Uzbekistan Classsic Tour

Day 01: Arrive Tashkent – Flt
You are met on arrival at Tashkent International airport and later transfer to hotel.
Free time at leisure
Overnight
 
Day 02: Tashkent/Urgench – Flt
Urgench/Khiva – 30 kms
This morning we shall take an hour and forty minute  flight to Urgench. On arrival we shall proceed to Khiva a short drive will bring us to the famous walled city of Central Asia. After check-in at Hotel Asia we shall walk to the walled city at few minutes. We shall later take an escorted tour of the city visiting the highlights of the brick city
 
Khiva:
The living museum of Central Asia, Khiva is an important World Heritage site – the walled city reminds us of ‘thousand and one night’ feeling while walking through its brick structures. Khiva was the seat of Khiva Khanate that was subdued with great efforts by the Russian army in 1873 after failing in the earlier attempt of 1839.  The fortunes and importance of Khiva rose when Amudarya(Amu river) changed its course leaving the capital town of Kunya Urgench in almost oblivion when all the attention was drawn towards Khiva.
A walking tour will reveal the mysteries of this legendary town going piece by piece from one corner to another. The time has still not changed the character and culture of this walled city which still thrives on its past glory.
Overnight
 
Day 03: Khiva/Bukhara – 460 kms
Today we shall leave for Bukhara and this will be a long drive through the heart of Kizilkum desert (the red sands)
This wasteland was the route of the invaders coming form the north as nomadic hordes or armies of the Persians or Alexander the Great marching his troops through the heart of desert to cities of his Persian enemy. Genghiz Khan’s devastating troops crossed these deserts to enter mainland of his enemy land.     
You will notice the expanse of Amudarya as it spreads its branches to a network of canals serving as a watering base for the huge cotton economy of the whole region our arrival will mark a quiet evening entry into Bukhara     
Overnight
 
Day 04: Bukhara
Today we shall be touring the powerful seat of Bukhara Khanate which swayed her control in all the neighboring states. This will be an interesting tour with long walks and at times car ride to reach the best of the monuments
Bukhara was the first oasis which caught the eyes of invading Arab armies to explore and expand into the heartland of Central Asia. The ancient town of Bukhara goes back in the history to more than 2500 years and kept exchanging hands from one ruler to another. It was one of the important towns of the caravan countries and was the richest of the Transoxiana countries.
It kept changing its seat from the early Persians down to the Turkic heathen tribes and remained as the master of the lands. The last of the powerful Turkic ruler, Bukhara Khudat was killed by the Arab invaders thereby replacing its rulers and converting the locals to Islamic faith.
Bukhara continued to flourish as an important trading center before the caravans continued to the Persian empire’s mainland where the rich commodity was sold out. It became a powerful Khanate in the region when the remnants of Genghezid rulers started bifurcating their lands into several ruling states more known as the Khanates. Bukhara remained in the hands of Sheybanid rulers and later into the hands of their splinter groups till the annexation of its territories by the expanding Russian rule. With changing of fortunes in the imperial Russia, Bukhara too was effected and the last ruler had to escape to Afghanistan leaving the state into the hands of Bolsheviks. The last Emir of Bukhara suffered humility at the hands of the Great Game players who saw these enemies vying for power at his court till the imperial Russians succeeded in reducing the emir to a mere pawn in their hands. Buildings, madrassahs, the mosques and the covered bazaars keep Bukhara as an oldest living city of the caravan days
Overnight

Day 05: Bukhara/Shakre Sabz/Samarkand – 428 kms
Today we shall depart for Samarkand en-route stopping at Shakre Sabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. It was here when Tamerlane grouped his Barlas clan to make raids on Samarkand. Finally after succeeding in capturing of Samarkand and settling with a large empire at hand, Tamerlane started building his cities and Shakre Sabz being his native town never was forgotten where he build up a palace of grandeur as was recorded by ‘Don Clavijo’ the Spanish minister at the court of Tamerlane. Ak-Saray – the white palace surpassed in Persian architecture which Tamerlane was keen in employing in his favorite buildings. After seeing some interesting Timurid period monuments we shall drive via the pass – the route often taken by Tamerlane himself we shall arrive in the late afternoon and time permitting see the sunset on Registan complex
Overnight
 
Day 06: Samarkand
The Jewel city of the Silk Road – Samarkand has always been praised for its beautiful gardens and richness. Samarkand was admired and prized by the invaders who always wanted this city as part of their empire. The important town of a once prosperous Sogdiana served as the major halting station for caravans of the Great Silk Road whose impacts could be seen in the great archaeological finds – the murals, the statues and other objects.
Everyone who passed by the city talks of its greatness – Alexander the Great fought with the last of its ruler and the legend says that he got his beautiful wife ‘Roxane’ from Samarkand. Marco Polo talks of its booming trade and gardens, Tamerlane made Samarkand as his capital and called it as the “capital of the world” The changed life of Tamerlane found solace in his beautiful gardens in the company of his favorite grand daughter and poetess! Zebunnisa Begum
Our tour of Samarkand ravels the beautiful monuments – The madrassah complex of Registan a fascinating square with three madrassahs. We continue visiting other monuments of Timurid period and should never miss the old site of Afrosiab which goes back in our historic times.
Overnight

Day 07: Samarkand/Tashkent – 330 kms
Breakfast at hotel
morning depart for Tashkent
on arrival transfer to hotel 
afternoon sightseeing tour of Tashkent visit 
Old City, Hast Imam Complex, Chorsu bazaar, Kukeldesh madrassah, Mustaqlik Square, Museum of Applied Arts. 
Overnight

Day 08: Tashkent/Depart
Transfer to airport for flight to your destination
Assistance on departure

Day 01: Arrive Tashkent – Flt
You are met on arrival at Tashkent International airport and later transfer to hotel.
Free time at leisure
Overnight
 
Day 02: Tashkent/Urgench – Flt
Urgench/Khiva – 30 kms
This morning we shall take an hour and forty minute  flight to Urgench. On arrival we shall proceed to Khiva a short drive will bring us to the famous walled city of Central Asia. After check-in at Hotel Asia we shall walk to the walled city at few minutes. We shall later take an escorted tour of the city visiting the highlights of the brick city
 
Khiva:
The living museum of Central Asia, Khiva is an important World Heritage site – the walled city reminds us of ‘thousand and one night’ feeling while walking through its brick structures. Khiva was the seat of Khiva Khanate that was subdued with great efforts by the Russian army in 1873 after failing in the earlier attempt of 1839.  The fortunes and importance of Khiva rose when Amudarya(Amu river) changed its course leaving the capital town of Kunya Urgench in almost oblivion when all the attention was drawn towards Khiva.
A walking tour will reveal the mysteries of this legendary town going piece by piece from one corner to another. The time has still not changed the character and culture of this walled city which still thrives on its past glory.
Overnight
 
Day 03: Khiva/Bukhara – 460 kms
Today we shall leave for Bukhara and this will be a long drive through the heart of Kizilkum desert (the red sands)
This wasteland was the route of the invaders coming form the north as nomadic hordes or armies of the Persians or Alexander the Great marching his troops through the heart of desert to cities of his Persian enemy. Genghiz Khan’s devastating troops crossed these deserts to enter mainland of his enemy land.     
You will notice the expanse of Amudarya as it spreads its branches to a network of canals serving as a watering base for the huge cotton economy of the whole region our arrival will mark a quiet evening entry into Bukhara     
Overnight
 
Day 04: Bukhara
Today we shall be touring the powerful seat of Bukhara Khanate which swayed her control in all the neighboring states. This will be an interesting tour with long walks and at times car ride to reach the best of the monuments
Bukhara was the first oasis which caught the eyes of invading Arab armies to explore and expand into the heartland of Central Asia. The ancient town of Bukhara goes back in the history to more than 2500 years and kept exchanging hands from one ruler to another. It was one of the important towns of the caravan countries and was the richest of the Transoxiana countries.
It kept changing its seat from the early Persians down to the Turkic heathen tribes and remained as the master of the lands. The last of the powerful Turkic ruler, Bukhara Khudat was killed by the Arab invaders thereby replacing its rulers and converting the locals to Islamic faith.
Bukhara continued to flourish as an important trading center before the caravans continued to the Persian empire’s mainland where the rich commodity was sold out. It became a powerful Khanate in the region when the remnants of Genghezid rulers started bifurcating their lands into several ruling states more known as the Khanates. Bukhara remained in the hands of Sheybanid rulers and later into the hands of their splinter groups till the annexation of its territories by the expanding Russian rule. With changing of fortunes in the imperial Russia, Bukhara too was effected and the last ruler had to escape to Afghanistan leaving the state into the hands of Bolsheviks. The last Emir of Bukhara suffered humility at the hands of the Great Game players who saw these enemies vying for power at his court till the imperial Russians succeeded in reducing the emir to a mere pawn in their hands. Buildings, madrassahs, the mosques and the covered bazaars keep Bukhara as an oldest living city of the caravan days
Overnight

Day 05: Bukhara/Shakre Sabz/Samarkand – 428 kms
Today we shall depart for Samarkand en-route stopping at Shakre Sabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. It was here when Tamerlane grouped his Barlas clan to make raids on Samarkand. Finally after succeeding in capturing of Samarkand and settling with a large empire at hand, Tamerlane started building his cities and Shakre Sabz being his native town never was forgotten where he build up a palace of grandeur as was recorded by ‘Don Clavijo’ the Spanish minister at the court of Tamerlane. Ak-Saray – the white palace surpassed in Persian architecture which Tamerlane was keen in employing in his favorite buildings. After seeing some interesting Timurid period monuments we shall drive via the pass – the route often taken by Tamerlane himself we shall arrive in the late afternoon and time permitting see the sunset on Registan complex
Overnight
 
Day 06: Samarkand
The Jewel city of the Silk Road – Samarkand has always been praised for its beautiful gardens and richness. Samarkand was admired and prized by the invaders who always wanted this city as part of their empire. The important town of a once prosperous Sogdiana served as the major halting station for caravans of the Great Silk Road whose impacts could be seen in the great archaeological finds – the murals, the statues and other objects.
Everyone who passed by the city talks of its greatness – Alexander the Great fought with the last of its ruler and the legend says that he got his beautiful wife ‘Roxane’ from Samarkand. Marco Polo talks of its booming trade and gardens, Tamerlane made Samarkand as his capital and called it as the “capital of the world” The changed life of Tamerlane found solace in his beautiful gardens in the company of his favorite grand daughter and poetess! Zebunnisa Begum
Our tour of Samarkand ravels the beautiful monuments – The madrassah complex of Registan a fascinating square with three madrassahs. We continue visiting other monuments of Timurid period and should never miss the old site of Afrosiab which goes back in our historic times.
Overnight

Day 07: Samarkand/Tashkent – 330 kms
Breakfast at hotel
morning depart for Tashkent
on arrival transfer to hotel 
afternoon sightseeing tour of Tashkent visit 
Old City, Hast Imam Complex, Chorsu bazaar, Kukeldesh madrassah, Mustaqlik Square, Museum of Applied Arts. 
Overnight

Day 08: Tashkent/Depart
Transfer to airport for flight to your destination
Assistance on departure