11 days | Tashkent, Urgench, Khiva, Bukhara, Nurata, Yurt, Ukhum, Samarkand, Tashkent
The small town of Nurata (Nurota) is located in the foothills of the Nurata Mountains, stretching for hundreds of kilometers from Jizzakh and the barren steppe to Navoi and the Kyzylkum desert. It is the administrative and cultural center of the mountainous region of Navoi region, located almost 200 km from Samarkand.
Many legends are associated with the emergence of the city and its name. People associate the origin of the city with the Nur fortress, founded by Alexander the Great in the IV century BC. However, according to archaeological excavations, the age of the cultural layer in this area reaches 40 thousand years. Presumably, the main reason for choosing this place for settlement was a spring known as Chashma.Day 1:Tashkent - Urgench - Khiva
Departure to Urgench, the capital of the Khorezm region of Uzbekistan. Overnight on board. Early morning arrival at the airport. Upon arrival, we leave for Khiva by car/bus (30 km).
Breakfast. We will start with a visit to the Ichan-Kala architectural complex: Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark Castle, Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasah, Islom Khoja Minaret and Madrasah, Tash Hovli Architectural complex, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Mosque, Allikulikhan Madrasah. Lunch. Overnight at the hotel.Day 2:Khiva - Bukhara
Breakfast. Transfer to the railway station. Train Khiva-Bukhara 08:10-14:35.
Arrival in Bukhara. Lunch. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.Day 3: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 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, Architectural Complex Lyabi Hauz, an ensemble of two madrasahs and a Khanaka, Chor Minor. Overnight at the hotel.Day 4:Bukhara
Breakfast. A tour of the surroundings of Bukhara with a visit to some sacred places.
Here we will see the Mausoleum of Bahauddin Naqshbandi, the Summer Palace of the last emirs of Sitorai Mokhi Khosa, the necropolis of Chor-Bakr. Lunch. Overnight at the hotel.Day 5:Bukhara - Nurata – Yurt
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 Sarmishsay to the rock paintings and to Nurat, where you will visit the local mosque with a holy spring. Lunch.
Arrival at the Safari yurt camp, accommodation in a yurt. Camel riding and free time. In the evening, dinner by the campfire to the folk songs of the Kazakh akyn. Overnight in a yurt. *Meals: dinner. Despite the fact that meals are included in the program, based on the experience and advice of our guests, we recommend having a snack with you, because there are no shops in the immediate vicinity of the yurt camp.Day 6:Yurt – Nurata – Ukhum
Breakfast. Visit to Aydarkul Lake, located in the middle of a hot desert. Free time on the lake. Dinner.
In the afternoon, continue your journey to the mountain settlement of September. Overnight at the guest house.Day 7:Uhum - Samarkand
Breakfast. The villages of Ashraf, Sentyab and Uhum are located away from highways and major cities, in the picturesque mountains of Nurat. Local old-timers say that people have lived in the mountains of Nurat since the time of Alexander the Great.
You will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the simple life and everyday life of local residents, who will be glad to see you and will receive you with Uzbek hospitality as honored guests. The villagers are subsistence farmers, providing their families with everything they need. Women cook on an open fire, sew clothes, weave yarn, bake bread, prepare milk, butter and sour cream. Men are engaged in agriculture, graze herds, collect firewood. Nature walks, donkey rides, participation in the preparation of traditional dishes provide an excellent opportunity to relax from the hustle and bustle of the city and get acquainted with the life of the Uzbek mountain village. After lunch, departure to Samarkand (220 km, 4 hours). Arrival in Samarkand. Transfer to the hotel.Day 8 :Samarkand
Breakfast. We will go on a city tour: Registan Square: Ulugbek Madrasah, Sher-Dor Madrasah, Tillya-Kori Madrasah, Guri-Emir Mausoleum (Tamerlane's tomb), Bibi-Honum Mosque and Siab Bazaar. Lunch.
Excursion to Shahi-Zinda. Overnight at the hotel.Day 9 :Samarkand - Tashkent
Continuation of the tour of Samarkand. On this day you will visit the Afrosiab Museum and the grave of St. Daniel (closed on Sundays).
Then you will have a trip to the village of Konigil, where you will be able to observe the process of making Samarkand mulberry paper using ancient technology. Lunch. Free time after lunch. Transfer to the railway station. The high-speed train "Afrosiab" departs to Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel.Day 10:Tashkent
Breakfast. We will visit the old part of the city, Hasti Imom, including Barak Khan Madrasah, Kafal Shashi Madrasah, a library located on the same square and important for the placement of the Quran of Usman.
We will continue the Kukaldosh and Abdul Qasim madrassas. We will also go to the eastern Chorsu Market. Free time for shopping. Lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the Museum of Applied Arts, Independence Square, Opera and Ballet Square, Amir Temur Square. Overnight at the hotel.Day 11:Tashkent - Home country
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport.