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Day 1
Tel-Aviv with HY302
Tashkent at 19:00
Meeting and assistance on arrival.
Transfer to hotel. Check in.
Overnight at hotel
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Day 2
Tashkent
Full day sightseeing in Tashkent:
Morning visit the old town to see Barak Khana Seminary, Tilya-Sheikh Mosque and archives known for the exhibit of a rare copy of Koran written the third Caliph
Othman. Later proceed to Chorsu bazaar, Kukeldash Madrassah
Afternoon visit of local Jewish Synagogue and Jewish community, then visit Museum of Applied Arts, excursion to visit Mustakillik (Independence) Square in the heart of Tashkent and famous Tashkent Metro (underground) decorated with local marble and granite like an underground palaces.
Overnight at hotel
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Day 3
Tashkent
Samarkand
Morning drive to Samarkand and at the entrance to the city visit Ulugbek’s observatory and Afrosiab museum then transfer to hotel.
Half day sightseeing in Samarkand:
Visit Registan Square which was for many centuries the heart of Samarkand. See the three beautiful madrassahs: the Ulug-Bek Madrasah built in the fifteenth century; the Tillya-Kori Madrasah built in the seventeenth century; the Sher-Dor Madrasah, also built in the seventeenth century. Visit Gur Emir - mausoleum of Great Tamerlane.
You may have your dinner at Jewish traditional house
Overnight at hotel
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Day 4
Samarkand
Full day sightseeing in Samarkand see the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times is the
chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum, the Silk Road bazaar and Shahi Zinda necropolis.
Afternoon visit Jewish museum is in the former house of Jewish merchant named Kalantarov and Jewish cemetery, which is still in use.
Overnight at hotel
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Day 5
Samarkand
Shakhrisabz – Bukhara – 368 km
Morning drive to Bukhara en route visit Shakhrisabz – the birthplace and home town of Central Asia’s foremost conqueror - the Great Amir Temur .
Visit Ak Saroy Palace – the greatest palace, built by Tamerlan, similar in structure to Samarkand’s Bibi Khanum Mosque, but unparalleled in size and decoration. Later visit Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque.
Continue to Bukhara.
Upon arrival visit Jewish quarter and two synagogues – old and new.
One of the two synagogues in Bukhara owes its existence, legend says, to a wily Jewish widow. In the 15th and 16th centuries, laws protected Jewish houses, like Muslim houses, from official seizure, but Jews were not permitted to build new structures. The emir of Bukhara wanted to buy the house and land of a Jewish woman in order to build a water reservoir. She refused to sell. The emir built a small reservoir nearby, and the water began to undermine the foundations of the widow’s house. Emir asked again and since widow hadn’t any relatives, she asked for land and permission to build a synagogue instead of money.
The widow’s synagogue is one of two remaining in Bukhara, which also has upper and lower Jewish Day Schools.
Bukhara’s Jewish quarter has changed little since the widow’s day. Too narrow for automobiles, the quarter’s crooked streets are lined with two-story, stone houses whose carved wooden doors open onto central courtyards. In the widow’s small, one-room synagogue, the Ark is covered with carpets, the reading table is in the middle of the room, and gold-embroidered hangings donated by the Muslim community hang on the wall.
Overnight at hotel
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Day 6
Bukhara
Full day sightseeing tour: visit mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, Chashma Ayub,
Ark Fortress, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque. The next place of interest is
Magak-i Attari Mosque - the one of the earliest religious buildings of Islamic era in
Bukhara, Chor Minor Madrassah and Lyabi Khauz Ensemble.
Afternoon continue of sightseeing tour to visit the Kosh Madrassah Ensemble.
Visit Ulugbek Madrassah (1417+), Traditional covered bazaars inclusive Toki Zargaron Trading Dome (16-th century, in 1569-70); Toki Telpak Furushon Trading Dome; Toki Sarrafon Trading Dome was built at the end of the 16-th century.
You may have your dinner at Jewish traditional house.
Overnight at hotel
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Day 7
Bukhara
Khiva – 460 km (8 hours drive)
Morning drive to Khiva via famous Kizil Kum desert (Red sands)
See desert flora and fauna: unique saksaul trees and other desert vegetation, different kind mammals. Stop at Amudarya river bank
Later proceed to Khiva and on arrival transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel
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Day 8
Khiva
Urgench 30 km - Tashkent HY 1058 20:40/22:10
Full day city tour of Khiva - the museum under the open sky in the inner city Ichan Kala no transport, whole day will be just walking tour.
Visit Ichan Kala, Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark, Madrassah Rakhimkhon, Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, Islam Khodja minaret and enjoy view of whole ancient Khiva.
After lunch continue city tour of Khiva : visit Friday mosque and Tashauli Palace/harem.
Transfer to Urgench airport (30 km) for flight to Tashkent
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel
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Day 09
Tashkent
Tel-Aviv HY303 16:40-20:15
Morning is at leisure.
Afternoon transfer to the airport for flight to Tel-Aviv.