Uzbekistan – Tajikistan Tour | 4

Tour itinerary: Uzbekistan – Tajikistan

Season: all the year around

Days: 11 | Nights: 10

Combined tour Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan of 11 days visiting beautiful lakes of Fann mountains and historical cities of Uzbekistan. Enjoy beautiful nature views and ancient fortresses and monuments of modern Tashkent, city – museum Khiva, holy Bukhara, beautiful Samarkand, ancient Penjikent and Dushanbe.

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.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the tour manager at the lobby .The tour manager presents the package and you will have time to discuss the tour details.

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 August 31, 1994 after of the Amir Temur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.
Monument of Amir Timur (Tamerlane) is a bronze figure sitting on a horse and famous motto of the commander, engraved in four languages: “Justice is force”. Around the Square there are the State Museum of History of Timurids, Uzbekistan hotel, Forum Palace and famous chimes.

- Tashkent chimes, one of major symbols of Tashkent, were brought from defeated Koenisberg in 1945 by Sergeant Eisenstein as a gift to the native city. The chimes were installed on 9 May 1947 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 theatre of the world performs both classical and national repertoires, The theatre building survived undamaged after the strong earthquake in 1966 and impresses the visitors not only with monumental facade but also with exquisite decorative interior in national design of foyer. In front of the building there are fountains reminding the cotton bolls in shapes that colored lit at night.

- Independence Square , the main square of Uzbekistan reflects the past, present and future of the country. There are fountains standing for life energy of Uzbek people, the Cabinet and the Senate, the “Eternal flame" in honor of soldiers who died during the Second 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 that symbolize the hope for a great future.
One can often see the newlyweds who start a family and independent life walking through the arch of “Good and noble aspirations”, laying flowers at the monument of Happy mother and “Eternal flame”.

- 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.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four waters”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of old city in bazaar where people come for trades. The bazaar beautiful blue dome, built in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, is often depicted in post cards and international magazines and became one of the major sights of interest both for locals and guests – one can see oriental tiled bazaar from different souvenir shops with ceramics, handicraft works, carpets and jewelry, the whole pavilion full of delirious fruits to finest textiles and colorful fabrics.

- Tashkent Metro (the first line was launched in 1977) with beautiful train stations each decorated in thematic style with traditional ornaments and special lightning.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Tashkent – Urgench – Khiva

Early breakfast at the hotel.

06:00 Transfer to local airport.

07:25 Flight to Urgench by HY51

08:55 Arrival in Urgench Airport.

Come out of the terminal and meet with our driver.

Transfer to Khiva (30 км) hotel to drop off the bags. Standard hotel check-in at 14:00.

Meet the guide at the lobby.

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 from the next monuments:

- 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.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4

Khiva – Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

07:15 Transfer to the train station

08:45 Train Khiva-Bukhara OR transfer by car (as per train schedule).

14:48 Arrival in Bukhara.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver.

Transfer to the hotel.

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

Day 5

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 6

Bukhara – Gijdavan – Samarkand

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 7

Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.

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;

- Continue to the famous Registan Square – heart of Samarkand and real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture, the ensemble of 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.

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

Day 8

Samarkand – Penjikent – 7 Lakes – Penjikent

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to border Jartepa. Border crossing usually takes 30 min- 1 hr.

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

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

- 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.

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

Transfer back to Penjikent.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 9

Penjikent – Iskanderkul

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Iskanderkul lake, sightseeing en-route:

- Iskandarkul, enjoy the view of the pearl of Fan Mountains – Iskanderkul Lake (Alexander Lake, 2195m).

Arrive at the Iskandarkul, have a picnic at the most beautiful lake in the Fan Mountains. Learn more about legends about Alexander the Great.

- Later visit the "Niagara fall" of Tajikistan. On a vibrating viewing platform watch the waterfall 40 meters deep. Excursion and hike to the waterfall and Snake Lake.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the guesthouse.

Day 10

Iskanderkul – Dushanbe

Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning at leisure.

Transfer to Dushanbe (140 km, 2 hrs.), north to the "Land of Mountains" en- route enjoying gorgeous views of green, sometimes barren rocks, rushing mountain streams and steep rocks.

Arrival in Dushanbe, light sightseeing in the afternoon.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11

Dushanbe

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Dushanbe sightseeing tour visiting:

- Tajik National Museum of Antiquities with the biggest Buddha in Nirvana.

- Tajik flagpole-one of the World tallest flagpoles (165-meter flagpole);

- The main square of Dushanbe. The Monument of Ismoili Somoni-the forefather of Tajik Nation located in the main square. A 40-meter high monument built to the memory of Ismaili Saman-Khuda, founder of the Samanid dynasty;

- Mehrgon Bazaar - one of the biggest markets of Dushanbe;

- Gissar Fortress- the remains of the Bukhara Emirate Beck’s palace. Its thick walls once guarded a pool, garden, and palace, while the fortress itself opposed a noisy market and caravanserai. The place was famous for its center of commerce during the Silk Road. You will also be able to visit the Old Medressa (Madrasai Kuhna) of the 16-17th century with a museum inside, the new Medressa of 17-18 century as well as Caravan Saray.

Back to Dushanbe.

Transfer to the Dushanbe International Airport.

Evening departure flight from Dushanbe.

End of the tour.

Price per person:

Person	Standart	Comfort
1	$2550	$2780
2-3	$1515	$1630
4-5	$1155	$1285
Single supplement	$230	$345

Book it!

Price included
Not included

- Accommodation in standard twin- shared rooms in hotels and guesthouse in Iskanderkul;

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

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

- Meals: breakfasts in hotels; breakfast and dinner in guesthouse (home-made meals fixed menu alcohol excluding);

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

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

- Tourist tax per person.

- International flights to Tashkent, return flight from Dushanbe;

- Internal flight Tashkent - Urgench (by request: economy class 100 USD per person);

- 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”.