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Day 1
Tashkent
Upon arrival transfer to the hotel for rest (check-n after 12:00). Proceed for Tashkent city tour.
Visit the Museum of Applied Arts, in the Russian Turkestan governor’s old mansion: over 7,000 pieces of traditional folk art: ceramic, glass and porcelain, handmade and machine embroidery, national fabrics and costumes, carpets, varnished miniatures, jewellery starting from the first half of 19th century.
Later visit the old town to see Barak Khana Seminary, Tila Shaikh mosque and archives known for the exhibit of a rare copy of Koran written the third Caliph Othman. Later proceed to Chorsu bazaar for shopping and visit Kukeldash Madrassah.
Lunch at local restaurant
After lunch excursion to Mustakillik (Independence) Square in the heart of Tashkent and famous Tashkent Metro (underground) decorated with local marble and granite like an underground palaces, visit Amir Temur squire and Alisher Navoiy opera and ballet theater square.
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Day 2
Urgench
Arrive in Urgench early in the morning at 03:05 am. Transfer to Khiva.
Check-in at pre-booked hotel. After a short rest half-day sightseeing tour of Khiva.
Khiva – is the museum under the open sky. Visit the inner town Ichan Kala to see Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark, Madrassah Rakhimkhon, Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud - the religious center of Ichan-Qala. It was formed around the tomb of Khiva's patron Pahlavan-Mahmud (1247-1326). He was a poet, philosopher and wrestler, Islam Khodja minaret and enjoy view of whole ancient Khiva.
Lunch at local restaurant
Continue city tour of Khiva visit Friday mosque and Tashauli Palace/harem.
Dinner at local restaurant. Guests can enjoy an unforgettable folk performance, presented by local artists demonstrating the unique quality of authentic Uzbek music and dance.
Overnight at Hotel
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Day 3
Khiva
Ashgabad
Early in the morning we drive to Uzbek-Turkmen border “Shavat”. After border formalities cross the border and meet your Turkmen guide and driver.
On arrival we set off 105 km (1,5 hours) north-west, towards Kunya-Urgench (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – once a glorious capital of the medieval Khorezmshah Empire, the biggest Muslim empire of the late 12 - early 13 centuries. On arrival in Kunya-Urgench we will have a chance to take a close look at outstanding monuments of the medieval Khorezm. We will visit the 14 century mausoleum of Turabek Hanum, one of the best living examples of the architecture of its period; minaret of Kutlug Timur, a former highest minaret of Central Asia that used to form a part of the main cathedral mosque of the city; mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh, a beautiful 12 century mausoleum with one of the earliest portals of the east and a unique cone of a dome; Kyrk-Mollah mound, the fabled al-Mamun’s Academy of Sciences; and mausoleum of Il-Arslan, a tiny precursor of unique Khorezmian mausoleums with a pyramidal cone as its dome.
Having finished sightseeing, we drive back to Dashoguz to take evening flight to Ashgabat (50 minutes by Boeing-717). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.
Dinner at local restaurant
Overnight at Hotel
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Day 4
Ashgabad
This day we will visit Old Nisa fortress that once was a residences of the Parthian Empire (247 BC-253 AD), stretching from the Kopetdag all the way across to the Persian Gulf and Anatolia.
After that we return to Ashgabat to explore the capital of Turkmenistan. We will see independence period parks and monuments, such as the Monument and Park of Independence (looking like a white-marble “Eiffel Tower” standing in a beautiful park) and a fountain-monument devoted to the 10th anniversary of independence (sculptural depiction of ten Akhal-Tekke horses placed on the top of a beautiful fountain), impressive Ertoghrul Ghazi mosque. In the afternoon we will also visit the National Museum (closed on TUE) of History and Ethnography (more than 327.000 objects on a display) and see the exclusive ancient artifacts from different historical & archeological sites of Turkmenistan, like Old Nisa, Ancient Merv & etc.
Later visit the colorful Russian bazaar. Here you will plunge into the atmosphere that resembles exactly the rhythm of Ashgabat life, peculiarities of mentality of the Turkmen capital's residents.
Dinner at local restaurant
Overnight at Hotel
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Day 5
Ashgabat
Mary
Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Mary (40 minutes by Boeing-717 or 737). On arrival, we head 25 km to the east of Mary, towards Bayram-Ali, the contemporary re-incarnation of and humble suburb of the glorious Ancient Merv (UNESCO World Heritage Site). One of the major archaeological sites of Central Asia, Merv played an important part in the development of the Silk Road for more than 2 000 years. Within the limits of the archaeological park, which is 1200 ha, we will have a chance to observe all constituent parts of the “wandering city”. A series of adjacent cities, which can be roughly divided into the ancient (Erk Kala and Gyaur Kala), the medieval (Sultan Kala with its suburbs), and post-medieval (Abdulla-Khan Kala and Bayram-Ali-Khan Kala), appeared in the course of time as a token of the natural progress of the city from initial stages of its existence to a more advanced level. Besides remnants of the cities of Merv, we will visit the VI-IX cc. AD forts of Big and Little Kyz-Kalas, excellent examples of the so-called corrugated Koshks; the splendid XII c. mausoleums of Sultan Sanjar and Muhammed ibn-Zeyd, demonstrating exquisite Seljuk period brickwork and architectural décor. If time and enthusiasm permits, it is possible to visit several more interesting spots within the site. After sightseeing, we head back to Mary. On arrival in Mary, we visit local History Museum, presenting a wide array of archaeological finds (dating back to the III mill. BC through the late XIX century) from both Ancient Merv and Bronze Age sites of the Margush country.
Dinner at local restaurant
Overnight at Hotel
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Day 6
Mary
Bukhara
In the morning transfer to the Turkmen-Uzbek border “Farab”.
After border formalities meet your guide and driver on Uzbek part and drive to the historical town Bukhara. Bukhara, former capital and a centre of Islamic learning, has over 300 mosques and was known as the holiest city in Asia with its 80 Madrassah.
Upon arrival to Bukhara check-in hotel and have some free time for relax and rest.
Dinner at local restaurant
Overnight at Hotel
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Day 7
Bukhara
Full day excursion around the city.
Full day sightseeing tour of Bukhara:
Visit – Lab-i-khauz ensemble, the pool and chaikhana of which is the modern centre of traditional Uzbekistan.
Visit Madrassah Nadir Devanbegi, Nadir Devanbegi Khanaga, Mogaki Attari Mosque, Poi Kalon Minaret and mosque, see Madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek.
Lunch at at national house of Rakhmon.
Here you will see a unique collection of ancient Susanne and taste one of delicious national dishes, cooked specially for you by home owners.
Later visit Ark Fortress, Balakhauz mosque, mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, Chashma Ayub.
In the evening you could enjoy amazing performance of folk ensemble in one of the oldest and beautiful medieval Madrassah of Bukhara – Nadir Devanbegi. Here you will have a unique opportunity to join the culture of the Uzbek people, to feel an oriental spirit, including traditional dances music.
Later dinner at local restaurant
Overnight at hotel
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Day 8
Bukhara
Samarkand
Morning drive to Samarkand en route excursion to Shakhrisabz - the birthplace of the Great Amir Temur in order to pay tribute to the Great Commander - the one who restored a lot of Sufi monuments during his lifetime including the mausoleum of the prominent Sufi preacher Khoja Akhmad Yassawi: visit Ak Saroy Palace ruins, visit Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque.
Lunch at local restaurant
After lunch proceed to Samarkand
Upon arrival in check in at your pre booked hotel
Visit Gur Emir - mausoleum of Great Tamerlane.
Dinner at local house of Ilkhom where you would have an opportunity to taste delicious home-made food and enjoy an unforgettable folk performance, presented by local artists demonstrating the unique quality of authentic Uzbek music and dance.
Overnight at Hotel
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Day 9
Samarkand
Tashkent
Full day exploring Samarkand
Visit Registan Square which was for many centuries the heart of Samarkand. See the three beautiful madrassahs: the Ulug-Bek Madrassah built in the fifteenth century; the Tillya-Kori Madrassah built in the seventeenth century; the Sher-Dor Madrassah, also built in the seventeenth century.
Later see the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times is the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum, Silk Road bazaar and Shahi Zinda necropolis.
Lunch at local restaurant
Continue our tour with a visit of excavations and museum of the ancient city Afrosiab and Ulugbek’s observatory located in the entrance to Samarkand. Among historical monuments of Samarkand observatory takes particular place, constructed by Ulugbek (Grand son of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429.
Late afternoon transfer to the railway station to take train to Tashkent.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Dinner at local restaurant
Overnight at hotel
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Day 10
Tashkent
Ttransfer to the airport for the departure flight home.