Inimitable wonders of Central Asia

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  PARIS / TASHKENT

  Departure from Paris on a scheduled flight with Uzbekistan Airways to Tashkent. Dinner and overnight on board.

• day 2

  Tashkent

  Arrival in Tashkent. Check-in at the hotel. Rest time. Lunch. In the afternoon, discovery of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Today, it is a major cultural and scientific center. Stroll through the old part of the city, visit the large Khast-Imam square, the spiritual center for Central Asian Muslim believers, with its 18th-century library housing the oldest Quran in the Islamic world, the 7th-century Quran of Osman. Meeting at the craft school in the Barak-Khan madrassah with renowned artists: miniaturists, sculptors, and painters... Excursion to the largest market in the capital, Chorsu. Dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  Tashkent - Urgench - Khiva

  Transfer to the airport for flight to Urgench. Arrival in Urgench and departure for Khiva (30 km). Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Mysterious city of blue faience, hidden in the Kyzylkum desert (red sands), on the banks of the Amu Darya river (untamable river), which has preserved its unique architectural beauty to this day. Discovery of the inner city of Khiva - Itchan Kala. Lunch. Discovery of the mausoleum of the never-defeated wrestler, healer, furrier, and spiritual master of the inhabitants of the Khorezm region, Pakhlavan Mahmoud. Meeting with very curious and warm pilgrims... Candlelit dinner in a sumptuous setting. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  KHIVA - BUKHARA

  Departure for Bukhara: we cross the Kyzylkum desert (The Red Sands) and the Amu Darya river, the second largest river in Uzbekistan. Picnic lunch. On the way, we stop to meet the breeders of the small sheep of Central Asia, the "astrakhans". Arrival in Bukhara and check-in at the hotel. Stroll in the Lyabi Khauz district, first encounter with the Persian-speaking, Tajik population of Bukhara. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  BUKHARA

  Discovery of the monastic city - Bukhara, a place of study and pilgrimage: The royal square of Liabi-Khaouz, one of the most beautiful squares in the old city; the Poi-Kalian complex with its Kalian minaret, symbol of the famous Silk Road, which once served as a beacon for caravanners; the "temple" of Tchor-Minor. Strolling in a theatrical setting... A few caravanserais in multicolored mosaics will open the door to the past for your dreams and your desire for history... Lunch. Continuation of visits: the Ark citadel, residence of the rulers of Bukhara; merchant domes; the royal mosque Bolo Khaouz; the royal madrassa of Abdoul Azizkhan, 16th c.; mausoleum of Ismaïl Samani, pearl of world architecture. In the evening, dinner in the caravanserai restaurant with traditional show. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  BOUKHARA - SAMARKAND

  Departure for Samarkand. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Lunch. Stroll on the royal square of Registan (15th-17th c.) with three buildings: the Ulugh Beg madrasa, the Sher-Dor madrasa, and Tillya Kori. Visit of the Gur-Emir mausoleum (15th c.). Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  SAMARKAND - TASHKENT

  Discovery of the legendary capital of Tamerlane, the city of Samarkand: Visit to the largest mosque in Central Asia, Bibi-Khanym. The light blue dome of the mosque rivals the sky. Visit to the nearby bazaar. Through the necklace of masterpieces appears the ensemble of Shakhi-Zinda, dazzling and picturesque. It stretches in a sparkling line on the ancient slopes of the old city of Afrosiab; the remains of Ulugh Beg's Observatory (15th c.). Lunch during the visits. Transfer to the station to take the Samarkand-Tashkent high-speed train at 17:00. Arrival in Tashkent at 19:10. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  Tashkent

  Visit to the Tashkent metro, a must-see. Each station is decorated in the Art Deco spirit, making each station a true work of art, similar to the Moscow metro. Lunch. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Paris.