Uzbekistan Tours
No doubts that Uzbekistan as a tourist destination is one of the most popular in Central Asia. It seems like obscure to visit it, but it is becoming more and more visited by lots of tourists each year. Well-preserved architecture from the Golden Age of Islam religion is what makes it so popular. The history of the country goes back to the 1 millennia BC when world-known dynasties of Sogdia, Bactria and Khorezm grew and flourished. The famous cities from the ancient times are Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakrisabz, Margilan, Karshi, Tashkent and many others.
During your tours in Uzbekistan today you can feel the atmosphere of dreamy medieval deserts, stretched with a row of camels loaded with precious goods, making over stops in busy cities. Mix of cultures and people resulted in a big variety of customs and traditions preserved nowadays that you can observe during our tours. You can learn crafts of how to make paper, silk carpets and pottery like many centuries ago by making visits workshops in towns. You can taste the most famous pilaf in Central Asian region prepared on fire with meat, rice, carrots and dried fruits. You can participate in different cultural events and enjoy different shows and master classes.
Thus, Uzbekistan is a country that must be visited if you come to Central Asia. Also, we are ready to extend your tour to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and build up a wonderful Silk Road Tour. Come and enjoy Central Asia with us!
The Mirror of the World
Itinerary title: The Mirror of the World
Days of tour: 6
Day 1: Tashkent
Upon arrival at the airport, your Uzbek driver will meet you to start your tour in Uzbekistan. For the beginning you will visit Independence square. It is the main square of the country, which was erected as a symbol of victory over fascism in World War II. Then you will walk along local Broadway, between independence square and Amir Timur square streets. At your request you can take a ride in famous Tashkent metro, which is considered as one of the beautiful subways in the world. The second part of your tour includes visiting of Chorsu Bazaar, Kukaldash Madrasah and Hast Imam complex that consists of several madrasahs, mosques and mausoleum. The important part is visiting the Othman Quran. It is the world’s oldest Quran copy dating back to 8th century. Quran belonged to Othman Ibn Affan, the Third Caliph and was killed in 8th century. His blood spred over the Quran that you still can see on its pages. At the end of the day you will be transferred to the hotel to spend the night.
Day 2: Tashkent – Samarkand (350 km, 4 hrs drive)
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will start our way to Samarkand. Over the centuries, Uzbekistan’s cities played a major role in the life of the Great Silk Road, the ancient, transcontinental thoroughfare. But, one city stands out as being "the Heart of Great Silk Road"; that city is Samarkand. “The Mirror of the World” is an oriental title bestowed upon Samarkand from earliest times. A contemporary of Rome, Athens, and Babylon, this city has already celebrated its 2750th anniversary, who`s golden age occurred during the Temurid dynasty as this very city was chosen by Emir Temur, the greatest warlord and ruler of the Central Asia after Chingiz Khan, as the capital of his powerful Empire, Movarounnahr. Today you will visit its most outstanding sights such as Registan square, Shakhi-Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanum Mosque. Registan Square, a complex of three fascinating Madrasahs dating back to 15-17th centuries, is the main highlight of Samarkand that no person can stop admiring its beauty and majesty. Architectural complex of Shakhi-Zindeh represents a big collection of mausoleums dating back to 11th-15 centuries being a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bibi Khanum Mosque was built in honor of favorite Tamerlane’s wife, after his successful campaign in India. Today you will spend the night in the hotel.
Day 3: Samarkand – Urgut – Samarkand
Today we will drive to Urgut. It is the small village outside of Samarkand. Everyone who comes to this village visits its noisy and colorful national bazaar. Then we will come back to Samarkand, further we will go to another village. There we will see memorial complex of Al Bukhary. It was an Islamic scholar, who authored the hadith collection known as Sahih al-Bukhari, regarded by Sunni Muslims as one of the most authentic Hadith collections. He also wrote other books such as Al-Adab al-Mufrad. At the end of the tour the transfer will take you to the hotel where you will spend the night.
Day 4: Samarkand – Gijduvan – Bukhara
In the morning we will drive to Bukhara. On the way, we will have a break at Gijduvan village where you will have an opportunity to visit famous private pottery workshop. Gijduvan ceramics school has its deep roots. The skills have been passed from generation to generation. Nowadays Today Gizhduvan is home for the sixth generation of potters from Narzullayevs family which glorified Gijduvan school ceramics all over the world. Gijduvan School of ceramics is distinguished by a geometric pattern. Green and blue colors prevail in decoration of products. Further we will keep going to Bukhara. The night will be spent in the hotel.
Day 5: Bukhara
Today’s day is dedicated to a sightseeing tour in the city of Bukhara. Bukhara, the famous trading post on the Silk Road, stirs the romantic in many travelers. With over 2500 years of history and a welcoming atmosphere, Bukhara is one of the tourists’ favorites. More than 140 monuments of ancient architecture, and these sights are located within a compact area and are best seen on foot. Firstly, we will visit the most ancient citadel in Bukhara dating back to the 4th century named Citadel Ark which served as a palace for several dynasties of Bukhara Empire. Further we will see Samanids mausoleum, a real masterpiece of architecture of 9th -10th century. Then the tour continues to Chashma Ayub, meaning Job's well and Bolo-Hauz mosque, known also as the mosque of forty columns built in honor of Bukhara governor Abu-Fayud Khan. On today’s tour you will also see one of the most famous madrasahs of Bukhara called Nodir Divan Begi which is also a part of Lyabi House Ensemble, famous central sightseeing of Bukhara. The last destination will be Poi Kalon complex, the unique sample of architectural art of Bukhara. It consists of three structures built in the 12th - 16th centuries: Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. At the end of productive day, the transfer will take you to the hotel.
Day 6: Bukhara – Flight
Today you are returning back your home. In the morning you will have a transfer to the airport. This is the last day of your “The Mirror of the World” tour in Uzbekistan.