The Great Silk Road: Discover the Colors of Uzbekistan Tour 11 days

Day 1: Tashkent – Our Adventure Begins

Flight to Tashkent. Meet at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Tashkent

Breakfast is at the hotel. After breakfast Drive to visit the “Yangiobod” Weekend Flea Market. The flea market “Yangiobod” has been famous for its uniqueness and colouring for many years. and you can find absolutely everything here! Do you like to collect antique things? Then you definitely should visit this storehouse for all kinds of goods.

Then we will visit Victory Park, also known as the Victory Park Memorial Complex. It’s mostly locals here, we can meet with locals easily. 12:00 Lunch will be shared at Uzbek Palov Center a huge restaurant with hundreds of places to sit and a local Tashkent experience! It’s mostly locals here (although there are tourists) so it’s a great local experience! Uzbek palov is the mentality of the Uzbekistan people. Palov is the king of Uzbek cuisine, served during a wedding feast. After lunch proceeds visit Shahidlar Xotirasi Memorial (in memory of the victims of repression) is near the TV tower. This new museum is devoted to raising awareness about repression during the tsarist and Soviet eras. We will visit the Romanov palace which was built for Grand Prince Nikolay Konstantinovich Romanov (1850-1917), first cousin of Tsar Nikolay II, who was deported here in 1881 to mine precious stones. It is surprisingly small in size, but set amongst pleasant gardens just back from the street. The Romanov palace will be opened as a museum house in 2019. Visit Chor-Su Bazaar, the age of which is more than hundred years old. After exploring the bazaar, have a short Tashkent Metro ride. Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 3: By Train to Kokand (275 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. At 07:00 transfer to the train station. Take train departing to Kokand at 08:05. Arrive there at 12:00. Meet your guide and driver and start sightseeing tour in Fergana Valley. Kokand is one of the largest and old cities in the Fergana Valley, was capital of the Khanate of Kokand (1709-1876), occupied by the White Russians at the end of the 19th century. You arrive at the cutler’s and visit his workshop. Typical lunch at the cutler’s with his family. You discover the historic center of Kokand where part of the palace of the khan Khouda-Yor and the mosque with 99 columns dating from the 19th century are preserved. You visit the museum of Hamza, the activist poet of the events of the liberation of Uzbek women in the years of 1920-1925 allowing you to immerse yourself in the history of the struggle of Uzbek women.

Accommodation to your hotel. Typical dinner at the restaurant.

Day 4: Return to Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel. Then you take the road to Margilan, the historic center which is 90 km from Kokand. You visit the Ikat factory where the girls still work in the ancestral way and you can discover all the stages of exploitation of the cocoon and the silk. In particular, you visit the weaving workshop for silk fabrics and carpets. Proceed tour, you take the road to Richtan, the village of ceramists. You will be welcomed by a ceramist. Take a rest and have lunch. This village is renowed not only in Uzbekistan, but also in the surrounding countries, for its blue ceramics, the visiting card of the village. The entire village practices this trade and supplies souvenir vendors in other towns. It is the only source that deserves to be visited by pottery lovers. You spend the day to discover more deeply the local Uzbek life at the example of the village of potters. You visit the Mahalla office and meet the head of the Mahalla (equivalent to the French commune) allowing you to discuss and discover how the local units are managed at the village level. Then you visit several famous and distinguished master ceramists. You visit the places of pilgrimage around the mausoleums of Burkhonaddin Marghinoni and Khodja Ilgor. On the road, you stop at a luthier who produces “Rubab” one of the traditional musical instruments. Then you visit the Kyrgyz artisan family that produces felt carpets. You discover all the stages of making the felt rug. Late noon drive to Tashkent. Dinner at the restaurant. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 5: Sightseeing in Khiva

Breakfast. We get morning flight from Tashkent to Urgench. Transfer to the hotel. We will start our guided tour from 09:00am. Ichan-Kala Fortress – inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Today, Ichan-Kala is an open-air museum – the old part of the city, surrounded by a fortified wall and turned into a state historical and archaeological museum-reserve. It is here that on the vast territory of 26 hectares, the exotic image of the eastern city is preserved. In Ichan-Kala, there are about 60 historic buildings. Enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of the old Khiva from the observation deck of Kunya Ark (1686). We watch the Khorazm dance, Lazgi is a traditional dance in Khiva. It is performed during national holidays and folk festivities in scenery forms, as well as in the daily-based interpretation form during community and family events. Folklore music and dance show. Juma Masjid (late 18th century) Khiva’s Juma, or Friday Mosque, Juma Mosque is interesting for the 218 wooden columns supporting its roof – a concept thought to be derived from ancient Arabian mosques. Lunch and dinner during the visits. Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 6: By Train to Bukhara (450 km)

Breakfast at the hotel. At 08:30 transfer to the train station in Khiva and arrival in Bukhara at 14:15. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

NB: if in that day there is no available train we will drive by bus.

Day 7: In Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel and Take a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in the historic centre of Bukhara which has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Visit Trading domes – Toki-Sarrafon Trading Dome (was the currency exchange centre of Central Asia), Telpak Furushon Trading Dome (first was bookselling place, later selling caps), Timi Abdullakhan Trading Dome (carpets and fabrics were sold), Toki-Zargaron Trading Dome (were selling jewelries). Legendary Ark Fortress (IV century BC) – The symbol of the state power. It was a residence of Bukhara khans. Bolo-Khauz Mosque (1712) – it is the only preserved monument on Registan Square. The complex consists of the reservoir, Friday mosque and minaret. The most ancient part of the complex is the pond (Khauz), which is called Bolo-Khauz (“Children’s reservoir”). Visit Bukhara Handicrafts-Weaving of Decorative Fabrics: Suzani embroidery is a unique traditional craft and art practised by women living in Central Asia. Visit the miniature centre (Bukhara School of Miniature Painting). Bukhara is famous as the center of miniature painting and the art of calligraphy. Kalyan Minaret (1127) – City symbol of Bukhara.  The minaret was designated to summon Muslims to prayer five times a day. It still dominates the skyline of Bukhara, astonishing all who see it with its magnificent and flawless shape.

Kalyan Mosque (XV century) – The layout of the Djuma Mosque (named the Kalyan Mosque) is traditional: a rectangular courtyard with a tall and large maksura room on the west side. Miri-Arab Madrasah (XVI century) – is one of the best Bukhara architectural school monuments. The architecture and décor of Miri-Arab are distinguished by the highest are culture and taste. Overnight stay at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 8: Bukhara – By “Afrosiab” Train to Samarkand

Breakfast in the hotel. Then we will visit Mausoleum of Bakhoutdin Naqshbandi (1544) – is one of the most important Muslim shrines. The Mausoleum of Saint Bakhouddin Naqshbandi is considered as the Central Asian Mekka. Believers from different muslim countries come here to ask for the fulfilment of wishes and healing.

Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa (XIX century mid) – summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir. The Bukhara architects having trained in Russia managed to combine oriental and western styles in their creation. 12:30 Lunch in the DOLON restaurant with a terrace overlooking the nocturnal monuments: (vegetable soup, various salads, fruit or ice cream or cake).

Take the high-speed train, Afrosiyob, 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: 4-5 hours

Travel by car: 30 minutes

Day 9: Sightseeing Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel. Registan Square (XV-XVII centuries) – For centuries, this square was the center of Samarkand. The word Registan means “sand place”. The ensemble consists of three Madrassah: Ulugbek Madrassah (15th century), Sher–Dor Madrassah (17th century) and TillaKari Madrassah (gold covered) (17th century). Gur Emir Mausoleum (XV century) – authentic shrine of Tamerlane. This majestic complex consists of a khanaka, the madrasah of Muhammad Sultan – grandson of Amir Timur, and, tombs of Amir Timur himself and his descendants. Gur Emir was a prototype for famous examples of architecture of the Great Mughal: Humayun Mausoleum in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Timur descendants, who ruled northern India. Then visit Siyab Market and Bibi-Khamum mosque. We will visit the theater “El-merosi” in Samarkand. 18:00-19:00 Visit the theater, an unusual ethno-cultural performance with historical costumes. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: By “Afrosiab” Train to Tashkent   

Breakfast at the hotel. You can visit this market. Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis (XIV-XV centuries) – consists of rows of sparkling blue colored tombs. Shakhi Zinda consists of eleven mausoleums, which were built one after another in XIV – XV centuries. Shakhi Zinda is the burial place of royal persons and nobles. Khazrati khizir mosque, Ulugbek. Tour the Handmade Silk Carpet Factory and silk paper mill. Lunch in a restaurant. Samarkand Winery is Xarvenko Wine Factory which produces classic grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Bayan Shirei, Rkatsiteli, Kuldzhinsky and several others. 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

Day 11: Tashkent – Return to London

Early breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Tashkent International airport for the flight to Istanbul.