Tour from Milan to Uzbekistan

Day 01: Arrive Urgench - Khiva from Milan
Meeting on arrival assistance and transfer to Khiva – on arrival transfer to Hotel Asia Khiva (Standard check in)
Later full day tour of Khiva visit – Ichan Kala, Kalta minor, Kunya Ark, Madrassah Rakhimkhon, mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhumud, Islam Khodja minaret and museum
Lunch at local restaurant
Later visit Friday mosque, Tashauli Palace Harem
Dinner at hotel
Overnight

KHIVA the walled City:
Until 1870 this was a sovereign Khanate ruled by traditional Khan from the lineage of his old Seljuk predecessors. During the last years of its Khanate it was increasingly a cause of concern for the eastern domains of Imperial Russia – the empire was also worried on the ever increasing influence of the British Empire in Central Asia and in order to check the English advance, Russia had to take swift action by devouring one after another small fiefdoms left by the decaying Ghengezid Empire. The two powers were had already begun The Great Game by influencing Central Asian rulers.
After the invasion of Khiva – Russian influence was marked with changes alluring the last of the Khan into submission. Imperial Russian hold continued till the rise of Bolsheviks and by 1920 things had already changed to a ‘new world order’ all the semi independent states were merged and rulers deposed, aristocracy killed or ran away to distant India. Khiva was never a Khanate onwards till the breakage of Soviet Union.
Khiva maintains its old traditional outlook living within the walls as it used to be. Modern changes have done little to disturb the nature of the walled city – it is regarded at the living museum city which has been declared as World Heritage Site

Day 02: KHIVA – URGENCH – BUKHARA
BUKHARA
Bukhara or or Bukhara-i-Sharif or the revered Bukhara
as it is called due to the presence of many holy shrines in and around the city. Bukhara was once the seat of powerful Bukhara Khanate whose control extended beyond present day territories of Uzbekistan into northern Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It was the hub of trade with southern cities of Russia and India where caravans travelled for days through the deserts and in the modern age replaced of long hauling trucks. The history of Bukhara is very old that dates back to early Achaemenid times to the heathen Turkic tribes which swayed their power
across Transoxiana. It was then the invading Arabs who first sallied into Bukharan outskirts and defeated the local rulers to established a rule that totally changed the history of this region. The other important phase in the history was the invasion of Mongol armies which devastated the cities and villages around Bukhara – Today we can see many monuments which stand to its past

Day 03: BUKHARA
Breakfast at hotel
Morning visit Ark Fortress, Balakhauz Mosque – see various museums inside the Fortress and the terrace giving grand view of the countryside. Also visit Chor Minor
We shall then proceed to the house workshop of miniaturist Davlat – see his work
You may take part in the cooking which will be done by Davlat’s wife and see how we cook Pilau
Lunch at his house with his family
Afternoon visit Ismail Samanid mausoleum and Chasma Ayub (Job’s spring)
Folk show at madrassah
Dinner at hotel          
Overnight

Day 04: BUKHARA – SHAKHRISABZ – SAMARKAND – Drive 4 hrs
Breakfast at hotel
morning depart for Samarkand enroute visit Shakhrisabz – visit Ak Saroy Palace ruins, Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque
Lunch at local Uzbek House
Later proceed to Samarkand and on arrival transfer to Hotel Grand Samarkand
Dinner at hotel
Overnight

Day 05: SAMARKAND
Breakfast at hotel
full day sightseeing tour of Samarkand – visit Registan Square to see the three beautiful Madrassahs, later proceed to Bibi Khanum Mosque, Silk Road Bazar and Shahi Zinda Necropolis and Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane
Lunch at local restaurant
Later Afrosiab museum and site, Ulugbek’s observatory and Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane
Dinner at hotel
Overnight

SAMARKAND
The Versailles of the east as Samarkand due to its numerous gardens. Samarkand’s history is as old as the towns of Mesopotamia. It was an important town the Great Silk Road was part of Achaemenian Empire in 6th BC then comes the invasion of the Macedonian armies under Alexander the Great in 324 BC laying claim on the lost provinces of the Persians. By then Alexander the Great had attained a vast empire and was bloated with pride being the King of the Kings when on one evening he was mocked by his old family friend Cleitus against his claim of being the greatest. Alexander took this as an insult and in fit of rage hurled his dagger killing an old friend. He was later at loss and wept for days in seclusion. It happened in Samarkand!!!
Samarkand was ravaged by the Mongol armies in 1225 AD – then comes the period when a noble warrior descended from the mountains of Shakhrisabz to annexe Samarkand. It was Tamerlane who decided to make Samarkand as the ‘Capital of the World’ he laid foundations of gardens around the city brought masters in art and architecture from his Persian campaigns beginning a new era of architecture whose impulse would be seen in the later centuries in the form of Taj Mahal by his predecessors.

Day 06: SAMARKAND – TASHKENT – Train
Breakfast at hotel 
Free to explore Samarkand – coach at disposal
Lunch at local restaurant
transfer to railway station for train to Tashkent
on arrival direct transfer to hotel
Dinner at hotel 
Later transfer to Hotel Wyndham or similar
Overnight

Day 07: TASHKENT – MILAN 
Breakfast at hotel
morning sightseeing tour of Tashkent visit Old City, Hast Imam Complex, Chorsu bazaar, Kukeldash madrassah, Mustaqilik Square, Museum of Applied Arts  
Lunch at local restaurant
transfer to airport for flight to Milan
Assistance on departure