“A.S.T.” Company

 

Tour A-020 “Mirages of Kizilkum”  

Specialization– Combined trekking along desert with visits to ancient cities of Orient.

 

Durationis 12 days

 

Best timeto travel is March the 1^st to May the 30^th and September the 1^st to October the 30^th

 

Location: This tour is held on Kizilkum desert, Samarkand region of Republik of Uzbekistan.

 

For milleniums, the two great rivers of Central Asia feed Aral Sea, carrying their water along sandy hilly plain. Ancient inhabitants of East, rafting down on the Amudarya river, distinguished red send on the right bank and black one on the left bank. Since then lands in the East from Amudarya called as Kizilkum, and western land called as Karakum. However, it is not the only difference between these lands. Many sand dunes – this is the Karakum desert. The landscape of Kizilkum is more various. Dried out and filled up with sand the old beds of rivers and canals cross the desert. Flat dunes alternate clayey plots in places are covered with yellow grass and thin bush-woods. These is fastened sends relieve walking across the Kizilkum desert. Wonderful places for camp can be rare hollows, filled up with water, located sometimes among ashen dunes.

Having woken up after winter, the desert seemed as lifeless transforming into blossoming green valley. The land is riddled with varied flowers and plants as well as blooming shrubbery. The best time in desert is April to June and September to October, this time you can see its animals, such as: lizards, jerboa, marmots, black hares, giant lizard, Afganistanfoxes and gazelles. One thousand years ago, the well known Great Silk Road from China to European countries laythrough Kizilkum. Only ruins of ancient palaces and fortresses and destroyed abandoned canals remind us about full of events history of these lands, lying to the both sides of the rivers. Met settlements in the desert partly remained their medieval view, numerous of pise houses with flat roofs, making labyrinths of narrow crooked streets, surrounded by green cotton fields. On the entire itinerary, you will be accompanied with a special vehicle, which will transfer our camp. In addition, you will be delighted with camel riding.

From the desert, we will drive to the ancient city of Bukhara. Bukhara is one of the ancient cities of Central Asia. Bukhara is as huge museum of history of medieval architecture,exhibits are inseparable part of daily life of this city. We shall visit one of the ancient buildings – the Ark citadel. Not long way from rigorous Ark there is the architectural ensemble (C XVIII-XX) of Bolo-Khauz, means “Standing above the water”. The masterpiece of oriental architecture is the Samonids mausoleum (CIX-X). In neighborhoods of this city, there is architectural ensemble of Poy-Kaljan (“Pedestal of Great man”), Mir Arab medresseh. After farewell with Bukhara, we start for Samarkand.

Legend and history interlaced in Samarkand together. Together with Khiva and Bukhara, Samarkand taking the important part in history of Central Asian, as a part of the Great Triangle of East. Samarkand was as main part of Central Asia within Tamerlane’s empire-cruel commander and distinguished political leader. The cradle of Samarkand City is the ancient town of Afrosiab. Here, in Afrosiab, there is museum of history of Samarkand establishment. Complex of mausoleums of Shakh-E-Zinda, means “Alive king” is of great interest beyond doubt.

Near city bazaar, there is bulky building of medieval east – conciliarmosque of Biby-Khanum. Registan square (“sandy place”) is the center of medieval Samarkand. Mausoleum of Gur-Amir is burial-vault of Tamerlane’s family. Here in nephrite sarcophagus Tamerlan himself buried. Having been acquainted with wonderful legendary Samarkand, we drive to Tashkent by bus.

 

Programme

Day 1.Arrival in Tashkent. Met at the airport and transfer to a hotel. Check in the hotel. A time to relax. Lunch. Excursion around the architectural monuments of Tashkent city, including visit to Kukeldash Medresseh (CXVI), Barak-Khan Medresseh (CXVI), Kaffal Al Shashe Mausoleum (CXVI), Khast-Imam complex and Orient Bazaar of Chor-Su,visiting old city, including Yunus-Khana Mausoleum, Museum of Applied Art, Square of Independence, Friendship Peoples Square, Metro, and the National Theater of Opera and Ballet for 4 hours. Dinner.Overnight at a hotel.

Day 2.Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Nurata city (T=8-9 hrs.). Lunch en route. Accommodation in the national house. Enjoy sightseeing in Nurata including visits to the Namazgol mosque (CXIV), ancient fortress of the period of Alexander the Great. Dinner.

Day 3.Breakfast. Drive to Yangikazgan settlement. Commence trekking. First walk along the Kyzylkum desert accompanied by local guides. Training of camel riding. Overnight in yurts (huts). 

Days 4-6.Trekking on the desert, acquaintance with local fauna and flora.

Day 7.Drive to the Aydarkul Lake – oasis in the desert, swimming, fishing.

Day 8.Transfer to Bukhara. Upon arrival in Bukhara check in a hotel. A time to refresh. Lunch in a traditional national house, tasting of local food. Enjoy sightseeing in Buhkara including visits to Samanid’s Mausoleum (IX-X cc.), Chashma Aub Mosque, Poi-Kalan complex (XII-XVI cc.), Ulugbek Madrassah, Lyabi-Hauz complex (XVI-XVII cc.), Sitorai Mokhi (XIX cc.), Khosa summer palace, Bolo Hauz, and the Ark Fortress. Dinner

Day 9.After breakfast at the hotel continuing sightseeing tour around this city with a private local guide. Lunch in a traditional national house, tasting of local food. PM transfer to Samarkand (T=5 hrs.).  Upon arrival in Samarkand check in a hotel. Dinner in a restaurant.

Day 10.Afetr breakfast enjoy sightseeing in Samarkand including visiting the Guri-Emir Mausoleum (XV cc.), Registan Square (XVII cc.), Bibi-Khanum Cathedral Mosque (XV cc.), Ulugbek Observatory (XV cc.), Shakhi-Zinda Mausoleums ensemble, and Al-Bukhari complex and local bazaars. Dinner.

Day 11.Breakfast at the hotel. Go on sightseeing tour with a private local guide around Samarkand. In the afternoon after lunch in a restaurant, drive to Tashkent. (T=5 hrs.). Upon arrival in Tashkent check in a hotel. Lunch in a restaurant on the river site. A time to refresh. Free time, visit to orient bazaar. Dinner.

Day 12.Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Departure from Tashkent.

 

Transport:

Tashkent– Nurata – Bukhara – Samarkand – Tashkent - on a comfortable bus

On trek – to carry the basic camp and clients’ baggage - on a general-duty cross-country vehicle

 

Accommodations:

Tashkent– a hotel

Nurata – a national house

Bukhara– a hotel

Samarkand– a hotel

On trek – tents (2 for a tent), local gers/yurts (huts)

 

Food:

3 meals a day in the cities

on trek – breakfast, dinner (hot course) 

lunch - dry ration, hot tee, coffee.