Uzbekistan Art Tour

Flight to Tashkent.

Arrival at Tashkent International Airport, named after Islam Karimov, the 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 is not far from the city center, the transfer will not take a long time (20 – 40 minutes, depending on the hotel location).

Arrival at the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

09:00 Meet with a guide.

Start a sightseeing tour of Tashkent (5-6 hrs), visiting old and new parts of the city:

- Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square, was renamed on August 31, 1994, after Amir Timur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.
Around the Square, there is the Museum of History of Timurids, the Uzbekistan Hotel, the Forum Palace, and the famous Tashkent striking clock.

- Tashkent striking clock, one of the major symbols of Tashkent.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: The State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi, built in 1947, is one of the best opera theaters in the world and 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 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 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 7th century (original Quran Othman). Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts pilgrims and visitors from all over the world.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four waters”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of the old city in the bazaar where people come for trade. The bazaar's 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 the oriental tiled bazaar from different souvenir shops with ceramics, handicraft works, carpets, and jewelry, the whole pavilion full of delicious fruits to the finest textiles and colorful fabrics.

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

Overnight at the hotel.

Meet the driver at the hotel in Tashkent.

07:00 Transfer to the railway station in Tashkent.

08:00 Departure for Samarkand by high-speed train "Afrosiyob".

10:08 Arrival in Samarkand.

Meet the driver and guide, who will wait for you with a signboard "ANUR TOUR".

Start sightseeing program in Samarkand (6 hours):

- Gur Emir Mausoleum – a burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants, decorated with gold ornaments and considered 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—which 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;

- Shahi Zinda Necropolis – a unique complex of mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) belonging to the Muslim person named Saint Abbas ibn-Kussam;

- Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

Transfer to the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel. 

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide and continue the sightseeing program in Samarkand , visiting (5-6 hours):

- Culinary master class of cooking traditional Uzbek Plov and lunch in a National House. 

Plov was included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Plov recipes varied from city to city, and from family to family, but are equally honored all around Central Asia. Uzbek people cook plov to welcome guests and celebrate major events of the family, ceremonies, society, and country, and on an international scale, celebrating weddings, national and religious holidays like Navruz and Eid. The cooking procedure and the traditions to share the plov are cultural phenomena that involve sincere communication within the families, show the traditional oriental hospitality and high respect to the guests, and strengthen the cultural boundaries. 

– Shahi Zinda Necropolis – a unique complex of mausoleums formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) belonging to the Muslim person named Saint Abbas ibn-Kussam;

– Mausoleum of Hoji Doniyor , also known as Saint Daniel;

- Paper factory "Meros”  in Konigil village that produces unique, durable silk paper that can be used in craftworks.

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

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

11:00 Transfer to Bukhara by individual car (the departure time has to be pre-agreed for later/earlier transfer by request).

On the way, near the town of Gijduvan, visit the workshop of famous Uzbek pottery master Abdulla, where you can learn more about the process of making ceramics, visit the museum hall, and even buy some of the unique ceramic items.

By request, visit Sardoba and Rabat-i Malik Caravanserais - the remains of the most ancient portals in Central Asia with semi-column decorations on walls.

Arrival in Bukhara in the late afternoon. Check in at the hotel.

Leisure / free time in the afternoon.

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 to survive 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 16th 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 (pair) 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 that impresses the imagination;

- Ark Fortress – the oldest citadel, dating back to the 1st 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.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby.

Start the Bukhara countryside tour by visiting

- The last Bukhara Emir’s summer residence, "Sitorai-Mokhi-Khossa". Located 4 km away from Bukhara. Once this palace's life was in full swing, it sealed people's fates. The palace witnessed the triumph and the last days of the Bukhara emirs

-  The Bakhauddin Naqshbandi mausoleum (the founder of the Naqshbandi Sufi Spiritual order), located near Bukhara, the memorial complex of Bakhauddin Naqshbandi is considered one of the most significant religious places of Bukhara that attracts many visitors.

-  Chor-Minor Madrasah - Chor-Minor, known as Madrasah Halif Niyazkul (in Persian, “Four minarets”), was built by a merchant in 1807 in Bukhara.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel/ take away breakfast. 

Transfer to Bukhara International Airport.
Morning departure flight from Bukhara ( TK 267, ETD 08:55).

End of the tour.