Marakanda or Samarkand is one of the most ancient cities in the world, founded during the middle of the first century BC under the name of Marakanda, later it was called as Afrosiab. The city of legends, where Aladdin lived and the old caravan routs passed, where traders from East found customers from the West. The city which is unbelievably picturesque, it amazes everyone with its beauty and style. Samarkand was conquered by the troops of Alexander the Great, the Arab Caliphate and Genghis Khan. It was the capital of the most powerful state of Sogd, and meanwhile it became the center of Amir Temur’s great empire. Temur was the ruler who cared about the beauty of the city and its strength as a major capital city in the region. The number of monuments in Samarkand and its suburbs impress tourists with the beauty and splendor. The majestic Registan square consists of three will attract any tourist. The myths of the city live nowadays in the hearts of the people. Multicultural difference of the city with the different religions, ethnics and nationality makes the city unique place. This is the place where ethnic Jews live in peaceful neighborhood with ethnic Arabs and Iranians, where Christianity is welcomed as well as Islam and Judaism, where peace is not something what people fight for, but the daily life, that is the place of fairy-tale with perfect and ancient history and kind traditions of the people.

The tour will also present Blessed Bukhara, which is well known in the Islamic it was known the Muslim East since ancient times. More than 140 architectural monuments can be seen here, and of the major blue-domed minarets one would have to start with that is of course, Kalyan Minaret which was built in 1127. This unique construction’s height is 47 meters. The most striking feature of the minaret is its intricate ornamentation. But that is not all; there is great number of architectural buildings and monuments which deserve one’s attention.

Well, it would not be easy to convince you that Uzbekistan is likely the most attractive place for your next vacation, unless… you realize what will be waiting for you here, aware of untold exciting opportunities found in traveling to the friendly and exotic world of Orient, and know what treats to anticipate for!

Day 1: Tashkent, Friday

On arrival in Tashkent you will be met by our representative with meeting board “Asia Travel Discoveries”.

Upon arrival, accommodation at the hotel. Rest.

Day 2: Tashkent – Urgench — Khiva, Saturday

07:00 – 09:00 AM. Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 AM Check-out from the hotel.

Full day excursion in Tashkent:

— Khast Imam Complex (XVI-XX cc.)

— eastern market Chor-Su

— Abdul Kasim Medressa where we can see a lot of souvenirs workshops (XIX c.)

Break for lunch

After lunch, continuation of exploring Tashkent.

-​ Applied Arts Museum where kept the best Uzbek handicrafts

-​ Independence Square – the main square in Uzbekistan

-​ Alisher’s Navoi Uzbek state Opera and Ballet Theatre

-​ Monument of Courage dedicated to earthquake in 1966 year.

After excursion, transfer to local airport for flight to Urgench by HY 1057 (06:20/08:40 PM) time subject to change.

Meeting at the airport in Urgench and transfer to Khiva (30 km.)

Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 3: Khiva, Sunday

07:00 – 09:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day excursion in Khiva by walk.

Khiva – is a beautiful and ancient town and perfect for exploring by walk, with impressive four walls at the centre of each side of the old city named Ichan-Kala.

-​ Monument of Al-Khorezmiy

-​ Kalta Minor Minaret and Mohammed Rakhim Khan Medressa,

-​ Juma Mosque (XVII c.),

-​ the Islom-Khodja complex includes mosque and minaret,

-​ the Kuhna Ark, which was the main fortress,

-​ the Pakhlavon Mahmud Mausoleum complex

-​ Toza Bog Palace, which was the summer palace of Mohammed Rakhim Khan II.

During excursion, break for lunch time.

After excursion. Free time at leisure.

Day 4: Khiva – Bukhara – 450 km (transfer 7-8 hrs), Monday

07:00 – 09:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Check-out from the hotel and drive to Bukhara.

Drive to Bukhara — ancient and interesting city and UNESCO heritage. The road will be via Kyzylkum desert and Amu Darya River, the largest in Central Asia. Kyzylkum desert, an oasis of ancient Khorezm, located among the dunes, keeping the ruins of ancient cities. «Kyzyl Kum» means «red sands». Indeed, the local sands are reddish, oddly mirrored in the waters of the great Amu Darya river. In the evening arrive to Bukhara and transfer to hotel.

Free time at leisure

Day 5: Bukhara, Tuesday

07:00 – 09:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel.

Full day excursion in Bukhara.

-​ mausoleum of the Samanids (IX-X cc.) — the pearl of Central Asia .

-​ Chashma Ayub (XII c.), which means «source of Job.»

-​ Bolo House complex including a reservoir, a Friday mosque and minaret.

-​ Arc citadel. Inside the citadel was situated a town, which includes residential and office buildings: the mosque, a prison, a harem, the treasury, the residence of the Emir (VII-XIX cc.)

-​ Poi Kalyan complex (XII-XVI cc.) includes the Kalyan Mosque , Mir-Arab and the famous Kalyan minaret. After lunch, continuation of exploring Bukhara.

-​ one of the biggest architectural ensembles of Bukhara «Lyabi House.» The oldest part of the complex — Medressa Kulbaba-Kukeldash, which has 160 cells and it pretend the biggest in Bukhara.

-​ Medressa «Nadir Devanbegi» was built by order of vizier Nadir-devanbegi shortly after the device pool and logically completed the ensemble “Lyabi- House”.

-​ The oldest mosque Magoki Attori located next to the ensemble “Lyabi House”, built in the tradition of figurative brick masonry and carved ornaments of archaic majolica.

-​ Chor Minor Medressa (XVIII c.)

Day 6: Bukhara – Shakrisabz — Samarkand — 300 km (transfer 4-5 hrs), Wednesday

07:00 – 09:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Check-out from the hotel and drive to Samarkand via Shakhrisabz.

On the way, time for lunch.

Upon arrival to Shakrisabz, excursion

-​ summer Palace Ak-Saray (XIV- XV cc.)

-​ Dorut Siodat complex (XIV-XV cc.)

-​ Dorut Tillavat Medressa (XIV-XV cc.)

After excursion, drive to Samarkand.

Upon arrival to Samarkand, accommodation at the hotel.

Day 7: Samarkand – Tashkent – 300 km (transfer 2-3 hrs), Thursday

07:00 – 09:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Check-out from the hotel

Full day excursion in Samarkand.

-​ Central Registan square with the majestic Medressas dated back to different centuries: Ulugbek Medressa (XV c.), Sher-Dor Medressa (XVII c.) and the Tilya Kori Medressa (XVII c.)

-​ Gur – Emir Mausoleum – the famous necropolis of Tamerlane (XIV-XV cc.)

-​ famous oriental Bazaar Siyob

-​ Bibi-Khanum Mosque dedicated to one of Tamerlane’s wife (XIV-XV cc.)

-​ Shohi-Zinda memorial Complex (XI-XV cc.)

-​ Ulugbek Observatory – one of the greatest in the middle ages.

-​ After excursion transfer to Tashkent. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.

Day 8: Tashkent, Friday

07:00 – 09:00 AM Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to airport for flight to your destination. End of tour.

Number of persons:	Budget option 2*(guest houses)	3-4* Hotel option
2	850	960
3-4	780	890
5-7	630	740
8-14	620	725
Additional payment for single supplement	70	130

Price includes:	Price excludes:
Letter of Invitation for Uzbekistan (not visa fees)	International air fare to/from Uzbekistan
All transfers by comfortable vehicle	Full board (lunches/dinners)
Accommodation in twin room sharing with breakfasts	Photo and camera fees on sights
Excursions with Professional English Speaking guides with escort	Early check — in, late check — out after 14:00
Entry tickets	Insurance
Air fare Tashkent – Urgench (economy class)
Train ticket Samarkand — Tashkent
Mineral water 1 lt per day on transfers between cities

Cities:	Budget option 2*(guest houses)	3-4* Hotel option
Tashkent	«Grand Art» or similar	«Rakat Plaza» or similar
Samarkand	«Dilshoda» or similar	«Bek Samarkand» or similar
Bukhara	«Fatima & Ibrogim» or similar	«Devanbegi» or similar
Khiva	«Shohjahon Parvoz» or similar	«Bek Khiva» or similar

Tour start:	Tour end:
18.03.2017	25.03.2017
01.04.2017	08.04.2017
22.04.2017	29.04.2017
13.05.2017	20.05.2017
03.06.2017	10.06.2017
25.08.2017	01.09.2017
08.09.2017	15.09.2017
22.09.2017	29.09.2017
06.10.2017	13.10.2017
13.10.2017	20.10.2017