The gastronomy of Uzbekistan

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Departure from Paris to Tashkent.

  Dinner and overnight on board.

• day 2

  Tashkent

  Arrival in Tashkent. Check-in at the hotel. Rest time. Lunch in a local restaurant. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, "Manpar" soup (soup with pieces of pasta and vegetables cut into small pieces), main course "Dolmas" (vine leaves stuffed with meat). Dessert: seasonal fruits. We will discover Uzbek cuisine for the first time. Each meal during the trip consists of starters (3 salads), soup, main course, and dessert. In the afternoon, discovery of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Today, it is a major cultural and scientific center. Walk in the old part of the city, visit the large Khast-Imam square, the spiritual center for Central Asian Islamic 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 madrasa with renowned artists: miniaturists, sculptors, and painters... Excursion to the largest market in the capital, Chorsu. Dinner in town. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, "Shie" soup (sorrel soup with vegetables and pieces of meat), main course "Kavourdok" (fried meat with a vegetable garnish). Dessert: seasonal fruits. 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. A mysterious city of blue faience, hidden in the Kyzylkum desert (red sands), on the banks of the Amu Darya river (untamable river), Khiva offers eager travelers an architecture different from that of other cities in Uzbekistan with its approximately 52 historical monuments. Discovery of the inner city of Khiva - Itchan Kala. Lunch in a local restaurant. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, pumpkin cream soup, main course "Shivit Ashi", a Khiva specialty (green dill pasta with vegetable and meat sauce). Dessert: fruit. Continuation of visits to the old city. Introduction to Uzbek gastronomy with dinner in a traditional house. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, "Shorpa" soup (local vegetable soup), master class in preparing the main course "Tukhum barak" (egg dumplings, a Khiva specialty). Dessert: fruit. 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 Central Asian sheep, the "astrakhans". A barbecue meal awaits you: as a starter, "Somsa" (puff pastry filled with meat and onion) and "Shashlik", lamb skewers. 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. Visit to the puppet makers' workshop. Dinner in a tchaykhona (teahouse). Menu: 3 vegetable salads, "Chuchvara" soup (local soup with dumplings), "Dimlama" - stew with vegetables and meat. For dessert, cakes. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  Bukhara

  Discovery of the monastic city – Bukhara, a place of study and pilgrimage. Among today's visits: Liabi-Khaouz square, one of the most popular squares in the old city; the Ark citadel (residence of the rulers of Bukhara); the Poi-Kalyan complex with its Kalyan minaret, symbol of the famous Silk Road, which once served as a beacon for caravanners. Lunch during the visits at a local's home. Menu: 3 vegetable salads. Tasting of a Bukhara specialty — "Navrouz": a stew made of potatoes, tomatoes, onions, slices of beef, and spices. Dessert: fruit. Strolling in a theatrical setting... A few caravanserais with multicolored mosaics will open the door to the past for your dreams and your desire for history... In the evening, dinner with songs and dances in the former Nodir-Divan-Beghi madrasa. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, "Mastava" soup (local rice soup), the main dish "Kavourma lagman" (noodles with tomato sauce and meat). Dessert: fruits and cakes. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  Bukhara

  Continuation of visits: mausoleum of Ismail Samani, the pearl of world architecture; the source of Chashma Ayoub (9th-10th c.). Discovery of the Bukhara market. The royal mosque Bolo Khaouz. Sitorai-Mohi-Hosa, the residence of the lords of Bukhara. Lunch in the city. Menu: 3 vegetable salads. Tasting of "Manty" (large steamed dumplings stuffed with lamb, pumpkin and served with tchakka – sour cheese). For dessert: cakes and ice cream. Complex of Bakhouddin Nakshbandi, the great pilgrimage site for mystical believers of Central Asia. You will see men and women meditating together. Dinner with a local family. Menu: 3 vegetable salads. You will taste chicken soup and take part in the preparation of Bukhara plov. For dessert: the local cake "Chakchak" (puffed dough with honey). Night at the hotel.

• day 7

  Bukhara – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand

  Departure for Chakhrissabz, the birthplace of Tamerlane, through a landscape of steppes, and visit of his Ak Saray palace, the Gumbazi-Sayidan mausoleum built by his grandson Ulugh Beg, as well as a Khazrat Imam mosque. Stroll through the bazaar with its cradle makers' quarter. Lunch in a tchaykhan (tea house). Menu: 3 vegetable salads. The specialty of the region is "Tandir" (lamb meat cooked in a traditional bread oven). Dessert: fruits. Continuation of the journey to Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand and check-in at the hotel. Dinner in a local restaurant. Menu: 3 vegetable salads. The "Borsh" soup (cabbage and beetroot soup), main course: chicken skewers. Dessert: fruits. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  Samarkand

  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. Lunch in a local restaurant. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, vegetable cream soup, main course "Djiz" – fried mutton, dessert: fruits. Stroll on the royal square of Reghistan (15th-17th c.) with three buildings: Ulugh Beg Madrassa, Sher-Dor Madrassa, and Tillya Kori. Visit to the Gur-Emir mausoleum (15th c.). Tasting of Samarkand wines and cognacs at the Khovrenko cooperative. Departure for dinner at a local's home. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, vegetable soup, main course "Khanoum" – steamed puff pastry with meat, potato, and onion, dessert: local cake. Night at the hotel.

• day 9

  Samarkand

  Continuation of the discovery of the ancient city: Through the necklace of masterpieces appears the ensemble of Chakhi-Zinda, dazzling and picturesque. It stretches in a sparkling line on the ancient slopes of the old city of Afrosiab. Afrosiab Museum with its pre-Islamic era murals; the remains of Ulugh Beg's Observatory; visit to the Khodja Doniyor (St. Daniel) complex, a meeting place for believers of three religions: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim. Lunch during the visits. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, chickpea soup, main course consisting of meatballs with a vegetable garnish, dessert: fruit. Visit to the Samarkand bakery. Samarkand bread is very famous in Uzbekistan. Even Tamerlane, who loved Samarkand bread, wanted to be served this bread in India. Dinner in a local restaurant. Menu: 3 vegetable salads, soup with meatballs, main course "Barak" – small steamed dumplings, dessert: fruit. Night at the hotel.

• day 10

  Samarkand

  Visit to the Samarkand paper-making workshop according to the 4th-century method, silk paper. Khodja-Akhrar Ensemble (17th c.), including the Khodja Akhrar mosque and the Nadir Divan Beghi madrasa. Lunch in a local restaurant. Menu: 3 vegetable salads. Summer soup "Okroshka" – cold soup with sour milk, eggs, meat, cucumber, and herbs. Main course: "Goluptsi" – stuffed vegetables. Dessert: fruits. Visit to the workshop of the famous Samarkand designer, Mrs. Valentina Romanenko. Free time. Dinner in a local restaurant. Menu: 3 vegetable salads. Soup with spaghetti and chicken meat. Main course: "Kozon kabob" – fried meat and potatoes. Dessert: fruits. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 11

  Samarkand-Tashkent

  Departure for Tashkent (320 km) via the village of Bakhmal, discovery of cotton honey. Arrival in Tashkent. Check-in at the "Chodlik Palace" hotel. Lunch in a local restaurant. Menu: 3 vegetable salads. "Mashkhourda" soup (mung bean (green gram) and rice soup), main course "Norin" (noodles and meat). Dessert: fruits. Visit to the Museum of Applied Arts, which features a very large exhibition of handicrafts, embroidery, and traditional jewelry. Visit to the Tashkent metro, Independence Square, and Tamerlane Park. Last dinner with music and traditional dances (vodka included). Menu: 3 vegetable salads. Vegetable and meat soup, main course "Lagman" (spaghetti dish with vegetables and meat). Dessert: fruits and cakes. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  Tashkent

  Transfer to the airport for the flight to Paris.