PALACES AND RUINS ALONG THE GREAT SILK ROAD

Duration: 7 days, 6 nights

Customizable? Yes

Day 1 Flight Tashkent-Urgench, seeing Khiva Day 2 Khorezm fortresses and drive to Bukhara Day 3 Seeing Bukhara Day 4 Drive to Samarkand via Shakhrisabz Day 5 Full day in Samarkand Day 6 Drive to Tashkent Day 7 Sightseeing Tashkent and departure Tour Summary: An exciting journey submerging you into the atmosphere of centuries by showing grand remnants of the past and fine relics of vanished civilizations. Visiting Tashkent, Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, Bukhara, and Khiva.

Budget Package Standard Package Luxury Package 01. Accommodation in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva (2-3* hotels); 02. Meals on bed and breakfast arrangement; 03. All excursions/transfers; 04. Entrance fees; 05. Transport (a/c sedan or minivan); 06. Uzbek visa support; 01. Accommodation in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva (2-3* hotels); 02. Meals on bed and breakfast arrangement; 03. All excursions/transfers; 04. Entrance fees; 05. Transport (a/c sedan); 06. Uzbek visa support; 07. Accompanying English speaking guide; 01. Accommodation in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench (4-5* hotels); 02. Meals on bed and breakfast arrangement; 03. All excursions/transfers; 04. Portages at airport/hotels; 05. Accompanying English speaking guide; 06. Entrance fees; 07. Transport (a/c sedan or minivan); 09. Uzbek visa support; 10. 50 digital photos of the tour; 11. Free mineral water on the tour; Accommodation/Hotels: Malika Tashkent Mukhandis, Samarkand Murod-Zarina, Bukhara Arkonchi, Khiva Malika Tashkent Malika Samarkand Siyavush, Bukhara Arkonchi, Khiva Le Meridien Tashkent Afrosiyob Palace, Samarkand Bukhara Palace, Bukhara Khorezm Palace, Urgench

Tour price, US$*: Persons 1 2 3 4 5 6 Budget package 750 456 358 333 299 276 Standard package 1019 603 465 419 373 342 Luxury package 1465 869 714 658 608 574 (*)Note: The prices shown above are calculated per person. They are valid for special departure dates and subject to availability of tours and rooms in hotels. Please contact us for details.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1
We meet you at the Tashkent International Airport and accompany to the domestic flights terminal for your flight to Urgench by Uzbekistan Airways (1.5 hours). You check in the local hotel and then go straight to see ancient Khiva, the capital of the ancient Khorezmian Kingdom. In Khiva, you visit the most prominent monument of the Mongol era, the 14th century tomb of the Sufi master Said Allauddin, Kunya Ark, Muhammad Aminkhan Madrassah and minaret, Juma Mosque and minaret with carved wooden columns, the Stone Yard (harem) of Khiva rulers, the tomb of Pakhlavan Makhmud, a famous ancient wrestler and poet, who was declared Saint. Overnight in Khiva.

Day 2
You are taken to see ancient Khorezmian clay fortresses Tuprak-kala and Ayaz-kala dating back to the 2nd century AD. If lucky, you may still find in the dust archaic debris, such as pieces of ceramics, coins and arrow heads in the gloomy dark of half-buried rooms. You will have early lunch in a Yurt (nomadic tent) on the top of a hill right next to the huge clay fortress with a smaller fortification on the slopes of the hill. After lunch you continue to Bukhara driving 480 km through the desert (5-6 hours). Overnight in Bukhara.

Day 3
The day is devoted to Bukhara, the majestic pearl of Central Asia. The city tour includes Ark fortress, Bolo Hauz mosque, Ismail Samani's mausoleum with magnificent brickwork, Chashma Ayub, great Kalyan minaret, Maggoki Attori, Mir-i-Arab Madrassah, Lyabi Hauz, a complex with three buildings and a beautiful pool where swans live. Overnight in Bukhara.

Day 4
You drive south-eastward to Samarkand (360km, 6-7 hours) via Shakhrisabz, a city where Tamerlane was born. In Shakhrisabz you visit the famous Ak Saroy (White Palace), Kok Gumbaz, Doru Saodat and Doru Tillovat. After lunch you continue to Samarkand, check in the hotel and have free time. Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 5
Early in the morning, you go to see Great Observatory of Ulugbek and Afrosiab Museum. Then you see Bibi Khanum Mosque, Shahi Zindah (Complex of Mausoleums) and Oriental Bazaar. Then, the three gorgeous Madrassahs at the Registan Square and the mausoleum of Tamerlane, Guri Amir. Next stop is the memorial complex of Ismail Al Bukhoriy, with a spectacular mausoleum made of whole onyx slabs. Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 6
The morning is yours and you are free to walk around for a couple of hours and feel the atmosphere of the city that was called the 'Oriental Star'. You drive to Tashkent (289km, 4 hours) and after settling in a hotel and quick fresh up, we will invite you to watch the performance in the Opera and Ballet Theater of Tashkent. Overnight in Tashkent.

Day 7
Your city tour of Tashkent will include a visit to the mausoleum of Kafal Shashi and Barak-khan Madrassah followed by a walk inside the largest covered market in Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar. Attending the Library of the Clerical Board of Moslems, where a copy of the Koran written by Osman, the fourth Caliph, is kept behind a thick glass. After the excursions, you are seen off to the Tashkent Airport, full of new experiences and great memories of Uzbekistan.

Note: You will have to buy tickets Tashkent-Urgench in advance and have them readily available when you arrive in Tashkent. Air fare Tashkent-Urgench (about US$75) is not included.