Central
Asia Sites & Museums Tour
(Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan)
Central
Asia share one of the richest archaeological heritage which dates
back to 6th century BC. We see sites from early settlement
periods to our times. These parts have seen migrations of Aryans,
the Persian rule, the invasion of Alexander the Great, the ravaging
hordes of the Mongols down to our periods of prosperity which
gave rise to exclusive architecture that now shares the World Heritage.
Day
by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Almaty.
Meeting and transfer to hotel. Check-in time at the hotel is 3
p.m.
Overnight
Day 02: Almaty sightseeing tour.
Almaty means Father of Apples, a name derived from the apple trees
that were widespread in the area. It is the largest city in Kazakhstan
and the former capital of the Republic. The first sight of our
tour is visit to the Panfilov Park. It is the central park of Almaty,
a pleasant place full of greenery. The next visit is Zenkov Cathedral
(56 metre high). This wooden construction named after its architect
was erected without a single nail. Our city tour comes to an end
visiting the History Museum, which houses a rich collection of
Scythian art - the Golden Warrior Prince.
Overnight
Day 03: AM Almaty to Tashkent by flight. PM sightseeing tour.
Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Tashkent
On arrival transfer to hotel
PM Tashkent sightseeing tour visiting: Hast Imam Complex with Barak
Khan Madrasah, Tillya Sheikh Mosque Namazgokh Mosque, Mustakillik
(Independent) Square,"Chorsu" bazaar. You can see 7th-century
Koran (reputedly the world’s oldest).
Overnight
Day 04: Full day tour of Tashkent Museums.
At various times, Tashkent, the present capital of Uzbekistan,
was called Chach, Shash, Binkent in the centuries past. Each of
the names is a part of the city's history. Tashkent has always
been an important international transport junction.
Morning cultural tour includes visit to such museums as: the History
Museum, Museum of Applied Arts and the Museum of Fine Arts, which
is very popular as for its setting as for its many beautiful exhibits:
ceramics, metal ware, musical instruments for festival occasions,
embroidery, Suzanne wall-hangings.
Overnight
Day 05: AM Tashkent to Samarkand – road transfer.PM
sightseeing tour.
Morning departure for Samarkand. Samarkand is one of the oldest
cities of Uzbekistan and in the World. It established during the
middle of the first century BC under the name Marakanda and later
known as Afrosiab. Countless number of monuments of Samarkand and
its suburbs impress tourist with their beauty and spectacular colourful
architecture.
On arrival transfer to hotel
PM Samarkand sightseeing tour. We will visit: Also we will visit
Bibi Khanum Mosque and Gur Emir Mausoleum, which is based on an
octagonal chamber decorated with geometric patterns.
Overnight
Day 06: AM Visit to Museums.
Morning sightseeing of the History Museum and Afrosiab Museum,
where you can see excavation photos and relief maps showing the
city’s expansion south of the ruler’s citadel, early
ceramics, silver coins, swords and knives.
Overnight
Day 07: Samarkand to Bukhara – road transfer on route
visit Shakhrisiabz.
Morning departure for Bukhara. En route visit Shakhrisiabz - the
birthplace of Tamerlane. Most of the Shakhrisabz’s current
attractions were built here by Timur (including a tomb intended
for him) or his grandson Ulughbek.
It is worth a visit Malik Azhdar Khanagha, former home to wandering
Sufic dervishes, Jummi Mosque, Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Chorsu (four
ways) domed bazaar and Ak-Saray (White Palace) symbolized his noble
descent, not the dominant colour, for blue, green and gold patterned
the vast mosaics.
On arrival transfer to your hotel
Overnight
Day 08: Bukhara – Full day sightseeing tour includes
visit to local museums.
The name of Bukhara originates from the word "vihara" which
means "monastery" in Sanskrit. The city was once a large
commercial center on the Great Silk Road. We explore visiting the
finest examples of Islamic Architecture in the world, where exquisite
tile and mosaic work complements the beautiful brick-work such
as:
Labi-hauz Ensemble, Poi Kalan Ensemble, the Ark-Fortress, Ulugbek
Madrassah and Abdul Aziz Madrassah, glittering in mercifully unrestored
17th century glory. The soul of madrassah lies in its decoration
which bursts out of the artistic straightjackets of the age.
Overnight
Day 09: Bukhara to Urgench/Khiva – road transfer
via the Kyzylkum desert.
Morning departure for Khiva via Kyzylkum (Red sands) desert. Khiva
is made up of Madrassahs, mosques and minarets and located on the
territory of Kyzylkum desert. It is more than 2500 years old with
population about 40 000 people.
En route stop to see the Amudarya River - the Oxus.
On arrival transfer to your hotel
Overnight
Day 10: Full day sightseeing tour of Khiva.
Full day sightseeing tour of the walled city of Khiva. This ancient
city was probably founded in the 5th century AD and it is known
that be 6th century it was famous for its Kheivak Well and soon
became an important rest-stop/fortress on this section of the Silk
Road. We will see: the Ichan Kala, Tash Darvaza, Juma Mosque and
Mohammed Amin Khan Madrasah, which was built in 1852-5 and easily
recognized by its large arched entrance.
Overnight
Day
11: AM Khiva to Nukus – road transfer.
Morning transfer to Nukus.
At Nukus tour the famous Nukus Museum which houses the Savitsky
Collection of famous pictures, statuettes and other beautiful
exhibits.
PM Road transfer to Kunya Urgench in Turkmenistan. Visit to:
Turabek Khanum Mausoleum, Kutlug Timur Minaret, contains143 steps
and would
have been built by workmen standing on the inside. Around the
minaret lie the remains of a kiln and sardoba; fire and water
for the production
of local ceramics.
Proceed to Dashoguz.
On arrival transfer to hotel
Overnight
Day 12: AM Dashoguz to Mary by flight via Ashgabat.
Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Mary via Ashgabat.
PM tour of the archaeological sites, including visit to Achaemenid
Erk Kala, the Little Kyz-Kala. Kyz-Kala, an unusual windowless
castle outside the city wall, was nicknamed “the house of
maidens’ tears” when Sultan Sanjar started using it
for intimate gatherings in which all the guests were men and all
the women were slaves and National Museum at Merv.
On arrival transfer to your hotel
Overnight
Day 13: AM Mary to Ashgabat by flight. PM sightseeing tour.
Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Ashgabat
On arrival transfer to your hotel
PM sightseeing tour of the National Museum of History and Ethnography.
It has a rich collection of ancient artifacts from Turkmenistan.
More than 500,000 exhibits are displayed here in 9 halls. The
highlight of the museum is a collection of ivory, discovered
during the excavations
at the Old Nissa, residence of Parthian kings from the Arsacid
Dynasty.
Overnight
Day 14: AM Ashgabat sightseeing tour.
Morning sightseeing tour of Ashgabat. Ashgabat is situated in
the middle part of the foothill plain Kopetdag in an oasis near
the
Karakum Desert. The city developed around a Russian fortress
built in 1881 at the crossroads of caravan routes. Continue visiting
the Carpet Museum. It has a large collection of antique carpets,
dating back to the 17th century. There are also two biggest carpets,
ever made in Turkmenistan: 192 square meters and 266 square meters.
Each of them weights about one ton.
PM Excursion to the archaeological site of Nissa, includes the
remains of Old and New Nissa. The archaeological research shows,
the township of New Nissa was the centre of the Parthian City.
Old Nissa was a royal residence of the Parthian kings with the
palace and temple, the depositories and the treasury.
Overnight
Day 15: Ashgabat - departure.
Transfer to airport. Check-out time at the hotel is 12 noon.
Assistance on departure.
End
of the tour.
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