Adventure to the Aral Sea (15 Days)

Overview

This tour covers the cities of the Silk Road and the ancient clay fortresses of ancient Khorezm. During the trip we will take a trip to the Aral Sea and you will have a unique opportunity to see the man-made ecological environmental disaster, the dried up Aral Sea, the former third largest inland sea and its present day fate. Through this tour you will also experience the famous Savitskiy Museum of Nukus, second largest collection of avant-garde art images, the ancient fortresses, the beautiful Islamic architectural monuments. You will enjoy the hospitality of the locals and learn about the tradition, culture and history of the country.

Day 1. Arrival to Tashkent

Welcome to Uzbekistan! When you arrive in Tashkent, your  tour guide awaits you and welcomes you warmly. Together with your private driver, you will drive to the hotel, where you can first arrive in peace. Overnight at hotel.

You can devote your first day in Uzbekistan to the sights of the multifaceted capital. You will visit the Khasti Imam Square with the beautiful Barak Khan Medrese, the Tilla Sheikh Mosque and the Kaffal Shashi mausoleum made of simple brickwork. Here you can take a look at the Koran handwritten by the third Caliph Osman (644-656). Continue with a visit to the huge Chorsu bazaar, whose oriental smells and spices will transport you into the fairy tales of 1001 nights. In the afternoon you will continue your exploration tour in the modern part of the city and visit the Independence Square, Amir Timur Square. In the evening transfer to the airport. You're going to Nukus. Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Get up early in the morning to drive to the Aral Sea. On the way you will visit the architectural complexes Mizdakhan (14th century) and Gaur Kala. Drive past Kungrad, a former trading center of the Silk Road. Having lunch. We stop at Sudochye Lake so that you can take photos of the area and visit the former fishery by the lake. We continue on the old shore of the lake and visit the gorges in today's desert. Arrival at the Aral Sea. Accommodation in yurt camp. Dinner. Overnight in the yurt.

At sunrise we make breakfast and set out on the long way along the Ustyurt Plateau Canyons to descend to the bottom of the Aral Sea. We continue to Muynak at the settlement of Uchsay. You will see the ship cemetery in Muynak and visit local history museum and drive to Nukus. Overnight in the Nukus.

Visit the Savitskiy Art Museum in Nukus, the world's second largest collection of Russian and Central Asian avant-garde art. Afternoon drive to Khiva through the Kyzylkum desert and visit the Khorezm remains. You will visit the Toprak-alter-Kala settlement which was the capital of Khorezm in the III century AD. It is the only fully excavated monument in Khorezm. Its size and ingenuity of architectural design make Toprak-Kala one of the unique monuments of Khorezm. Ayaz-Kala was neither a city nor a settlement, it was a fortress complex in which groups of the Kushan dynasty settled. Continue to Khiva.

You will explore one of the best preserved cities on the Silk Road. The former capital of the Khiva Khanates from the 17th century has retained the fairytale atmosphere of an ancient, oriental city to this day. You will visit the old town of Khiva-Dschuma Mosque, Medrese Muhammad Amin Chan, Citadel Kochna Ark, Pachlovon-Machmud-Mausoleum, Alakuli Chan-Medrese and others. Overnight stay in Khiva.

As you drive through the Kyzylkum Desert, you will discover that the seemingly wasteland also has a lot to offer. You will drive along the Amu Darya River, the life-giving stream of Central Asia. In addition, your guide will use the time to tell you interesting facts about the country and its people. So you can look forward to a varied journey. Overnight in Bukhara.

You will discover this city as "the pearl of the desert". It is a city along the Silk Road. The city is a true home of Islam in Central Asia that flourished for many centuries. The city is home to hundreds of Islamic schools and crafts of carpets and decorations. You will visit the Samanid mausoleum, Friday mosque, Bolo House, Ark fortress, mosque and minaret Kalon, Madrasa Mir Arab, Madrasas Ulugbek and Abdul-Aziz-Khan, cupola bazaars, etc. Overnight in Bukhara.

Around Bukhara there are other attractions that you should not be hidden. Your guide will let you in on the secrets of the summer palace of the last emir of Bukhara - Sitorai-Mohi-Khosa - and show you the Chor Bakr mausoleum and the Bakhauddin-Nakhshbandi ensemble. This tomb is visited daily by pilgrims and gives you an insight into the living Islam. Finally, you will return to Bukhara again. The rest of the day is up to you. Overnight in Bukhara.

We drive to Nurata in the morning. Nurata is a well-known pilgrimage site where you will visit the Chil Ustun Mosque as well as the ruins of the fortress of Alexander the Great. The place is also famous for its Chashma spring - it is sacred along with the fish swimming in the water and the destination of many pilgrims. Lunch with the locals in Nurata. Drive to the picturesque Aidarkul Lake, which will impress you with a length of 200 kilometers. On the bank we have a little time to relax and dream. Continue to the mountains, where we spend the night with the host family in a very simple guest house in Sentyap.

People have lived in Nurata Mountains since the time of Alexander the Great. Villagers keep their home and yard as they did centuries ago. Women cook on an open fire, weave, spin yarn, bake their own bread, milk cows. Men tend shepherds, build houses out of stone, rocks and clay. You stay in a village, can bird watch, hike, ride donkeys, and take part in cooking the traditional food gives an excellent opportunity to witness the life of local farmers. Hike around the village in Nurata Mountains. You enjoy the beautiful landscape and the pure air of the mountains. Afternoon drive to Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand. Dinner in the restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

Capital of Tamerlane, the great city of the ancient Sogdiana, lies at the crossroads of the main trade routes from China, Siberia, Persia and the west. This step alone is an essential point on the journey to understanding the power of the Khan dynasty at that time. Be amazed by these amazing shades of blue over sights such as the famous mosque of Bibi Khanum, the Gur-Emir (tomb of ruler Timur and his descendants) or the famous Registan Square (XV century XVII) that are never indifferent to any traveler. Overnight at hotel.

Today we drive to Schakhrisabs (former Kesch), the hometown of Tamerlane. We visit the "White Palace" (Ak-Saray XIV century), including the impressive remains of the portal offer a unique mosaic decor. Kok Gumbaz Mosque in the fifteenth century, the Gumbazi Seidan mausoleum and above all the Khazrati Imam Mosque are a reminder of the splendor of this city. In the late afternoon transfer through the Serafshan Mountains to Samarkand (100 km). Overnight in Samarkand.

Continuation of the sightseeing program through Samarkand. Today you will visit the Afrosiab Museum, once the heart of ancient Samarkand and now a unique archaeological site; the Ulugbek observatory (XV century), which tells the fascinating story of the little son Tamerlane; the tomb of St. Daniel and Konigil village, where you will learn about the traditional production process of paper from mulberries. You also have the opportunity to stroll through the oriental bazaar. In the evening you will take the train back to Tashkent. Overnight in Tashkent.

Transfer to the airport in Tashkent. Here we say goodbye to the group. We have unforgettable memories. Flight home.

Services included: Services not included:
  • ►Round trip / excursions and transfer in air-conditioned modern vehicles
  • ►Domestic flight: Tashkent-Nukus in economy class
  • ►Train ticket “Afrosiyob” Samarkand-Tashkent express train in 2nd class
  • ►Overnight accommodation in middle-class hotels in a double room
  • ►1x yurt overnight stay, 1x guest house in the mountain settlement
  • ►English-speaking local tour guide throughout the trip
  • ►Entrance to the museums and monuments according to the program
  • ►Half board according to the program (14x breakfast, 3x lunch, 14x dinner)
  • ►Uzbekistan Tourist Map
  • ►International flights (can be booked through us)
  • ►Tips
  • ►Meals and drinks not mentioned
  • ►The fees for using a camera in some of the attractions in the museums
  • ►Personal expenses

Number of participants: 2- 15 people
From 2 people as a private tour on your desired date.

The prices are valid for 2023 and are based on 4 people, with reduced prices for larger groups on request.

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$ 2000 p.P