Uzbekistan – Tajikistan Tour | 4

Flight to Tashkent.

Arrival in Tashkent International Airport (ETA 01:00 am).

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. The driver meets with a signboard “ANUR TOUR” at the exit of the terminal.

Transfer to the hotel. Extra night. Resting time after the flight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

12:00 Meet the guide at the lobby and start Tashkent sightseeing tour (5 hrs):

- Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square, was renamed on August 31, 1994 after the Amir Timur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi built in 1947 is one of the best opera theaters in the world that performs both classical and national repertoires. 

- Independence Square, the main square of Uzbekistan reflects the past, present, and future of the country. There are fountains standing for the life energy of the Uzbek people, the Cabinet and the Senate, and the “Eternal flame" in honor of soldiers who died during the Second World War.
- Earthquake Memorial, the composition is devoted to the tragic date of the earthquake in Tashkent on April 26, 1966, and is erected in the approximate place of the 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 pilgrims and visitors all over the world.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four water”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of the old city in the bazaar where people come for trades. The bazaar beautiful blue dome, built in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, is often depicted in postcards 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 the 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.

Take-away breakfast

05:30 Transfer to Tashkent Airport / Terminal 3. 

07:00 Flight Tashkent -  Urgench by HY 51.

08:30 Arrival in Urgench Airport.  

The driver will meet at the exit of the terminal with a signboard ANUR TOUR. 

Transfer to Khiva, drop off the bags at the reception. Standard hotel check-in at 14:00.

Meet the guide in the lobby. Start walking excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Ichan-Kala (translated as “Inner town”) - the largest Museum in the open air in Central Asia:

- 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;

- Mausoleum of Seyd Allaudin,

- Islam-Khoja Madrassah - was built in 1908 by Islam-Hoja of the Prime Minister of Khan. The minaret is a symbol of the country, is an early example of the architecture of the XIV century.

- Mosque and Jami Minaret.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer Khiva to Bukhara by car (475 km, 7 hrs) via Kyzylkum desert. 

Arrival in Bukhara. Transfer to the hotel.

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

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby. Start walking sightseeing program in Bukhara (5 hrs):

- 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);

- 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 money exchange.Nowadays, visitors can purchase different souvenirs of a wide range from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets;

- Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so-called Kosh (pare) madrassas opposite each other with the 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;

- 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.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning at leisure.

11:00 Meet the driver at the lobby at your hotel in Bukhara.

Transfer to famous Gijduvan pottery workshop ( about 50 min drive from Bukhara) 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. 

Master-class of painting ceramics and lunch at the master's house.

After drying and burning the painted ceramics, the master will send the hand-made ceramics to your hotel in Samarkand within next two days.

Continue to the hotel in Samarkand. 

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide and driver. Start Samarkand sightseeing: 

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

– Continue to the famous Registan Square – the heart of Samarkand and a 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 which was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in the 15th Century;

– Samarkand bazaar Siyab.

Transfer to the hotel.
Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide. Continue sightseeing in Samarkand (5-6 hrs):

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

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

– Khoja Doniyor Mausoleum - the mausoleum over the grave of one of the saints. According to legend back to XVIII century, the ashes of the Old Testament biblical prophet Daniyar (Daniel) are buried in the mausoleum, the remains of which were brought to Samarkand and buried by order of Amir Timur.

– Paper factory "Meros”  in Konigil village that produces unique paper that can be preserved for more than and is used in craftworks.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to border Jartepa. Border crossing ( visa/ passport control usually takes 30 min- 1,5 hr).

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

Take an off-road trip to pristine lakes located in Fan Mountains, locals called the lakes Haftkul ( Seven lakes) or Marguzor by name of the largest and most beautiful lake. 

 Every lake has  its  own  name:  Nezhigon  (or Mizhgon),  Soybean, Gushor,  Nofin,  Hurdak,  Marguzor,  Hazorchashma. Six of the lakes are of dammed origin, beside the lake Hazorchashma.

The difference in level between the upper and lower lakes is 692 meters

Please note there are some shaky/ bumpy parts of the road, there is a mountainous narrow track with photo -stops.

Lunch at the guesthouse ( traditional meals).

Transfer to Penjikent.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Morning light sightseeing in Penjikent:

- Ancient Penjikent - the ruins of the old Sogdian town founded in the 5th century and abandoned in the 8th century by Arabs.  The ruins were once a citadel with a couple of Zoroastrian fire temples, the foundation of the houses.

Transfer to Dushanbe with short photo stop near Iskanderkul.

- Iskanderkul Lake- a lake of Alexander the Great - is a beautiful lake of about 30000 ha. According to legends, the Iskanderkul Lake was named after Alexander the Great, known as Iskander in the East. People say that Alexander the Great’s path to Central Asia from India passed through this lake.  

Continue to Dushanbe passing Iskanderkul lake, Anzob tunnel and Anzob pass with amazing panoramic views.

Evening arrival in Dushanbe.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

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);

- Main square of Dushanbe. The Monument of Ismoili Somoni-the forefather of Tajik Nation located on the main square. A 40-metre 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 16-17 th century with a museum inside, the new Medressa of 17-18 century as well as Caravan Saray.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to the Dushanbe International Airport. 

Early morning departure flight from Dushanbe.

End of the tour.