Day 1. Samarkand - Tashkent.
Arrival in Samarkand. Meeting at the airport.
A full day of city sightseeing. Visit the Ulugbek Observatory (XV), where the remains of grand astrolabe for observation of star position and the Afrasiab ruins with the museum; the Shakhi Zinda - the necropolis of Samarkand rulers and noblemen, the Shakhi Zinda, the Bibi Khanym Mosque (XV) and the Siab Bazaar.
Lunch.
In the afternoon continue sightseeing. Visit the Gur Emir (“Tomb of Emir” from tajik), the Mausoleum of Temur and his descendants (XV), Registan Square.
Transfer to the train station at 16:30. Departure to Tashkent at 17:30 by Afrosiab high-speed train. Arrival in Tashkent at 19:40. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2. Tashkent (free time).
Breakfast at the hotel.
You can take part in a day trip to Chimgan and Charvak reservoir.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3. Tashkent - Bukhara.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Old city tour: Khast Imam Square, the Tilya Sheikh Mosque, the Barak-khan Madrassah, the Kafal Shashi Mausoleum, the Muy Muborak Museum-Madrassah,
the Kukeldash Madrassah, the Chorsu Bazaar.
Lunch.
City sightseeing: visiting Amir Temur Square, Independence Square, the Alisher Navoi Theater, completed in 1947 by Japanese prisoners, the Museum of Applied Arts.
Transfer to the station. Transfer to Bukhara by night train.
Departure at 22:00.
Overnight at the train.
Day 4. Bukhara.
Arrival at Kogan at 06:55.
Transfer to Bukhara.
Breakfast.
A full day of city sightseeing. Visiting the Poi-Kalon Complex, the square
separating the Mir-I-Arab Madrassah and the Kalon Mosque; the Kalon Minaret (“grand” from Tajik), one of the Bukhara’s symbols of 47m high (XII), three bazaars - Taqi Zargaron, Taqi Telpak Furushon and Taqi Sarrafon, the Magok-I-Atori Mosque, the remains of a Buddhism monastery, a temple and a mosque, the Nadir Divanbegi Madrassah, built in XVII, the Kukeldash Madrassah, one of the greatest Islamic schools of Central Asia.
Lunch. (Masterclass on pilaf cooking)
In the afternoon visiting the Ark Fortress, a city-in-city, as ancient as Bukhara itself, having served as the residence of Bukhara’s rulers for a millennium; the Bolo Hauz Mosque, the Ismail Samani Mausoleum (IX-X), one of the most stylish constructions of Central Asia.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5. Bukhara - Khiva.
Breakfast at the hotel early in the morning.
Transfer to Khiva through the Kyzyl-Kum Desert. Arriving in the noon.
Lunch at the hotel. Free time for recreation.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6. Khiva - Urgench.
Breakfast at the hotel.
A full day tour of Khiva, the most ancient and conserved city on the “silk road”. Visiting the Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah, the largest one of the city, the Kelle Minor Minaret, commissioned by khan in XIX and planned to be the highest one in the Islamic world (84m) but after his death the construction was quitted at the height of 28m; the ancient Kuhna Ark fortress built in the XII century and then extended during the XVII century, there are a harem, a mint, a stable, an arsenal, a summer mosque; the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud, the patron saint of Khiva.
Lunch.
Visiting the Islam Khoja Madrassah and Minaret, the most recent monument of Khiva; the Juma Mosque, interesting for its 213 wood columns (3,15m high); the Tosh Howli (“Stone House”); the Allah Kuli Khan Madrassah, Bazaar, and Caravanserai.
Transfer to Urgench airport
