Riches of Uzbekistan

DAY 1: Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and private transfer to the hotel, accompanied by a guide. Accommodation for 1 night, including early check-in and breakfast.

Free time for rest and lunch (without drinks) at a local restaurant.

Afternoon half-day tour with guide in English or Spanish (subject to availability and confirmation) to the main sights of the old part of Tashkent.

During the tour, visit the Hasti Iman complex, the most important religious center in the city. Then, visit the ancient spiritual schools: Kokaldosh Madrasa and Kafal Shohi Madrasa.

Finally, admission to the Tillya Sheikh Mosque, a symbol of the city's greatness, and the Usman Koran Museum, home to one of the oldest and rarest examples of the Koran, from the 7th century


. DAY 2: Tashkent/URGENCH -
KHIVA After breakfast and check-out at the hotel, private tour with guide in English or Spanish (subject to availability and confirmation) to the main points of the modern part of Tashkent. It includes stops at Independence and Eternity Square and Temur Square, dedicated to Amir Timur, the famous 14th century conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire and is considered a national hero in the country.

Then, an external visit to the 19th century palace, which hosted the Romanov tsars during the period when Uzbekistan was part of the Russian Empire.

Continuation with the story of the 1966 earthquake that left Tashkent in ruins and visit the monument in honor of the episode and visit the subway, famous for its marble decoration and mosaics.

Private transfer to Tashkent airport for boarding a flight (not included) to Urgench. Arrival and private transfer to the historic city of Khiva (about 30 km — approximately 40 minutes).

Accommodation for 2 nights with breakfast.

Khiva is a historic city in Uzbekistan, located in the desert and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was an important point on the Silk Road and the capital of the ancient Khiva Khanate.

According to legend, it appeared around a well dug by Noah's son Shem. There is archaeological evidence of occupation dating back to the 6th century BC. The city was a Zoroastrian center before the Arab conquest in 712, and in the 9th to 11th centuries it stood out as a religious and scientific center. In the 13th century it was invaded by the Mongols. In 1598 it became the capital of the Khanate and later a center of Islam.


DAY 3: Khiva
After breakfast at the hotel, full-day tour of Khiva, with guide in English or Spanish (subject to availability and confirmation).

In the morning, visit the fortified historic center of Khiva, known as Itchan Kala. The tour includes Kalta Minor, the Kunya Ark Castle, the Mohammed Rahim Khan Madrassa, the Minaret and the Islom Khodja Madrassa, in addition to the Allakuli Khan Madrassa.

Stop for lunch (without drinks) at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continued city tours: Tash Hovli architectural complex (19th century harem), Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum (14th to 18th centuries), Juma Mosque (10th century) and Said Allauddin Mausoleum.

Free afternoon for independent activities.


DAY 4: Khiva - Bukhara
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Travel of about 7 hours to the city of Bukhara. Picnic-style lunch is included along the route.

Arrival in Bukhara and accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.

Bukhara is one of the main cities in Uzbekistan, with a historic center marked by domes and ancient monuments. A good starting point for the visit is the Lyabi-Hauz complex, a 16th and 17th century square that served as a commercial and religious center during the Khanate period. In the center, a large water reservoir, one of the few that remain in the old city, attracts attention.

At the end of the day, visit with a guide in English or Spanish (subject to availability and confirmation) to the Kukeldash Madrassa, built around 1570 and considered, at the time, the largest madrassa in Central Asia, and for the Nodir Devon Begi Madrassa, from 1622.


DAY 5: BUKHARA
Breakfast at the hotel. Private full-day tour with guide in English or Spanish (subject to availability and confirmation) in Bukhara, the city of Avicenna, an important thinker of the tenth century and one of the leading cities in Uzbekistan.

Visit the Samanid Mausoleum (9th to 10th centuries), located in a park, where Ismail Samani, founder of the Samanid dynasty, and his family members are buried. The building has a square shape, built of baked bricks and with sober decoration and the Bolo Hauz Mosque, dating from 1712. It stands out for the twenty carved wooden columns in the outdoor courtyard, which, reflected in the water mirror in front, give the mosque the nickname “of the 40 pillars”.

Then, visit the Ark Fortress (5th to 19th centuries), the oldest structure in the city.

Stop for lunch (without drinks) at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit the Bukhara bazaars, under the 16th century domes, filled with shops, with traditional handicrafts, including handmade rugs, embroidered fabrics, ceramics, Uzbek scarves, and others.

Return to the hotel.


DAY 6: BUKHARA - Samarkand
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Short private tour with guide in English or Spanish (subject to availability and confirmation), to the Magoki Attori Mosque (12th century), the Ulughbek Madrassa (15th century), the Abdulaziz-Khan Madrassa (17th century) and the Mausoleum with the Chasmai Ayub Sacred Fountain (14th century).

Trip to the train station to board a train bound for Samarkand, the legendary city formerly known as Maracanda. The average train journey takes 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Arrival in Samarkand and lunch (excluding drinks) at a local restaurant, followed by private transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation for 2 nights, with breakfast.


DAY 7: Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel. Private full-day tour of Samarkand's main sights, with a guide in English or Spanish (subject to availability and confirmation).

Samarkand is one of the most emblematic cities on the Silk Road, recognized for its historical and architectural heritage. Registan Square, its main postcard, brings together three madrassas decorated with blue tiles and domes, forming a unique ensemble that was the center of the medieval city.

The city is also important for Uzbeks because it houses the Mausoleum of Tamerlane, the great conqueror of Central Asia, whose tomb, known as Gur-e-Amir, is one of the most beautiful examples of Timurid art. An historical curiosity marks the exhumation of the tomb in 1941, the same day that Hitler invaded Russia.

Another highlight is the Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by the empire's best artisans and associated with the legend of the emperor's first wife. Despite being partially destroyed by an earthquake, the mosque has been restored and maintains its grandeur.

Lunch (excluding drinks) at a local restaurant is included during the tour.


DAY 8: SAMARKAND - Tashkent
After breakfast, private half-day transfer with guide in English or Spanish to Samarkand.

Visit to the Shakhi-Zinda Architectural Complex (9th to 15th centuries). It is a group of historic mausoleums that stand out for their beauty and cultural importance. According to legend, a cousin of the Prophet Mohammed is buried there, who, after being beheaded in the 7th century, would have kept his head in his hand, surviving the attack.

Continuation to the Ulugh Beg Observatory (15th century), built by Ulugh Beg, grandson of Amir Timur and renowned scientist of the time, where he carried out important astronomical studies.

Free time for shopping at the traditional Siab Bazar and stop for lunch (without drinks) at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, transfer to the train station to board the train to Tashkent, on a journey of about 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Arrival in Tashkent and accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.


DAY 9: TASHKENT
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Private airport transfer.


Combine this itinerary with: Turkey