashkent .

 

The cost of this tout is:

1)  6 pax  – USD 10.103

2)10 pax +1 (tour-leader is FOC) – USD15.208

 

Hotelsquoted for this program are combined :

 

In Tashkent – “Tsorbi” (***),in Samarkand – “Afrosiab”  (****) , in Shakhrisabz – “Shakhrisabz” (**), in   Termez – “Surkhan” (**), in Bukhara – “Bukhara New hotel” (****),in Urgench – “Jaykhun” (***). Categories of the hotels are equal to the local standards .

 

The price quoted for this programme includes the following:

 

-       Visa support letter

-       Transfers to and from airports, A/C transportation and all

scheduled excursions detailed onthe itinerary(by mini-buses) ”Volkswagen Caravela ” or “Hyunday  Starex” for 6 pax, (by buses) “Mitsubishi Rose” or “Toyota Coaster” for 10+1 pax.

-  Air –tickets  Urgench –Tashkent with preliminary booking   

 of air – tickets based on economy class travel, ( type of plane is

 RJ- 85) .

- double/ twin sharing accommodation on B&B basis with

private bath or shower in each hotel (one room for tour leader is free)

-  All meals (FB) according  to the programme

-  SS programmes with local guides speaking your native      

language & entrance fees for the tourist sites, like main

monuments and museums as specified in the programme.

-  Scientific staff (historians, archaeologists) in the cities of visiting

-  Fees for house- museum of merchant F.Khodjaev

-  national guide (escort) speaking your native language and accompanying   

you for the entire itinerary

- Mineral water for the entire itinerary

     

The price excludes the following:

 

Visa for Uzbekistan

airport tax

Single supplement charge

fees for extra service (folklore performances, meetings, tickets for a theatre and visits to museums which are not specified in the programme)

fees for the use of cameras and videos in the museums, galleries and sites visited.