Uzbekistan Culture Tour

Breakfast. Then, the guide will meet you in the lobby to start the excursion:

• Khasti Imam complex, including the Quran Museum, Barak Khan Madrassa, and Kafal Shahi Mausoleum, is one of Tashkent's most important spiritual monuments. The square is located in the heart of the old city.
• Chorsu Bazaar - the main oriental market in Tashkent.
• Tashkent Subway (several stations)- it was the first subway system in Central Asia. Construction was completed, and it opened in 1977. Each station has its own unique architectural style: marble, granite, and rows of columns
• Amir Temur Square – central park with the equestrian statue of Amir Temur and the so-called “Broadway”
• Independence Square – the most important square in Tashkent.
• Monument of Courage.

After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Tashkent.

Meet the driver at the lobby. Transfer to the train station to take a fast train to Afrosiab (approx. 7:30 - 9:43 / 8:00-10:25 / 8:30-10:49). The city of Samarkand, which was invaded by Alexander the Great and reduced to ashes by the hordes of
Genghis Khan. Samarkand, nevertheless, became the most brilliant city in the 14th century, under Tamerlane, who made it his capital.

Upon arrival, start the excursion:

• Gur Amir Mausoleum – Timur's mausoleum, which, in Persian, translates as "the king's tomb". It contains the tombs of Timur, his sons Shohruh and Miran Shah, his grandsons Ulugbek and Muhammad Sultan, and Timur's tutor, Sayyid Baraka. Construction of the complex began after the Death of Muhammad Sultan, Timur's heir and favorite grandson.
• Registan Square (15th-17th centuries), located in the city center. Its features include the Ulugbek Madrasa (1417-1420), the Sher-Dor Madrasa (1619-1636), and the Tilla-Kari Madrasa (1647-1660).
• Bibi-Khanum Mosque (15th century), one of the largest constructions of the Tamerlane era.
• Shakhi Zinda (9th–14th, 19th centuries), located on the southeastern mound of Afrosiab. This architectural complex consists of 44 tombs distributed among more than 20 mausoleums. Its greatest significance lies in the fact that it contains the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad's cousin.
• Siab Bazaar – the main bazaar of Samarkand, staying on the crossroads of ancient trading routes.
• Visiting Samarkand and not paying a visit to Siab market means missing one of the most interesting adventures.(Closed on Mondays).
• Lunch at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we continue our excursion:

• Ulugbek Observatory - Ulugbek, grandson of Timur (Tamerlane), ruled the country for 40 years.
• During his reign, Samarkand became one of the world's leading scientific centers. In Samarkand, Ulugbek established the Scientific School, which brought together the most prominent astronomers and mathematicians. Ulugbek built the Gurjani Zij Observatory in Samarkand (1428-1429). It housed a giant marble sextant with a radius of over 40 meters and an arc length of 63 meters. This instrument was used to determine the coordinates of the sun, moon, and other planets. Ulugbek also created the astronomical catalog "Tables of the Stars."
• Afrosiab Museum – Explore the history of ancient Samarkand through impressive archaeological artifacts and exhibits that reveal the city's rich Silk Road legacy.
• Konigil - Explore the traditional paper-making workshop, where paper is still produced using ancient methods.
• Khudjum – carpet factory.
• Free time to discover the city on your own.
• Dinner at national house with Plov Cooking Masterclass. A perfect opportunity not only to try the traditional dish – Plov, but also to see how local people live, better know their culture, traditions.
  

Overnight in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel.
At the indicated time, transfer to the station to take the high-speed train to Bukhara (approx.9:53-11:39 or 10:59 - 12:42).

Upon arrival, transfer to the old city of Bukhara. Start the excursion:

• Poikalon complex (XII – XVI c) architectural ensemble in the center of old Bukhara – includes the cathedral mosque “Masjidi Kalon”, “Miri Arab” madrasah and the highest minaret (46 m) at that time in the Orient.
• Trading Domes consist of three trading centers: Tok-i-Zargaron (1570) – Jeweler’s Bazaar, Tok-i-Tilpak Furushon (Cap Maker’s Bazaar, and Tok-i-Sarrafon (Moneychanger’s Bazaar.
• Magoki Attori – in 937, the four-pillared mosque was burned to the ground in a city-wide fire, and in the 12th century, the present mosque was erected, from which the focus of the mosque, the original Southern portal, remains.
• Lyabi – Haus (XVI – XVII c) – a complex with Nodir–Devon Begi madrassah, khanaka and big pool surrounded by trees.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet your guide and today we visit:

• Sitora Mokhi Khosa – Summer residence of the last Emir's of Bukhara.
• Ismail Samani Mausoleum – A masterpiece of early Islamic architecture and one of the most significant monuments in Central Asia.
• Bolo Khauz Mosque (1712). Bolo Hauz was built in 1712 and is one of the last buildings constructed before the modern era. The building served as a Friday mosque, and the Emir of Bukhara would often visit for Friday prayers.
• ARK Fortress (VI – XIX c) – in the Middle Ages, it was a whole town with the emir's house, with wives, mosques, mint place, government institutes, store rooms, a prison, and a square for public executions.
• Traditional Folklore Show at Madrasah. (Only during season times).
• Lunch at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Bukhara.

Breakfast/breakfast boxes at the hotel.
Transfer to the train station: Train (regular) 14:50-21:32 - 5:32- 11:12 - coupe: 4-bed compartment or SV: 2-bed compartment.

• Upon arrival, meet the driver.
• Lunch and check-in.
• Evening walk around the city.
• Dinner at a local restaurant.
• Overnight in Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel.
The first thing you feel as you enter the heart of Khiva, the town of Ichan-Kala, is that you are in a fairy tale. As if descended from the magical pages of Scheherazade’s fairy tales, Khiva will meet you with narrow, cobbled streets, two-story clay houses and a stunning array of mosques, mausoleums, minarets and bright, richly coloured domes.

Start the excursion:

• Kalta Minor Minaret & Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah – Visit one of the largest madrasahs ever built in the Islamic world, located opposite the Kunya Ark (Old Fortress).
• Kunya Ark (17th century) – The inner citadel of Khiva, housing former administrative buildings, law courts, a mosque, and gunpowder workshops.
• Pakhlavan Mahmud Complex (14th–19th centuries) – Khiva’s most revered architectural ensemble, renowned for its exquisite tilework and spiritual significance.
• Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrasah (1908) – At 45 meters, the tallest structure in Khiva, featuring an observation platform with panoramic views of the old city.
• Djuma Mosque (10th–17th centuries) – A cathedral mosque supported by 212 intricately carved wooden columns, noted for its unique acoustics and innovative natural lighting.
• Mausoleum of Seyid Alaudin (14th century) – Known for its exceptional gravestone made of multicolored majolica, unique in world architectural ceramics.
• Tash Hovli Palace – The summer residence of the Khiva Khans, built in the first half of the 19th century, featuring three courtyards connected by a maze of corridors.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.
• Return to the hotel by the end of the excursion.

Overnight in Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel.

• Meet the guide at hotel lobby to continue sightseeing.
• In the morning we will visit Nurullabai Palace - Built at the beginning of the 20th century, Nurullabai Palace is a fascinating blend of traditional Khorezm architecture and European design. Inside, visitors can admire richly decorated reception halls, intricate carved woodwork, stained-glass windows, imported ceramics, and elegant royal apartments that reflect the lifestyle of the last Khivan khans.
• The palace offers a unique glimpse into a period when local traditions and modern influences came together in the Khanate of Khiva.
• Lunch at a local restaurant.
• Meet your driver, transfer to Urgench International Airport (30 km) for departure HY 56 (16:1517:35) to Tashkent.
• By arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Tashkent.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your driver and transfer to Tashkent International Airport for departure.