UNDER THE SPELL OF SITES IN UZBEKISTAN - 18 DAYS

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  KHIVA

  06:10 am - Welcome at Urgench airport by your local French-speaking guide. Departure by car to Khiva (30 km). Check-in at your hotel in Khiva. Breakfast. Departure for the visit of Khiva: the Kalta-Minor, the unfinished minaret, Kounia-Ark, the old fortress, the prison, the palace, the summer mosque, the Djuma mosque ("Friday mosque"), the Allakouli Khan caravanserai, the Tash Khaouli palace, the sumptuous harem, the mausoleum of Pakhlavan-Mahmoud, the Islam-Khodja minaret, etc. Overnight in Khiva.

• day 2

  KHIVA/TUPRAK KALA/AYAZ KALA/KHIVA

  Breakfast. Departure to discover the fortresses of Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala, among the most impressive dating from the 3rd century. Return to Khiva and free time. Overnight in Khiva.

• day 3

  KHIVA/BUKHARA

  Departure for Bukhara. For about a hundred kilometers, we cross the villages of the Khorezm region, then the Kizil Kum desert (Red Sand). Several stops are planned to take photos and for lunch in a "Chaykhana Bagdad – café". The unique beauty of the Central Asian desert takes us back to the time of the caravanners who crossed this sea of sand on camelback. Arrival in Bukhara towards the end of the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  BUKHARA

  The whole day is dedicated to discovering the old part of Bukhara. Most of Bukhara's points of interest are concentrated in the old city of Chakhristan and can be visited on foot. First, the Ismail Samani mausoleum (9th-10th century), the oldest building in the city and one of Uzbekistan's most beautiful jewels, then the Chashma Ayub mausoleum (12th-14th century), the Bola Khaouz complex (18th century), and the Ark Citadel. The symbol of the Emirate of Bukhara stands in all its majesty on Reghistan Square and recalls the terror of the Manghit era. The Lyabi Khaus complex, the Nadir Divan Begui madrassa, the Kukeldash madrassa, and the Nadir Divan Begui khanaka. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  BUKHARA

  After breakfast, you set out to discover the surroundings of Bukhara. The sacred site of Bakhaoudin Nakshbandi (16th century), where one of the founders and one of the most revered saints of Sufi Islam is buried, then you visit the summer residence of the last emir "Setora-i-Mokhi Khosa" (19th century). You continue the visit with the Tchor Minor madrasa (early 19th century), one of the most charming and most unusual buildings in Bukhara. Free time to stroll through the alleys of the old town or enjoy the magnificent hammam of Bukhara (14th century). Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  BOUKHARA / NOURATA / YANGUIGAZGAN

  We head towards the village of Guijdovan, made famous by its fine ceramics. On the way, visit the small town of Nourata where you can climb the hill of Alexander the Great and visit the Nomozgokh mosque as well as the sacred spring "Tchachma". Arrival at the yurt camp. Free time to watch the sunset in the desert. Dinner and overnight in the yurt.

• day 7

  YANGUIGAZGAN / LAKE AYDARKUL / ASRAF

  Arrival at the shore of Lake Aydar. Continue along the lakeshore to observe the birdlife that colonizes the banks (pelicans, cormorants, condors, etc.). It is possible to swim in the lake if the weather is nice. Departure for the village of Asraf, a very beautiful Tajik village. The landscape is magnificent and the people are very kind. Arrival at Sentab. Short walk around the village. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse.

• day 8

  ASRAF/SAMARKAND

  Departure for Samarkand. The city, located in the Zeravchan valley and occupying the center of the Silk Road, already existed at the time of Alexander the Great. The former capital of Timur-Leng (Tamerlane) was nicknamed "the Eden of the East." Tamerlane wanted to make it the capital of capitals, and it is true that the discovery of this azure stone garden that is Samarkand leaves a deep impression on visitors. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. First exploration in the city of Samarkand. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  SAMARKAND

  Breakfast at the hotel. Visit: the mausoleum of Tamerlane, a splendid complex around the famous green nephrite tombstone of Tamerlane and other tombstones of his relatives, which overlook the actual tombs located in the crypt. Registan Square, the highlight of any trip to Uzbekistan, is a dazzling ensemble that is among the most beautiful and striking there is. First, the perspective is majestic and further enhanced by the skillfully combined proportions of the three madrasahs: Ulugh Beg (1420), Chir Dor (1636), these first two facing each other, and Tillia Kari (1660). Next, the decoration of the portals and minarets is sumptuous, with their panels of finely carved and glazed mosaic. The Bibi Khanym Mosque, named after Tamerlane's favorite wife who acted as regent during her husband's many military campaigns, was built in 5 years. Its proportions are truly grand, with an inner courtyard of 130 meters by 102, and two minarets of 50 meters. The Samarkand market is located near the Bibi Khanym Mosque. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  SAMARKAND

  Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of Samarkand. The impression is different from that of Bukhara, as the monuments, although more spectacular, are scattered throughout a mostly modern city. You will see: the necropolis of Shakhi Zinda, of the "living king", a place of pilgrimage to the spot where one of the cousins of Muhammad is said to have disappeared after being beheaded by the inhabitants of Samarkand, who resisted one of the first attempts at Arab invasion. The large funerary mosque is accessed via a unique alignment of mausoleums whose glazed decorations are among the most beautiful in Central Asia. Visit of the Ulugh Beg observatory, the grandson of Tamerlane, who was a renowned scholar. A more scientific visit on the site of the greatest perfection that astronomy could reach before the invention of the telescope. Visit of the Afrosiab museum, where you will admire 7th-century frescoes found in the palace of Varkhouman. The most precious item in this museum is a 6th-century frieze that occupies the entire central hall and depicts a caravan carrying gifts for the ruler. It is one of the finest pieces of Sogdian art. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 11

  SAMARKAND/CHAKHRISABZ/TERSAK

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure towards Chakhrisiabz. Tamerlane was born near this village in 1336 and decided to build Ak-Sarai, the "white palace," there to commemorate this august event. He soon added a mausoleum intended to house his remains as well as those of his favorite son, and renamed the village of Kech to Chakhrisiabz, "drowned in greenery." Lunch in a traditional Uzbek house. Visit of the city of Chakhrisiabz: the Ak Sarai palace, former residence of Tamerlane where only part of the arch of the main entrance remains and where a few gold leaves can still be seen clinging to the enamel; the Kok Goumbaz mosque, so called because of its blue dome and which was the Friday mosque of Chakhrisiabz; the mausoleum of Chamseddine Koulial. Chamseddine was the mentor of Tamerlane's father and legend has it that the building houses their two remains; the mausoleum of Goumbazi Seïidon (1438), created by Tamerlane's grandson, Ulugh Beg, and which was to house his tomb as well as those of his descendants. Return to the Samarkand region and arrival at Tersak at the French teacher's home. Installation and first discovery in the village. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.

• day 12

  TERSAK

  Breakfast. Discovery of the village of Tersak, a short walk and a visit to the village school, if possible. A short walk towards the Tersak mountain, where you will meet the villagers. Return to the host's house for lunch, then rest. Dinner and overnight at the host's house.

• day 13

  TERSAK/TASHKENT

  The road to Tashkent, arrival and check-in at the hotel. Rest. Visit: Tamerlane Square, Independence Square, and the Tashkent market. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 14

  TASHKENT

  Breakfast. Panoramic tour of the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan: the epicenter of the earthquake with the monument to the solidarity of the republics of the former Soviet Union, the Koukeldache and Barakh-Khan madrasas, the Kaffal Shashi mausoleum, etc. Stop at the Abdul Kassim madrasa, which today houses many artisan workshops. Visit to the Museum of Uzbek Applied Arts, the only museum in Central Asia to have a significant international collection. In the sumptuous residence of Prince Polovtsev, which he had built and decorated in 1907 in the Uzbek style by the best local craftsmen, you can see collections of traditional Uzbek handicrafts: objects in carved wood and metal, fabrics, painted wood, embroidery, ceramics, silver jewelry, etc. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 15

  Tashkent/Kokand/Rishtan/Fergana

  Breakfast. Route to Ferghana via the Kamtchik pass (2268 m). Stop in Kokand, visit of the famous palace of Khudayar Khan, whose construction took 8 years (1863-71), the Juma mosque, which was one of the largest royal mosques in Kokand, and Dakhmai Chahon "the Tombs of the Governors". Continue to Richtan, a city known for the particular traditions of its ceramists, and visit a workshop. Arrival in Ferghana. The city of Ferghana (230,000 inhabitants) is the administrative center of the Ferghana region. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 16

  FERGHANA

  Breakfast. Departure for Marghilan. Visit to the silk production factory, and walk through the market and the Khanaka mosque. Return to Ferghana, visit to Independence Square and Park. Return to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 17

  FERGHANA/TASHKENT

  The road to Tashkent passes through the Kamtchik Pass (2,268 m) in the Chatkal mountain range. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 18

  Tashkent/Paris

  Breakfast. Visit of the metro, the pride of the Uzbeks. Transfer to the airport. 15:00: Departure of the direct regular flight Uzbekistan Airlines (HY 251). (Flight duration: approximately 7h25). 19:25: Arrival at Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport. End of our services.