The essentials of Uzbekistan in 10 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Tashkent

  

  Arrival at Tashkent airport. Welcome by the French-speaking guide and transfer to the hotel. Breakfast and check-in to the rooms. Relaxation after a long flight. Departure at noon to visit the old city of the Uzbek capital. Tashkent, meaning "the City of Stone", is today the largest city in modern Central Asia with a population of over 3 million. Tashkent is also the largest industrial center in the region.

• day 2

  Tashkent - Urgench - Khiva

  

  After an early breakfast, transfer to Tashkent airport at 5:00 am and flight at 7:15 am to Urgench. Assistance with check-in and boarding formalities. Baggage allowance: 1 piece of luggage of 20 kilos, cabin baggage 10 kilos. Arrival at Urgench airport at 8:55 am, welcome by your French-speaking guide and transfer to Khiva, 35 km away. Check-in at the hotel. Khiva, former capital of the khanate since the 17th century, located in the Khorezm oasis, an important stop on the Silk Road, was one of the largest markets in Central Asia. The day will be entirely devoted to visiting the inner city Ichan Kala, which is a true open-air museum, listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site.

• day 3

  Khiva - Bukhara

  

  Early breakfast. Departure for Bukhara. The road passes through the largest desert in Asia, the Kizil Kum or Red Sand Desert, then the steppe. The unique beauty of the Central Asian desert brings to mind the days of brave caravanners, who crossed this sea of sand on camelback. While skirting the banks of the Amu Darya, which winds through the Kizil Kum desert, you will be able to catch a glimpse of Turkmenistan. Picnic lunch or lunch box in a café along the road. Arrival in Bukhara at the end of the afternoon. Check-in at the hotel. Free time to stroll through the alleys of the old town. Dinner in a local restaurant in the city. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Bukhara

  

  Breakfast, then departure for a day of sightseeing in Bukhara the Divine! One of the oldest cities in Central Asia, a pillar of Islam with its 365 mosques. A spiritual and commercial center whose importance has not diminished over the centuries.

• day 5

  Bukhara - Guijduvan - Samarkand

  

  Breakfast, then early departure for Samarkand. On the way, visit the summer residence of the emirs of Bukhara, Sitora-i-Mokhi Khossa. Next, we will stop to visit the Gijduvan Private pottery workshop and attend a presentation by the ceramist on the types of Uzbek ceramics. Lunch during the visit at the ceramist's place. Arrival in Samarkand in the late evening and check-in at the hotel. Dinner in a city restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  Samarkand

  

  Breakfast. Visit of the monuments of Samarkand, the pearl of Uzbekistan and the capital of Tamerlane. Visit of the Gur Emir Mausoleum, tomb of Tamerlane with its magnificent dome. The sublime Registan Square with Timurid architecture, surrounded by three wonderful madrasahs: Ulugh Beg, Shir-Dor, and Tilla-Kari, decorated with dazzling faience, representing the true "threshold of Paradise" for artists and dreamers. Upon leaving the Registan, visit of the Bibi Khanum mosque, then discovery of the magnificent necropolis Shakh-i-Zinda.

• day 7

  Samarkand - Shakhrisabz - Samarkand

  

  After breakfast at the hotel, departure for the hometown of Tamerlane, Shakhrisabz, passing through the mountains and the famous Takhtakaracha Pass. Visit of the ruins of Tamerlane's Palace, Ak Saray (14th century) meaning White Palace. Behind the walls of the mausoleum is the Khazrati Imam Mosque (Saint Imam) dated to the 19th century, which erected the architectural ensemble named Dorus Saodat, meaning The Abode of Power, and the Mausoleum of Djekhanguir, Tamerlane's eldest son.

• day 8

  Samarkand - Urgut

  

  Breakfast and drive to Urgut, a town located 40 km from Samarkand, famous for its oriental bazaar, where you can admire the thousand colors of traditional Uzbek and Tajik fabrics. You can also shop among the very large selection of fabrics called IKAT. Return to Samarkand and visit the mausoleums. Transfer to the station for a departure to Tashkent by train at 5:00 pm. Arrival in Tashkent at 7:30 pm. Dinner in a city restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Tashkent

  

  Breakfast. Free day to visit Tashkent, its museums, bazaars, and parks. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  Tashkent - Departure

  Early breakfast and transfer to the airport for the return flight.