Gorgeous Colors of Uzbekistan

The visit of Ichan-Kala begins with the discovery of the ramparts and the main portal of the inner city "Ota Darwaza" and by order towards the right direction and the light:

Ø  The madrasah of Mohammed-Amin Khan and his minaret "Kalta Minor" (XIX the century),

Ø  The central square of the ancient city - Kunya Ark (VII-XVIII the century),

Ø  The madrasa of Mohammed-Rakhim Khan,

Ø  The Djuma mosque (X- XVIII the century),

The time for lunch.

Ø  Allakulikhan madrasa, the Harem - Tash Havli (XVIII-XIX th century).

Ø  The Madrasah of Islam Khodja and its minaret (1908),

Ø  Pakhlavan Mahmud complex (XIV-XIX century) - a place of worship for the people of the region.

After the visit, you will have free time to stroll through the old streets of the inner and outer city of Khiva.

Overnight in Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel.

One-day trip to discovery the Zoroastrian remains. Road to Zoroastrian citadels Ayaz-Kala (90 km one way) which was one of the ancient capital of Khwarezem located in the old river bank of Amu Darya.

Ø  Ayaz Kala: this fortress, including the ruins of 3 brick constructions dating from the III rd - 1st centuries B.C. 45-minute walk to the main fortress located on a rocky and sandy hill (+130 m elevation). Civilization in Khorezm emerged around the middle of the second millennium. It appeared later than the birth of ancient Egypt and Babylon, but under the conditions of nature very similar.

Ø  Kizil Kala: discovery of the garrison of the ancient capital of Khwarezm - Kyzyl Kala,

Ø  Touprak Kala - another ancient capital of Khzarezm, one of the important citadels of the region dating back to the III rd century. BC. J.C. and IV c AD.

Back in the direction of Khiva and we go to Lake Kara Kul for lunch: grilled fish or according to your choice, there are traditional dishes. Walk along the lake to discover the landscapes, fauna, and flora of the area. On the horizon, behind the desert dunes Kara Kum - black sand the territory of Turkmenistan - the neighboring country. Back to Khiva when the light for the photos will be beautiful. Free time in Khiva city to discover independently.  At sunset, you will take a beautiful picture.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Bukhara via Kyzyl Kum desert (475 km, 7 hr of drive).

On the way some stop to take beautiful pictures and to have lunch at one of the oasis road cafes.

Arrive at the end of the afternoon. Hotel accommodation.

There will be a large time to enter the authentic atmosphere of the ancient Bukhara on walking through the torturous streets of the old city.

Time to have dinner.

Overnight in Bukhara.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Sightseeing program of the city. The rich trading city reached its height in the X the century when, as the capital of the first independent Muslim state in Central Asia, its population was larger than its today and its power extended as far afield as Iran and Afghanistan. Relatively little is known about the ruling Samanid dynasty. However, their exquisite mausoleum survives from that era, buried in the desert sand and it was saved from the wholesale destruction wreaked by Genghis Khan.

During your exploration of the city you can also visit:

Ø  Ark Fortress, an entire town containing the residences of the Emir.

Ø  The decoratively banded Kalyan tower – in its time the tallest minaret.

Ø  The Kalyan Mosque,

Ø  Miri Arab Madrasa,

Time to have lunch.

Ø  Trade domes; Toki Zargaron, Toki Telpakfrushon and Toki Sarrafon,

Ø  Ulughbek Madrasa and Abdulazizkhan Madrasa,

Ø  Magoki Attori Mosque,

Ø  Lyab-i-Khauz complex with a perfect peaceful pool flanked with lovely buildings.

Breakfast in the hotel.

Half-day tour to discover the monuments around Bukhara. It is highly recommended to visit the place of worship of Baha Uddin Naqshbandi in the morning when there will be only local pilgrims. This place is considered as Mecca of Central Asia where you can see the faces of all the people of Central Asia.  This is a real paradise for the photographer.  Continuing the path to the summer residence of the Bukhara emirs "Sitora-i-Mohi Khosa". The architecture of the octagonal palace harmoniously combines eastern and western styles. The palace consists of a "White Room" - a common reception and reception of the Emir, rooms for negotiations, and a harem. Return to the city. Visit the Madrasah with 4 minarets «Tchor Minor».

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to the desert Kyzyl Kum – one of the bigger in Central Asia, to the Yurt Camp near Aydarkul Lake (260 km). En the way explores the ancient Caravanserai « Rabat Malik» dating on XI c and water reservoir Sardoba – which was used once by travelers of the Silk Road

Nurato city explores the holy springs Chashma, Djuma Mosque (XVII c), Kanako (XVI c), and the ruins of the fortress of Alexandre the Great.

Lunch at a local family in Nurato city.

Continue the road to the Yurt camp in the desert.

Accommodation in a Yurt upon arrival.

Free time to walking in the surrounding through sandy dunes to explores flora and fauna.

There will be a possibility according to your desire a camel safari for half-hour op more time.

Dinner. Campfire accompanied by local Kazakh music.

Breakfast.

Drive to the Mountain village Khayat or Ashraf (110 km, app 2h30.).

Arrive at the beginning of the village which is situated in the beautiful mountain gorge and hiking till the homestay through the village (about 40 min). Accommodation at a local family’s homestay.

Rest.

Time to have lunch.

Hiking to discover the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the village for about 1 or 2 hrs. You will have a meeting with the local people.

According to your physic level, you can ascend to the altitude (+/- 250 m) to have a beautiful panorama to the mountain summit, amazing gorges, and to the Kyzyl Kum desert.

Dinner with family.

Breakfast.

Drive to Samarkand (230 km) through amazing views. Some stops will be welcome to have a beautiful picture. Arrival to Samarkand at noon. Lunch in the city and hotel accommodation. Rest.

Discover of Samarkand – one of the ancient cities on the Great Silk Road, the Pearle of the Orient. Visits:

Ø  The famous place of Reguistan – the heard of ancient Samarkand. This consists of 3 monumental madrasas, it is an example of the Urbanism Art; Madrasa Ulughbek (1417-1420 ), madrasa Saher Dor (1619-1636 and madrasa Tilla Kori (1646 – 1660).

Ø  Gur Emir Mausoleum– Architectural Master peace of Central Asia.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continue the discovery of Samarkand.  It will be very advisable to visit the Shakhi Zinda necropolis with a good morning light, where you will take your best pictures.

Ø  Shakhi – Zinda : –  this necropolis is composed of 14 mausoleums, dressed in missed blue ceramics, built next to each other like a jewel.

Ø  Bibi Khanym Mosque, the largest mosque in Central Asia, with its huge blue dome,

Ø  "Siyab" bazaar of Samarkand that allows everyone to find happiness among multicolored stalls (you will discover the market without an interpreter to be able to contact the population with gestures and to become familiar with them closer).

Time to have lunch. Then visit:

Ø  Visit 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.

Ø  The museum of "Afrosiab" tells the story of the ancient city of the VIII-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.

Breakfast.

Road to the discovery of the hometown of Tamerlane via the Takhtakaracha pass (1760 m) through beautiful landscapes.

Chakhrisabz discover the ancient monuments dating from the XIV-XV century.

Ø  The palace "Ak Saray",

Ø  "Dorut Tilovat" monument complex including the blue cupola mosque, the Shamsuddin Koulol, and Saidon mausoleums,

Ø  "Dorus Siyodat" complex of monuments including the crypt planned for Tamerlane, the Jahongir mausoleum, the ruins of the old Academy and the Hazrat Khizir mosque,

Ø  The caravanserai Koba transformed to the restaurant.

Time to have lunch.

Free time to explore the city at your own pace or go shopping.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Return to Samarkand and free time till the departure of the train. Train to Tashkent. Arrival and hotel accommodation. Overnight in Tashkent.