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The wind of the Silk Road
Tour name: The wind of the Silk Road Highlights of tour: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Ayz Qala, Khiva, Nukus, Turpak Qala, Khorezm, Karakalpakstan.
Day 1: Tashkent
You will land in the airport of Tashkent. Upon arrival you will have a guided tour in the capital city. Visit the main square called Independence square, which is a symbol over the fascism in Great Patriotic War. Then we will have a nice walk along our local Broadway. Amir Timur square will be on other side of the Broadway. Not all cities in Central Asia has a metro, but Tashkent has and it's also one of the most beautiful ones in the world. It was built in 1977. After a short ride in the metro we will continue in the old part of the city. The main sites in the old part are Chorsu Bazaar, Kukaldasn Madrasah and Hast Imam complex. Hast Imam Complex is union of the madrasahs, mosques and mausoleum. And the main feature the excursion is the Othman Quran copy. Muhammad had four Caliphs who were following him and Othman Ibn Affan was third one. This Quran belongs to him, the date of the Quran is 8th century. Othman was assassinated by non-muslim people. You can still see his blood on the pages of Quran. Night is in the hotel.
Day 2: Tashkent - Samarkand (morning train)
This day we will take a train and we will go to Samarkand. I think every person heard this name Samarkand. This city is situated in the Valley of Zeravshan River. The city is the biggest one after Tashkent. Samarkand is very old city, it's even has the same age with Babylon and Rome. We will have a wonderful tour in this city visiting the most significant sights. Like Registan square, Complex Shakhi-Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanim mosque. Registan square is accumulation of three madrasahs, from 15th -17th centuries. It's a main symbol of Samarkand and nobody can't stop wonder its greatness and charm. Shakhi-Zindeh complex is a collection of mausoleums from 11th -15th century. It's a oart of UNESCO World Heritage Site from 2001. The next site is an inspiration of Tamerlane, a mausoleum Bibi Khanim. Bibi Khanim was a favorite wife of Tamerlane. After successful campaign to India, Tamerlane built this mausoleum. The night is in the hotel. Day 3: Samarkand - Bukhara (train)
Today we will go to explore the next city. Bukhara is a gorgeous city with a rich history. The sounds of this city will make you fall in love with Bukhara. We have a full day city tour in this city that has its own charm. Ancient Citadel Ark will be the first site we will visit, from 4th century. The Citadel used to be a palace for several generations of Bukhara Empire. Then we will a mausoleum of Samanids, it's a treasure of the architectural world from 4th century. After mausoleum we will go to visit a Chashma Ayub, which means Job's well and Bolo-Hauz mosque. The people know this mosque also as a mosque of forty columns, it was built in honor of Bukhara ruler Abu-Fayud Khan. Then we will walk alonf the shopping area and visit the known madrasah of Bukhara called Nodir Divan Begi. This madrasah is also a art of Lyabi House Ensemble. The last site of the tour day will be Poi Kalon complex. It's an amazing sample of architectural art of Bukhara. This complex has three constructions built in 12th -16th centuries, Poi Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. The night is in the hotel. Day 4: Bukhara - Khiva (440 km, 7 hours)
Another breathtaking city is on the list today. Khiva is the most ancient city of Uzbekistan. The history of this city is connected a lot with the State of Khorezmshah, the capital was in Urgench before. Khiva was a major point of the Silk Road. The Caravans were stopping here on their way from China to Europe and back. The gates of Khiva were open from the sunrise to the sunset. The camels with huge baggage were passing coming to this city for some trading issues and have some rest in the shade of its high walls. Nowadays this city have been preserved very well and will pass through the generations. On the way from Bukhara to Khiva we will cross the famous Kizilkul desert. Also we will see the deepest river in Central Asia which is Amu Darya river. Amu Darya is formed by the confluence of the Panj and Vaksh rivers. And its flowing into Aral Sea. In Khiva we will arrive in the evening and have some free time. The night is in the hotel. Day 5: Khiva - Tuprak Qala - Ayz Qala
This day we will explore Khiva. Ichan Qala is inner city inside Khiva, that closed by the walls around. Ichan Qala is wonderful and unique city-monument. Inside it had old buildings, palaces, mosques, Madrasahs, Mausoleums, Minarets, Caravan-Sarais and Bathhouses. It has over 400 traditional dwellings and 60 monuments. Ichan Qala became and architectural conservation area in 1969. The main sites of this inner city are Kunya-Ark fortress from 17th century, was found by Muhammad Arang Khan, Kalta Minor minaret and Tash Khouvli palace which a wonderful sample of Khorezm architectural skills of 1830s. Close to the evening we will drive to Ayaz Qala desrt. The night is in the yurt camp near Ayaz Kul lake. Day 6: Ayz Qala - Nukus
Ayaz Qala is an old castle of Khorezm. It was named after famous warrior-slave Ayaz, who was a Turkic folklore hero. The castle was built in II century AD. The next site is Turpak Qala fortress. Turpak Qala menas "clay fort". It was a Khorezmian ruler's royal city, his name was Artav. According to the archeologists the fortress was built in 1 or 2 century AD. The city was occupied until 6th century. Different events like wars and attacks destroyed the city and it was abandoned. Drive to Nukus. The night is ion the hotel. Day 7: Nukus - Tashkent (flight, 21:00-23:00)
This day we will have a full day city tour in Nukus city. We will start from the Museum of Savitsky, the exhibits are the pieces of banned art. The collection of the museum is 20th century's Russian avant-garde paintings. The works of Sokolov, Komarovskiy and Amaravella group are represented in this museum. The curator of Karakalpakstan state museum bought banned works of the soviet persecuted artists, some of them he even took for free and preserved them in this museum in 1960s. Then we will go to see Mizdakhan Necropolis, it was an ancient city many centuries ago. Archeologists confirmed that the area existed from 4th to 14th centuries AD. The next and last site for this tour will be Zoroastrian ancient monument Chilpyk that has 2200 years. We will have a flight back to Tashkent. The night is in the hotel. Day 8: Tashkent - Flight
Transfer to airport.
Transport:
02 pax - Sedan
04-08 pax - Minivan (Grand Starex, Istana)
10 pax - Midibus (Mitsubishi Rosa, Sprinter)
Price per person:
02 pax - 695 $
04 pax - 615 $
06 pax - 565 $
08 pax - 525 $
10 pax - 495 $
Single - 70 $
Early check-in - 30 $
Single early check-in - 50 $ *Half board - 55 $
*Full board - 105 $ *Entrance fees - 60 $ available with escort guide only Local guides - 200 $ per group
Escort guide - 440 $ per group
Service includes:
- Transport
- Accommodation:
Tashkent - "Tourist Inn" Hotel 3*
Samarkand - "Ideal" Hotel 3*
Bukhara - "Old City" Hotel 3*
Khiva - "Old Khiva" Hotel 3*
Ayz Qala - Yurts Camp
Nukus - "Jipek Joli" Hotel 3*
- Mineral water during the tour
- Dinner and breakfast in yurts camp
- Train tickets Tashkent-Samarkand, Samarkand-Bukhara
Service does not include:
- Visa
- Full board
- Travel insurance
- English speaking guide
- Entrances to all museums
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