Best of Silk Road - dreams and tales of 1001 nights
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Tour code
10
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Destination
Uzbekistan
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Type tour
Group tour
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Age range
16 - 59
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Language
English
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Cancel tour
Yes/Free
Description
Tour location: Uzbekistan.
Tour duration: 11 days.
Tour type: History, culture, ethnography, gastronomic, architecture, and nature.
Quantity of tour participants: according to the request.
Best time to travel: April May, June, and August, September, October, first half of November
Itinerary: Tashkent – Nukus – Ayaz Kala – Khiva – Bukhara – Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Tashkent.
Tour description: Fascinating cultural and informative tour will introduce you to the ancient history and culture of Uzbekistan, and the world-famous ancient monuments of Khiva, Bukhara, and Samarkand. These cities still keep the memory of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, numerous trade caravans of the Great Silk Road. The Cultural Life of the heart of a powerful empire of Tamerlane is pulsating here. Experience the energy of imperial cities and its bazaars stuffed with exotic wares as you explore the fascinating views of deserts, steppes, and mountains. Traveling to the renowned Central Asian cities of Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, Shakhrisabz, and Tashkent you can gain a strong sense of the intricate history and the hospitality of people. Khiva is most impressing by its architecture and design. However, it is a rebuilt replica of previously destroyed buildings. Amazing! Let us say that the city is forgotten gem on the Silk Road. Walkthrough this amazing city at sunset and take beautiful photos with perfect lighting. Just after sunset, when it gets dark and bright stars begin to form on the firmament, the sickle moon brings back memories of the Arabian Nights. It will seem to you that the history, forgotten long ago, starts to permeate the walls like the crumbling crust of indigo tiles, covering the facade of monuments. Apart from spices and incense, you smell nothing. Only a faint shuffling of feet behind curtained doors will remind you that people are living here. Locals say that Khiva has many faces, which appear during a day, so one needs to spend at least 1001 nights and days to discover all of them. Tallest and the most elegant minarets, grandiose madrassahs and mosques, medieval palaces and mausoleums decorated with stunning ceramic ornaments, bustle, and colors of oriental bazaars, fabulous legends, warm hospitality and ancient traditions of the local population will leave a lasting impression in your memories
Photos
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Itinerary
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Arrival at Tashkent airport.
Meet by our driver with a meeting board. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Overnight in Tashkent.
After the late breakfast discovery of the capital of Uzbekistan (with the local guide). You will visit the old part and a new part of the city. In the old part, you will explore the Hasti Imam square with Kaffal Shoshi Mausoleum (XVI c), Barak Khan Madrasa (XVI c), and Djuma Mosque « Khazrati Imam ». Then you will explore the Oriental “Chorsu” bazaar.
Time to have lunch.
Continue the sightseeing in the modern part of the capital where you will explore Independence Square, Amir Timur Square, and Applied Art Museum.
Overnight in Tashkent.
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Breakfast.
Transfer to the airport. Flight HY 11 to Nukus at 7:25 am.
Arrival at 9:05 am. Meet with a driver. Transfer to the Savitskiy Museum - important of Central Asia, to visit it with a museum guide. Time to have lunch. Then drive to Ayaz Kala (160 km). On the way explore (without guide) the remains of ancient Khorezm (Chilpyk Kala, Kyzyl Kala and Toprak-Kala fortresses) Tuprak Kala - the most impressive fortress in the region stretching over a hectare and a half and located in the middle of fields. The construction dates from the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD It was the capital of the ancient Khorezm. The civilization at Khorezm emerged around the middle of the 2nd millennium. It later emerged that the birth of Ancient Egypt and Babylon, but in the conditions of a very similar nature.
Arrival to Ayaz Kala Yurt Camp.
Accommodation in a Yurt.
Discover of Ayaz Kala fortress. Dinner. Overnight.
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Breakfast in a yurt.
Drive to Khiva (95 km). After about 2 hrs Arrival to Khiva. Hotel accommodation will be at 2 pm, but you can put your luggage in a hotel. Meet with a local guide at the lobby of the hotel.
Sightseeing program in Khiva.
Visit to Ichan-Kala begins with the discovery of the battlements and the main gate of Ota Darwaza, then by the madrasa of Mohammed-Amin Khan and its minaret (19th century), the central square of the ancient city, Kunya Ark (17th century), the madrasa of Mohammed-Rahim Khan, the mosque Djuma (X-XVIII the century), the Allakulikhan madrasa, the Harem - Tach Hawlie (XVII-XIX the century). Following the discovery of Khiva. The Madrasa of Islam Khadija and its minaret (1908), the Pakhlavan Mahmud complex (XIV-XIX century) - a place of worship for the population of the region.
After the excursion, you will have free time to explore Khiva on your own and take a beautiful photo at sunset. Overnight in Khiva.
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Breakfast at the hotel.
Free time till noon to explore by your own rhythm or to do shopping. Transfer to Urgench railway station at noon. Train to Bukhara at 14:28 through Kara-Kum and Kyzyl Kum Deserts.
Arrival to Bukhara at 10:30 pm.
Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Overnight in Bukhara.
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Breakfast.
Meet with a local guides. Full-day walking Sightseeing program in Bukhara.
Made famous by its old carpet market, city museum in the middle of the sands, Bukhara will enchant you with the atmosphere of its old streets and its remarkable monuments, which bring us back to the medieval period and well before. Visit the monument of Bukhara starts from one of the oldest – Ismail Samani Mausoleum (IX-X c) – a masterpiece of local medieval architecture.
Chashma Ayyub complex (XIV – XVI c).
The oriental market of Bukhara, Bolo House Mosque (XVIII c), Ark – the Citadel, which was built by legendary heroes of Bukhara on IV c BC.
After lunch continues the sightseeing.
Visit Lyab-i-Khauz complex which grouping the madrasas of Kukeldash (1568) and Nadir Divanbegi (1622). You will explore also the Trade domes dating XVI c, visit Madrasa of Ulugbek and Abdul-Aziz Khan (15th-17th centuries), then Poï-Kalian ensemble (XV-XVI centuries) which consists of the Kalon Mosque, Kalon Minaret, and the Miri Arab Madrasa.
After the visit, you will have free time to walk in the old part of the city.
Overnight.
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Breakfast at the hotel.
Discovery of the monuments of the surroundings of Bukhara (with local guide).
Visit of the summer residence of the last emir (19th century),
From the sacred site of Bakhaudin Naqshbandi. And the Chor Minor madrasa cashed the eyes of travelers in one of the old neighborhoods of the city.
Return to the city. Lunch.
After lunch, you will have free time to explore the old part of Bukhara by your own rhythm. Overnight in Bukhara.
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Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Samarkand (325 km, 6 – 7 hrs) via Gijduvan, where you will explore (Without guide) the workshop of the local potter (potter speaks English) and the mausoleum of Abdukhalik Gijduvani and Madrasa Ulughbek. Continue the drive through Kizil Kum Desert – one of the bigger in Central Asia. On the way, you will explore to oasis town Nurata where you will visit (without guide) to the Holy spring “Chashma”, Namozgoh (XVI c), Djuma Mosque (XVII c) and the ruins of the Alexandre the Great’s fortress. Lunch at local family (included). Continue the road to Samarkand. Arrival in the late afternoon. Hotel accommodation. Free time. overnight in Samarkand.
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Breakfast at hotel. Meet with local guide at hotel. Discover of Samarkand – one of the ancient city on the Great Silk Road, the pearl of the Orient. Shakhi – Zinda necropolis. This necropolis consists of more than 14 mausoleums, dreed in blue glazed ceramics, built next to each other like a necklace of Pearls, as amazing jeweler work. Bibi Khanum mosque, which was once one of the bigger in Central Asia with its beautiful blue domes, « Siyab » Bazaar – traditional market of Samarkand. Then visit the famous place of Registan – the heard of ancient Samarkand. Which consist of 3 monumental madrasas, it is an example of the Urbanism Art; Ulughbek Madrasa (1417-1420), Sher Dor madrasa (1619-1636 and Tilla Kori madrasa (1646 – 1660). After lunch continues the discovery: Visit the remains of the Ulugbek Observatory - the most important astronomical construction of the Middle Ages. The ruins of this Observatory were discovered by the Russian archaeologist Vyatkin in 1908 after his long research. Discovery of the sextant of the observatory and the museum that tells the story and research of Ulugbek. Then visit to the museum of "Afrosiab" which tells the story of the ancient city of the VII-VII century BC. J.C. in XII century AD J.C. the most important of the museum is the frescoes found during the excavations of the palace of the governor "Varukhman" in the VI-VII century AD. J.C. representing the hunting scene, reception of ambassadors and the ritual scene of the visit of the tombs of the ancestors. Visit to Gur Emir Mausoleum– Architectural masterpiece of Central Asia. Overnight in Samarkand.
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Breakfast at the hotel.
Drive to Shakhrisabz (85km) via Takhtakaracha Mountain Pass (1760 m) through the beautiful view.
Meet with a local guide in Shakhrisabz. Explore Shakhrisabz curiosities.
After the excursion drive with your local guide and driver to Gylon – mountain village (70 km) which is situated at 1800 m and where you will have snow-covered tops of Zarafshan Mountain ranges. Walking to explore an authentic village where lives Sogdian people.
An unforgettable trip to discover one of the mountain villages still authentic, when there will be the moment of flowers and green valleys and in addition if you will spend a night at the local family home to share the meal of the family and of course to learn the lifestyle of its inhabitants walking through the village will make you want to return to Uzbekistan again and again.
Here you will take a beautiful photo of its friendly inhabitants and a few amazing mountain views. Dinner with family.
Overnight in the local family home.
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Breakfast with the family.
Walking till the downstairs village exploring the incredible view.
Picnic at riverside in a beautiful mountain gorge. Meet with the driver. Drive to Samarkand. Your local guide will stay in Shakhrisabz. Arrival in Samarkand. Hotel accommodation. Free time. Overnight in Samarkand
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Meet with the driver at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Seeing off. Return flight. |
Policy
Price included
The price includes
1. Meeting and seeing off at Tashkent airport.
2. All need transfers according to the program.
3. Accommodational in the hotels in a double / twin sharing room with breakfast.
4. A night under the yurt in the desert Kizil- Koum and homestay in the mountain village
5. Guided tours with local guides in the cities according to the program
6. Entrances fees to monuments and museums according to the program
7. Flight tickets between Tashkent - Nukus.
8. Train ticket between Samarkand and Tashkent
9. Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
The price doesn’t include
1. International flights to/from Tashkent
2. Uzbek visa fees (if it is needed).
3. Rights to take pictures in monuments and museums.
4. Personal expenses and not mentioned services
5. Travel Insurance
6. Tips
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Other terms
To book, a deposit is required, with the balance due 30 days before departure. Cancellations made over 30 days in advance are refundable minus a fee, while those within 30 days are non-refundable. Travel insurance is recommended but not included. Itineraries may change due to unforeseen conditions, and travelers must follow health and safety regulations. Luggage includes one checked bag and one carry-on; excess baggage may incur extra fees. Respectful behavior is required, and special requests should be made at booking, subject to availability.
Reviews
Overall rating
4.9
Review summary
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Transportation:
4.5
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Value for money:
4.5
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Support services:
4.5
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Organization:
4.0
Recent reviews
2,394 reviews
"An incredible journey through Noriva! From breathtaking mountain views to exciting water sports, every day was packed with adventure and beauty. A must-visit!"
"Our trip to Noriva exceeded expectations. The mix of scenic hikes, relaxing lakeside days, and cultural experiences made for a perfect vacation. Will definitely return!"
"I loved every moment of this Noriva tour. The guided hikes, serene lakes, and exploration of tropical forests were highlights. Excellent value and great memories!"
"Fantastic 5-day itinerary in Noriva! Enjoyed everything from mountain climbs to cultural experiences. Well-organized, beautiful scenery, and a truly memorable trip."