Uzbekistan is the only country in Central Asia. Small budget: 8 days.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  PARIS / OURGHENTCH

  Departure from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport on the regular Uzbekistan Airways flight to Urgench. Dinner and overnight on board.

• day 2

  OURGHENTCH / KHIVA

  Arrival in Urgench around 06:30. Welcome at the airport by our guide-escort and transfer to the hotel for breakfast and check-in. Discovery of Itchan-Kala, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kugna–Ark, "old fortress" (1686-1806): the need for a fortified palace became apparent during the most turbulent period in Khiva's history; the fortress quickly served as the governor's residence. Kournych-khana (1825), used for official receptions; in its center, we find the small courtyard with an aïvan, a veranda with two columns whose walls are entirely covered with painted majolica tiles, made during the reign of Khan Alla-Kouli (1825-1842). We climb to the terrace of the Ak-Cheikh-Bobo tower, from where there is a magnificent panoramic view over the whole city. We visit the Mouhammed Rakhim Khan Madrasa (1871), the Islam-Khodja Madrasa (1908-1912) with its minaret 57 m high and 9.5 m in diameter, the tallest minaret in Khiva. A little further on, still on the right, almost in the center of Itchan-Kala, a long blind wall flanked by a minaret actually serves as the facade of the Juma Mosque (Friday Mosque), the main mosque of Khiva. On its carved wooden columns, one can see Buddhist motifs. Typical lunch at a local's home. Continuation of visits: behind the Juma Mosque rises the most famous monument of Khiva: the mausoleum of Pakhlavan-Makhmoud (1810-1825), which occupies the site of a furrier's workshop. Taking the second "main street" of Itchan-Kala, you arrive at the Alla-Khouli Palace, better known as the Tash Khauli Palace, "the stone palace", dating from the 19th century, residence of the Khans of Khiva (1838). The Alla Kouli Madrasa (1835) is an eloquent example of the art with which Khiva's architects knew how to solve the most complex urban planning problems. In front of the Moukhammed-Amin Khan Madrasa, the largest in Khiva (78 x 60 m), stands the curious Kalta-Minor, the minaret from 1855. Going down the main street, on the right is one of the oldest monuments in Khiva: the mausoleum of Sayid Alaouddine, erected shortly after the sheikh's death in 1303. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  KHIVA / BUKHARA

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Bukhara through the Kyzyl-Kum desert and cotton fields. Lunch in a Bagdad Café. Arrival in Bukhara and check-in at the hotel. Start of the visit of this city with so many historical monuments, whose construction dates back to the time when Bukhara was the largest cultural center in Central Asia. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  BUKHARA

  Breakfast. Departure for a visit of this second "museum city" of Uzbekistan, which was the regional capital from the end of the 16th century until 1917. The current city is full of breathtaking monuments in the heart of an intact old town. Discovery of the city: the Po-I-Kalian complex composed of the Kalian minaret (1127), the Kalian mosque (16th c.) and the Mir-I-Arab Madrasa (16th c.). Stroll under the Toki-Zargaron merchant dome (the jewelers' pavilion, 16th c.), the madrasas of Ulugh Beg (1417), Abdulaziz Khan (1652), Tim of Abdoulla Khan (16th c.). Lunch. In the afternoon: visit of the Liaby-Khaouz complex, one of the most popular places in Bukhara, which consists of the Koukeldach madrasa and the Nodir-Devon-Beghi madrasa (1622), the Koukeldach madrasa and the Nodir-Devon-Beghi khanaka (1620); Magokk-I-Attari Mosque (12th-16th cc.). Stroll under the merchant domes of the 16th century: Toki-Sarafon (money changers' dome) and Toki-Tilpak Fourouchon (hatters' dome). Visit of Chor-Minor, a complex with four minarets. Visit of the Ark citadel (the residence of the rulers of Bukhara), the mausoleum of Ismail Samani and that of Chashma-Ayoub (9th-10th c.), Bolo-Khaouz complex. In the evening, dinner with songs and dances in the former Nodir-Devon-Beghi madrasa. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  BOUKHARA / SENTOB

  Breakfast. Departure to the village of Sentop (750 m, 62 km; 1h), located at the foot of the Nurata mountains. Visit of the village and its surroundings. It is an unforgettable feeling to be able to discover the lifestyle of the local population of this mountainous region. Meals and overnight stay with a local family.

• day 6

  SENTOB / SAMARKAND

  Breakfast. Departure for Samarkand through a more cultivated, richer countryside. Arrival, check-in at the hotel. The discovery of Samarkand, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site: Registan Square: the most beautiful square in Central Asia, surrounded by three imposing madrasahs: Ulugh Beg Madrasah from the 15th century, Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kari Madrasahs (17th century); Bibi-Khanum Mosque (15th century): it was in 1399, upon his return from his campaign in India, that Tamerlane decided to build this mosque, named after his wife Bibi-Khanum. With its immense blue dome, it is the largest mosque in Central Asia. Stroll through the bazaar, always very lively. Lunch. In the afternoon, departure to visit the remains of the giant Ulugh Beg Observatory, one of the greatest astronomers of his time. Dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  SAMARKAND

  Breakfast. Discovery of the jewels of Samarkand's architecture through its most famous monument, which has become the symbol of the city: Gur-Emir. It is the "Emir's tomb," a splendid 15th-century mausoleum of Tamerlane. Panoramic view of the archaeological site of Afrosiab and a short visit to its museum, which houses unique 7th-century frescoes. Lunch. Visit to the Necropolis of Shakhi-Zinda, a jewel of 11th to 19th-century architecture, composed of several mausoleums lining the small winding alley up the Afrosiab hill. The eleven mausoleums, including that of the Prophet Muhammad's cousin, are an apotheosis of the art of ceramics in Uzbekistan. Visit to the silk carpet factory. Dinner of specialties in a traditional Uzbek house. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  SAMARKAND / TASHKENT

  Breakfast. Departure for Tashkent. On the way, after Djizak, you will see the Gates of Tamerlane or Temour Darvoza, the site of many bloody battles. Lunch. Departure for the airport and flight to Paris.