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The tour includes the following cities:
Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva
Day 1 Tashkent
After our early morning arrival in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital city, we will begin our introduction to Uzbek culture by exploring this vast city and visiting the many varied and historic exhibits in the State Art Museum and the Museum of History. After this introduction we will visit today’s craftsmen plying their ancient crafts in former student cells in the Abdul Khasim Medrassah. After a hearty lunch, we will continue our exploration of the superb Uzbek craftsmanship at the Museum of Applied Arts. A special dinner in the museum of Akbar Rakhimov, a local master potter and one of the country’s finest ceramic artists will cap our first day. Day 2 Tashkent - Samarkand
This morning we will visit the Imam Al-Bukhari Islamic Institute followed by a visit to the colorful and bustling Chor-Su market where we will see traditional Central Asian cradles, hand-made musical instruments, and enticing displays of colorful and mouth watering fruits and vegetables. After lunch we will drive through gorgeous landscape to Samarkand where we will arrive at our hotel in time for to freshen up before a traditional dinner. Day 3 Samarkand
This morning we will visit the Registan, the great central square of Samarkand with it’s three remarkable and beautifully restored madrassahs, followed by a visit to the Gur-Emir, where the great, and ruthless ruler, Tamerlane, was buried, and on to Bibi-Khanum Mosque with it’s giant Koran rest. A visit to the nearby busy market with its fascinating products, familiar and unfamiliar, and colorful displays of food just before lunch will certainly whet our appetites. After lunch we will visit the Shaki -Zinda ensemble of 14th and 15th century Mausoleums with their exquisite and varied examples of sculpted faience tile work reflecting the development of the Timurind Dynasty’s monumental art and architecture. In the evening we will try some traditional Uzbek dishes at a local restaurant and again overnight in Samarkand. Day 4 Samarkand
After breakfast we will expand our knowledge of Uzbek culture at the Samarkand State Art Museum before driving out to examine the medieval world’s best and most remarkable observatory developed by Tamerlane‘s brilliant and learned grandson, Ulugbek. Following lunch we will continue on to the archaeological site of the ancient city of Afrosiab with its annotated map of the site, and then tour of the Afrosiab Museum with its excellent collection of treasures unearthed from the site. In the evening we will have the opportunity to take in a traditional Folk Program in the open air theater of the enchantingRegistan Square, followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant before returning to our hotel for the night. Day 5 Samarkand - Bukhara
This morning we will drive to Bukhara, stopping enroute in Gizhduvan, the most important ceramic center in the Bukhara region. There we will see local master potters at work and possibly even the tireless donkeys turning huge stone wheels to grind natural glazes, and a working traditional wood-fired kiln. We will lunch as a master potter’s where we will learn more about the revival of this craft once threatened with extinction in this area. In the afternoon we will continue our drive to Bukhara, arriving late in the afternoon. We will dine at our hotel where we can see examples of contemporary and antique traditional Uzbek crafts throughout the hotel. If there is time we may want to walk around this historic neighborhood and poke our heads into the small craft studios tucked into nooks and crannies in the ancient madrassahs and trading domes where silk route caravans once traded merchandise. Day 6 Bukhara
Today we will devote the day to visiting the many historic sites and monuments in this museum town, including a visit to the 2000 year-old Fortress Ark where Emirs once lived and two British emissaries were held captive in the “bug pit”. We will then visit the great Poi-Kalon minaret, the city’s focal point that once also served as a beacon on the Silk Road guiding traders to this important trading market between Asia and the West. After lunch we will explore Lyabi-Khaus “The Shore of the Pool,” an architectural complex composed of 16th century madrassahs and a mosque. Along our route we will see further evidence that Bukhara is truly the craft capital of Uzbekistan with its myriad craftsmen showing a wide variety of fine traditional crafts produced by master craftsmen from throughout Uzbekistan. In the evening, during dinner in the courtyard of an old madrassah, we will enjoy a folk program and a fashion show by one of Bukhara’s master designers. Day 7 Bukhara
Today we begin our sightseeing at the Sitorai Mohi Hosa, the former summer residence of the last ruler located about 5 km from the city. There we will see beautiful traditional sculpted, mirrored, and painted interior plaster decorations, huge banquet halls, and a large collection of historic costumes, including those that preserved the modesty of women through face screens and heavy outer garments, as well as a stunning collection of Ming china and silver. We will drive on to the Chor-Bakries, the burial grounds of some of Bukhara’s aristocracy before returning to Bukhara for dinner and our hotel for the night. Day 8 Bukhara - Khiva
After breakfast we will see another aspect of Uzbekistan’s landscape as we drive through the Kizyl-Kum desert on our way to Khiva, the most intact and remote city in Central Asia. Upon reaching the famous Amu-Darya river we will pause for a picnic lunch and then continue on to Khiva, arriving late in the afternoon. There we will have dinner and before going to our hotel for the night. Day 9 Khiva
Today we will devote the day to touring Khiva, taking in the richness of this gorgeous museum city where we will have the opportunity to view the most homogenous collection of architecture in the Islamic world. At midday we will pause for lunch with a local family before completing our tour of the unique and beautiful city. After our busy day we will have time to reflect on our flight to Tashkent where we will have dinner and rest up for our flight home tomorrow morning. Day 10 Tashkent
Early this morning we will transfer to the airport for our flights home. Please feel free to change, add or exclude anything in the suggested itinerary. After your confirmation, we will estimate the tour price and inform you as soon as possible. |
