Varied Uzbekistan (11 Day)

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. Overnight in hotel.

In the morning take the train to Samarkand. Samarkand, the “most valuable pearl of the Orient”, looks back on an eventful history as one of the oldest cultural centers in the world. Afrosiab, as the legendary capital of ancient Sogdiana was called at that time, was the target of conquests by Alexander the Great from the west and Genghis Khan from the east. Amir Timur built his capital here and numerous masterpieces of Islamic architecture testify to the size, power and splendor of his empire. During your first day in Samarkand you will visit the imposing mosques and the most beautiful madrasas, which were commissioned by Amir Timur and his successors: The Bibikhanum mosque and the Registan Square with the three madrasas Ulugbek, Shir-Dar and Tilla-Kari are part of it the most beautiful highlights of this trip. Amir Timur and other kings are buried in the Gur-Emir mausoleum. Overnight at hotel.

As a religious pilgrimage site and market place, Samarkand is still a lively city today. The Shakhi Zinda necropolis on the outskirts of the old town is visited daily by hundreds of pilgrims who ask for their welfare in this holy place. In the necropolis of Shakhi Zinda, mingle with the pilgrims and admire the finely tiled mausoleums. You will visit the old tissue paper factory and the Ulugbek observatory (15th century), which tells the fascinating story of the little son Tamerlan, and you have free time to stroll in the oriental bazaar. Overnight at hotel.

In the late morning drive to the Nuratau Mountains, to the village of Ashraf.

The people have lived in the Nuratau 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. Overnight in the guest house.

Drive to the picturesque Aidarkul Lake, which will impress you with a length of 200 kilometers. Here you can fortify yourself with a delicious picnic on the bank and have a little time to relax and dream. Continue to the desert, where we spend the night in yurt camps. In the evening the camel herders sing their own songs of nomads around the fire. Overnight in yurts in Yangigasgan.

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. Continue to Bukhara. Overnight at the hotel in Bukhara.

Bukhara was one of the most important cities on the Silk Road. Traders flocked to sell their wares, carpets, and jewelry. It was also an important developing home for many religions such as Zoroastrianism and later Islam. The program includes the historical sights: Mosque and minaret Poyi-Kalon, Medrese Miri-Arab, Dome Bazaars- Toki Sarafon, Toki Telpak Furushon, Toki Zargaron, Magoki Attari Mosque, Ulugbek Medrese, Abdul Aziz Medrese. In the afternoon visit: Ismael Samani Mausoleum, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, Ark Fortress and Bolo House Mosque. Overnight at hotel.

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.

As early as the 6th century, the city emerged on the most important route between east and west. 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. The numerous sights of the historic fortress are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the old town of Chiwas-Dschuma Mosque, Medrese Muhammad Amin Khan, Citadel Kochna Ark, Pachlovon-Machmud-Mausoleum, Alakuli Chan-Medrese etc. During the tour you will visit the important craft workshops. In the evening transfer to the airport in Urgench. They fly to Tashkent. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.

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

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