UZBEKISTAN TOUR - Detailed Tour Itinerary

Day 01 Thursday: Arrive Tashkent & Tashkent/Khiva
Khush Kelibsizar – it means Welcome to Uzbekistan!
Afternoon flight to Urgench. Transfer to your hotel in Khiva.
Urgench is the capital of Khorezm province, Northwest of Bukhara across the Kyzylkum Desert. It's located between the Amu-Darya River (in the delta of the river) and on the border with Turkmenistan.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 Friday: Khiva
The tour includes visits to:
The Ichan Kala - the heart of the city where most architectural and historical monuments are located. It is so-called “inner city” surrounded by a wall 2.2 km long.
Ichan Kala with tall minarets and domed roofs surrounded by dwelling buildings represents rich traditions of popular oriental architecture: monumental shapes, fine carved pillars, doors and ceilings, original patterns and colourful majolica.
Mohammed Amin Khan Madrasah - is the biggest seminary of the city, erected from to1852-1855. Now it is a guesthouse for tourists.
The Kalta Minor or Short Minaret - was built in 1852 under one of the most ambitious projects of the ruling khan. It was intended to be the tallest minaret in the Islamic world, but abandoned in the wake of the khan’s death at 26 metres.
Kunya Ark - is the fortified citadel at the centre of the city, also the residence of the rulers of Khiva, a city within a city, first built in the 12th century by Oq Shish-Bobo, and then expanded by the khans in the 17th century. Archaeologists have conducted excavations on a one-hectare area under the citadel and found out that this territory had been settled on since the time of Khiva’s foundation. Kunya Ark comprises living quarters, a mosque, and the palace of the khan, the residence of his harem, the mint, the arsenal, the stables and the jail.
Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrasah (1871)
The Tomb of Sayid Allauddin - is the most ancient architectural monument of Khiva, Mongol-era 14th-century tomb of one of the Sufi masters.
Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum - is the most revered mausoleum of the city. Pakhlavan Mahmud, the Hercules of the East, a famous wrestler, poet, philosopher and Khiva’s saints patron. His tomb (1326) has some of Khiva’s loveliest tile work.
In the afternoon your tour includes visits to:
Shir Gazi Khan Madrasah - was erected in 1718-1720 by 5000 Persian slaves brought to Khiva from Meshed. The inscription above the entrance reads: ”I accept death at the hands of slaves”. The slaves were promised freedom but soon it became clear that they would not live to see the end of the work. They killed the khan and even succeeded in capturing the city’s citadel.
The Islam Khodja Madrasah and Minaret - are the newest monuments of Khiva, both built in 1910. The minaret, 45 metres tall, is a stately, tapering pillar belted with sixteen decorative friezes. The madrasah houses Khiva’s best museum - the museum of handicrafts: fine wood carving, hand embroidery, carpets, household utensils, pottery, work, traditional Uzbek clothes are on display.
Juma Mosque - Friday mosque, once the khanate’s religious heart has 213 columns. The oldest columns are from the original 10th century mosque; other 17 columns are of the 11th-12th centuries origin. The most recent mosque was built in 1788.
Allakuli Khan between 1832 and 1841 erected Tash Khauli (Harem) -. It is the most beautiful architectural decoration of the city: ceramic tiles, carved marble, painted wood. It contains 163 rooms and 3 courtyards, the biggest courtyard being the Harem.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 Saturday: Khiva/Bukhara
Early morning departure for Bukhara via the Kyzylkum (red sands) Desert (435 km).
The barren countryside is the home to ground squirrels and tortoises. Enroute stop to see the Amudarya River, known to explorers as the Oxus. Due to irrigation of the cotton fields started during the Soviet times, the river is rapidly drying. The journey takes 5 to 6 hours.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 Sunday: Bukhara
Full day city tour. In the morning visit:
The Ark Citadel. This Royal town-within-a-town is the home of the rulers of Bukhara for over a millennium. The Ark is as old as Bukhara itself. The fortress was the focus around which the medieval town developed.
Bolo-Khauz Mosque (1712), opposite the Ark, it was the emir's official place of worship. The painted porch, supported by 20 columns was added in 1917.
The architectural ensemble of Poi-Kalon (Pedestal of the Great), the religious heart of Holy Bukhara, consists of the Kalon Minaret, Kalon Mosque and Mir-i-Arab Madrasah.
The Kalon Minaret (1127) is one of the defining symbols of Bukhara. The minaret is 9 metres in diameter at the foundation and grows slightly narrower at its 46-metre height. The minaret is exquisite not only in its magnificence but also for ornamental brickwork.
The Kalon Mosque is the biggest Friday mosque in Bukhara for 10.000 people, built in the 16th century on the site of an earlier mosque destroyed by Genghis Khan.
The Mir-I-Arab Madrasah (16th century) was built by Ubaidullah Khan (Shaybanid ruler) and named for a 16th century well-known Sheikh Abdullah Jemeny. It was Central Asia's only functioning madrasah in Soviet times and the most prestigious educational establishment for centuries.
Covered Bazaars (trading city's cupolas - of the 15-16th centuries) were among dozens of specialised bazaars in the town built at the junction of caravan routes. Four major cupolas of the building of merchants have survived in Bukhara. Toki-Sarafon (cupola of moneychangers), Toki-Telpak Furushon (cupola of the sellers of hats), Toki-Zargaron (cupola of jewellers), Abdullakhan Tim (a centre of silk sales).
The Ulugbek Madrasah (1417) is one of the three madrasahs built in Uzbekistan by Timur's grandson Ulugbek. Everything in it is characteristic of Ulugbek architecture: clarity of the design, excellent proportions and understated decorative details.
The Abdul Aziz Khan Madrasah is located opposite the Ulugbek Madrasah. The Astrakhanid Ruler of the same name began its construction in 1652, but the decoration left unfinished when he was driven away by the first of the Mangit emirs.
Magoki-Attori Mosque (12-16th centuries) is one of the last remnants of a symbolic architecture of various periods and religions. Its cupolas are slightly above the level of ground because the building is deeply stuck in the centuries - old cultural layers. Under this mosque archaeologists found the bits of a 5th century Zoroastrian temple wrecked by the Arabs, and an earlier Buddhist temple.
Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble is the heart of Bukhara. Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble shows that the Bukharan architectural traditions remain alive. A high-ranking official named Nadir Divan-Begi built it in 1620 and some parts of it are still well preserved - Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah (1622), Nadir Divan-Begi Khonako (1620) and Kukeldash Madrasah (1568-1569).
The afternoon the tour of Bukhara city tour includes visits to:
Samanid's Mausoleum (the family tomb of the Samanid Dynasty from the end of the 9th - beginning of the 10th century) is a pearl of the East with traces of Sogdian culture. It is one of the first monuments on the territory of Central Asia built from burned brick.
Chashma Ayub (the Spring of Biblical Job) Mausoleum was built in the 12th century over a spring. Legend says Job struck his staff on the ground here and a spring appeared. Its middle domes were added in the 14th century, the front one in the 16th century.
Chor Minor (four minarets) is a monument of later period, built in 1807. Its four-domed minarets bear features of Indian style because it was built by order of Indian merchant.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05 Monday: Bukhara/Shakhrisiabz/Samarkand
Drive to Samarkand (268 km) via Shakhrisiabz, the land of the Tamerlane.
Shakhrisiabz (Green town) is a small town to the south of Samarkand, lying across the hills in Kashka-Darya province. This is Timur's hometown and once upon a time it had probably put Samarkand itself in the shadow.
In the early 7th century Chinese Buddhist traveller Huen Tsang visited the Sogdian town of Kesh (Shakhrisiabz). This city saw the Arab and Mongol invasions. By 1336, the year of Timur’s birth, Kesh and its dependencies were his father’s patrimony (the Barlas clan). As Timur rose to power he gave it its present name and turned it into an extended family monument. In the reign of Timur Shakhrisiabz became his residence.
But in the late 16th century the Ruler of Bukhara destroyed much of the Timurid legacy. Shakhrisiabz retained semi-independence from Bukhara till the 19th century. In 1870 the Tsarist army stormed the town. While the Soviet era brought great change to the appearance of Shakhrisiabz, the town has preserved a rich store of history in legends and architecture. One enjoys a relaxed Uzbek atmosphere in its mosques, teahouses and traditional homes.
Monuments you will see in Shakhrisiabz are:
Ak-Sarai (literally the "White Palace", built in 1379-1409) is the greatest palace of Tamerlane built by artisans of Khorezm after he destroyed Kunya Urgench and dispatched its masters in 1379. Of this grandiose palace, there remain only the ruins of the 40 metre-high portal, flanked by two 50 metre-high towers covered with glazed bricks.
Dorut Tilovat (the House of meditation) is the 14th century complex of Kok Gumboz mosque (1437), madrasah and mausoleums of Shamsiddin Kulol (1374) - a Sufic master, Amir Taraghay - Tamerlane's father and four Termez Syeds - descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. Kok Gumboz Mosque (Blue Dome) was completed by Ulugbek in 1437 in honour of his father Shah Rukh (Timur's son).
Dorus Siodat (Seat of Power and Might) is the family crypt of the Timurids with the graves of two sons of Tamerlane (Jehangir and Umar Sheikh) and Khazrati Imam Mosque of the 19th century.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 Tuesday: Samarkand
Full day tour for you to see the many wonders of Samarkand. In the morning visit:
Registan Square, known from the 13th century as a bazaar square, was the centre of trade and cultural life in medieval Samarkand. It is surrounded by three madrasahs built in different periods.
Ulugbek Madrasah was built between 1417-1420 by order of Ulugbek, a grandson of Tamerlane. This monumental madrasah with portal decorated with five and ten-pointed stars and spirals of majolica was the greatest University of Central Asia in the 15th century.
Shir-Dor Madrasah is the mirror attraction of Ulugbek Madrasah. Portal is decorated with mosaic tigers and gazelles. It was built in the 17th century, 200 years after Ulugbek Madrasah was erected.
Tillya-Kari Madrasah (built 1660) is the third madrasah on Registan Square. It has a mosque with golden paintings inside. It was built by the order of ruler Bakhodir Yalangtush, 10 years after the Shir-Dor Madrasah.
Bibi Khanum Mosque, once the biggest mosque in Central Asia, it was erected by order of Tamerlane after his victorious Indian campaign in 1399. The architects, artists, craftsmen from all the countries conquered by Tamerlane took part in the construction of the mosque.
Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, a site of pilgrimage visited since the 11th century and marked by holiness. It consists of about 20 mausoleums of different centuries built between 11th – 19th centuries. The complex appeared around the grave of Khusam ibn Abbas - the cousin of Prophet Muhammad who it is said to have come to Samarkand in the 8th century. There you can see the finest samples of majolica, mosaic and terracotta tile work.
Continue tour in the afternoon when you will see:
Gur Emir, a mausoleum (1404-1420) in which rests Amir Timur and many other members of his dynasty, constitutes a perfect and fine sample of Timurid Architecture; simplicity and harmony of shapes and sumptuously decorated interior (papier-mâché painted in blue and gold).
Ulugbek's Observatory. In the outskirts of Samarkand on the hill of Khuhak there is located Ulugbek's Observatory (the 15th century), with astronomical instrument, the sextant. In that observatory Ulugbek and other scholars had completed the famous “Tables of stars”.
Afrosiab Site & Museum. It is the area of 212 hectares mostly hilly surrounded by a moat. Here was situated ancient Afrosiab (old name of Samarkand). It had existed from the 6th century BC till the 13th AD. Now archaeologists here continuously conduct excavations. The museum displays: the model of ancient city and fortress walls, pottery, weaponry, coinage, altars and most of all the mural painting of the 7th century.
Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 07 Wednesday: Samarkand/Tashkent
Morning drive to Tashkent.
In the afternoon city tour of Tashkent. Some of the places you will visit include:
The History Museum of the Peoples of Uzbekistan, the biggest of Tashkent's museums, contains 8,000 exhibits. The archaeological findings displayed in the museum, present the life of the peoples of Central Asia as well as the life of Uzbek people from ancient times up to the modern age.
The main city square Mustakillik (Independence Square) is an administrative and political centre of the city, where most of celebrations, national holidays take place.
Visit to the old city
Khazret Imam Square, is ancient square of the 16th century, where are located the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, the Barak Khan Madrasah, Namazgokh Mosque and the Tillya Sheikh Mosque.
Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum of the 16th century is a mausoleum of one of the first imams of Muslim world, who lived from 904 to 979 AD.
Barak Khan Madrasah was constructed in the middle of the 16th century by the order of Barak Khan, the son of Suyunidj Khan, and a founder of Tashkent Shaybanid dynasty. Nowadays it houses Muslim Religious Board of Uzbekistan, the administrative centre of the Mufti of Uzbekistan.
Tillya Sheikh Mosque (constructed in 1902) is a functioning mosque possessing a rich Islamic library with ancient manuscripts. The highlight of the library is the immense Osman Koran, one of the world's oldest copies (1200 years old).
Namazgokh Mosque built in the middle of the 19th century, now it houses the Imam Ismail Al-Bukhari Islamic Institute.
The Square "Chorsu" is the centre of an ancient Tashkent. It appeared in the 11th century and was a four-road junction, a place of trade.
The Kukeldash Madrasah, located on the square Chorsu, was built in the 16th century in the reign of the Shaybanid dynasty, under the leadership of Kulbodo Kukeldash - the vizier. Now it is a primary school, which teaches the basics of Islam.
The Jammi (Friday) Mosque, nearby the Kukeldash Madrasah was erected in the middle of the 15th century by influential Islamic leader Khodja Akhrar (1404-1492).
" Chorsu" bazaar - on the right of the square Chorsu, is the oldest city market, which was rebuilt according to the ancient style. It is picturesque, noisy and full of local colour.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08 Thursday: Tashkent departure
Transfer to airport for your departure flight.
Khayir Sogh Buling – Uzbek traditional farewell and good wishes.

End of the tour.

Optional extension to Ferghana Valley - 1 night / 2 days

Day 01 Thursday: Tashkent/Ferghana
Morning transfer to the airport. A short flight to Ferghana.
During your two days stay visit several interesting places that include:
Ferghana City is the administrative centre of Ferghana region. Its territory is 70 square km and the population is 230,000 people.
The history of the city dates back to 1877. It was decided to build a new city 12 km. from the old town of Marghilan. Initially it was named as New Marghilan. In 1924 the city was named as Ferghana. At present Ferghana is an important industrial centre of Uzbekistan. Regarding the capacity of production Ferghana stands on the second place in Uzbekistan after Tashkent.
Rishton is 50 km to the west of Ferghana City. Since ancient times Rishton was famous for its ceramics. There are deposits of red clay, natural minerals and abundance of mountainous vegetation that is needed for painting process. Rishton artisans became famous all over the world for their technology of ceramic production.
Kokand City is situated in the western part of the Ferghana Valley and it was its capital from 1709 to 1876. The Great Silk Road had played a major role in the development of the city.
The territory of the Kokand Khanate included nearly the whole territory of present Uzbekistan. There were 29 khans in the history of the Khanate. The most outstanding ruler was its last khan – Khudoyar. From 1845 to1876 Khudoyar-Khan was the ruler of the state just before the annexation of the Kokand Khanate to Russia.
Many mosques and madrasahs were built during Khudoyar-Khan’s reign.
Khudoyar Khan Palace - was built in 1860 -1872 in magnificent style with seven courtyards and 113 rooms. Only two courtyards and 19 rooms have survived. The Palace occupied four hectares.
Tsarist troops blew up its fortifications. At present the palace houses the museum of history.
Narbutabey Madrasah - the largest religious school in Kokand, closed by the Bolsheviks in 1799, reopened again in the years of independence of the republic, instructing nearly 80 students.
Madari Khan Mausoleum - was built, on the main cemetery, in 1825 for the khan’s mother by the best architects of the Kokand Khanate.
Dakhma-i-Shokhon (Grave of the Kings) - was the family mausoleum of the Kokand khans, built during the rule of Umar Khan (1809-1822) who was also buried here. A beautiful fence surrounds the mausoleum, as well as a prayer place. The entrance doors are decorated with carved inscriptions in Arab, taken from Koran, as well as verses written by Umar Khan himself. For a long time, the mausoleum was dilapidated and turned to ruins. In 1971 it was completely reconstructed by local handicraftsmen.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 Friday: Ferghana/Tashkent
Continue with the tour of this magnificent valley also known as the heartland of Uzbekistan. The tour includes visits to:
Marghilan (1st century BC). Marghilan’s best-known son is Zaheruddin Mohammad Babur, the founder of India’s Moghul Empire in the 16th century.
As legend says the name of Marghilan is linked with the invasion of Alexander the Great to Central Asia in the 4th century BC Alexander the Great had passed the way from Khojand to Uzghen and back. During that campaign he visited twice the settlement that was long after named Marghilan. Local people met Alexander with bread and chicken. He liked the meal and asked about it. He received a reply: “Murginon” which meant “chicken and bread”. From that memorable day the town was named as “Marghilan”.
Since old days Marghilan has been famous for its wonderful and fine silk. Via the Great Silk Road traders brought Margilanian silk to Baghdad, Cairo and Athens.
Nowadays the population of Marghilan is 165,000 people with the territory of 50 square km. Marghilan is the silk production center of Uzbekistan.
The souvenir factory “Yodgorlik” still is the only one in Central Asia where original handmade methods of silk production have remained. Silk fabric manufactured here is considered as one of the best in the international market.
Andijan is situated in the Southeast of the Ferghana Valley and is surrounded by high mountains and hills.
The history of the city goes back to the 9th century AD. In ancient times the Great Silk Road passed through this town, which was known as the eastern gate of the Ferghana Valley. In the 10th century Andijan was the part of the Samanids Empire. In 1483 Zaheruddin Babur was born here, and Andijan became the capital of the Ferghana State and its major Silk Road trading center. Later Babur had to go to Afghanistan and he ruled Kabul for two decades, then in 1526 he marched into Delhi and founded the Moghul Empire in India. The dynasty of the Babur's had ruled India for more than 300 years.
The Babur Literary Museum - is situated behind the bazaar, occupying the site of the royal apartments, where Babur lived and studied in Ark-Ic_hi, the town’s citadel that exists no more.
Juma Mosque & Madrasah - built in the 19th century, is said to be the only building to survive the 1902 earthquake. It is also a regional museum with historical exhibits on display.
Late afternoon transfer to airport for your flight to Tashkent.

End of the tour.

Extensions:
If you wish to extend your stay in Central Asia we recommend you:
Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Tour, which can then be followed by the Silk Road China & Pakistan Tour.

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UZBEKISTAN TOUR DETAILS - 2009

2009 PRICES (IN US $)
Tour	Cost ($)	Single Sup ($)	Domestic Air ($)
Uzbekistan Tour	768	89	75 - TAS/URG
Optional Extension Ferghana Valley	198	25	81 - TAS/FER/TAS

2009 Stopover packages. Cost Per Night Per Person in US ($)
City	First Night ($)	Add. Night ($)	Single Sup. ($)
Tashkent	61	42	25
Cost Includes
Accomodation for one night. Meals half board: Daily Breakfast. Private air-conditioned transport for transfer airport to hotel or vice versa. Porter charges at airports and hotel.

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