Wine testing tour

Tour itinerary: Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara – Tashkent

Season: All season

Days: 7 | Nights: 6

Uzbek wine is special because sun rays in Uzbekistan are hitting 265 days avg per year. So this wine is sweet and rich in vitamin D - winemakers keep it in barrels for no longer than a year, so it has a low level of alcohol.

Most of the wine is being produced in Champagne village nearby Tashkent and in Samarkand - their tastes hit differently.

We invite you to a journey through history of Uzbek wine - from early 1900x till present days.

Welcome to a wonderful Wine Tour in Uzbekistan!

Day 1

Tashkent

Flight to Tashkent.

Arrival in Tashkent International Airport.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the exit gates and meet the staff holding a sign “Anur Tour”.

Transfer to the hotel. As Tashkent airport is not far from the city center, the transfer will take about 20 – 40 minutes depending on the hotel location.

Transfer to the hotel. Free day in city. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Tashkent - Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the hotel lobby.

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

- 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.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four waters”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of old city in bazaar where people come for trades. The bazaar beautiful blue dome, built in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, is often depicted in post cards 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 Uzumfermer family winery. You will have a pleasant walk through the ornamental garden of 1 hectare, where more than 1,500 species of plants grow, collected from all over the world. The garden is divided into different thematic zones: Japanese rock garden, Russian glade, Italian amphitheater, moon gate, Chinese tea house, Japanese gazebo by the pond with fish and waterfall, pine forest, grotto with underground spring and others.

Wine tasting accompanied by a cheese plate and fruit slices.

Return transfer to Tashkent.

Free time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel

Day 3

Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to the railway station in Tashkent.

08:59 Departure for Samarkand by speed train "Afrosiyob"/”Sharq”.

11:07 Arrival in Samarkand. Come out of the exit gates and meet the driver and guide holding a sign “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 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;

– 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;

– 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.

Resting time in the evening.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4

Samarkand

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Continue sightseeing program in Samarkand:

- Visit to the paper workshop in Konigil and the Meros paper factory, near Samarkand.

- Bagizagan is a winery in the vicinity of Samarkand. Today it is a large independent factory with a 60-year history, hundreds of hectares of vineyards and excellent wine drinks exported to different countries. For every tourist there are guided tours where you can follow the whole process of making wine, harvesting, and of course, do not miss the tasting of this noble drink! You will have the opportunity to taste 5 types of wine: 4 dry and 1 dessert accompanied by a cheese plate and sliced seasonal fruits.

Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5

Samarkand – Bukhara

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to the railway station in Samarkand.

09:44 Departure for Bukhara by speed train "Afrosiyob"/”Sharq”.

11:25 Arrival in Bukhara. Come out of the exit gates and meet the driver who will wait for you with a sign “Anur Tour”. Transfer to hotel to drop the luggage.

Meet the guide and start WALKING sightseeing program in Bukhara (5 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 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.

- Shokhrud caravanserai is a trading house where a number of jewelry shops are located. It is also the center of the annual international festival "From silk to Spices", where you can taste the best wines produced in Uzbekistan.

You will learn about each brand of the tasted drink – the secret of wine production, starting from the very initial stages, and ending with its breakdown. The tasting includes 8 wines and 4 cognacs.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6

Bukhara – Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day* in Bukhara for leisure sightseeing and shopping.

*Optional, Bukhara countryside tour can be added by request.

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 visit by request.

12:00 Standard check-in.

14:40 Transfer to the railway station in Bukhara.

15:46 Departure for Tashkent by speed train "Afrosiyob"/”Sharq”.

19:54 Arrival in Tashkent. Come out of the exit gates and meet the driver who will wait for you with a sign "Anur Tour". Transfer to hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7

Tashkent

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

Departure flight.

Price per person:

Person	Standart	Comfort
1	$1410	$1640
2-3	$930	$1105
4-5	$830	$1005
6-12	$780	$955
Single supplement	$195	$250

Book it!

- Accommodation in standard double/twin room;

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

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

- Meals: breakfast at hotels;

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

- Tour and standard wine tasting according to the program;

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

- VAT, Tourist tax per person.

- International flights to/from Tashkent;

-Early/late check-in;

- Photo/video fees (professional camera);

- E-visa/visa to Uzbekistan (if required);

- Transport and guide service for free time/free days (can be added by request); transport for walking tours in Bukhara;

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

- Check-in 14.00, check-out time 12.00. No early check-in/ late check-out is included unless indicated;

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

- 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 increase, 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).

Or similar hotels of the same category
Cities	Standard	Comfort
Tashkent	Milan / Marwa / Gabrielle	Ichan Qala / Wyndham
Bukhara	Basilic Amulet / AnNur / Safiya	Wyndham Bukhara / Sahid Zarafshon
Samarkand	Zilol Baxt / Shaxzoda Elite / Shahdil	Dilimax / Zarafshon Parkside