Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan Tour | 6

9:00 AM: Meet your guide in the hotel lobby.

Begin your Tashkent tour (5-6 hours), exploring the city's ancient and modern parts:

Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square. On August 31, 1994, it was renamed Amir Timur Square in honor of the great conqueror's cultural and historical contributions. Surrounding the square are the Timurids Museum, the Uzbekistan Hotel, the Forum Palace, and the famous Chimes;

Tashkent Clock, one of the city's main symbols;

Theater Square and the Alisher Navoi Opera House, built in 1947 and considered one of the world's finest opera houses, featuring both classical and national repertoire;

Independence Square, Uzbekistan's main square, representing the country's past, present, and future. Here are fountains symbolizing the vital energy of the Uzbek people, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Senate, as well as the "Eternal Flame" in memory of the soldiers fallen during World War II;

Earthquake Memorial, dedicated to the tragic Tashkent earthquake of April 26, 1966, and located near the area considered the epicenter. Even today, citizens visit the monument to pay homage to those who participated in the reconstruction of the city;

Khast Imam Square, the religious center of Tashkent, which includes the Barakkhan Madrasa, the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, and the Library of Islamic Literature, where the 7th-century Holy Quran (Osman Quran) is kept. Khast Imam is one of the most important spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts pilgrims and visitors from around the world;

Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent's ancient bazaar. The name "Chorsu" means "four waters" and symbolizes the meeting of the four main areas of the old city. The distinctive blue dome, rebuilt in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, has become one of the city's symbols. Here you can find ceramics, handicrafts, carpets, jewelry, fruit, fabrics, and souvenirs;

Tashkent Metro, whose first line opened in 1977. The stations are characterized by splendid decorations, traditional ornaments, and unique lighting effects.

Transfer to 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.

10:00 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 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 ceramic items from Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan. 

By request (as an extra), a master class of painting ceramics, suzani embroidery, and traditional bread baking.

Continue to Bukhara.

Arrival in Bukhara in the afternoon, check in at the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby. Start the 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.

08:30 Meet the driver at the lobby. Transfer to the Uzbek-Turkmen border post Alat.

Pass the border. Border passing formalities (passport and visa control might take 1 to 2 hrs depending on the customs formalities). Meet the guide and driver at the Turkmen side.

Meeting with the guide and driver at the Turkmenistan side of the border.

Transfer to Mary en route to the Ancient Merv (UNESCO).

 Sightseeing in  the historical park, visiting

- Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum,

- Mohammed bin Said Mausoleum,

- medieval castles – “Kesk” fortresses (6-7 centuries);

- History museum of the Merv region.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the Mary airport.

Early morning flight to Ashgabat ( 40 min).

Arrival in Ashgabat.

Start the Ashgabat city tour by visiting

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque with four minarets, reminding the Blue Mosque of Istanbul, was built in honour of Ertogrul, the father of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

- Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that is considered the highest building in the country);

- Neutrality Arch - unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun;

- National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique exposition from Ancient Merv and Nissa. 

- Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (tens of thousands of people). There are beautiful gardens and fountains near the mosque.

- Ancient Nissa (18km from Ashgabad), UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation of I millennium BC - I millennium BC). 

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Ashgabat city tour with visiting

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that is considered the highest building in the country);

- Neutrality Arch - unique composition that  rotates slowly after the sun;

- National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique exhibits from Ancient Merv and Nissa;

- A trip to ancient Nissa (18km from Ashgabat), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city ;

- The Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum is considered the biggest in Central Asia (tens of thousands of people). There are beautiful gardens and fountains. 

- In the afternoon, transfer to the Darvaza crater and change from the asphalt road to the Karakum desert track, and continue 10 km deep inside. In 1971, geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with natural gas. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn the gas. Geologists hoped the fire would go out in a few days, but it has been burning ever since. Locals have named the cavern The Gate - Darwaza. The views are impressive, especially at sunset and night, when the mild sunlight and burning crater evoke incredible and ambiguous feelings. 

Camp-style dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.

Camp – style breakfast.

09:00 Transfer to Kunya – Urgench.

Start sightseeing tour with visiting

-the founder mausoleum of the Sufi sects "Kubra" Nadzhimetdin Kubra (XII-XIII centuries);

-the mausoleum of Mongolian princess Torebeg-Hanym (XII-XIV centuries); minaret Mamun (X-XI centuries);

-minaret Kutlug-Timur (XII-XIV c, the highest minaret in Central Asia);

-Mausoleum Kyrkmolla (II in BC - III A.D.);

- Mausoleum Arslan II (the oldest building in the city - date of its construction is roughly estimated by the XI century).

Afternoon transfer to the Turkmen–Uzbek Border post, Khojeyli. Border passing formalities. Meet the driver at the Uzbek side of the border. Transfer to Nukus.

Resting time in the afternoon/evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the driver in the lobby.

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

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

Transfer to Khiva (180 km, ~ 3,5 hours) en route with photo stops.

- Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala, the fortresses of the Kushan period of Ancient Khorezm, used to be mighty border forts protecting the residents from raids of nomadic tribes.  The forts were built in the 4th-7th centuries 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 of the monumental forts that are currently drowning in sand.

Arrival in Khiva. Check in at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 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:

- 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,

- Minaret and Islam-Khoja Madrassah,

- Mosque and Jami Minaret.

21:00 Transfer to Urgench Airport.

22:55 Departure flight Urgench – Tashkent by HY 58 

00:15 Arrival at Tashkent Airport / Terminal 3 ( internal airlines).

The driver will meet at the exit of the terminal. Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

Departure on the morning flight.

End of the tour.