Central Asia: The land of Kushanas
(Uzbekistan – Tajikistan)

The beginning of 1st AD marks the arrival of a nomadic horde of people from the north western parts of China in to the southern part of Uzbekistan. When they arrived it was the first sight of a civilized world where Buddhism was a well established religion among the local population. This invading horde converted to Buddhism. This gained the political importance leading to the beginning of a dynasty known in the history as the Kushanas.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Tashkent.
Meeting and transfer to your hotel. Check-in time at the hotel is 3 p.m.
Overnight

Day 02: AM Tashkent to Termez – flight. PM sightseeing tour.
Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Termez. On arrival transfer to your hotel
Modern-day Termez bears few traces of its cosmopolitan history. However, there are a lot of monuments and sites attesting to a more glorious past.
In order to touch a story of ancient civilization, we should visit the ruins of a Buddhist monastery of Fayz tepe, later Hakkim al Termezi Mausoleum, Sultan Saodat Complex, Kokil Dara Khanagha, Kyrk Kyz Kala (Castle of forty girls).
Overnight

Day 03: Termez to Dushanbe (Tajikistan).
AM departure for Dushanbe. En route visit ruins of an ancient Kushan town - Dalverzin Tepe. It is one of the Kushan sites which is being studied at present from the historical, archaeological and perceptual point of view.
On arrival transfer to your hotel
Overnight

Day 04: Dushanbe sightseeing tour.
Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan. Archaeological finds dating back to the times of Greco-Bactrian period and remains of the settlements of the Middle Ages were discovered on the same place where Dushanbe is located now.
The main points of sightseeing lie on, or close to, Prospekt Rudaki. As well as the principal mosque, this area boasts of a synagogue that dates back to the late 19th century, a Russian church and a columned opera house.
Overnight

Day 05: Dushanbe to Samarkand via Penjikent.
Departure for Samarkand. En route visit Penjikent once an important
Sogdian town that dates backs from 5th to 8th centuries. It was called “Central Asia’s Pompeii”. Our tour includes visit to governor’s palace, homes, and temples. We will see some findings at the Rudaki Museum. The museum’s name arises from the claim that Penjikent was the birthplace of Abu Abdullah Rudaki, the Samanid court poet, the father of the great Persian poetry.
On arrival transfer to your hotel
Overnight

Day 06: Samarkand full day sightseeing tour.
Samarkand is one of the oldest cities of the world. It is twenty-seven centuries old. The Great Silk Road went through this city. Famous scientists, poets, architects of the Medieval Orient lived and created their masterpieces in Samarkand.
Amateur and folk arts are presented in Registan Square, Ulugbek Madrasah, Shir-Dor Madrasah, Tillya-Kari Madrasah, Bibi Khanum Mosque, Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, Gur Emir, Ulugbek's Observatory, Afrosiab Site & Museum.
Overnight

Day 07: Samarkand to Bukhara by road via Shakhrisiabz.
Morning departure for Bukhara. En route visit Shakhrisiabz. This green town is also known as the birthplace of Tamerlane. Shakhrisiabz lies to the south of Samarkand and well known by such monuments as Ak-Sarai, Dorus Tilovat, Dorus Siodat (seat of power and might) and Khudjum Souvenir Factory.
On arrival to Bukhara transfer to hotel
Overnight

Day 08: Bukhara full day sightseeing tour.
Bukhara is the city, which has been growing constantly at one and the same place since 5th century BC. The total number of monuments is above 400.
We will visit: The Ark Citadel. Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Kalon Minaret, Kalon Mosque and Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, Toki-Sarafon, Toki-Telpak Furushon, Toki-Zargaron, Abdullakhan Tim, Ulugbek Madrasah, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Lyabi-Khauz, Samanid's Mausoleum and Chor Minor
Overnight

Day 09: AM Bukhara to Tashkent – flight. PM Tashkent sightseeing tour.
Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Tashkent.
On arrival transfer to hotel
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan. Tashkent is well known by its ancient and modern monuments. We will see Hast Imam Complex, Kaffal Shashi, Mausoleum, Barak Khan Madrasah Tillya Sheikh Mosque Namazgokh Mosque, "Chorsu" bazaar, The History Museum of the Peoples of Uzbekistan and also the main city square Mustakillik (Independence Square)
Overnight

Day 10: Tashkent departure.
Transfer to airport. Check-out time at the hotel is 12 noon.
Assistance on departure.

End of the tour.

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