Overview
This intense 12-day religious tour will introduce you to the Zoroastrian and Buddhist cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. Many scientific researchers consider Central Asia, and in particular ancient Khorezm, the birthplace of Zoroastrianism and its prophet Zarathustra. Buddhism also played a significant role in the ideology of Ancient Termez (southern Uzbekistan) for seven centuries: from the 1st to the 7th centuries. AD
During the tour you will visit ancient cities and the most popular tourist places in Uzbekistan. You will discover a whole world: from a collection of Russian avant-garde art in Nukus and a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum desert to the tomb of Tamerlane in Samarkand and the ancient fortress of Ichan-Kala in Khiva.
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: Museum of History of Uzbekistan, Archaeological site of Ming Urik, Old town part of Tashkent, "Chorsu" bazaar, Amir Timur Square, Independence Square.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 5 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Transfer to the local airport for the morning flight to Termez (661 km, 2 hours).
- Excursion to Termez - one of the oldest cities in Central Asia and the ancient center of Buddhism. Visit: Kokildor-Ota Hanaka, The Kyrk-Kyz fortress, The ensemble of Sultan Saodat, Zurmala (Buddha Stupa), Fayaztepa, Mausoleum of Al-Hakim at-Termezi.
- Free time in the evening.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 4-5.
Meals: B/L/D
Breakfast in the hotel
- Check out from the hotel until 12:00.
- Continuation of the guided tour of Termez and its surroundings. To the northeast of the city is: Kampyrtepa, Dzharkurgan Minaret.
- Return to Termez through the Surkhan oasis. You will pass by the Friendship Bridge connecting Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
- Visit to Termez: Archaeological Museum.
- In the evening, transfer to the airport for the flight to Tashkent.
- Upon arrival in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 6-7 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).
- Here your guide and driver will accompany you during the excursion: Mausoleum Gur-Emir, Registan Square, Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, The Afrosiab Museum, Archaeological site of Afrasiab.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of the excursion: 5-6 hours.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Check out from the hotel before 12:00. Continuation of the tour of Samarkand. You will visit: Observatory of Ulugbek, Necropolis of Shahi-Zinda.
- 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 you will travel to Bukhara (280 km, 4 hours).
- Arrival in Bukhara before lunch, hotel accommodation.
- A trip out of town is planned in the afternoon: Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, Mausoleum of Bahouddin Naqshbandi, Chor-Bakr necropolis.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Tour duration: 2-3 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.
- 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.
- Check out from the hotel. Departure from the hotel and trip to the yurt camp "Ayaz-Kala".
- Arrival at the yurt camp "Ayaz-Kala". On this day you will visit several fortresses of Ancient Khorezm scattered throughout the desert: Ayaz-Kala, Gyaur-Kala, Koi-Krylgan-Kala, Toprak-Kala.
- Lunch and dinner in yurts
- Night in yurts.
Meals: B/L/D
- Breakfast in yurts.
- Departure from the yurt and transfer to Nukus. Along the way you will see: Chilpyk, (2nd century BC) – Zoroastrian dakhma.
- Arrival in Nukus and 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.
- Hotel accommodation. 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.
- Afternoon transfer to Nukus airport to fly to Tashkent.
- After the lunch in Tashkent transfer to the Tashkent International airport.
End of the tour.
Meals: B/L/D
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.