Jewels of Uzbekistan - Group Tour in 2011

Day 1: Tashkent

Upon arrival at Tashkent International Airport, our guide will be waiting for you at the exit after you reclaim your luggage, holding a sign on which is written East Line Tour. Our guide and driver will take you to the hotel and help you with the check-in procedure. The rest of the day remains free for you. You may have a good rest to adapt to the time difference and recover from the long-distance flight.

Day 2: Tashkent  - Bukhara

At 13:00 a tour briefing will be given at the hotel lobby when you will meet the companions who may travel with you for the next 5 days. A half day tour today covers Kukuldash Mosque and Khast Imom - official religious center for Muslims in Central Asia, consists of Barak Khan Madrassa (16 cent), Tilla Shaykh Mosque - the Osman Koran, believed to be world's oldest Koran is kept in the library of this Mosque, a mausoleum of Abu Bakr Kaffal Shoshi - an Islamic scholar of 13-14th century. In the eveing we board an overnight train to Bukhara. On this train ride there is a chance to mix with the locals where you will find their stoic appearance opens up to warmth and laughter.

Day 3 Bukhara

Our train arrives to Bukhara in morning, transfer to your hotel for breakfast; Bukhara city tour starts with visit to the Ark Citadel. This Royal town-within-a-town is the home of the rulers of Bukhara for over a millennium. The Ark is as old as Bukhara itself. The fortress was the focus around which the medieval town developed. Bolo-Khauz Mosque (1712), opposite the Ark, it was the emir's official place of worship. The painted porch, supported by 20 columns was added in 1917. The architectural ensemble of Poi-Kalon (Pedestal of the Great), the religious heart of Holy Bukhara, consists of the Kalon Minaret, Kalon Mosque and Mir-i-Arab Madrasah. The Kalon Minaret (1127) is one of the defining symbols of Bukhara. The minaret is 9 metres in diameter at the foundation and grows slightly narrower at its 46-metre height. The minaret is exquisite not only in its magnificence but also for ornamental brickwork. The Kalon Mosque is the biggest Friday mosque in Bukhara for 10.000 people, built in the 16th century on the site of an earlier mosque destroyed by Genghis Khan. The Mir-I-Arab Madrasah (16th century) was built by Ubaidullah Khan (Shaybanid ruler) and named for a 16th century well-known Sheikh Abdullah Jemeny. It was Central Asia's only functioning madrasah in Soviet times and the most prestigious educational establishment for centuries. Covered Bazaars (trading city's cupolas - of the 15-16th centuries) were among dozens of specialised bazaars in the town built at the junction of caravan routes. Four major cupolas of the building of merchants have survived in Bukhara. Toki-Sarafon (cupola of moneychangers), Toki-Telpak Furushon (cupola of the sellers of hats), Toki-Zargaron (cupola of jewellers), Abdullakhan Tim (a centre of silk sales). The Ulugbek Madrasah (1417) is one of the three madrasahs built in Uzbekistanby Timur's grandson Ulugbek. Everything in it is characteristic of Ulugbek architecture: clarity of the design, excellent proportions and understated decorative details. The Abdul Aziz Khan Madrasah is located opposite the Ulugbek Madrasah. The Astrakhanid Ruler of the same name began its construction in 1652, but the decoration left unfinished when he was driven away by the first of the Mangit emirs. Magoki-Attori Mosque (12-16th centuries) is one of the last remnants of a symbolic architecture of various periods and religions. Its cupolas are slightly above the level of ground because the building is deeply stuck in the centuries - old cultural layers. Under this mosque archaeologists found the bits of a 5th century Zoroastrian temple wrecked by the Arabs, and an earlier Buddhist temple. Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble is the heart of Bukhara. Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble shows that the Bukharan architectural traditions remain alive. A high-ranking official named Nadir Divan-Begi built it in 1620 and some parts of it are still well preserved - Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah (1622), Nadir Divan-Begi Khonako (1620) and Kukeldash Madrasah (1568-1569). The afternoon the tour of Bukhara city tour includes visits to: Samanid's Mausoleum (the family tomb of the Samanid Dynasty from the end of the 9th - beginning of the 10th century) is a pearl of the East with traces of Sogdian culture. It is one of the first monuments on the territory of Central Asia built from burned brick. Chashma Ayub (the Spring of Biblical Job) Mausoleum was built in the 12th century over a spring. Legend says Job struck his staff on the ground here and a spring appeared. Its middle domes were added in the 14th century, the front one in the 16th century. Chor Minor (four minarets) is a monument of later period, built in 1807. Its four-domed minarets bear features of Indian style because it was built by order of Indian merchant.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 Bukhara - Samarkand

 After early breakfast depart for train station to take a train for Samarkand, arrive and transfer to hotel.

After lunch sightseeing tour of glorious monuments of the city  visit: Registan Square, known from the 13th century as a bazaar square, was the centre of trade and cultural life in medieval Samarkand. It is surrounded by three madrasahs built in different periods. Ulugbek Madrasah was built between 1417-1420 by order of Ulugbek, a grandson of Tamerlane. This monumental madrasah with portal decorated with five and ten-pointed stars and spirals of majolica was the greatest University of Central Asia in the 15th century. Shir-Dor Madrasah is the mirror attraction of Ulugbek Madrasah. Portal is decorated with mosaic tigers and gazelles. It was built in the 17th century, 200 years after Ulugbek Madrasah was erected. Tillya-Kari Madrasah (built 1660) is the third madrasah on Registan Square. It has a mosque with golden paintings inside. It was built by the order of ruler Bakhodir Yalangtush, 10 years after the Shir-Dor Madrasah. Bibi Khanum Mosque, once the biggest mosque in Central Asia, it was erected by order of Tamerlane after his victorious Indian campaign in 1399. The architects, artists, craftsmen from all the countries conquered by Tamerlane took part in the construction of the mosque.

Bibi –Khanum mosque, visit “Siab” bazaars of Samarkand.

 In the evening wine testing followed by dinner at local Uzbek family.

 Overnight at hotel. 

Day 5 Samarkand – Tashkent

Day tour for you to see the many wonders of Samarkand. Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, a site of pilgrimage visited since the 11th century and marked by holiness. It consists of about 20 mausoleums of different centuries built between 11th - 19th centuries. The complex appeared around the grave of Khusam ibn Abbas - the cousin of Prophet Muhammad who it is said to have come to Samarkand in the 8th century. There you can see the finest samples of majolica, mosaic and terracotta tile work. Continue tour in the afternoon when you will see: Gur Emir, a mausoleum (1404-1420) in which rests Amir Timur and many other members of his dynasty, constitutes a perfect and fine sample of Timurid Architecture; simplicity and harmony of shapes and sumptuously decorated interior (papier-mache painted in blue and gold). Ulugbek's Observatory. In the outskirts of Samarkand on the hill of Khuhak there is located Ulugbek's Observatory (the 15th century), with astronomical instrument, the sextant. In that observatory Ulugbek and other scholars had completed the famous "Tables of stars". Afrosiab Site & Museum. It is the area of 212 hectares mostly hilly surrounded by a moat. Here was situated ancient Afrosiab (old name of Samarkand). It had existed from the 6th century BC till the 13th AD. Now archaeologists here continuously conduct excavations. The museum displays: the model of ancient city and fortress walls, pottery, weaponry, coinage, altars and most of all the mural painting of the 7th century.

At 17:00 have a train to Tashkent, arrive at 08:30, transfer to hotel

Farewell dinner.

Day 6 Tashkent Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.