Uzbekistan Art Tour

Tour itinerary: Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara

Season: all year round

Days: 8 | Nights: 7

Uzbekistan Art Tour "Around the Great Silk Road" offers the journey to explore the art centers of Central Asia – modern Tashkent, exquisite Samarkand and marvellous Bukhara.

The ancient cities of the Great Silk Road have passed the cultural values through centuries, well-preserved traditions of ceramic painting, oriental miniature, embroidery and carpet weaving, silk production and silk paper and many other arts. The handicraft techniques were handed down from genereation to generation. and the magnificent architecture of carefully restored monuments and complexes.

Take an Art Tour to Uzbekistan for exploring ancient history and culture of the Great Silk Road.

Day 1

Tashkent

Flight to Tashkent.

Early morning arrival in Tashkent International Airport ( ETA 07:00).

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, the transfer will not take a long time (20 – 40 minutes depending on the hotel location).

Arrival in the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide and start sightseeing tour of Tashkent (5-6 hrs) visiting o:

- Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square, was renamed on August 31, 1994 after of 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 theater of the world performs both classical and national repertoires.

- Applied Art Museum, the masterpieces of handicrafts are presented in the expositions of gold embroidery, suzani embroidery, wood carving, ceramics of different ceramic schools of Uzbekistan, jewelry, carpet weaving, embossing.

- 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, 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 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, one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia, attracts 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 the old city in the bazaar where people come for trades.

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

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Tashkent – Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

07:00 Transfer to the railway station in Tashkent.

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

10:08 Arrival in Samarkand.

Come out of the terminal and meet the guide and driver.

Start sightseeing program in Samarkand visiting (6 hours):

– Gur Emir Mausoleum – burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants decorated with gold ornaments 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 15th Century;

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

– Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

18:00 Visit El-Merosi Theatre for a performance of historical costumes.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4

Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide and continue 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 recepies varied from city to city, from family to family but is equally honored all around Central Asia. Uzbek people cook plov to welcome guests and celebrate major events of family, ceremonies, society and country and international scale, celebrating weddings, national and religious holidays like Navruz and Eid. Cooking procedure and the traditions to share the plov is a cultural phenomena that involves the sincere communication within the families, shows the traditional oriental hospitality and high respect to the guests, and strengthens the culture boundaries.

– Shahi Zinda Necropolis – 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 the finest carpets weaving.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5

Samarkand – Gijduvan – Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Bukhara en- route visiting the famous Gijduvan pottery workshop where visitors are welcome for a tour around the workshop and observe the process of ceramic making and suzani embroidery.

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 in painting ceramic item - piala that will be a hand-made souvenir from Uzbekistan. After firing the painted items, the master will send the ready ceramics the following two days.

Continue to Bukhara.

Arrive in Samarkand in the afternoon, check in the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel

09:00 Meet the guide and 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 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 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.

Take a break to visit a Tea House serving the finest cup of aromatic tea.

18:00 Folk show in madrasah Nodir Devon Begi, that is completed with the traditional dances and music of National ensembles.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7

Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel

09:00 Meet the guide and start sightseeing program in Bukhara countryside visiting:

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

- Naqshbandi mausoleum (the founder of Naqshbandi Sufi Spiritual order) Located near Bukhara the memorial complex of Bakhauddin Nakshbandi is considered as one of the most significant religious places of Bukhara that attracts many visitors as well as pilgrims. The memorial was rebuilt several times in XIV - each Emir of Bukhara wanted to build something new near the mausoleum. This complex impresses with its incomparable style of oriental architecture, which reflects the spirit of the Sufi Order.

- Sitora-I – Mohi Khosa – last Emir summer residence.

- The workshop of famous miniaturist Davlat Toshev, an excursion around the workshop.

Take a master class in painting the miniature in the workshop.

Art miniature in Central Asia, and particularly in the territory of Uzbekistan, has always been a source of inspiration for many outstanding painters and architects. The delicate and sophisticated miniature works are presented from ornamental incriptions on the medieval monuments, book illustrations to decorations of various household items or regular use.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8

Bukhara

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.

Book it!

- Accommodation in standard double/twin rooms;

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

- English-speaking professional licensed local guides (5 standard excursions);

- Meals: breakfasts at the hotels;

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

- Culinary master class and lunch in a National House;

- El Merosi performance visit;

- Ceramic painting master-class in Gijduvan;

- Tea break in a traditional Tea house;

- Nodir Devon Begi folk show;

- Miniature painting master-class in Bukhara;

- Train tickets Tashkent – Samarkand by speed train "Afrosiab"/Sharq" (economy class);

- Tourist tax per person.

- International flights to/from Tashkent;

- Photo/video fees (professional camera);

- E-visa to Uzbekistan (if required);

- Meals: lunches and dinners except those specified in the " Price ncluded";

- Transport and guide service for free time after the standard city tours (can be added by request); transport for a walking tour in Bukhara;

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

- Please note that the tour price does not include VAT 15 %, VAT can be added to the basic tour price.

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;

- After the date of publication, any changes in the hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increases, and exchange rate fluctuation may influence the tour prices;

- 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).