12D/11N - TASHKENT / URGENCH / KUNYA URGENCH / ASGHABAD / MARY / BUKHARA / SHAKRIZABS / SAMARKAND / TASHKENT

1 Day TASHKENT
Arrival to Tashkent. Meeting at the airport.
Transfer to the private local house for breakfast.
Visit of Tashkent.
Old part of the city: an architectural complex "Khazret-Imam" incl. necropolis of imam Abu Bakr Muhammad al-Kaffal Shashi who was one of the first Muslim imams and famous divine and poet (16th c), "Barak-khan Medressa" - built by Suyunidj-khan - the first ruler of Uzbek dynasty of Sheibanid's (16th c), "Tellya Sheikh Medressa" also called "Khast Imom Mosque" where Osman Quran - the world's oldest is kept (19th c), "Mui-Mubarak Medressa (19th c)", "Juma Mosque" (15-19th cc), Imam Ismail al Bukhari Islamic Institute - a two year post-medressa academy, "Hadra" square, "Kukeldash Medressa" ("Foster brother") - was built by Kukekdash - the vizier of Tashkent khans (16th c), "Jami Mosque"- the third biggest mosque in Uzbekistan, "Chorsu" - oriental bazaar,
"Friendship of People" square, "National park", "Abdulkasim Medressa" now is the centre for traditional arts with attractive souvenirs by local artisans (19th c).
Lunch
"Memories to Victims of Repressions" - the memorial complex and museum, "Monument of Courage" - the epicenter of Tashkent earthquake of 1966
Amir Temur square, Theatre square, Museum of Applied Arts, local "Broadway" - a walking street with artists, cheap souvenirs and eating places, city fountains and modern monuments.
Dinner
Overnight at Hotel

2 Day – TASHKENT / URGHENCH / KHIVA
Breakfast.
Transport to Tashkent airport for morning flight to Urgench (HY-1051 TAS-UGK). Arrival in Urgench. Transfer to Khiva (35 km). Accommodation in hotel.
Visit of Khiva.
Complex "Ichan-Qala" (12-19th cc.): "Kunya-Ark" khan's castle - the inner citadel of Ichan-Qala (16-17th cc), "Kalta Minor Tower" ("Short minaret") that should have become the biggest and highest minaret in Central Asia (19th c), "Muhammad Amin-Khan" - the biggest medieval medressa in Khiva (1845-1855),
Lunch
"Djuma Mosque" with 220 wooden columns and minaret 32,5 m height (10th c), "Tash-Hauli" ("Stone courtyard") palace looking like a fortress with a high battlements, towers and fortified gates (19th c), "Ak-Mosque" ("White Mosque") - a small quarter mosque by the gates of Palvan-Darvaza (1838-1842), necropolis of Pahlavan Mahmud - the cultic center of Ichan-Qala (1810-1913), residence of Islam Khodja (1910) - the vizier of last khan. Ensemble consists of the smallest in Khiva medressa and the minaret, which top platform has a height 45 m and is the highest observation point in town.
Dinner at Toza Bakh Palace
Overnight at Hotel

3 Day KHIVA /DASHOGUZ/ASHGHABAD
Breakfast at the Hotel restaurant.
09.00 - Cross Shavat (Uzbek-Turkmen) border. Drive to Kunya-Urgench for excursion.
Return back to Dashoguz.
18.00 - transfer to Dashoguz airport for registration for flight to Ashgabat.
20.10 - Flight 108 to Ashgabat
21.10 - Arrival to Ashgabat. Transfer to Hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Overnight at Hotel

4 Day ASHGABAD
Breakfast
Full day sightseeing tour of Ashgabat including Arch of Neutrality, Arch of Independent, Central Mosque, Russian Bazaar
Special Farewell Dinner with folklore program and Turkmen cuisine.
5 Day ASHGABAD/MARY/MARGUSH/MARY
Early breakfast
05.30 - transfer to airport for registration for flight to Mary
07.00 - flight 127 to Mary
07.40 - arrival in Mary.
Excursions to Ancient Merv, Museum of History in Mary.
Lunch
Transfer to Margush-the old Merv
Dinner
Overnight at Hotel

6 Day MARY/FARAB/BUKHARA(300 km + 80km)
Breakfast
Drive to Farab Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan border
Pass through the border and transfer to Bukhara
Arrival to Bukhara - one of the most esteemed cities of Islamic civilization.
Hotel accommodation.
Ark - the center of Bukhara statehood (4th c BC)
Free time for rest and walking through the old streets of Bukhara.
Dinner in traditional Uzbek house. 
Overnight at Hotel

6 Day BUKHARA
Breakfast.
Visit of Bukhara.
Mausoleum of the Samanids - the most ancient of Central Asia brick building, a masterpiece of world architecture (9-10th c), mausoleum Chashma Ayub that belongs to esteemed "places of trace" left by saint persons (14th c). The legend says that once the bible prophet Job (Ayub) visited this place. Visit to museums of Imam Al Bukhari and "The Museum of Water". "Bolo-Houz Mosque" - the only monument of medieval Bukhara (beg. of 20th c), silk carpet shops, complex "Poi Kalon" ("Beneath the Great"):
Lunch
"Kalyan Minaret" - the main symbol of sacred Bukhara that symbolized authority and power of spiritual governors. (12th c), "Kalyan Mosque"- its area of 130x80 m surpasses Bibi-Khanym mosque in Samarkand, "Miri Arab Madrassah" - active madrassah is one of the most esteemed spiritual Islamic universities (16th c), "Taki Zargaron" - the dome of jewelers (15-16th cc), "Ulugbeg Madrassah" - one of the 3 madrassahs constructed by grandson of Tamerlan - Ulugbeg (15th c), "Abdulaziz-khan Madrassah" - traditional madrassah with 2 floors of hudjras and mosque on the central axis ( mid. of 17th c), Tim of Abdullah-Khan madrassah (1588-1590), atlas shops, "Magoki-Attari Mosque" - the most ancient mosque of Bukhara (12th c) is considered a masterpiece of Bukhara architecture, "Khanaka and madrassah of Nadir Divan-Beghi" - a massive rectangular structure that was a place for staying and meditation of Sufis (17th c), "Kukeldash Madrassah" (16th c) - one of the biggest Bukhara madrassah, "Lyabi-Hauz" ensemble - the largest artificial reservoir of medieval Bukhara - is very popular among tourists (14-17th cc), "Chor Minor" ("Four minarets") is an unusual madrassah built by Caliph Niyazkul (18th c).
Dinner and Folk Show in Bukhara
Overnight at Hotel

7 Day BUKHARA/NURATA/YANGIKAZGAN/YURTS (280 km/ 03h30)

Breakfast.
Transfer to Nurata.
Lunch at the National House
Transfer to yurt camp via the village Yangigazgan.
Accommodation at traditional Kazakh yurts with all the necessary equipment: showers, kitchen etc. Experience of sandy landscapes, flora and fauna of Kyzil-kum desert. In the evening learn how to ride camels.
Dinner around the fire with Kazakh akin singing.
Overnight in the yurts (2-8 pax.)

8 Day YANGIKAZGAN/NURATA/SAMARKAND (230 kms/ 03h30)

Breakfast.
Drive to Aydarkul Lake. Fishing picnic. Swimming. Have a fried fish for lunch caught from the lake.
Transfer to Samarkand, one of the most ancient cities in the world
Hotel accommodation
Dinner.
Overnight at Hotel

9 Day SAMARKAND
Breakfast.
Visit of Samarkand.
"Gur Emir Mausoleum" - Tamerlan's tomb (14-15th c) that was build for Temur's grandson Muhammad-Sultan and tombs of three other Temurids - sons of Temur - Miranshah and Shahruh and his grandson Ulugbek, "Ruhabad Mausoleum" ("House of Spirit") - the legend says that under the dome there is a box with seven hairs of Prophet Muhammad (14th c), "Registan Square" ("A sandy place") - the major square of Samarkand: "Ulugbeg Medressa" - Sheikh Khodja Akhrar and poet Djami were among outstanding graduates of the medressa (15th c), "Sher-Dor Medressa" ("Having tigers") (17th c.), "Tillya-Kari Medressa" ("Coated by gold") - the richest gilding on the dome, walls and mihrab surpassed all famous buildings in Central Asia (17th c).
Lunch.
A mosque named after Hazret-Hyzr - an Islamic saint and eternal wanderer. He was esteemed as giving richness and good luck in far voyages and trade (19th c), cathedral mosque "Bibi-Khanym" that was named after the oldest wife of Tamerlan (14th c), an architectural complex "Shahi-Zinda" ("Alive king") - necropolis on the slope of the Afrosiab hill is connected with Kusam ibn Abbas - the cousin of Prophet Muhammad (11-15th c), Siab market place. Free time to spend at leisure.
Dinner
Overnight at Hotel

10 Day SAMARKAND/SHAKRIZABS/SAMARKAND
Breakfast.
Transfer to Shakhrisabz - the unique monument of town-planning and architecture.
Lunch
Visit of Shakrizabs.
"Ak-Saray Palace" - Tamerlan's summer residence that shocked the imagination of contemporaries (14-15th c), "Jahongir Mausoleum"- mausoleum of Tamerlan's eldest and favorite son (14th c), complex "Dor-ut Saodat": "Khazratiy Imam Mosque" - the multi-stage mosque with domical hall with decorated ayvans (14th c), "Gumbazi-Seiidan" - mausoleum of possible offspring's of Temur, "Kok Gumbaz Mosque" ("Blue dome") - was built by Ulugbek on behalf of his farther Shahruh (15th c).
Return back to Samarkand by The Road to the historical town of Samarkand - a crossroad of the world's cultures, one of the most ancient cities in the world (90 km, 1.5 hrs).
Dinner.
Overnight at Hotel

11 Day SAMARKAND/TASHKENT (350km)
Breakfast.
On the way to Tashkent (315 km, 5 hrs) you can visit memorial complex of outstanding Sunni theologian Imam Mukhammad al-Bukhari (died in 870) and the biggest observatory of 15th c. built by Ulugbeg.
Lunch.
Arrival to the capital of Uzbekistan
Farewell dinner in National House
Overnight at Hotel

12 Day TASHKENT-flight
Breakfast.
Transfer to Tashkent Airport for morning flight

- Please note that the first and the last days of above itinerary are made-up in accordance with flight schedule of International Flights (evening-arrival & morning-departure times)
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