Mountains and Wonders of Uzbekistan

Overview

The Hissar Mountains are a western spur of part of the Pamir-Alay Mountains and stretch over 200 km from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan. Snow-capped all year round, Hazrati Sultan on the border with Tajikistan is Uzbekistan's highest point at 4,643 m. The variety of gorges, canyons, green valleys and bare peaks make up the special scenic charm of the Hissar. The Kitob and Shakhrisabs regions are ideal starting points for one-day and multi-day excursions into the mountains and gorges. Popular destinations are the mountain settlements of Gilon, Kul and Sarchashma with their unique landscapes.
This trip is a beautiful combination of trekking and culture and offers you visits to the country's fairytale towns and a wonderful trek in Hissar Mountains. You experience nature and culture, get to know the country and its people.

Day 1. Arrival to Tashkent

Welcome to Uzbekistan! When you arrive in Tashkent, your English-speaking tour guide will be waiting for you and will give you a warm welcome. Together with your private chauffeur you 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 Madrasa, the Tilla Sheikh Mosque and the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum made of plain brick masonry. 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 to the fairy tales of 1001 Nights. In the afternoon, continue your exploration of the modern part of the city and visit Independence Square, Amir Timur Square. In the evening transfer to Tashkent airport. They fly to Urgench. Reception at the airport and transfer to Khiva. Overnight stay in hotel.

As early as the 6th century, the city was built on the most important connecting 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 preserved the fairytale atmosphere of an ancient, oriental city to this day. The numerous sights of the historic fortress are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage. You will visit the old town of Khivaz - Juma Mosque, Madrasah Muhammad Amin Khan, Citadel Kochna Ark, Pachlovon Makhmud Mausoleum, Alakuli Khan Madrasah, etc. During the tour you will visit important handicraft workshops. Overnight in Khiva.

Driving through the Kyzylkum Desert, you will discover that even the seemingly desert has much to offer. You drive along the Amudarya River, the life-giving river of Central Asia. In addition, your tour guide will use the time to tell you interesting things about the country and its people. So you can look forward to a varied journey. Overnight in Bukhara.

Bukhara was one of the most important cities on the Silk Road. Merchants flocked to sell their wares, carpets and jewellery. It was also an important developing home for many religions such as Zoroastrianism and later Islam. The program includes the historical sights. You will visit the Samanid Mausoleum, Friday Mosque Bolo House, Ark Fortress, Mosque and minaret Kalon, Madrasah Mir Arab, Madrasah Ulugbek and Abdul-Aziz-Khan, domed bazaars, etc. The perfect end to a perfect day is the dance performance in a madrasah. Overnight in Bukhara.

Today we drive to Shakhrisabz (former Kesh), the hometown of Tamerlane. We visit the "White Palace" (Ak-Saray XIV century), including the impressive remains of the portal offering a unique mosaic decor. Kok Gumbaz Mosque in the fifteenth century, the Gumbazi Seidan mausoleum and especially the Khazrati Imam Mosque remind of the splendor of this city. Departure in the afternoon to the Hissar mountains. We arrive the village of Suvtushar, which is situated in a beautiful valley of the Hissar mountains. You stay in the village for one night with a local family. Having lunch. After lunch we will have a nice hike to explore the magical area. We cross the village to see the Suvtushar waterfall. Our path follows the valley up along the river that meanders through the valley. We reach the waterfall. This waterfall is located in the Hissar Reserve, the height of which is 84 meters. It's almost impossible to take your eyes off this beauty! A loud jet of water, turning into a lush foam, looks especially spectacular in the summer. We return to the village the same way to spend the evening with our host families. Overnight home stay.

Walking time: 4-5 hours; Ascent: 450 m. Descent: 450 m. 6 km, 3 hours drive
Ps. Transfer to the village Amagan by bus, from village by jeep ( UAZ). 3-4 person in a jeep

After breakfast hike to Sarchashma village. We cross the beautiful Tamshush village and the Tamshushdaryo river, a beautiful view of the peak of 3000 m. We go up the very easy path from the valley to the pass. Then the trail continues gently along the mountain slope to the other pass overlooking the Hisorak reservoir and the surrounding villages. We pass through the village of Tamshush, which lies in a deep mountain valley. The houses of the inhabitants are located along the river in the valley. We go up the valley and see a very beautiful gorge to our left. Trees grow thickly in the gorge. We often meet the friendly locals who work the land up here. Picnic in nature in a green garden by the stream, then we go down to Sarchashma village. We spend the night there in a family house with the resident. We can take an easy walk in the village to get to know the village and its people better. In the village we can visit an old mosque from the XIX century that has preserved its traditional old architecture. The mosque consists of a hall and terrace with wooden ceilings and wooden pillars. In the courtyard of the mosque you can see a large walnut tree that is over 500 years old. Dinner and overnight home stay in the village.

Walking time: 5-6 hours; Ascent: 750 m. Descent: 550 m. 15 km

After breakfast we go up the valley to Pass Gilon (2480 m), we have a wonderful panorama of the green valley and the barren mountains. Throughout the day there are encounters, because the valley is very lively: horses, sheep and goats graze under the watchful eyes of the shepherds; Fields are cultivated through the irrigation canals. We reach the pass, from the pass we have a spectacular view of the snow-capped peaks of the Hissar Mountains. Then we go down into the valley through the very beautiful landscape. There the locals plant potatoes, vegetables and snail clover. Various flowers cover the fields like a carpet. We reach the big river that flows down the valley to the reservoir. The valley here is rich in water and very green even in summer. We cross the river and go through the village of Gilon to our host where we spend two nights there. Overnight in the village.

Walking time: 6 hours; Ascent: 765 m. Descent: 680 m. 13 km

Breakfast. To discover the daily and rural Uzbek life, we take the opportunity to explore the surrounding area and go on a 5-6 hour trek in this part of the Hissar mountain range. Quiet climb on an easy and well marked path following the valley, we see fields of potatoes and wheat planted by farmers (potato from Gilon village is well known in the country). On the way to the hike in the valley you meet a lot of happy and smiling people. After climbing a ridge, we can admire the mountain slopes overgrown with plants, flowers and trees and the mountains covered with snow. Clouds hover over the mountains there, sometimes causing light or heavy rain. In the afternoon we go down to the village from above. We take a look into the life of the locals. Dinner and overnight home stay

Walking time: 5-6 hours; Ascent: 650 m. Descent: 750 m. 12.4 km

After breakfast at the homestay, our trek starts on the well-marked trail over the pass to Kul village. We cross the arable fields on the plateau and a green pasture for the animals in summer. Downhill we enjoy the view of the highest peak there Hazrati Sultan (4075 m). After that we slowly go downhill. The valley below is very wide and wide. The Oqsuv River (which means "the white water") flows through the valley. The valley is also very green and overgrown with flowers and plants. We cross the village, there are very interesting houses of the inhabitants. The houses are built on the slope of the mountain, not directly in the valley by the river. Our drivers are waiting for us in the village with their jeep. We then drive down the valley along the river towards Shakhrisabs. After the village of Hisorak, we continue driving along the “Hisorak” reservoir, the water of which appears blue. We stop at the water reserve to enjoy and take photos. Then we continue our way towards Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand.

Walking time: 5-6 hours; Ascent: 730 m. Descent: 550 m. 16 km,  drive 160 km

Ps. Transfer from the village Kul  by jeep ( UAZ). 3-4 person in a jeep to Miraki, from Miraki by bus to Samarkand.

Samarkand has witnessed a lot of upheavals during the times of Alexander the Great (Macedonian), the Arabic Conquest, Ghengis-Khan Conquest and lastly Tamerlane’s. Hence, Samarkand’s culture was developed and mixed together with the Iranian, Indian, Mongolian and a bit of the Western and Eastern cultures. FD SS tour of Samarkand: Registan Square (meaning “sandy place”) became an official centre of Samarkand since Tamerlane the Great’s time. The Square is surrounded by the Ulugbek madrassah (1417-1420), the Sher-Dor madrassah (1619-1636), and Tilla-Kori madrassah (1646-1660); Mosque Bibi- Khanum (named in honor of Timur’s eldest and favorite wife); Gur-Emir Mausoleum (graves of Tamerlane and his descendants, 15c); Necropolis Shakhi-Zinda and ensemble of mausoleums of the 11th-19th centuries (According to the legend, the ensemble was erected around the grave of Kussam, a son of Abbas and cousin of Mohammed).Overnight at hotel.

Continuation of sightseeing program through Samarkand. Today visit the Afrosiab Museum, once the heart of ancient Samarkand and now a unique archaeological city; the Ulugbek Observatory (XV century), which tells the fascinating story of the little son Tamerlane; the Tomb of Saints 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. Overnight in Samarkand.

Transfer to the airport in Samarkand. Here we say goodbye to the group. We are left with unforgettable beautiful memories. Flight home.

Services included: Services not included:
  • ►Round trip / excursions and transfer in air-conditioned modern vehicles
  • ►Domestic flight: Tashkent-Urgench in economy class
  • ►Overnight accommodation in middle-class hotels in a double room
  • ►4x guest house in the mountain settlement
  • ►English-speaking local tour guide throughout the trip
  • ►Mountain guide for trekking
  • ►Accompanying team for luggage transport with horses
  • ►Entrance to the museums and monuments according to the program
  • ►Half board according to the program (13x breakfast, 5x lunch, 13x 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: 4- 12 people
From 4 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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On request