Uzbekistan – Tajikistan Tour | 5

Tour itinerary: Uzbekistan – Tajikistan

Season: all the year around

Days: 14 | Nights: 13

14 day Uzbekistan – Tajikistan tour covers most of the historical places of Uzbekistan, a round trip to Penjikent – Khujand and Fergana valley. Enjoy beautiful nature of mountains and lush valleys and get acquainted with culture and traditions of 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.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Tashkent – Nukus – Khiva

Breakfast at the hotel.

06:00 Transfer to the local airport

07:25 Flight Tashkent-Nukus HY 11

09:05 Arrival in Nukus.

Arrival in Nukus. Come out of the terminal and meet with our driver.

Transfer to Khiva with sightseeing en-route:

- Visit to Savitsky Museum exhibiting a unique collection of antiques of Khorezm and Karakalpak, Uzbek fine arts and second largest collection of Russion avant- garde works after Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg.

The founder of the museum, Igor Savitsky devoted his life to piece-by-piece collecting of finest works of modern artists of Uzbekistan and Russian avant-gardists. In 70 s it was quite risky to become anti-Soviet propagandist. During perestroika and first years since Uzbekistan independence, the museum earned the world recognition and deserved rightfully the must see sight status in Central Asia.

Transfer to Khiva. The road will take ~ 4 hours (202 km) en- route photo stops at the ruins of fortresses of ancient Khorezm.

- Ayaz-kala and Toprak-kala, the fortresses of Kushan period of Ancient Khorezm that used to be mighty border forts protecting the residents from raids of nomadic tribes. The forts were built in ~4-7th century BCE, during the ages when Khorezm achieved its independence. The fortresses are located on the hills quite close to each other and visitors are welcome to have a short overview tour in the monumental forts that currently are drowning in sands.

Arrival in Khiva. Check-in the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel

Day 3

Khiva

Early breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 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;

- 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 – Gijduvan – 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 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 the hotel.

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 cenotaph (imaginary grave) of Muslim saint Abbas ibn- Kussam;

- Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

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

Day 8

Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.

Start sightseeing program in Samarkand countryside (6 hours):

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

- Mausoleum of Khoji Doniyor known also as Saint Daniel. Khoja Donier is considered as a saint patron of Samarkand, people believe that a visit to the mausoleum can bring health and success; many visitors come here to make wishes near the almond tree. A holy spring is located at the foot of the hill of the mausoleum; people claim the water has healing and miraculous properties.

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

- Carpet factory “Hudjum” to observe the process of finest carpets weaving.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9

Samarkand – Penjikent – Khujand

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 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.

Start excursion in Penjikent visiting:

- 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 Khujand via Istaravshan town.

Located in the northern foothills of the Turkistan mountain range, 78 km southwest from Khujand, Istaravshan is one of the most ancient cities of Tajikistan (more than 2500 years). Ancient name Cyropolis founded by Cyrus the Great in 544 BC as a boarding fort of the Achaemenid Empire.

During the Soviet era, the city was known as Ura - Tyube.

Overview sightseeing in Istaravshan visiting:

- Mazori Sharif mausoleum,

- Kog Gumbaz madrasa (16th century)

- Kuhi Mug, the ruins of the ancient fortress.

Transfer to Khujand.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 10

Khujand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start sightseeing tour in Khujand:

- Khujand, the second-largest city and one of the oldest cities in Tajikistan, the furthest point Alexander the Great reached in Central Asia, so the city was named Alexandria Eschate (Alexandria the Furthest).

- Pushkin square with Kamoli Khudjandi Square;

-Timur Malik’s fortress and Sugd museum;

- Muslihiddin memorial complex;

- Panjshanbe bazaar (The name Panjshanbe comes from Persian language meaning “Thursday”) is one of the oldest markets in Tajikistan;

- Arbob palace.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 11

Khujand – Kokand – Fergana

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Transfer to the border post Patar/Andarhan.

Border crossing to Uzbekistan (takes about 30 min-1 hr), meet the guide and driver at Uzbekistan side of the border. Transfer to Kokand (appr 40 min drive).

Start sightseeing in Fergana valley visiting:

Kokand (mentioned as Khavakand or Kokan derived from a tribal name) is an ancient city that due to favorable location was one of the convenient fortified points of caravan routes in the Great Silk Road.

Nowadays, Kokand is a modern town at the crossroads of Tashkent, Fergana valley to Andijan and the other route to Khujand (Tajikistan) and is considered as one of the most important pre-border points.

Start sightseeing tour around Kokand visiting:

- Khudoyar - Khan Palace of 19th century is listed in the world heritage of UNESCO, at present days houses Kokand Regional History Museum that exhibits a unique collection of more than 3000 artifacts from ancient, khanate and tsarist periods of the region.

- Norbut - Biy Madrassah, the largest madrassa in Kokand. The madrassa was built in XVIII century by captured architects as well as the famous Bukharian architect Usto Muhammed Salih Kasim, so the design and construction is quite typical to some monuments of XVIII Century in Bukhara.

- Modari Khan Mausoleum (Modari - khan means “Mother of Khan”) was built in 1825 by order of the widow of Umarkhan, famous poetess Nodira to honor the tomb of her mother-in-law. Since then the mausoleum became the family mausoleum where most of the female members of khan family were buried.

- Rishton (50 km west of Fergana) famous all over the world for its pottery that is decorated according to ancient tradition that is more than 800 years. Masters hand down their trade secrets from father to son. The unique red clay ceramic masterpieces are decorated with naturally made ultramarine, turquoise and azure ornaments known as blue glaze "ishkor".

- Workshop of the famous potter Rustam Umarov where visitors are welcome to observe the finest Rishtan ceramics in wonderful hand made and painted tea sets and lagans and beautifully decorated jugs and vases.

Transfer to Fergana.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 12

Fergana – Margilan –Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Meet the guide at the lobby.

Continue sightseeing in Fergana valley:

- Fergana is a relatively young city that was founded as a strategic fortified point in Turkestan in 1876 during tsarist period of the region. The town was initially called as New Margilan, further in soviet period renamed as Fergona in 1924. Nowadays, Fergana is a flourishing beautiful town and despite its young history became the central point of Fergana valley.

- Visit Ahmad Al-Fargoni monumental complex;

- Continue to Margilan. Margilan (“Marg” from Persian green grass, “lon”- “place“) was inhabited settlement in Fergana valley since IV-III Centuries BC, the town was well known for its crafts and finest silk fabrics from the Great Silk Road period up to now.

- Said-Ahmad Hodji Madrassah where craftsmen produce original silk carpets;

- Silk factory Yodgorlik where visitors are welcome to observe the process of silk manufacture with traditional decoration “ikat”.

15:40 Transfer to the train station.

16:48 Train Margilan– Tashkent.

21:38 Arrival in Tashkent.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver.

Transfer to the hotel.

Free time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 13

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 of the Amir Timur 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" 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 14

Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport.

Early morning departure flight.

End of the tour.

Book it!

- - Accommodation in standard twin- shared rooms;

- Tourist tax in the hotels per person;

- 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 professional licensed local guides in Uzbekistan ( 7 standard excursions) , English speaking escorting guide in Tajikistan ;

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

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

- Train tickets Margilan – Tashkent by standard day train (economy class).

- - International flights to/from Tashkent;

- 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”.

The tour is published on June 6, 2022 and the rates as per program and conditions specified are actual for 180 days ( 6 month) from the date of publication.

All the rates will be subject to change if the request is after 180 days from date of publication because any changes in the seasonal tariffs for hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may cause the increase of rates.

- Any changes in the basic itinerary and service content may cause the change of the tour prices.

- If the hotels, noted in the program are fully booked or not available for the dates or in case of late / last-minute booking, the tour company reserves the right to book the other hotels of the same category and similar service as per room availability.

- Please note that during the national holidays, during the big summits, fairs, festivals, major sport and cultural events, some parts of the roads can be temporarily blocked for delegations and events as per government decrees.

- The program can be adjusted for a private tour, the price of individual/private tour will be different;

- Check-in 14.00, check-out time 11.00. No early check-in/ late check-out is included unless indicated;

- Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English;

- All the changes in the basic itinerary, the timing for transfers depending on the international flight departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed;

- Please note that the train trip/s can be replaced for transfer/s by car depending on train tickets availability and trains schedule;

- Please note yurt camps, guesthouses, and homestays offer homemade/camp-style traditional meals; there are quite basic toilet and shower conditions.

- Anur Tour is not responsible for the force majeure occasions (weather conditions during the tour, repairing-reconstructing works at some parts of roads, government restrictions).