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UZBEKISTAN
45/405 Shota Rustaveli Street
100100
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
PAKISTAN
Office No F-1, Safdar Mansion
Fazel-e-Haq Road, Blue Area
Islamabad, Pakistan
E-mail: tashkent@sitara.com islamabad@sitara.com
Phone (Uzbekistan): (99871) 2814148, (99871) 2814149, (99871) 2553504
Phone (Pakistan): (9251) 2805583, (9251) 2805288
Fax: (99871) 1206500
Send request
Stans that is Central Asia
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Itinerary:Kazakhstan - Kygyzstan - Tajikistan - Turkmenistan - Uzbekistan
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Duration:20 days / 19 nights
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Price:on request
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Tour program
Itinerary of «Stans that is Central Asia»Day 01: Arrive Almaty – Flt (Kazakhstan)
Meeting on arrival assistance and transfer to hotel.
Overnight
Day 02: Almaty
Full day tour of Almaty – visit Zhenkov’s Cathedral built in 1904 is an extra ordinary example of Russian Orthodox Church built in wood and walk through Panfilov park and the Green bazaar.
Later visit two highlights of the tour: Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments and the Central State Museum. Afternoon we shall visit Issikurgan – the Scythian burial mounds see the site of Golden Warrior Prince and the museum nearby. Later return to Almaty and excursion to Medeo set in the beautiful part of the Tienshan ranges
Meals and overnight
Day 03: Almaty/Bishkek – 362 kms (Kyrghzstan)
Morning departure for Bishkek driving through the heart of Zailiysky steppes with a wide span of Kazakh greenland. Our first approach will be to Tamgaly Rock drawings. Later continue to Bishkek – we shall go through the border crossing between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
On arrival at Bishkek transfer to hotel.
Day 04: Bishkek/Issikul – 275 kms
Morning depart for Issikul – we shall take an off the road visit to Burana village to visit Burana Tower and the Museum nearby. Later continue to Issikul and on arrival at Cholpan Ata, transfer to Four Seasons Karven Resort
Afternoon visit the local rock drawings of Bronze periods and the museum of Cholpan Ata and tiny bazaar of the village
Meals and overnight
Day 05: Issikul/Bishkek – 254 kms
Morning excursion to Przhevalsky Museum and Monument on the eastern edge of the Lake. Later return to Cholpan Ata and continue to Bishkek with lunch stop enroute.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Afterwards visit History Museum and Frunze’s Museum
Meals and overnight
Day 06: Bishkek/Dushanbe – Flt (Tajikistan)
Morning flight to Dushanbe on arrival transfer to hotel.
In the afternoon sightseeing tour of Dushanbe – we shall visit first the Museum of Antiquities, later visit Museum of Ethnograph, Ismail Samoniy monument and Gurminj Musical Instruments Museum.
Day 07: Dushanbe/Khujand – 290 kms
Early morning depart for Khujand – we shall take route via Shahristan Pass with beautiful views enroute. Our first stop will be at Istarafshan to visit Kok Gumbaz mosque and the Shrine of Chor Minor – see beautiful décor of Central Asia on the cupolas. Later we shall continue to Khujand and on arrival visit the shrine of Shaikh Moslehuddin with its lapis lazuli dome and golden interior of the same.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Lunch at local restaurant in Khujand
Late afternoon visit Khujand the tomb of Sheikh Moslehuddin – see the beautiful lapis lazuli Cupola and the golden work inside – see the bazaar and the mosque
Dinner and overnight
Day 08: Khujand/Tashkent – 191 kms (Uzbekistan)
Morning depart for Uzbek border point and after the border formalities proceed to Tashkent
Arrival and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Tashkent – we shall visit Old City, see Barak Khana seminary, Tila Shaikh archives – see the oldest copy of Usman Koran dating back to 7th AD.
Later proceed to Kukeldesh madrassah, Akbar’s pottery house, Friendship Square, Museum of Applied Arts and Fine arts museum and Navoi Theatre
Meals and overnight
Day 09: Tashkent
sightseeing tour of Tashkent to include History Museum, the Institute of Restoration
free at leisure in the afternoon
evening see the performance in Navoi Theatre(Sep-May)
Meals and overnignht
Day 10: Tashkent/Samarkand – Train
Morning we shall depart by fast and comfortable train to Samarkand
On arrival transfer to hotel.
we shall proceed to visit Gur Emir the beautiful mausoleum of Tamerlane in the best of tile work.
Later visit Registan Square to see the sun setting on the beautiful Madrassahs. Later we shall see ‘Son et Lumiere’ show in one of the madrassahs
Overnight
Day 11: Samarkand (WH)
Full day sightseeing tour of Samarkand – visit Registan Square to see the three beautiful madrassahs, later proceed to Bibi Khanum mosque, the Silk Road bazar and Shahi Zinda necropolis. Also visit Ulugbek’s observatory and museum
afternoon visit the Afrosiab Museum and site and the Museum of Regional Studies
Meals and overnight
Day 12: Samarkand/Shakre Sabz/Bukhara – 378 kms
Morning departure for Bukhara enroute visit Shakre Sabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane
We shall see Ak-Saray Palace ruins, Dorus Tilavat, Kok Gumbaz mosque built by Ulugbek, Dorus Saidat and Friday mosque
Later after lunch continue to Bukhara and on arrival transfer to hotel.
Meals and overnight
Day 13: Bukhara (WH)
One of the grandest of Uzbek cities, Bukhara is an open museum with many mosques, madrassahs and a grand minaret. We shall visit the whole day seeing some of the best madrassahs with excellent tile and mosaic work and the beautiful brick work.Visit to include: Lab-e-Khauz complex including Nadirkhon Devanbegi madrassah, Mogaki Attari mosque, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque with excellent brickwork. The Madrassahs of Aziz Khan and Ulugbek
Ark Fortress houses a collection of the days of Emir of Bukhara. The fortress was used as a residence cum army headquarters by the Bukharan emirs. There is a nice wooden mosque of Balokhauz nearby. The most interesting of Bukharan monuments is the mausoleum of Ismail Samanid which is done in the best of 10th century brickwork with marked Persian influence.
Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa was the summer residence of the former emirs of Bukhara. There is a nice collection of gifts received during the Khanate days of Bukhara.
meals and overnight
Day 14: Bukhara/Khiva – 430 kms
Early morning departure for Khiva via the Kizilkum(red sands) enroute stop at the sight of Amudarya (Oxus river)
picnic Lunch enroute
arrive in the late afternoon and transfer to your hotel.
Dinner and overnight
Day 15: Khiva (WH)
Full day sightseeing tour of Khiva we shall visit – Ichan Kala, Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark, madrassah Rakhimkhon, later proceed to see mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, Islam Khodja minaret and museum, Friday mosque and Tashauli Palace/harem
Later in the afternoon free walks in the walled city
Meals and overnight
Day 16: Khiva/Nukus – 175 kms
Morning we shall drive to Nukus – enroute we shall make short stops at the desert forts and later continue to Nukus. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Later visit the Art Museum of Karakalpakstan more popularly known as Savitsky Museum – it has some rare master pieces of Russian avant-garde paintings. This collection of tireless work and protection Igor Savitsky that this art survived the cultural purges of Stalin era.
Igor Savitsky the first curator of the museum collected and displayed this priceless collection of art work. The Regional museum also has collection of embroidery and carpets of the nomadic tribes from the desert of Krakalpaskstan and some archaeological from the desert forts of the region
later we shall see and old necropolis reminiscence of the Zoroastrian faith.
Day 17: Nukus/Kunya Urgench – 41 kms (Turkmenistan)
Kunya Urgench/Tashauz/Ashgabat – 90 kms + Flt
Morning depart for Turkmenistan border point. After the border formalities crossover into Turkmenistan and proceed on a day excursion to Kunya Urgench(WH). This was the capital of once powerful Khorezmia which was flourished under the Achaemenid rule in 6th century BC. then was wrested away from the last of the Persian rulers the Sasanids by the invading armies of the Arabs.
Later powerfulTurkic tribes who were converted to Islam took reins of the Kingdom and under whose rule the city flourished when great scholars of the Muslim world attended the court of Khorezmshahs. A powerful and merciless invasion of the Mongolid hordes put an end to the ruling dynasty.
Today we see pre/post Timurid period monuments spread in a large area. After the day’s excursion we shall return to Tashauz and fly out to Ashgabat.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Meals and overnight
Day 18: Ashgabat
Full day sightseeing tour of the capital city of Turkmenistan – we shall visit the famous archaeological site of Nisa(WH) which served as the winter capital of the Parthian rulers.
Later visit History Museum and the Carpet museum
Meals and overnight
Day 19: Ashgabat/Mary/Ashgabat – Flts (WH)
Travel to one of the ancient archaeological sites of Merve by taking flights
in/out of Mary town. We shall have a detailed visit of Merve by visiting Gaiyur Kala, Erk Kala and Sultan Kala. We shall also see the impressive mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar one of the powerful Khorezmian ruler. The archaeological site of Merve often mentioned as Margiana by classical writers is a rich city which was part of the Achaemenian empire in 6th century BC, the city was invaded by the Macedonians under Alexander the Great and passed through successive rulers till it was invaded by the Arabs in 8th century AD serving as part of a springboard for their invasion of Central Asia. In the Islamic era it was known as the ‘Mother of the cities’ which flourished as an important town on the Great Silk Road running to Parthia. It was invaded by the Mongols in 13th century who depopulated the city by mercilessly killing more than a million souls.
Day 20: Ashgabat/Exit – Flt
Transfer to airport for flight to your destination
Assistance on departure -
Details
Details of itinerary & mapDay 01: Arrive Almaty – Flt (Kazakhstan)
Meeting on arrival assistance and transfer to hotel.
Overnight
Day 02: Almaty
Full day tour of Almaty – visit Zhenkov’s Cathedral built in 1904 is an extra ordinary example of Russian Orthodox Church built in wood and walk through Panfilov park and the Green bazaar.
Later visit two highlights of the tour: Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments and the Central State Museum. Afternoon we shall visit Issikurgan – the Scythian burial mounds see the site of Golden Warrior Prince and the museum nearby. Later return to Almaty and excursion to Medeo set in the beautiful part of the Tienshan ranges
Meals and overnight
Central State Museum:
The highlight of this museum is manikin reconstruction of the Golden Warrior – a
Scythian prince of Tigrakhaud tribal affinity, was found buried in the best of his golden tunic with all decorations of the time. The objects discovered from Issik tumulus dates back to 5th century BC. The Scythian nomadic activity dates back to 7th century BC with great nomadic invasions taking place from Dzungarian plains to the eastern parts of Europe. The excellent animal art work is prominent feature of Scythian art.
Central Museum has dedicated a vault which exhibits the golden fragments Discovered from the Issik tumulus.(WH)
The Museum also has some unique examples of rock drawings depicting ancient animal art on stone down to the Nestorian pilgrim movement on the Great Silk routes is another interesting feature of the museum. A hall dedicated to the nomadic tribes of Kazakhstan with nomadic art work and other objects is the highlight of ethnic section of the museum.
Republican Museum of Kazakh musical instruments(subject to opening):
This is one of the interesting museum which exhibits more than 40 musical Instruments of different nature. The nomadic traits of the Kazakh may have led to the development of various musical instruments. Even today in the remote village music is part of a Kazakh’s way of life. Many of these instruments are associated with the local folklore.
Day 03: Almaty/Bishkek – 362 kms (Kyrghzstan)
Morning departure for Bishkek driving through the heart of Zailiysky steppes with a wide span of Kazakh greenland. Our first approach will be to Tamgaly Rock drawings. Later continue to Bishkek – we shall go through the border crossing between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
On arrival at Bishkek transfer to hotel.
Tamgaly Rock Drawings (WH)
Situated about 163 kms out of Almaty, Tamgaly rock drawings is wonderful depiction of Human ages and migratory periods. These 5000 rock drawings are spread in an area of 90 hectares dating from 2nd millennium BC down to 20th century.
We can divide the main rock drawings as follows:
- Middle Bronze Age (14th
– 13th BC) – Solar deities, Zoomorphic, disguised people and wide variety of animals.
- Late Bronze Age – (1200 BC) – we see pastoral life scenes, nomadic life with smaller figures
- Early Iron Age – (1200 BC – 5th BC) – this is mostly Scythian periods and Wusun People. These are mostly mixed drawings depicting different people who inhabited the area.
- Middle Ages – (6th – 12th
AD) this is the Turkic period with many migratory tribes settling in the region. The are mostly depicting essence of power with warriors, arrow shooters, standing on horses, shooting from horses, banner signs and flags(standards)
- Modern Age – (13th-14th AD) – a settled culture of Dzhungarians and present day Kazakhs. The rock drawings ceased in 19th/20th AD
Day 04: Bishkek/Issikul – 275 kms
Morning depart for Issikul – we shall take an off the road visit to Burana village to visit Burana Tower and the Museum nearby. Later continue to Issikul and on arrival at Cholpan Ata, transfer to Four Seasons Karven Resort
Afternoon visit the local rock drawings of Bronze periods and the museum of Cholpan Ata and tiny bazaar of the village
Meals and overnight
Burana Tower Archaeological Museum (WH)
Situated on the site of a Karakhanid period caravan town dating 10/12th century AD
Burana named as Balashgun was a bustling stopping station on the Silk Route running down from Tienshan passes to Pishpek(Bishkek).The place itself is fairly large and even covers an area of a forgotton Buddhist site of around 08/09th century AD.
Today we can see exposure to the Karakhanid period ruins of religious buildings, survived with only one brick minaret commonly known as Burana tower. Also see the famous Balbals, the Turkic grave stones. A small nicely laid museum highlights the pre and post Karakhanid period finds, exhibiting early Arab ceramic and metal objects with inscriptions in Kufic script, which is well readable on the objects. There is also a fairly good collection of coins of Chinese and Karakhanid periods.
Day 05: Issikul/Bishkek – 254 kms
Morning excursion to Przhevalsky Museum and Monument on the eastern edge of the Lake. Later return to Cholpan Ata and continue to Bishkek with lunch stop enroute.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Afterwards visit History Museum and Frunze’s Museum
Meals and overnight
Przhevalsky Museum:
A land mark museum, dedicated to the memory of one of the least known explorer, a forgotten name in the Great Game history of this region. Nikolai Michailovich Przhevalsky was an enthusiastic explorer accredited for his excellent works on flora and fauna of Issikul region. As a young officer of the Czar, Przhevalsky was a highly honoured explorer of the Russian Geographic Society who worked from 1867-1888 in Issikul region and was sent four times to China, Mongolia and Tibet bringing in a lot of informative data useful to the expansion policy of Nikolai the II.
During his visit of Tibet he met the then Dalai Lama. He died in Karakol region which was named after him.
This museum is least visited now but still retains a good exhibit of Przhevalsky’s Explorations. There is a wonderful photographic data of his meetings and journeys, the instruments he used in gathering informative data are on display. He is also known for breeding a tiny horse bred in the steeplands of Tibet, which was later known as Przhevalsky Horse.
His remains lie in an impressive grave with an interesting tombstone in the courtyard of the Museum.
History Museum:
Formerly known as the Lenin Museum has been renamed as the History Museum of Bishkek.
The highlight of this museum is a collections of the Bolshevik Revolution and the Red Army days. There is a nice display of Kirghiz culture and the nomadic life immortalized in the ‘Manas’ spirit of the modern Kirghizstan.
A small collection of stone works of the ancient times include Tombstone figures of the heathen Turkic tribes and a good quantity of stone drawings of various periods is worth seeing.
Frunze’s House
A good friend of Lenin, Mikhail Vasilievich Frunze was born in Bishkek in 1885, in his young age became a vigorous communist officer who led the victorious Red Army into the Kremlin Palace in 1917 and later continued his meritorious work for the communist party as an officer and a leader. The old garrison town of Pishpek was named after him as Frunze which was renamed after the independence of Kyrgyzstan, to the present day Bishkek.
The wooden house in which Frunze spent his childhood is a traditional Russian building of two floors with a nice collection of various objects and presents of General Frunze.
Day 06: Bishkek/Dushanbe – Flt (Tajikistan)
Morning flight to Dushanbe on arrival transfer to hotel.
In the afternoon sightseeing tour of Dushanbe – we shall visit first the Museum of Antiquities, later visit Museum of Ethnograph, Ismail Samoniy monument and Gurminj Musical Instruments Museum.
Museum of Antiquities:
This is one the best museums of Central Asia with a large collection of Bactrian Greek, Sogdian and Buddhist period artifacts. The most interesting collection of exhibits is stone platform and artifacts from Takht-i-Sangin from the site of the Goddess of Oxus by the river Pyanj. The site which dats back to 5th BC was mercilessly robbed of its treasure – a Golden Chariot from the Achaemenian period obtained by treasure hunters was robbed by thieves who finally sold to an English gentleman and finally landing in Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Also in the exhibit is reclining Buddha dating 5th-7th AD – now this is the largest Buddha statue in the region. The interesting aspect of this museum has a rich collection of Bactrian and Sogdian art as this region was the banging of two cultures which is depicted on several articles, statues and utensils. There is also a collection of Islamic art in the form of utensils with Kufic inscription and some manuscripts.
Day 07: Dushanbe/Khujand – 290 kms
Early morning depart for Khujand – we shall take route via Shahristan Pass with beautiful views enroute. Our first stop will be at Istarafshan to visit Kok Gumbaz mosque and the Shrine of Chor Minor – see beautiful décor of Central Asia on the cupolas. Later we shall continue to Khujand and on arrival visit the shrine of Shaikh Moslehuddin with its lapis lazuli dome and golden interior of the same.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Lunch at local restaurant in Khujand
Late afternoon visit Khujand the tomb of Sheikh Moslehuddin – see the beautiful lapis lazuli Cupola and the golden work inside – see the bazaar and the mosque
Dinner and overnight
Day 08: Khujand/Tashkent – 191 kms (Uzbekistan)
Morning depart for Uzbek border point and after the border formalities proceed to Tashkent
Arrival and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Tashkent – we shall visit Old City, see Barak Khana seminary, Tila Shaikh archives – see the oldest copy of Usman Koran dating back to 7th AD.
Later proceed to Kukeldesh madrassah, Akbar’s pottery house, Friendship Square, Museum of Applied Arts and Fine arts museum and Navoi Theatre
Meals and overnight
Museum of Applied Arts
There is an excellent display of traditional art crafts housed in the residence of Tzarist diplomat Alexander Polovtsev who ordered this building to be built to his choice for the traditional Uzbek décor and style in 1898.
The exhibits include Uzbek needle work in famous embroidery of Suzanas, the stamp work on cotton. There is a nice collection of ceramics from different parts of Uzbekistan.
Other collections include musical instruments, the miniature boxes, wood carving and Ganch work is very nicely displayed.
Museum of Fine Arts
The museum of Fine Arts has rich collection of pre/post Soviet era paintings by different artists from various parts of the former Soviet Union and Europe. There is a remarkable collection of paintings from the Palace of Grand Duke Romanov who brought them from the Hermitage while he was sent in exile to Turkestan. There is a good collection of Uzbek art with decorative door panels, tables and chests and tile work.
There are decorative fragments from the site of Varaksha near Bukhara are worth noticing feature of this museum.
Day 09: Tashkent
sightseeing tour of Tashkent to include History Museum, the Institute of Restoration
free at leisure in the afternoon
evening see the performance in Navoi Theatre(Sep-May)
Meals and overnignht
History Museum of Uzbekistan
Formerly known as Lenin Museum, the History Museum of Uzbekistan has recently been renovated and enriched with more exhibits.
The highlight of the Museum is a very well preserved alabaster Buddha relief found from Fayaz Tepe in Termez. There are numerous fragmentary remains of Buddha heads and decorative motifs found from different sites around Termez. All these are of great interest to a student of Buddhist art of this region which shows remarkable improvement on the last periods of Gandharan Art undergoing changes with the regional affinities. Also we see a rich collection of stone age implements from the cave culture of Uzbekistan. Of the Muslim section of the museum, has remarkable collection of calligraphy and regal edicts down from Tamerlane dynasty to the last emirs of Bukhara. There is a rich collection of ethnic art and costumes from different parts of Uzbekistan.
Fine Arts Research Centre
This institute has been developed for the restoration and research work by the scholars on the heritage objects discovered from various parts of Uzbekistan.
The most interesting section of the centre is the restoration work in the Buddhist section which has a rich collection of various objects like fragmentary statues and terra-cotta objects from various sites in Surkhandarya province. A very nice collection of wall scrapings with beautiful frescoes from Dalverzintepe are invaluable collections.
Day 10: Tashkent/Samarkand – Train
Morning we shall depart by fast and comfortable train to Samarkand
On arrival transfer to hotel.
we shall proceed to visit Gur Emir the beautiful mausoleum of Tamerlane in the best of tile work.
Later visit Registan Square to see the sun setting on the beautiful Madrassahs. Later we shall see ‘Son et Lumiere’ show in one of the madrassahs
Overnight
Day 11: Samarkand (WH)
Full day sightseeing tour of Samarkand – visit Registan Square to see the three beautiful madrassahs, later proceed to Bibi Khanum mosque, the Silk Road bazar and Shahi Zinda necropolis. Also visit Ulugbek’s observatory and museum
afternoon visit the Afrosiab Museum and site and the Museum of Regional Studies
Meals and overnight
Afrosiab Museum
Ideally located on the site of ancient Afrosiab the legendary name of Samarkand amid man made mounds from successive periods of her habitation through human history.
During Soviet era this place was of constant interest to archaeologists unearthing a huge historical record in the form of an invaluable collection of object now at display in the museums. This was the site of successive sieges and wars of which Samarkand was known in the history.
The most important display in Afrosiab Museum is a well preserved part of room walls with the best frescoes dating from 7th/08th AD. Other regular object are seen in displayed in a large variety of terra-cotta objects from utensils to aqua ducts and pipes.
Historical Museum of Uzbek Culture & Art (now see the exhibits in the Regional Studies Museum)
This is a nicely located building nearby the Registan Square, it houses a very good collection of Bactrian Greek periods 3rd BC down to Kushana dynasty 7th AD. Among these collections are numerous pilasters, the bases of pillars of Hellenic origin numerous Buddha heads and fragmentary remains of statues. There is also a collection of ossuary boxes made of clay and designs. These remains mostly come from Afrosiab, Penjikent and southern Uzbekistan in Surkhandarya region.
The highlight of the museum is the wooden coffin of Tamerlane and a large copy of Holy Quran which was placed on Bibi Khanum's lectern. There is a good collection of tribal standards and tentage traditional to the nomadic tribes. A large section of the museum is dedicated to ethnic dresses and costumes, ceramics and wood work art.
Day 12: Samarkand/Shakre Sabz/Bukhara – 378 kms
Morning departure for Bukhara enroute visit Shakre Sabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane
We shall see Ak-Saray Palace ruins, Dorus Tilavat, Kok Gumbaz mosque built by Ulugbek, Dorus Saidat and Friday mosque
Later after lunch continue to Bukhara and on arrival transfer to hotel.
Meals and overnight
Day 13: Bukhara (WH)
One of the grandest of Uzbek cities, Bukhara is an open museum with many mosques, madrassahs and a grand minaret. We shall visit the whole day seeing some of the best madrassahs with excellent tile and mosaic work and the beautiful brick work.Visit to include: Lab-e-Khauz complex including Nadirkhon Devanbegi madrassah, Mogaki Attari mosque, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque with excellent brickwork. The Madrassahs of Aziz Khan and Ulugbek
Ark Fortress houses a collection of the days of Emir of Bukhara. The fortress was used as a residence cum army headquarters by the Bukharan emirs. There is a nice wooden mosque of Balokhauz nearby. The most interesting of Bukharan monuments is the mausoleum of Ismail Samanid which is done in the best of 10th century brickwork with marked Persian influence.
Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa was the summer residence of the former emirs of Bukhara. There is a nice collection of gifts received during the Khanate days of Bukhara.
meals and overnight
Day 14: Bukhara/Khiva – 430 kms
Early morning departure for Khiva via the Kizilkum(red sands) enroute stop at the sight of Amudarya (Oxus river)
picnic Lunch enroute
arrive in the late afternoon and transfer to your hotel.
Dinner and overnight
Day 15: Khiva (WH)
Full day sightseeing tour of Khiva we shall visit – Ichan Kala, Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark, madrassah Rakhimkhon, later proceed to see mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, Islam Khodja minaret and museum, Friday mosque and Tashauli Palace/harem
Later in the afternoon free walks in the walled city
Meals and overnight
Day 16: Khiva/Nukus – 175 kms
Morning we shall drive to Nukus – enroute we shall make short stops at the desert forts and later continue to Nukus. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Later visit the Art Museum of Karakalpakstan more popularly known as Savitsky Museum – it has some rare master pieces of Russian avant-garde paintings. This collection of tireless work and protection Igor Savitsky that this art survived the cultural purges of Stalin era.
Igor Savitsky the first curator of the museum collected and displayed this priceless collection of art work. The Regional museum also has collection of embroidery and carpets of the nomadic tribes from the desert of Krakalpaskstan and some archaeological from the desert forts of the region
later we shall see and old necropolis reminiscence of the Zoroastrian faith.
Day 17: Nukus/Kunya Urgench – 41 kms (Turkmenistan)
Kunya Urgench/Tashauz/Ashgabat – 90 kms + Flt
Morning depart for Turkmenistan border point. After the border formalities crossover into Turkmenistan and proceed on a day excursion to Kunya Urgench(WH). This was the capital of once powerful Khorezmia which was flourished under the Achaemenid rule in 6th century BC. then was wrested away from the last of the Persian rulers the Sasanids by the invading armies of the Arabs.
Later powerfulTurkic tribes who were converted to Islam took reins of the Kingdom and under whose rule the city flourished when great scholars of the Muslim world attended the court of Khorezmshahs. A powerful and merciless invasion of the Mongolid hordes put an end to the ruling dynasty.
Today we see pre/post Timurid period monuments spread in a large area. After the day’s excursion we shall return to Tashauz and fly out to Ashgabat.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Meals and overnight
Day 18: Ashgabat
Full day sightseeing tour of the capital city of Turkmenistan – we shall visit the famous archaeological site of Nisa(WH) which served as the winter capital of the Parthian rulers.
Later visit History Museum and the Carpet museum
Meals and overnight
National Museum of History & Ethnography
The modern building of this museum was opened in 1998 which now houses the rich collection of ancient artifacts and ethnic exhibits from various sites of Turkmenistan.
There is a rich collection from the Neolithic sites along the slopes of Kopet Dag mountain ranges. The Bronze age period is highlighted by finds from Murghab river and from the sites of Margiana.
The highlight of the museum is the remarkable collection of ivory rythons from Nisa. The Marble and stucco statues from Nisa and Merve sites.
A vase collected from the main stupa structure in Merve is believed have contained body relics of an important Buddhist monk.The other galleries are dedicated to the ethnic collection from famous Turkmen jewelry to costumes of various Turkmen tribes. There is a big collection of the bridal decorations for the horses.
Carpet Museum
One of the best museums in Central Asia, the carpet Museum of Ashgabat has a rich collection of carpets woven by various Turkmen tribes have always acclaimed to be the best in design and weave. The carpets and designs come from Tekke,Yamud, Sarik and Chodor famous tribes. During the Bolshevik revolution a large number of Turkmen tribes moved into northern Afghanistan and later contributed a lot to the economy of the country.
The museum houses one of the largest carpet and a large variety of other carpets like prayer rugs, entrance decorations, horse bags and trappings and pillow covers. Also there is a large collection of Turkmen gillims.
Day 19: Ashgabat/Mary/Ashgabat – Flts (WH)
Travel to one of the ancient archaeological sites of Merve by taking flights
in/out of Mary town. We shall have a detailed visit of Merve by visiting Gaiyur Kala, Erk Kala and Sultan Kala. We shall also see the impressive mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar one of the powerful Khorezmian ruler. The archaeological site of Merve often mentioned as Margiana by classical writers is a rich city which was part of the Achaemenian empire in 6th century BC, the city was invaded by the Macedonians under Alexander the Great and passed through successive rulers till it was invaded by the Arabs in 8th century AD serving as part of a springboard for their invasion of Central Asia. In the Islamic era it was known as the ‘Mother of the cities’ which flourished as an important town on the Great Silk Road running to Parthia. It was invaded by the Mongols in 13th century who depopulated the city by mercilessly killing more than a million souls.
Mary Museum
The archaeological museum of Mary is situated in the town and was selected to house the finds from the archaeological sites.
There is a fairly large collection of Bronze age sites of Gonur Tepe and the artifacts found are comparable with the Sialk and Baluch sites of the same age.
There is also ethnic section dedicated to the local tribes
Day 20: Ashgabat/Exit – Flt
Transfer to airport for flight to your destination
Assistance on departure - Middle Bronze Age (14th
– 13th BC) – Solar deities, Zoomorphic, disguised people and wide variety of animals.
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Prices
Tour cost in USD
Price available on request.
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Reviews
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Booking form for "Stans that is Central Asia"