12 days | Tashkent, Nukus, Aral Sea, Muynak, Nukus, Toprak Kala, Khiva, Bukhara, Nurata, Yurt camp, Aydarkul, Samarkand, Tashkent, Charvak
Uzbekistan is the most wonderful country on the Great Silk Road in Central Asia. Without a doubt, the most populous and charming republic is the one that has the greatest tourist attraction among the Central Asian republics.
If today a traveler may be surprised to find that Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, is a modern and pleasant metropolis with a population of more than two million people, then at the same time he will also find ancient and wonderful cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva on this trip. The mere mention of the names of these cities will evoke images of beautiful legends, reflections of turquoise blue and caravans loaded with mysterious goods that slowly walked along the Silk Road.Day 1:Tashkent - Arrival
Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel to take a break from a long journey.
Breakfast. We will visit the old part of the city, Hasti Imom, including Barak Khan Madrasah, Kafal Shoshi Madrasah, a library located on the same square and important for the storage of the Koran of Uthman. We will continue to inspect the Kukaldosh and Abdul Qasim madrassas. We will also go to the eastern Chorsu Bazar. Lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the Museum of Applied Arts, Independence Square; city fountains and modern monuments, Opera and Ballet Square, Amir Temur Square. Dinner. Accommodation.Day 2 :Tashkent – Nukus – Aral
Breakfast. Transfer to the domestic airport. Departure to Nukus 07:15-08:55. Arrival in Nukus.
A trip to the city of Khojeyli and a visit to the Mizdakhan archaeological complex (Mazlumkhan Sulu Mausoleum and Shamun Nabi, Khalfa Erejep madrasah, the White Khanka caravanserai and the ancient Giaur-Kala fortress). Dinner. Then we will continue to the Ustyurt plateau through the town of Kungrad, the abandoned village of Luga and Lake Sudochie. On the spot they will be told about the deported Russian people and the times of Stalin. In addition, the route continues to the shore of the Aral Sea. Upon arrival, a walking tour of the sea and dinner by the campfire. Dinner. Accommodation in yurts.Day 3:Aral – Muynak – Nukus
After breakfast, a trip to the picturesque canyons of Ustyurt, and then along the drained seabed we will reach the fishing villages of Uchsai and Muynak. Lunch.
Excursion to the cemetery of ships in Muynak, the mouth of the famous Amu Darya River, the museum of the Aral Sea with its interesting images, etc. Transfer to Nukus. Dinner and accommodation.Day 4 :Nukus – Toprak Kala – Khiva
Breakfast. Visit the Karakalpakstan Art Museum named after Savitsky* (Monday is a day off). The museum houses the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and an exhibition of objects of Karakalpak applied art. Take a short trip to the center of Nukus: see the statue of the Karakalpak poet Berdakh, the Town Hall of Nukus and the Drama Theater*. Lunch.
A trip to Toprak-Kala (135 km, about 1.5 hours). Toprak-Kala is an ancient settlement that was the capital of Khorezm in the 3rd century AD. This is the only fully excavated architectural monument of Khorezm. Then we will visit one of the largest fortresses of ancient Khorezm - Ayaz-Kala, 2nd century AD, dating back to the period of prosperity of the Kushan Empire. Ayaz-Kala was not a city or a settlement, it was a complex of fortresses, where border troops of the Kushan dynasty settled almost 19 centuries ago. Transfer to Khiva. Dinner and accommodation.Day 5:Khiva
Breakfast. We will start with a visit to the Ichan-Kala architectural complex: Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark Castle, Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasah. Lunch.
Continue visiting: Islam Khoja Minaret and Madrasah, Tash Hovli Architectural complex, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Allikulikhan Madrasah. Dinner and accommodation.Day 6:Khiva - Bukhara
Breakfast. Departure on the road to Bukhara through the Kyzylkum desert (450 km, 6-7 hours).
There will be a stop along the way to admire the Amu Darya River. Lunch boxes are on the way. Arrival in Bukhara. Transfer to the hotel. A walk around the city. Diner. Accommodation.Day 7:Bukhara
Breakfast. We will start a tour of Bukhara: we will visit the Mausoleum of Samani, the Holy Spring of Chashmai Ayub, the Bolo Hauz Mosque, the Ark Citadel. Lunch.
In the afternoon we will continue visiting the Kalyan Minaret and Poi Kalyan Mosque, Miri Arab Madrasah, Toki Zargaron domes, Ulugbek and Abdullazizkan madrasahs, Toki Telpak Furushon domes, Magoki Attori Mosque, Toki Sarafon domes, Lyabi Hauz architectural complex and an ensemble of two madrasahs and one Khanaka, Chor Minor. Diner. Overnight at the hotel.Day 8 :Bukhara – Nurata - Yurt Camps
Breakfast. In the morning, transfer to the Safari yurt camp located in the Kyzylkum desert (270 km, 5 hours).
On the way, a short excursion to Nurata, where you will visit a local mosque with a holy spring. Lunch. Arrival at the Safari yurt camp, accommodation in a yurt. Camel rides and free time. Dinner*. Overnight in yurt camps. * Despite the fact that meals are included in the program, based on the experience and advice of our guests, we recommend that you take a snack with you, since there are no shops in the immediate vicinity of the yurt camp.Day 9:Yurt Camps - Aydarkul lake - Samarkand
Breakfast. In the morning, visit Aydarkul Lake, located in the middle of a hot desert.
Free time on the lake. After lunch departure to Samarkand (220 km, 4 hours). Arrival in Samarkand. Free time before diner. Diner. Accommodation.Day 10:Samarkand - Tashkent
Breakfast. We will take a tour of the city: Registan Square: Ulugbek Madrasah, Sher-Dor Madrasah, Tilla-Kori Madrasah, Guri Emir Mausoleum (Tamerlane's tomb), Bibi-Honum Mosque and Siab Bazaar. Déjeuner.
Then visit Shahi-Zinda Necropolis and Ulugbek Observatory and Afrasiab Museum. In the afternoon, transfer to the railway station to take the Afrosiab high-speed train to the Samarkand-Tashkent train at 17:30-19:40. Arrival in Tashkent. Diner. Accommodation.Day 11:Tashkent - Charvak - Tashkent
After breakfast, departure to the Chimgan Mountains (80 km, ~2 hours). You will drive along a road that runs through picturesque surroundings full of local villages, gardens and streams. If the cable car is working, take a 3-kilometer walk along the Beldersay Gorge to Kumbel Peak (2400 m), where the longest ski run begins (please note that the cable car may not work on weekdays, and expect long queues on Saturdays and Sundays).
A walk through the mountainous area. Continuation of the way to the shore of the Charvak reservoir, surrounded by green mountain slopes. Lake Charvak with numerous resorts, beaches and children's summer camps is a favorite place for locals and foreigners where they can enjoy summer days outside the city. Drive along the serpentine road to have lunch at a local restaurant. On the way, make a few stops for photos of the most picturesque landscapes. Return to Tashkent after lunch. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner.Day 12:Tashkent - Home country
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.