Day 1 till Day 5

Day 1: Arrival at Tashkent

After your arrival at Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan that is situated in the North of the Great Silk Road, you will be brought to your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Tashkent

Today a city tour in Tashkent is on our program. Tashkent developed into a modern city with shady avenues, parks and a multitude of fountains. The contrast is the old town with its winding streets and old buildings. The tour program includes the center of Tashkent, Amir Temur's construction, Independence Square, the Shayhantahur mausoleum, the Kaldirgachbiya mausoleum, the Zaynutdin-bobo mausoleum, Hodja Akhror Vali's house and the Kaffal Shashi mausoleum. We also visit the Khast-Imom complex. Among other things - the complex houses an important religious library. And the Kukeldash madrasah that was built in the second half of the 16th century and that is used as a regular mosque nowadays.

Day 3: Tashkent-Turkestan-Shymkent

After breakfast at the hotel we drive to the Uzbek-Kazakh border, where we have to deal the customs formalities on both of the sides. After crossing the border to Kazakhstan, we continue our way by bus to Turkestan (4 hours). There we start our city tour that includes the mausoleum of Ahmad Yassavi, who was a prominent representative of Sufism and a poet. Moreover, we will see the reconstruction of the mausoleum of Rabigha Sultan Begum, the great-granddaughter of Timur.
We have lunch and then we drive to Shymkent, where we stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Shymkent-Tashkent-Bukhara

In the morning we leave Shymkent and drive to the border. There again we get through the border formalities on both of the sides. Then we drive back to Tashkent, where we continue our sightseeing program. In the evening we fly to Bukhara. After our arrival we will be brought to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Bukhara

Bukhara is one of the oldest cities of Uzbekistan. It is believed that Bukhara was founded in the 13th century BC. Due to its location along the ancient Silk Road, Bukhara was once an important trading center in the region. The numerous mosques and Islamic schools are still the witnesses of the central position of Bukhara in the development of Sufism in Islam. During our city tour in Bukhara we will see the Labi Hauz complex that consists of three monumental buildings (the Kukeldash Madrassah, the Madrassah of Nadir Devon Begi, the Begi Chanaka Devon). The Kalon Mosque is from the 15th century. With the high portal and inner dome that are richly decorated with mosaics, this mosque with the minaret is on our daily program, too. We also visit the Miri-Arab Madrasah, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Kosh Madrasah, the Arc Fortress and the Chasha Ayub Mausoleum. The mausoleum of the Samanids that was built at the end of the 9th century impresses with its simplicity; of course it may not be missing, too.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 till Day 10

Day 6: Bukhara

Today we visit the center of Sufism in the Mirkulol mausoleum and the burial site Chor-Bakr. This burial site is a place of pilgrimage for Muslims, because there are late descendants of Mohammed buried in the cemetery.
Then we turn back to Bukhara, where you have a rest.

Day 7: Bukhara-Gijduvan-Samarkand

In the morning we drive via Gijduvan from Bukhara to Samarkand. Visit of the burial place of eminent Islamic philosopher Hoja Abdulhoki Gijduvani and of a local pottery workshop. The Gijduvan pottery school is famous for its ornamental flowers, often in combination with geometric figures.
In the afternoon we drive to Samarkand, and to our hotel there.

Day 8: Samarkand

Samarkand is one of the oldest cities and cultural centers in the world. It is almost 2500 years old and it had its heyday in the 14th century. Today we visit the unique Registan Square that is enclosed by three madrasahs: the Ulughbek, Tillja-Kari, Sherdor and the Gur Emir Mausoleum. With its unique potteries, mosaics and architecture it is a witness to the skills of its builders. Then we go to the Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Shakhi-Zinda necropolis, Hazrat Hizr Mosque and the St. Daniil's burial place. The observatory of Ulugbek may not be missing, too. In this famous observatory already in the 15th century observations were made and studies conducted, and the results are used even in today's techniques.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Samarkand-Urgut-Samarkand-Tashkent

Today we do a day trip to Urgut. There we visit the Gavsul Agzam Giloniy (the founder of the Kadiriya Sufi order) - a holy place with thousands-year-old plane trees and a pond with holy spring water. On the way we visit the burial place of Hoja Akhror-Vali.
In the late afternoon we take the express train to Tashkent. Arrival at Tashkent and transfer to the hotel.

Day 10: Tashkent-Departure

Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.

Services

* Accommodation in a double room
* Full board
* Guide
* Sightseeing program in each city with a local guide
* Entrance fees to sights, museums, mausoleum
* Train ticket Samarkand - Tashkent
* Support for tourist visa to Uzbekistan

The price for the stay in Uzbekistan does not include:

* Additional hotel charges
* Consular fees for Uzbekistan visa
* Private insurances
* International flight to/from Tashkent

The price for the stay in Kazakhstan includes:

* All transfers: 1-2 pers. in a sedan car; 3-7 persons in a van; 8-12 in a 20-seat bus; 13 pers. and more in a 45-seat tourist class bus
* Accommodation in a double room, including breakfast
* Entrance fees to sights, museums, mausoleum
* Visa support for the Kazakh visa
* Passport for the entry and registration at OVIR
* Full board
* English speaking guide

The price for the stay in Kazakhstan does not include:

* Immigration card at the border; 12.00 $
* Consular fees for the Kazakh visa
* Additional hotel charges
* Private insurances

Things to know

• For detailed explanations to the degrees of difficulty please follow this link: Explanation to the degrees of difficulty
• Information about visa and entry regulations, health information and tips for equipment, see this link: Things to know-1
• Please note our information about possible exchange rate fluctuations: Exchange rate fluctuation