Overview
This is an unforgettable journey in which you will visit Muynak, a former fishing village that was once located on the coast of the now dry Aral Sea. You will also visit the State Museum of Art named after I.V. Savitsky in Nukus, which houses a unique collection of Russian avant-garde.
You will also be traveling to the ancient cities of Uzbekistan: Khiva, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz, Samarkand and Tashkent, where you will enjoy the amazingly beautiful architectural monuments of antiquity and the Middle Ages, visit the famous oriental bazaars, and, of course, get acquainted with the national Uzbek culture, traditions, and way of life combined with real oriental hospitality.
Itinerary
- Arrival in Tashkent. You will be met by our driver and guide.
- Early check-in at the hotel with breakfast. On this day we are planning to visit: Old town part of Tashkent, Hast-Imam complex, "Chorsu" bazaar, Tashkent metro, Amir Timur Square, Independence Square, Museum of Applied Arts.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 4-5 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- In the morning transfer from the hotel to the station. The high-speed train "Afrosiab" departs from Tashkent to Samarkand (345 km).
- Upon arrival your guide and driver will accompany you during the excursion: Registan Square, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Observatory of Ulugbek, Necropolis of Shahi-Zinda, Mausoleum Gur-Emir.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 6-7 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Continuation of the tour of Samarkand. You will visit: The Afrosiab Museum, Tomb of St. Daniel.
- Then you will have a trip to the village of Konigil, where you will be able to observe the process of making Samarkand paper from mulberries using ancient technology.
- After the excursion you have free time, a car with a driver is at your disposal.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 3-4 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- In the morning, drive to Bukhara via Shakhrisabz (275 km, 4 hours*).
- In Shakhrisabz visit: Memorial complex Dor-us Saodat, Ruins of the Ak-Saray Palace, Ensemble Dor-ut Tilavat, Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, Crypt of Amir Temur.
- Afternoon, continue the journey to Bukhara (185 km*).
- Arrival in Bukhara, hotel accommodation.
- Overnight at the hotel.
*A trip by minivan or bus is on average an hour longer.
Tour duration: 2 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Guided tour in the historical center of Bukhara, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: The Lyabi-Khauz complex, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, Trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek Madrasah, Madrasah of Abdulazizkhan, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Samanid Mausoleum, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum.
- After the excursions, free time in the Old Town.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 6-7 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- A trip out of town is planned for this day: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, Mausoleum of Bahouddin Naqshbandi, Chor-Bakr necropolis.
- Free time in the afternoon.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Tour duration: 2-3 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- In the morning, departure from Bukhara to Khiva (480 km, 7-8 hours). The modern highway crosses the Kyzylkum desert, repeating the ancient route of the Great Silk Road*.
- A stop along the way, during which you will have the opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of the desert and the Amu Darya River. Arrival in Khiva at the end of the day, check-in and rest at the hotel.
- Overnight at the hotel.
** part of the road is currently under reconstruction.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Full day of excursions to the Ichan-Kala fortress, included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List: Ichan-Kala Fortress, Muhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Madrasah of Muhammad Rahimkhan, Kalta Minor Minaret, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud, Islam-Khoja Minaret.
- Enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of old Khiva from the Kunya Ark observation deck.
- Free time in the afternoon.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 5 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Departure from the hotel and trip to Nukus (200 km, 4-5 hours).
- Along the way, visit the archaeological monuments of Ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk, Toprak-Kala.
- Arrival in Nukus, hotel accommodation.
- Visit: Savitsky Museum.
- A short trip through the center of Nukus: visiting the monument to the Karakalpak poet Berdakh, the Nukus khokimiyat and the Drama Theater.
Overnight at the hotel.
***The Savitsky Museum is not open on Mondays, so tours to Nukus are not available on this day.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Morning trip to the former fishing town of Muynak (220 km, h), which was located on the shores of the Aral Sea.
- Stop along the way: Archaeological complex Mizdakhan. The cemetery located next to the remains of the Gyaur-Kala fortress is more important. This fortress received its name during the Arab conquests and translated means Fortress of the Infidels, since scientists have established that the inhabitants of the fortress were Zoroastrians before the Arab conquest.
- In Muynak, visit the so-called “Ship Graveyard” - a former port where the skeletons of abandoned ships rust.
- Then you will visit: The Aral Sea Local History Museum is the only museum of its kind, the exhibition of which demonstrates the peculiarities of the life of the local population, flora and fauna, and also tells about the tragedy of the Aral Sea, which happened half a century ago.
- Afternoon return to Nukus.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- In the morning, transfer to Nukus airport for a flight.
End of the tour.
The Trip Cost Includes
- - Meeting/seeing off at the airport at any flight arrival/departure time specified by tourists.
- - Hotel accommodation in double rooms with breakfast.
- - Guided tours according to the tour program.
- - Economy class railway tickets for the high-speed train "Afrosiab" (Tashkent - Samarkand, Bukhara - Tashkent).
- - Full board: 5 hotel breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners.
- - Air-conditioned transport for the entire route.
- - Bottle of water for each day of the tour.
The Trip Cost Excludes
- Price does not include:
- - Cost of international flights.
- - Prices for photography at monuments and museums.
- - Medical expenses and insurance.
- - Additional services not specified in the program.
