Itinerary

1. Day 01: Tashkent

   • Arrive in Tashkent.
   • Check-in 14:00 

   O/n at hotel

2. Day 02: Tashkent-Urgench–Khiva

   • Breakfast at the hotel. 
   • Transfer to the local airport. 
   • Flight to Urgench. 
   • Arrival and transfer to Khiva (30km) Khiva is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia and has the second largest population in the Khorezm Region, after Urgench. Khiva is a fairytale town with an ancient history. Khiva is unique because it has well-preserved neighbourhoods, beautiful buildings, religious, military, and palace structures, and houses of a specific national type. The architecture of Khiva captures the imagination with its monumental forms and graceful ornaments. Its building is a remarkable example of high artistic mastership and the bold engineering solutions of local masters and architects of Khorezm. Sightseeing of Khiva includes:
     • Kelte Minar & Muhammad Amin Khan Madrassah.
     • Kunya Ark (XVII c) – an inner fortress with administrative buildings, gunpowder works, law courts, and a mosque.
     • Pakhlavan Makhmud complex (XIV – XIX c) is the most remarkable architectural memorial complex in Khiva, and it has unique tiles. 
     • Ak-Sheikh Baba Observation platform.
   • In the evening, check-in at the hotel. Lunch with traditional Khorezmian cuisine. Continuation of Sightseeing: 
     • Islam Khodja minaret and Madrassah (1908) – 45 m high is the highest building in Khiva with the observation area.
     • Djuma mosque (X – XVII c) is a cathedral mosque, the roof of which lies on 212 wooden fretted columns with unique acoustics, original technical ideas and natural lighting. The Mausoleum of Seyid Alaudin (XIV c), with its gravestone made from coloured majolica, is unique among world architectural ceramics 
     • Tash Hovli Palace – the summer residence of Khiva Khans – was built in the first half of the nineteenth century. The palace has three yards connected by labyrinths of corridors 

   Dinner at a local restaurant. O/n at hotel.  

3. Day 03: Khiva – Urgench – Bukhara

   • Breakfast at a hotel or breakfast boxes. 
   • Morning departure to Bukhara by coach through flora and fauna of Kyzyl Kum desert. For centuries, it marked the northern limits of Transoxiana and the edge of the boundless nomadic steppe. 
   • You will see the Amu Darya, one of the two rivers of Central Asia separating the Kyzyl Kum from the Kara Kum of Turkmenistan. 

   O/n at hotel

4. Day 04: Bukhara

   • Breakfast at the hotel. All-day Sightseeing of Bukhara:
     • Bukhara - as mentioned in the holy Avesta book, Bukhara is one of the most ancient Uzbek towns built on the sacred hill of springtime offerings by Zoroastrians. “Bukhara " derives from the Sanskrit word “Vihara” Numizhkat, Madinat-us-Suphia, Madinat-ut-Tudjar, Fakhira. 
     • Sa Manid's mausoleum (IX – X c) – it was the first building in Central Asia constructed from backed bricks in the shape of a cube covered by a dome with unrepeatable geometrical brickwork design – a masterpiece of world architecture 
     • Chashma Ayub Mausoleum
     • Bolo Khauz Mosque (1712) Mosque Near the Pool. 
     • ARK Fortress (VI – XIX c)
     • Poikalon complex (XII – XVI c) architectural ensemble in the center of old Bukhara – includes the cathedral mosque “Masjid Kalon”, “Miri Arab” madrasah and the highest minaret (46 m) at that time in the Orient. 
   • In the evening, Visit;
     • Trading Domes consists of three trading centres: Tok-i-Zargaron (1570) – Jeweler’s Bazaar, Tok-iTilpak Furushon – Cap Maker’s Bazaar, Tok-i-Sarrafon – Moneychanger’s Bazaar. 
     • Magoki Attori – in 937, the four-pillared mosque was burned to the ground in a city-wide fire. In the 12th century, the present mosque was erected, and the focus of the mosque, the original southern portal, remains. 
     • Chor-Minor – unique and one of the most surprising buildings in Bukhara with four minarets - one for each corner. It was built in 1807 by Turkmen merchant Khalif Niyazkul. 
     • Lyabi – Haus (XVI-XVII c) – a complex with Nodir – Devon Begi madrassah, kanaka and a big pool surrounded by trees --Visit the Local Master’s House and watch the process of painting Miniature (national style pictures) and Calligraphy with Arabians scripts. Tourists participate in master classes and try to paint by themselves. 

   Dinner at a local restaurant with a Folklore Show. (on request)

   O/n at hotel.

5. Day 05: Bukhara – Gijduvan – Samarkand

   In the Morning:

   • Breakfast at the hotel. 
   • Drive to Samarkand via Gijduvan city. Gijduvan is famous for its ceramic pottery. There are potteries of the 5th generation in Gijduvan. 
   • Visit Ceramic Pottery Workshop and Master’s House. Watch the process of making ceramics at the Tiny House Museum of Ceramics. 
   • Continue driving to Samarkand. 

   In the evening,

   • Arrive and have Lunch at a local restaurant. 
   • Sightseeing of Samarkand: 
     • Registan Square (XV–XVIIc) official center of Timur Empire, consist of grandiose Madrassah of Ulugbek, Sher Dor & Tillya Kari. 
     • Gur Amir mausoleum (XV c) – Timurids dynastic burial vault. 

   Dinner at a restaurant. 

   O/n at hotel.

6. Day 06: Samarkand – Tashkent

   In the morning:

   • Breakfast at the hotel. 
   • Sightseeing of Samarkand: 
     • Bibi Khanum mosque (XIVc) was built by Timur to be the biggest mosque at the time. Architects, craftsmen & painters built in 5 years long. 
     • Siab Bazaar – the main bazaar of Samarkand, staying at the crossroads of ancient trading routes.
     • Shahi Zinda mausoleum (XIV-XV c) ‘Town of Dead’ is a complex of more than 20 unique buildings of different ages. 
     • “Konigil Meros” Water Mill & Paper Factory – the craftsmen of the organization “Konigil Meros” produce handmade Samarkand Paper, an ancient recipe from mulberry tree bark.

   In the evening:

   • Ulugbek’s Observatory (XV c) 1st observatory in the Orient with a 30m sextant built by Ulugbek to make an exact astronomical catalogue 
   • 16:00 transfer to station and take train “Afrosiab” to Tashkent at 17:00- 19:10. 

   O/n at hotel.  

7. Day 07: Tashkent

   In the Morning:

   • Breakfast at the hotel. 
   • Sightseeing of Tashkent: 
     • Khast Imom Complex, including Barak Khan Madrassah, Kaffal Shashi mausoleum, Quran Library & Mosque. 
     • Chorsu Bazaar – primary oriental market in Tashkent 

   In the Evening:

   • Amir Temur Square – Central Park with the statue of Amir Temur on horseback and so-called “Broadway”. 
   • Tashkent Metro stations  Independence (Mustakillik) Square – former “Red Squire”, the main squire of Tashkent with the monument to victims of WW II. 
   • Navoi Theatre (from outside) This is one of the buildings in Tashkent with its personality. Planning and construction started in 1940, and Japanese prisoners of war completed construction in 1947.

8. Day 08: Tashkent

   • Breakfast at the hotel.
   • Transfer to airport