Classical Uzbekistan with Nukus (2 weeks)

Relax and spend more time not just visiting, but truly experiencing history and culture of Khiva’s tale castle, spirit and traditions of holy Bukhara, imperial beauty of  Samarkand, as well as capital city Tashkent with famously beautiful Metro stations, theatres and museums.

Sample Itinerary (please, contact us to tailor it according to your wishes):

Tashkent – Nukus – Khiva – Bukhara – Samarkand – Shakhrizyabz – Samarkand – Tashkent

Day 1
Tashkent

PM – Arrive in Tashkent, meet our airport agent to help you the airport formalities and fast track entry. Meet your local escort guide at the exit of the arrival terminal and transfer by coach to the hotel. Immediate check-in and rest.

Overnight in Tashkent.

Day 2
Tashkent

Breakfast followed by the “Welcome briefing and introductory talk” with your local escort guide.

Full-day tour of Tashkent including Khasti Imam Complex and the Koran of Khaliph Usman (one of earliest Korans in the world), Kukeldash Madrasah, Chorsu Bazaar, Navoi Theatre (outside), Independence Square, Tashkent Metro (2-3 stations ride in one of the most beautiful underground lines in the world). Museum of Applied Arts.

Lunch/dinner in a traditional Uzbek restaurant with music & dance performance (optional).

Overnight in Tashkent.

Day 3
Tashkent – Nukus

Early breakfast, transfer to the domestic terminal for flight to Nukus, capital of Autonomous Republic of Karakalpkstan  (1 hour 35 mins).

Transfer to Hotel for check-in.

AM visit to the famous Igor Savitsky Museum (Karalpak Museum) – home for the second biggest collection of Russian Avant-garde in the world.

Lunch at the museum and free time to further explore the Savitsky Museum on your own.

Mid-afternoon return to the hotel.

Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Nukus.

Day 4
Nukus – Khiva

Morning departure by AC car/coach to Khiva (200km). Along the way, see remains of a Zoroastrian Tower of Silence (Chilpak Kala). Visit the archaeological sites of Toprak Kala, with its three mud-brick fortresses or fortress Ayaz Kala with tea/lunch in yurt camp nearby.

Late afternoon arrival in Khiva and hotel check-in.

Dinner at the family house.

Day 5
Khiva

AM – Walking sightseeing tour of “Ichan-Kala”, which has another name as “city inside the city”, ancient citadel of Khiva, including “Kunya-Ark” (XIX), Kalta Minor Minaret, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Djuma Mosque, Islam Khodja Madrasah and minaret with museum, Said Allauddin Mausoleum.

Lunch/ dinner in a restaurant inside the walled city.

Overnight in Khiva

Day 6
Khiva

Further exploration of Khiva. Morning visit to the local bustling bazaar, and the 19^th century Tash Hauli Palace and Harem. Lunch and tea ceremony at Zaynab’s family house.

Afternoon and evening at leisure.

Overnight in Khiva.

Day 7
Khiva – Bukhara

After breakfast drive by coach to Bukhara, Travel across the Kyzyl-Kum (red sand) desert (480km, 8-9 hrs), stopping for a barbeque lunch at a tea-house.

Check-in into your hotel.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8
Bukhara

Full day tour of Bukhara. Begin with Samanid Ismail Mausoleum. Then visit the nearby 14th/16th-century Chashma Ayub Shrine. Visit the most ancient archaeological complex in the city, the imposing 1^st century Ark Citadel. Opposite the Ark, see the 18^th century Bolokhauz Mosque and continue to the 12^th/18^th century Kaylan Square dominated by the Kaylan Minaret, the main symbol of the city.

Break for lunch at a traditional restaurant.

After lunch, stroll through the central square, Lyabi-Hauz. Visit the oldest preserved mosque in Bukhara, 10th-century Magoki-Attori Mosque. Also visit the 15^th century Ulubek Madrassah and the larger, Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah.

Late afternoon, enjoy tea and oriental sweets at the Silk Road teahouse.

Overnight in Bukhara.

Day 9
Bukhara

Morning drive approximately 4 km north of the city, to the old European style Summer Palace of the last Emir. Continue to the Bahauddin Nakshbandi Memorial Complex.

Return to Bukhara for lunch and free time for exploring the old bazaars situated under the medieval trading domes/or optional trip to Gijduvan town for the home-workshop of the ceramic master’s family with pottery master-class.

Dinner with folk performance (optional).

Overnight in Bukhara.

Day 10
Bukhara – Samarkand

Morning departure by AC car/coach to Khiva (200km). Along the way, see remains of a Zoroastrian Tower of Silence (Chilpak Kala). Visit the archaeological sites of Toprak Kala, with its three mud-brick fortresses or fortress Ayaz Kala with tea/lunch in yurt camp nearby.

Day 11
Samarkand

Full day tour of Samarkand.

Visit the spectacular 15^th/17^th century Registan Square, the gigantic early 15^th century Bibi-Khanum Mosque and ancient Siab bazaar.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Visits to the Shahi-Zinda Necropolis, Khudjum silk carpet factory and Meros mulberry paper workshop.

Dinner at the national house.

Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 12
Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand

Morning drive by A/C small cars over the Amankutan Mountains to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane. Visit the remains of the grandiose 14 ^th/15^th century Ak Sarai palace built by Timur. Visit the Dor as-Siadat burial complex, which includes a mausoleum for two of Timur’s sons, Jahangir and Umar Sheikh and the Amir Timur crypt. Continue on to the Memorial Mosque, Kuk Gumbaz (the Blue Dome), an outstanding example of the Khorezm architectural style.

Lunch in Shakhrisabz. Afternoon return to Samarkand.

Dinner at the city restaurant.

Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 13
Samarkand

Morning visits to the stunning 14^th century Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Ulugbek Observatory, ruins of Afrosiab with pre-Islamic frescos.

Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the national house with music performance.

Overnight in Samarkand.

Day 14
Samarkand – Tashkent

AM – free time.

Check-out the hotel at 16:00.

Afternoon transfer at 16:30 (or 17:00) to Railway Station for the high-speed train “Afrosiyob” to Tashkent (2 hours 10 mins).

Transfer to the hotel.

Farewell dinner at the local restaurant in Tashkent.

Overnight in Tashkent.

Day 15
Tashkent

Morning free time in Tashkent or visit to the Museum of Fine Arts (paintings by Kandinsky, Pasternak, Brulov and other masters).

Optional lunch.
Early afternoon – transfer to the airport for the return flight to your destination.