Uzbekistan – Tajikistan Tour | 3

Tour itinerary: Uzbekistan – Tajikistan

Season: all the year around

Days: 10 | Nights: 9

A trip to ancient cities of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan is the great opportunity to visit world-famous Registan, Poi Kalon, Ichan Kala , Marguzor and many more sights of astonishing beauty and historical significance with very good prices. Take 10-day Uzbekistan – Tajikistan tour and enjoy your stay in Central Asia!

Day 1

Tashkent

Flight to Tashkent, the biggest city in Central Asia with 2.5 million population.

Arrival in Tashkent International Airport named after Islam Karimov, first President of Uzbekistan.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim.

Come out of the terminal and meet the staff holding a sign “ANUR TOUR” or with your name on it.

Transfer to the hotel. As Tashkent airport not far from the city center, transfer will not take long time (20 – 40 minutes depend from the hotel). Arrival in hotel. Check in.

You will have time to discuss the tour details with tour manager.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Tashkent – Samarkand

Breakfast in the hotel.

06:30 Transfer home to railway station.

07:30 Departure for Samarkand by tourist train “Afrosiab”/” Sharq”.

09:48 Arrival in Samarkand.

Come out of the terminal and meet the guide and driver at the meeting zone.

Start sightseeing program in Samarkand (6 hours):

Gur Emir Mausoleum – a burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants is decorated with gold ornaments and is considered as one of the most significant sights of the world;

- Famous Registan Square – heart of Samarkand and real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture, consists of three grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor and Madrassa Tilla Kori;

- Bibi Khanim Mosque – the biggest medieval building in the city was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in 15 Century;

- Shahi Zinda Necropolis – unique complex of Mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) of the Muslim saint Abbas ibn- Kussam;

- Ulugbek’s Observatory – the finest astronomical centers in medieval world was built by order of Ulugbek, an outstanding scholar and astronomer;

- Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Samarkand – Penjikent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to border Jartepa. Border crossing (it usually takes 30 min- 1 hr).

Meet the guide and driver at Tajikistan part of the border.

Start excursion to Seven lakes in Fann mountains:

- Transfer to Marguzor. On the western edge of the Fan Mountains in the valley of the river Shing there are seven lakes, six of them are dammed origin, beside the lake Hazorchashma.

Lakes are called Marguzor, but each of the lakes has its own name: Nezhigon (other references Mizhgon), Soybean, Gushor, Nofin, Hurdak, Marguzor, Hazorchashma. The difference in level between the upper and lower lake - 692 meters.

Transfer to Penjikent - an ancient town in Sogdiana and now it is a city in the Sughd province of Tajikistan on Zeravshan River.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 4

Penjikent – Samarkand

- Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start sightseeing tour in Penjikent visiting :

- Museum of Rudaki – As Penjikent is a birthplace of Abu-Abdallah Rudaki, the forefather of Persian Poetry. Before lunch, visit the local bazaar and mosque.

- The Sarazm Important Bird Area (UNESCO World Heritage) lies downstream of the city on the tugay-vegetated floodplain of the river.

- The archaeological site of the ruins of old Penjikent - a walled inter-city (2500-years ago) - was once a Sogdian trading city on the Silk Road. Today, only ruins are left owing to the fact that the main construction material was clay-bricks.

In the afternoon transfer to Tajik - Uzbek border post Jartepa,

Cross the border to Uzbekistan (takes about 30 min-1 hr), meet the driver at Uzbekistan side of the border. Transfer to Samarkand.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 5

Samarkand – Gijduvan – Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time in Bukhara, morning at leisure.

- Afternoon transfer to Samarkand, en- route visiting famous Gijduvan pottery workshop where visitors are welcome for a tour around the workshop and observe the process of ceramic making and painting.

- The owners demonstrate the stages of making ceramics from turning the potter’s wheel to making paints from natural ingredients, decorating the ceramics in a distinctive style, drying and firing. Take a tour around the museum-hall of ceramic masterpieces with a unique collection of the ceramic items of Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan.

By request, a master-class of painting ceramics, suzani embroidery and traditional bread baking.

Continue to Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand in the afternoon, check in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Bukhara

Breakfast in the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.

Start WALKING sightseeing program in Bukhara (5-6 hours):

- Ensemble Lyabi Hauz (Nadir Divanbegi Madrassa, Khanaka, Kukeldash Madrassa and the monument of Khodja Nasreddin);

- Magoki Attari Mosque is one of the oldest mosques survived in Bukhara from the time before the Mongolian invasion;

- Abdullakhan’s Tim with numerous handicraft shops of souvenirs, ceramics, national clothes and carpets;

- Caravanserai Sayfuddin (the Center of Handicraft Development of Bukhara);

- There are three trading domes or so-called covered bazaars Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon and Toki Zargaron preserved from the XVI century and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry and even for money exchange. Today as well, one can enjoy and purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets;

- Visit Ulughbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so called Kosh (pare) madrassas opposite each other with distinctive style of facade ornamental decoration;

- Poi Kalon Square with Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Mir Arab Madrassa – the heart of Bukhara, a monumental complex impresses the imagination of every visitor;

- Ark Fortress – the oldest citadel dating back to I century BC where one can feel the history of the great fortress covered in beautiful legends and myths.

Optionally can be added by request :

Visit to Samanids mausoleum (IX century), a monument of early medieval architecture.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight.

Day 7

Bukhara – Khiva

Breakfast at the hotel.

Leisure time at the morning.

11:20 Transfer to the train station

12:24 Train Bukhara – Khiva OR transfer by car Bukhara – Khiva

17:51 Arrival in Bukhara.

Come out of the terminal and meet with our driver.

Transfer to the hotel.

Free time in the afternoon/evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8

Khiva – Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Start WALKING excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Ichan-kala (translated as “Inner town”). Ichan-kala-the largest Museum in the open air in Central Asia consisting of:

- Ata-Darvaza,Kunya- Ark,

- Madrassah of Muhammad Rahim Khan,

- Madrassah of Muhammed Aminhan,

- Kalta Minor, the Palace of the Allakulihan Khan of Khiva

- Tash Hauli, where the harem of 40 concubines was,

- Caravanserai and Tim Allakulihan,

- Pahlavan Mahmud Gates,

- Mausoleum of Seyd Allaudin,

- Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum,

- Minaret and Islam-Khoja Madrassah, Mosque and Jami Minaret.

20:30 Transfer to Urgench airport

22:35 Flight Urgench – Tashkent HY 52

23:55 Arrival in Tashkent.

Come out of the terminal and meet the guide.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the afternoon/evening. Overnight.

Day 9

Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.

Start sightseeing tour of Tashkent (5 hrs) visiting old and new parts of the city:

- Amir Timur Square founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square was renamed in 1994 after Amir Temur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.

- Tashkent chimes, one of major symbols of Tashkent, were brought from defeated Koenisberg in 1945 as a sign of the great victory and eternal glory of patriots who fought in World War II.

- Theatre Square with the Opera House : State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi builit in 1947 is one of the best opera theatres of the world performs both classical and national repertoires.

- Independence Square , the main square of Uzbekistan. There are fountains, the “Eternal flame" in honor of soldiers of World War, arch " Good and noble aspiration" crowned with birds of happiness and prosperity, road "Ok Yul" (“Good way”) leading to Independence Monument and a monument to Happy Mother symbolizing the hope for a great future.

- Earthquake Memorial, the composition is devoted to the tragic date of earthquake in Tashkent on April 26, 1966 and is erected in the approximate place of earthquake epicenter. Residents still come to the monument to honor those people who took a part in the reconstruction of Tashkent;

- Khast Imam Square – a religious center of the city consisting of the Barakkhan madrasah; Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library of Islamic Literature with the Holy Koran Book of the VII century ( original Quran Othman). Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts the pilgrims and visitors all over the world.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10

Tashkent

Transfer to the airport.

Early morning departure flight.

Tour Price (PER PERSON):

Person in group	Standart	Comfort hotels
1	$2545	$2785
2-3	$1595	$1765
4-5	$1395	$1565
6-12	$1265	$1435
Single supplement	$265	$345

Book it!

Price included
Not included

- - Accommodation in standard twin- shared rooms ;

- Meals: breakfasts in hotels ;

- All transfers as per program by comfortable tourist class transport as per road conditions including transfers to- from airports, train stations and borders;

- English speaking local guides in Uzbekistan ( 4 standard excursions) , English speaking escorting guide in Tajikistan ;

- Single entry tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums and nature fees as per program;

- Train tickets Bukhara – Khiva by standard train (economy class) OR transfer by car;

- Train tickets Tashkent – Samarkand by tourist train “Afrosiab” or “Sharq” (economy class);

- Internal flight Urgench - Tashkent (economy class);

- Tourist tax in the hotels per person;

- - International flights to Tashkent, return flight from Dushanbe;

- Photo/video fees (professional camera);

- E-visa to Uzbekistan; Tajikistan e-visa;

- Meals: lunches and dinners, except those specified under “Tour Price Includes”;

- Uzbekistan: Transport and guide service for free time/free days ( can be added by request) and after the standard city tours; transport for walking tours in Khiva and Bukhara;

- Personal travel/medical insurance, portage, tips, personal expenses and other services not specified under “Tour Price Includes”.