ON THE TRAIL OF THE CARAVANS - 15 DAYS

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Tashkent

  Arrival in Tashkent, breakfast at the hotel, then departure for a tour of the capital of the Republic of Uzbekistan, rich in parks and fountains. Today, it is a city of major cultural importance. Once a trading center, its privileged location at the crossroads of caravan routes linking Europe and India aroused the curiosity of many conquerors (Genghis Khan in the 13th century). Discovery of the Barak Khan madrassahs (16th century), Abdul-Kassim Cheikh (19th century), the Tilya Chaikh mosque (19th century), Independence Square, the "Courage" Monument erected in memory of the victims of the 1966 earthquake, and the A. Navoi Theater. Dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 2

  Tashkent/Kokand/Rishtan/Fergana

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

• day 3

  FERGHANA / TASHKENT

  Breakfast. Departure for Marghilan. Visit to the silk production factory and walk through the market. The road to Tashkent passes through the Kamtchik pass (2268 m) in the Chatkal mountain range. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Dinner. Night at the hotel.

• day 4

  TASHKENT / NUKUS / MOYNAK / NUKUS

  Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight to Nukus. Flight to Nukus, flight HY 1001 at 7:10 am. Arrival at 9:45 am. Departure to Moynak, former port. Now, the Aral Sea has "evaporated" and is 150 km away. In Moynak, you will discover the "Cemetery of Ships". Return to Nukus. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  Nukus / Ayaz-Kala / Tuprak-Kala / Khiva

  Breakfast. Visit to the Savitsky Museum. Departure by road to Ayaz-Kala. On the way, stop and visit Toprak-Kala. These are impressive sites: the ruins of the two citadels are perched on a hill in the middle of the desert. Departure to Ayaz-Kala, visit the remains of Ayaz-Kala, the best-preserved fortress, then drive to Khiva. Arrival in Khiva and check-in at the hotel. Dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  KHIVA

  Breakfast. Visit of this museum-city, which, surrounded by high ramparts, extends over nearly 26 ha, and its monumental constructions dating from the 18th and 19th centuries: the old citadel Kounia Ark, the madrassa of Mukhamed Aminkhan (19th c.), the minaret of Kalta Minor (19th c.), the mosque of Juma (18th c.), the mausoleum of Seid Allauddin (14th c.), the palace of Tach Khauly (19th c.), the Palvan Darvaza complex (19th c.). The Djouma mosque is the main mosque of Khiva; it has 213 carved wooden columns. The mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmoud is the most remarkable architectural monument of Khiva. Dinner in the old city and overnight in Khiva.

• day 7

  KHIVA/BUKHARA

  Breakfast at the hotel, then departure by road to Bukhara crossing the Kyzyl-Kum desert. This is the largest desert plain in Central Asia, with an area of about 300,000 km². It is rich in natural resources, especially gas. Lunch in a Bagdad Cafe. Arrival in Bukhara and check-in at the hotel. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  BUKHARA

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for a full day dedicated to discovering the monuments of Bukhara, whose construction dates back to the time when Bukhara was the largest cultural center of Central Asia. Visit of this second "museum city" of Uzbekistan, which was the regional capital from the end of the 16th century until 1917: the Ark citadel, residence of the rulers of Bukhara; the Bolo-Khaouz mosque, located above the basin and facing the citadel; Tim Abdulla Khan; the mausoleum of Ismail Samani and that of Chashma Ayoub 9th-10th c. Stroll through the market and visit the madrasas of Ulugh Beg, Abdulaziz Khan, and Nadir Divan Beghi. Continuation of visits: the trading domes, the Kalyan minaret 12th-14th c., the Magokky Attary mosque 12th c., Lyab-i Hauz 16th-17th c. Dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  BUKHARA

  Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Sitora-I-Mokhi-Khossa Palace, country residence of the last emir Said Alim Khan. Visit to the Chor-Bakr necropolis, located in the village of Soumitan, 6 km from Bukhara. In this necropolis is the double tomb of Abou-Bakr Saad and Abou-Bakr Akhmad, descendants of Muhammad. Continuation of visits: the Chor Minor mosque, one of the most attractive and unusual buildings in Bukhara. Dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  BOUKHARA / GUIJDOUVAN / YANGUIGAZGAN

  We leave for the village of Guijdovan, made famous for its fine ceramics. Visit to the ceramics workshop, then drive to Nourata. Visit of the small town, the hill of Alexander the Great, the Nomozgokh mosque, and the sacred spring "Tchachma". Arrival at the yurt camp. Free time to watch the sunset in the desert. Camel ride in the steppe. Dinner and overnight stay in the yurt. After dinner, a Kazakh singer will sing for you.

• day 11

  Yanguigazgan / Lake Aydar / Samarkand

  Arrival at the shore of Lake Aydar. Continue along the shores of the lake to observe the birdlife that colonizes the banks (pelicans, cormorants, condors, etc.). It is possible to swim in the lake. Picnic by the lake. Departure for Samarkand. Arrival in Samarkand. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  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. Visit: the mausoleum of Tamerlane, a splendid complex around the famous green nephrite tombstone of Tamerlane and other tombstones of relatives, which overlook the actual tombs located in the crypt; the Registan Square, the highlight of any trip to Uzbekistan and, beyond that, a dazzling ensemble that is among the most beautiful and striking there is. First of all, the perspective is majestic and further enhanced by the skillfully combined proportions of the three madrasas: Ulugh Beg (1420), Shir 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 carved and glazed mosaic. Continuation of visits in the afternoon: the Bibi Khanym mosque, named after Tamerlane's favorite wife, who acted as regent during her husband's many military campaigns. Built in 5 years, it is truly grand in scale, with an inner courtyard of 130 meters by 102, two minarets of 50 meters; the Samarkand market, near the Bibi Khanym mosque. Dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 13

  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 to the Ulugh Beg observatory, the grandson of Tamerlane, who was a renowned scholar. A more scientific visit to the site of the greatest perfection astronomy could reach before the invention of the telescope. Visit to 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 bringing gifts to the ruler. It is one of the finest pieces of Sogdian art. Dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 14

  SAMARKAND/SHAKHRISABZ/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." Visit of the city of Chakhrisiabz: the Ak Sarai palace, former residence of Tamerlane where only part of the main entrance arch 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 both their 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. The road to the village at the French teacher's house and arrival. Discovery and short walk in the village. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.

• day 15

  TERSAK/TASHKENT

  The road to Tashkent. Around noon, arrival at the hotel and free time. Farewell dinner in the city. Overnight at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and assistance with check-in formalities. End of our services.