Uzbekistan Geology Tour

Day 01: Arrive Tashkent
Meeting on arrival assistance and transfer to Hotel
Afternoon we shall start our tour with visit very well kept Geological Museum of
Uzbekistan – we shall have conducted tour by a geologist with emphasis on geological parks of Uzbekistan – Uzbekistan is divided into four geological regions: Usyurt Plateau
in the west – Kyzlkum Desert in the Central part, Tien Shan range in the eastern border
line and Kitab Geological reserve
later sightseeing tour of Tashkent visit Hast Imam complex, Barak Khana, Tilla Shaikh
archives – see the oldest copy of Quran written Osman, the third Caliph of Islam.
Later visit Kukeldash madrassah, drive to Mustaqillik (Independence) Square and Museum of Applied Arts

Welcome Dinner at local restaurant
Meet the local Geological Expert - This will be an opportunity of meeting a local
Geology expert the director of Geological Museum and exchange your geological
experience with him. He had been an active field worker on various geological projects
within Uzbekistan and other parts of Central Asia
Overnight (D)

Day 02: Tashkent/Samarkand – Train – 0800/1020 hrs
Samarkand/Kitab/Kitabsky – 155 kms
We shall take morning fast train to Samarkand – on arrival we shall depart for Shakhrisabz through Takhtakarcha pass will mark our entry into Kitabsky Geological Reserve.
We shall have our lunch enroute in the pass
On arrival at Kitab we shall continue our drive to Jauz Village located in the reserve
Being remote region this will be a rough drive once we leave Kitab
We shall make short stops while driving through the villages and orchards
On arrival at the reserve transfer to reserve Guest House
Dinner and overnight (B,L,D)

Day 03: Kitabsky National Reserve
We shall spend the whole day in the reserve for our fossil hunt – a geological guide of
the park will be leading us on a walking trail to some prominent parts of the reserve to
see fossilised rock beds. This will be open field study in the park
Lunch pack provided
Later return to our base or reserve headquarters
We are served sumptuous village dinner at the reserve guest house
Overnight (B,L,D)
For those who may not opt for walking can hire local horse ride through the park

Day 04: Kitabsky/Shakhrisabz/Samarkand – 175 kms
Morning depart for Shakre Sabz
Shakhrisabz or Kech as it was known is home to Barlas Uzbek tribes of which belonged
Amir Timur (Tamerlane) whose tribe was a mixed Turco-Mongol race. We shall visit Ak-
Saray Palace ruins – the pishtak or gateway was the entrance to a huge palace complex
as described by Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo, the Spanish embassy at the court of Amir
Timour in 1403-06. Later proceed to Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque,
Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque
Lunch at local restaurant
Afterwards proceed to Samarkand and on arrival, transfer to Hotel Sultan boutique –
later visit Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane.
Overnight (B,L,D)

Day 05: Samarkand
We shall spend the whole day visiting Samarkand – visit Registan Square to see the
three beautiful madrassahs, Bibi Khanum mosque, Siyob Silk Rosf Bazaar and Shahi
Zinda necropolis
Afternoon continue visit see Afrosiab Museum and site, Ulugbek’s Observatory, see
Kunhil traditional paper mill and Gur Emir, the mausoleum of Tamerlane
Overnight (B,L,D)

Day 06: Samarkand/Bukhara - 268 kms
Morning depart for Bukhara enroute stop at Gijduvan – we shall visit local pottery works
of master Alisher – they are potters of generations involved in collecting alluvial sand
making fine ingredient for their pottery works
Later continue to Bukhara
On arrival transfer to Hotel Zargaron or Omar Khayyam
After lunch we shall take stroll through the old part of Bukhara visit Lyabikhauz,
madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, the old Jewish quarters, smaller cupola and Mohgaki
Attari mosque
We shall have dinner with master miniature painter Davlat Toshev’s house – see his
collection and works
Overnight (B,L,D)

Day 07: Bukhara
Full day sightseeing tour of Bukhara – we shall visit madrassah Ulugbek and Aziz Khan,
later walk through Tilpak Frushan covered market to Mogaki Attari mosque, smaller
cupola, Lyabikhauz, madrassah Nadirkhon Devnbegi and Chor Minor
afternoon visit Arg Fortress, Zindan – the infamous vermin’s pit where British agents
Conolly and Stoddart spent their last days before their beheading. Later visit Balokhauz
mosque, mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, Chasma Ayub(Job’s spring)
and the local bazaar
Overnight (B,L,D)

Day 08: Bukhara/Kyzylkum/Khiva – 460 kms
Morning depart for Khiva via Kyzlkum desert with short stops enroute
if train is available we can always travel by the same
arrive in the afternoon and transfer to Hotel Malika Khivaek in the walled city
short strolls in the evening
Overnight (B,L.D)

Day 09: Khiva/Urgench – 35 kms
Urgench/Tashkent – HY058 – 2100/2200 hrs
Full day sightseeing tour of Khiva – we shall visit the walled city see Ichan Kala, Kalta
Minor, Kunya Arg, madrassah Rakhimkhon, workshops for development of local
Handicrafts, mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud, Islam Khodja minaret and museum,
Friday mosque, Tashauli harem/palace private quarters. Later free time to explore
walled city
later in the evening transfer to Urgench airport for departure to Tashkent
on arrival transfer to Hotel Lotte
Overnight (B,L,D)

Day 10: Tashkent
Morning sightseeing tour of Tashkent visit Fine Arts Museum, later drive to Amir Temur
Square visit the museum and later stroll in the park area
Afternoon free at leisure
Overnight (B,L,D)

Day 11: Tashkent - Departure
Morning explore the city at your own
Check-out at 1200 hrs – later transfer to airport for your departure flight
Assistance on departure

Uzbekistan Geology Tour