A Week in Uzbekistan
Price on request
Region: Beyond Russia
Activities: Sight-seeing Tour
Dates: Year Round
Duration: 7 days
For dates and prices, please email info@gatewaytravel.com.au or call 0414955109 (local) or +61 414955109 (international)
Itinerary
Overview:
We invite you to Uzbekistan, republic located in Central Asia. In different periods of its history territory of present Uzbekistan were part of Persia, empire of Alexander the Great, Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, Arab Caliphate, Seljuk Empire, the Khwarazmian state, Mongol Empire, Timurid Empire. In 1868-1876 Russia captured three small states (Emirate of Bukhara, Khanate of Khiva, Khanate of Kokand) that existed in the territories of Uzbekistan since disintegration of Timurid Empire. During national delimitation in the Soviet Union Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic was created in 1924 including territories of Uzbekistan and Tadzhikistan. In 1929 separate Tadzhik Soviet Socialist Republic was created and present borders of Uzbekistan were fixed. After disintegration of the USSR (1991) Uzbekistan became an independent republic.
Day 1:
Arrive to Tashkent.
Transfer to the City Palace (4-star hotel). Accommodation from 14:00
Day 2:
Breakfast. Transfer to railway station.
08:00 Departure for Bukhara on train No 010F.
15:00 Arrival in Bukhara. Transfer to the Lyabi House (3-star hotel). In the afternoon visit picturesque central Lyab-i-Hauz square formed with XVI-XVII cc. buildings grouped round one of the few remaining hauz (ponds) kept in the city. Until the Soviet period there were many such ponds which were the city’s principal source of water but they were notorious for spreading disease and were mostly filled in during the 1920s and 1930s. The Lyab-i Hauz was kept because it is the centrepiece of a magnificent architectural ensemble. Dinner at the Lyabi Hauz restaurant. (BD)
Day 3:
Breakfast.
Full day Bukhara sightseeing tour.
Bukhara is one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia. It was the most important checkpoint in the Great Silk Road. You will see remaining of city wall and gate of Bukhara, Samonid’s Mausoleum (one of the oldest buildings of the city, IX-X cc.), Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, Kosh Madrasah Ensemble (Abdullakhan Madrasah & Modarikhan Madrasah), Bolo Khauz Mosque, Ark Citadel (residence of Emirs of Bukhara) & Zindan (ancient prison), Khodja Zaynuddin Complex, Poi Kalyan Complex (Kalyan Minaret of XII c., Kalyan Mosque & Miri Arab Madrasah), Trading Dome (Toki Zargaron, Тoki Telpak Furushon & Toki Sarrafon), Ulugbek Madrasah, Abdullazizkhan Madrasah, Khodja Gaukushan Ensemble, Magoki Attoron Mosque and Synagogue. In the evening enjoy folklore show. After the show visit a local family to experience Uzbek lifestyle and hospitality and to participate in a master class making pilaf, the Uzbek national dish made from rice. (BD)
Day 4:
Breakfast.
In the morning continuation of Bukhara city sightseeing: Mausoleum of Bahouddin Naqshband, Summer Palace of the last Emirs of Bukhara Sitorai Mokhi Khosa and Chor Bakr necropolis. In the afternoon transfer to Samarkand (271 km). Accommodation at the Malika Prime (3-star hotel).
Dinner at local restaurant. (BD)
Day 5:
Breakfast.
Full day Samarkand sightseeing tour. Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world founded in the V c. B.C. The Great Silk Road passed through the city. In 1369 Timur made Samarkand a capital of his vast empire. Samarkand is an actual town-museum with world famous splendors of medieval Muslim architecture. You will see ensemble of the Registan Square (Ulugbek, Sher Dor and Tillya Kari Madrasah’s), Gur-Emir Mausoleum (graves of Timur and his descendants, XV c.), Rukhobod Mausoleum, Aksaray Mausoleum, huge Timur’s Bibi-Khanym Mosque (XIV c.) close to the ancient Siab bazaar, Shakh-i-Zindeh ensemble of small mausoleums dating from different centuries, Khazrat-Khizr Mosque, ancient settlement Afrosiab with Museum, Mausoleum of Khodja Doniyor (the Prophet Daniel) and observatory (XV c.) and memorial museum of Emir of Bukhara Ulugbek, the great medieval astronomer and scholar.
Dinner at local restaurant. (BD)
Day 6:
Breakfast.
Transfer to Tashkent (330 km) with stop at Imam Al-Bukhari memorial complex arranged at the place not far from Samarkand where famous Persian Islamic scholar Imam Muhammad Al-Bukhari (810-870) was buried. His tomb is one of the most revered Islamic shrines in Central Asia. Arrival to Tashkent and accommodation at the City Palace (4-star hotel). After refreshing guided Tashkent (new part) tour. Tashkent today is the city with wide streets, numerous squares, parks, gardens, fountains and multistory apartment houses. You will visit Mustaqillik (the Independence) Square, Museum of Fine and Applied Arts, Theatre Square, Emir Timur Square, Monument to Courage, Bunyodkor Square with Abul Kasim Madrassah and Tashkent metro station.
Farewell dinner in local restaurant. (BD)
Day 7:
Breakfast. Free time. 12:00 Check out. Transfer to the airport. (B)
B- breakfast, L – lunch, D – dinner
For dates and prices, please email info@gatewaytravel.com.au or call 0414955109 (local) or +61 414955109 (international)
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