Description of the tour

IN THE HEART OF CENTRAL ASIA 12 days/11 nights

Itinerary: Tashkent – Nukus (ayaz-kala, tuproq-kala) – Khiva – Bukhara –Aydarkul - Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Tashkent.

• Day 01

  Tashkent

- arrival by flight at Tashkent international airport, meeting with the local Italian-speaking guide.

Transfer and hotel accommodation.

• Day 02

  Tashkent-Nukus-Khiva

- after waking up early in the morning and after breakfast, transfer to the national airport to catch the Tashkent-Nukus flight. the flight lasts, depending on the type of aircraft, from one hour and 50 minutes to two and a half hours. Arrival in Nukus and visit the Igor Savitskiy museum which is considered the "Louvre" of Central Asia. Lunch in Nukus in a local restaurant. After lunch, departure for Khiva (197 km) via Ellikqala province, visiting the remains of the ancient Ayaz-Qal'a fortress (IV-III ss BC) and Tuproq-Qal'a fortress (2nd-3rd ss AD). Arrival in Khiva late in the afternoon. Hotel accommodation.

• day 03

   Khiva

-Breakfast

  Day entirely dedicated to visiting Khiva. Historic center of Khiva Ichan Qal'a, considered an open-air museum city also currently inhabited by its 5 thousand inhabitants. We visit the main entrance Ota Darvosa, the complex of Muhammad Aminkhan consisting of his madrassa and the Kalta minor minaret (short minaret), the Kunya Ark fortress, the madrassa of Muhammad Rakhimkhan II,

stop for lunch in the traditional restaurant.

The visit to Khiva continues after lunch with a visit to the Juma mosque (Friday), the Tosh Hovli palace, the Allqulikhan complex, the Islam Khodja complex, the Pahlavan Mahmud place of worship.

• Day 04

  Khiva-Bukhara (500 km, 7-8 hours travel)

- Breakfast.

Transfer by car/coach to Bukhara through the Kyzylkum steppe desert (red desert). Along the way stop along the Amudarya River for photos.

Stop for lunch at one of the motorway restaurants.

Arrival in Bukhara late in the afternoon. hotel accommodation and free time.

• Day 05

Bukhara

-Breakfast

Whole day dedicated to visiting Bukhara, the mausoleum of Ismail Samaniy, the mausoleum of Chshmi-Ayub, the Bolo Hauz mosque, the Ark of Bukhara, the Poi Kalon complex which is composed of the Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque, madrassa of Miri-Arab, Said Alimkhan madrassa.

Stop for lunch at a local restaurant

We continue with a visit to the three Toq (markets) of local crafts; Toqi Zargaron, Toqi Telpak Furushon, Toqi Sarrafon. The Ulughbek madrassa, the Abdul-Azizkhan madrassa, Tim of Abdullakhan, the Hammomi-Kord Turkish bath, the Magoki Attori mosque, the Labi-Hauz complex which was composed of the Nodir Devonbeghi madrassa, the 33m pool x 29.5m, the khanaka of Nodir Devonbeghi. The Kukaldosh madrassa.

• Day 06

  Bukhara

- Breakfast

Visit the monuments in the surroundings of Bukhara; - Bahouddin Naqshbandiy complex (20 km) is the founder of the Naqshbandiya Sufi brotherhood. The complex is the place of worship for the entire Islamic world, - visit to the summer residence of the last emirs of Bukhara Setorai-Mokhi-Khossa, - visit to the Chor Minor madrassa (4 minarets).

• Day 07

  Bukhara-Ghijduvan-Nurata-Aydarkul

-Breakfast

Departure for Nurata via Gijduvan. The following visits are planned along the route; stop in Vobkent for the Vobkent minaret built in 1196.

  Stop in Ghijduvan to visit the Ulughbek madrassa and the tomb of the local saint of Abdukholiq Ghijduvaniy, the potter's house to study local pottery, stop in Karmana to visit the Sardoba (water reserve) and the remains of a caravanserai of the 11th century, stop to see the early rock carvings.

Arrival in Nurata and lunch in a traditional house. After lunch, visit the two mosques of Nurata, a water source and the remains of Alexander the Great's military fortress.

After the visits, departure for the Yurt camp (70 km). Accommodation in the Yurts, time for camel riding. Dinner in the field.

• Day 08

  Aydarkul-Samarkand

- Breakfast.

After breakfast, visit the Aydarkul artificial lake (300km long and 70km wide), walk on the beach, swim in the lake. Picnic lunch on the lake.

After picnic lunch, departure for Samarkand.

Arrival in Samarkand and hotel accommodation.

• Day 09

Samarkand

Day entirely dedicated to visiting Samarkand. Ulughbek Observatory, Afrosiyab Archaeological Site Museum, Shaxi-Zinda Necropolis, Bibi-Xanim Mosque, Siyob Traditional Market.

Stop for lunch at a local restaurant

The visit continues with the mausoleum of Tamerlane, the Registan square (the Ulughbek madrassa, the Tilla-Qori madrassa, the Sherdor madrassa).

Dinner in a local restaurant or hotel, overnight stay

• Day 10

Samarkand-Shaxrisabsz-Samarkand

- Breakfast

Departure with taxis to Shaxrisabsz via the Karatakhtacha pass (1600 meters above sea level), along the pass stops for photos of the mountainous panorama. The arrival in Shaxrisabsz and the visit of the remains of the palace of Tamerlane Ak-Saray, Hazrati-Imam mosque, Dorus-Siyodat complex, Dorut-Tilovat complex.

Lunch in a traditional house. After lunch return to Samarkand, upon return to Samarkand visit the paper factory where the production of handmade paper has been reorganised.

• Day 11

Samarkand-Tashkent

-Breakfast.

Transfer to Tashkent by car/coach, stops on request along the way. I arrive in Tashkent for lunch time.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, hotel accommodation and visit to the historic center of the old city of Tashkent, the Khast-Imam complex which consisted of the Kaffal Ash-Shoshi mausoleum, the Barakkhan madrassa, the Tilla Shaykh mosque, the library of Koranic books . Visiting the Chorsu traditional market, Tashkent Metro, Independence Square, Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theater building.

• Day 12

Tashkent

-Early breakfast. Transfer to the international airport.

Tour route