Thousand sounds of the orient

Day 1: Tashkent
The first day of your tour in Uzbekistan you will have a city tour in the capital Tashkent. The first sight of the program will be the Independence square, the main square of Tashkent. The square is a symbol of victory over fascism in Second World War. Then we will go to visit another square. Amir Timur square is near the main square, we pass through the local Broadway, it's a walking street in the middle of two squares. From Amir Timur square we will take a metro. The metro in this city was built in 1977. Tashkent metro is on the most beautiful subways in the world. After lunch we will visit the old part of the city. Chorsu bazzar is a favorite shopping area not just for visitors but also for the local people. Kukaldash Madrasah and Hast Imam complex are following. The most impressive thing in Hast Imam will be Othman Quran. The oldest Quran copy in the world was belonged to Othman Ibn Affan. He was the third Capilph of Prophet Muhammad. He had four Caliphs. Othman was killed in the 8^th century. He was assassinated by the people who did believe in Islam. The blood of Othman we still can see on the pages of Quran. The night is in the hotel.

Day 2: Tashkent - Samarkand (350 km, 4 hrs drive)
In the morning we will depart to Samarkand city. Samarkand is a second biggest city of Uzbekistan after Tashkent, but the oldest one. It has the same age with Babylon and Rome. Samarkand is situated in the valley of the river Zeravshan. Your excursion will start from the symbol of Samarkand, Registan square. This square has three madrasahs dating back to 15^th -17^th centuries. You will love that square a lot. Shakhi-Zindeh complex is a group of the mausoleums from 11^th -15^th centuries and it's a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bibi Khanim Mosque is a wonderfully built mosque in honor of Tamerlane's favorite wife. He did a successful campaign to India. The night is in the hotel.

Day 3: Samarkand - Urgut - Samarkand
This day you will drive to the small village outside the city. Urgut village is very famous because of the wonderful bazaars. In the afternoon we will return to Samarkand and drive to another village. We will go to visit memorial complex of Al Bukhary. Al Bukhary was an author of the series of the hadith named Sahih al-Bukhary. He was an Islamic scholar. By the Sunni Muslims it's the most authentic Hadith collection. He is also an author of the book Al-Adab al-Mufrad. The night is in the hotel.

Day 4: Samarkand - Gijduvan - Bukhara
After breakfast we will drive to Gijduvan village to visit a famous family of the ceramic makers. The family of Narzullayevs are famous because of the school of ceramics and their private pottery workshop. It's a family on the sixth generation who pass the pottery making skill from father to son. So the Gijduvan ceramics school has its deep roots. This school is famous all over the world be a geometric pattern they use. And mostly they use green and blue colors on their products. We will drive to Bukhara. The night is in the hotel.

Day 5: Bukhara
This day you will have a full day city tour in Bukhara. We will start from the most ancient citadel in Bukhara called Citadel Ark, dating back to 4^th century. It was a palace for the dynasties of Bukhara Empire. Then we will visit mausoleum of Samaninds, a unique architectural construction from 9^th -10^th centuries. After that we will continue in Chashma Ayub, which means Job's well. Bolo-Hauz mosque is the next on the list. It's also known as a mosque of the forty columns and it was built in honor of the leader of Bukhara Abu-Fayud Khan. Then we will walk in the local Broadway, the shopping area of the citixens of Bukhara. The most famous madrasah of Bukhara is Nodir Divan Begi and it's also a part of Lyabi House Ensemble, the well-known central sight. The last place to visit will be Poi Kalon complex, a wonderful architectural art of Bukhara. There are three structures built in the 12^th - 16^th centuries. The Poi Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah are the names of the structures. The night is in the hotel.

Day 6: Bukhara - Khiva (440 km, 7 hours)
This day we will have a long drive to Khiva. Upon arrival we will start a city tour in this ancient city. This city is fascinating and has a rich history. The history is connected a lot with Khorexmanshah's State, the capital was in Urgench before. Khiva was a main trading point of the Silk Road in the 10^th centuries. All the caravans with the camels harnessed by the huge baggage were passing here. From the sunrise to the down this city was busy and full of people. The Uzbeks carefully preserved this unique city and will pass from generation to generation. The road from Bukahar to Khiva goes through Kizikkul desert. We will also enjoy the deepest river Amu Darya on the way. It's the deepest river in Central Asia, the river like Panj and Vakhsh are forming this river. And at the end Amu Darya is flowing into Aral Sea. In Khiva we will arrive in the evening and will have a free time. The nigh is in the hotel.

Day 7: Khiva
Khiva is the oldest city of Uzbekistan. We will spend all day to explore the beauties of this city. The first site is Ichan Qala, which is an inner city of Khiva, surrounded by the strong walls. Very old buildings, mosques, Madrasahs, Mausoleums, minarets, Caravan Sarais and Bathgouses are inside Ichan Qala. That make this city a unique city monument. Ichan Qala has 400 traditional houses and about 60 architectural monuments. In 1969 Ichan Qala became a historical and architectural conservation area. The most important site is Kunya-Ark fortress, from 17^th century. It was found by Muhammad Arang Khan, Kalta Minor minaret and Tash Khouvli palace are the most outstanding architectural works of 1830s. The night is in the hotel.

Day 8: Khiva -Tuprak Qala - Ayaz Qala - Urgench - Tashkent
This day will be full of visiting places. First of all we will visit Nukus city, which is the capital of Karakalpakistan. The city is located on the north of Uzbekistan near the Aral Sea and it's in the middle of the deserts like Kara Kum, Kyzyk Kum and Ustyurt. On the road we will stop for two famous fortresses like Ayaz Qala and Turpak Qala. Ayaz Qala is an ancient castle belonged to Khorezm. Named was given after legendary warrior-slave Ayaz he was a Turkic folklore. The Fortress is from the II century AD. Turpak Qala means "clay fort", it was a kings city of Khorexmian ruler Artav. It was built in 1^st -2^nd centuries AD. Many wars and different events destroyed this city and left it without any sign of life. You will have a wonderful overnight near the Ayaz Lake. During the day you can have a camel ride as an option.

Day 9: 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 - 650 $
04 pax - 560 $
06 pax - 520 $
08 pax - 480 $
10 pax - 450 $
Single - 90 $

Early check-in - 30 $
Single early check-in - 50 $

*Half board - 60 $
*Full board - 110 $

*Entrance fees - 55 $ available with escort guide only

Local guides - 210 $ per group
Escort guide - 450 $ 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*
- Mineral water during the tour

Service does not include:
- Visa
- Full board
- Travel insurance
- English speaking guide
- Entrances to all museums
- Urgench-Tashkent flight - from 80 $
- Train tickets Tashkent - Samarkand - 30 $