A Thousand and One Colors of the Silk Road, 12 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Friday / Paris – Tashkent

  You can choose from three airlines for the flight to Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan Airways – direct flight Paris – Tashkent – Paris Turkish Airlines – flight with a stopover in Istanbul Aeroflot – flight with a stopover in Moscow.

• day 2

  Saturday / Tashkent

  Arrival in Tashkent in the early morning. Your guide welcomes you at the airport and you head to the hotel. You have some time to rest and have breakfast at the hotel. You then set out to discover the capital of Uzbekistan, which is the largest city in Central Asia. One of the oldest cities in Central Asia, Tashkent was an important crossroads on the Silk Road. Thanks to this, the city prospered very quickly and became the capital of Russian Turkestan after the Russian invasion. After the birth of the five Central Asian countries, under the Soviet regime, Tashkent remained the capital of the young Soviet republic of Uzbekistan. With a population of over 3 million inhabitants, this city is one of the greenest and most airy in the world. You will see large avenues and parks with fountains, large colorful markets, squares and buildings from different eras, as well as very rich museums. The most interesting sites to visit in Tashkent on the first day of the trip are: The Chorsu Market - one of the largest multicolored bazaars in Tashkent where people come every day to do their shopping. It is the giant building with blue domes that you will spot as soon as you enter the old city. The Khasti Imam complex - a group of historical monuments consisting of madrasas, mosques, and mausoleums dating from the 15th century. You will stroll through a magnificent esplanade. Independence Square - the central square of the city, in the administrative center. Amir Timur Square - one of the largest squares in Tashkent. The Tashkent metro - unique in Central Asia with magnificent stations. You will have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste local specialties in typical places.

• day 3

  Sunday / Tashkent – Samarkand

  After breakfast at the hotel, you take the Afrosiyob TGV at 7 o'clock (2 hours journey) to Samarkand. The mythical city of the Orient, full of legends, welcomes you. You start the visits right after checking in at the hotel. "Everything I was told about Samarkand is true. Except that it is even more beautiful," said Alexander the Great about Samarkand. You will be lulled by legends in this city of blue domes and imposing gateways. The Gur Emir Mausoleum - A monument erected in the 14th century on the tomb of Amir Timur, the great king of the 14th century, ruling over Samarkand. Registan Square - The architectural ensemble composed of 3 large monumental madrasahs. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque - The imposing mosque dating from the 14th century. Stroll through the Siyob market, the largest bazaar in Samarkand, very lively and colorful, through the pastry, dried fruit, and handicraft departments. You have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste local specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  Monday / Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand

  Breakfast at the hotel. You take the road to Chakhrisabz (green city), the birthplace of Amir Timour, passing through mountains with beautiful landscapes. The city was the last stop for caravans coming from Europe and Iran before reaching Samarkand. This gateway to the South was therefore a large strategic fortified city with many inhabitants. There are still ruins of gigantic constructions. You visit several monuments gathered around an esplanade in the historic center of the city. The ruins of the Ak Saray palace Walk through the immense esplanade organized in the historic center of the city The Dor-Ut-Tilovat mausoleum The Dor-Us-Soadat madrasa. In the afternoon, you go to a village near the city to visit the korèzes, a medieval irrigation system preserved to this day in a typical village at the foot of the mountains. There is the possibility to visit families who raise silkworms (from April 15 to May 15). You return to Samarkand at the end of the day with many impressions and emotions. You have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste local specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  Tuesday / Samarkand

  Breakfast at the hotel. Samarkand continues to amaze you with its architectural treasures. You discover the monuments and the craft workshops of Samarkand. The Chohi Zinda necropolis - one of the most important places of worship in Samarkand. Built around the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed's nephew over several centuries, here you discover a collection of richly decorated monuments. The carpet workshop - you visit and witness the process of making Samarkand carpets by hand. Ulugh Beg Observatory - the museum and the ruins of the observatory of Ulugh Beg, the Timurid astronomer prince. The Afrosiab Museum The Samarkand paper workshop produces mulberry bark using ancestral methods. You go to the theater to attend the musical show presenting historical costumes "El-merosi". You have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste local specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  Wednesday / Samarkand – Bukhara

  Breakfast at the hotel. You take the Afrosiyob TGV at 10:15 to Bukhara. You arrive in Bukhara at 11:45, after a 1h30 journey. You will settle in at the hotel. The visits will take place after lunch. Bukhara is a city particularly rich in medieval architecture and craftsmanship. The historic center of the city has more than 130 historical monuments listed by the State, among which you will find caravanserais, hammams, mosques, palaces, madrasas, medieval markets called Toq, mausoleums, pools, craft centers, and many others. You will visit in the afternoon the monuments outside the city: The Summer Palace of the Emir of Bukhara - This is a palace located in the middle of a large garden, built in the 19th century, featuring architecture that blends Russian and traditional styles. The Naqshbandi Mausoleum - This is the most visited place of worship in Bukhara by pilgrims who come here to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Naqshbandi, a famous Sufi who lived in the 14th century. The Chor Minor Madrasa - This is a madrasa original in its shape, located in a residential neighborhood, allowing you to stroll through the area. You will have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste local specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  Thursday / Bukhara

  Breakfast at the hotel. You take advantage of this day to visit and discover the main monuments of Bukhara in the historic center. The Ismail Samani Mausoleum The Chashma Ayub Mausoleum The Citadel – Ark and the Bolo Khaouz Mosque The Poyi Kalyan complex which brings together three monuments: the Mir Arab Madrasa, the Grand Mosque, and the Kalyan Minaret The Ulug Beg Madrasa and the Abdul Aziz Khan Madrasa The Lyabi Khaouz complex bringing together the Kukeldash Madrasa, the Nadir Divanbegi Madrasa, and a large Khanaka The Magoki-Attari Mosque The medieval markets Toki Zargaron, Toki Sarrafon, Toki Telpakfuruchon, the Tim of Abdullakhan. You end the day with the folk show in the Nadir Devan Begui Madrasa. You have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste local specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  Friday / Bukhara

  Breakfast at the hotel. You continue exploring Bukhara by visiting the house of Fayzulla Khodjayev, which has been transformed into a museum representing the homes of the local bourgeoisie of the 19th century. You then go to an embroidery artisan to discover local embroidery and watch the preparation of "Palov," the traditional Uzbek dish. You will taste this traditional dish during a typical lunch at the artisan's home. In the afternoon, you head to another artist, the renowned miniaturist of Bukhara, and take part in a miniature master class on Samarkand paper. At the end of the afternoon, you will have free time to better soak up the city and for possible souvenir shopping. You will have dinner in a local restaurant and taste specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Saturday / Bukhara – Khiva

  Breakfast at the hotel. You take the road to Khiva through the Kyzyl Kum desert, which stretches all the way to the Aral Sea. The road, winding through the sand dunes, allows you to discover the flora of the Uzbek desert and crosses the Amu Darya river, offering you the possibility of having a panoramic view of the largest river in Central Asia. You arrive in Khiva at the end of the afternoon and enjoy some rest before dinner. Night walk in Khiva after dinner. You have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  Sunday / Khiva

  Breakfast at the hotel. Sunday is the day of the Grand Bazaar in Khiva. You start the day with a visit to the Khiva market, very lively and colorful, to discover real local life and meet the inhabitants. You then continue with a visit to the architectural monuments of this open-air museum city. The truncated minaret Kalta Minar The Mohamed Aminkhan madrasa The king's seat and the former Kounya Ark palace The Mohamed Rahimkhan madrasa The mausoleum of Saïd Alouddin The mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud and the Islamkhodja minaret The Jouma mosque The Caravanserai The Toch Khavli palace and the Khan's Harem. You end the day with regional dances and songs during a folk concert of Khorezmian dances. You have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 11

  Monday / Khiva – Urgench – Tashkent

  Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, you visit the Nourulla Bai Palace and the Toza Bog Palace. Free time for strolling before taking the flight to Tashkent. You arrive at the hotel, last night of your trip in Tashkent. You have lunch and dinner in local restaurants and taste local specialties in typical places. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  Tuesday / Tashkent – Paris

  Transfer to the airport and return flight.