The essentials of Uzbekistan in 10 days

Arrival at Tashkent airport. Welcome by the English speaking guide and transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast and accommodation in the rooms. Relaxation after a long flight.

Departure at noon to visit the old town of the Uzbek capital. Tashkent, meaning "the Stone City" is today the largest city in modern Central Asia with a population of over 3 million.  Tashkent is also the largest industrial centre in the region.

After early breakfast, transfer to Tashkent airport at 5:00 am and flight at 7:15 am to Urgentch. Assistance with check-in and boarding formalities. Luggage allowance: 1 piece of luggage of 20 kilos, cabin luggage 10 kilos. 

Arrival at Urgentch airport at 8:55 am, welcome by your English speaking guide and transfer to Khiva at 35km. Check in at the hotel.

Khiva, former capital of the khanate since the 17th century, located in the oasis of Khorezm, important stopover of the Silk Road, was one of the largest markets in Central Asia. The day will be entirely devoted to the visit of the inner city Ichan Kala, which is a real open-air museum, classified by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage. 

Early breakfast. Departure to Bukhara. The road passes through the largest desert in Asia, the Kizil Koum or Red Sand Desert, and then the steppe. The particular beauty of the Central Asian desert reminds of the times of the brave caravaneers, who crossed this sea of sand on camels.

Along the banks of the Amu Darya River, which winds through the Kizil Kum desert, you can see Turkmenistan.

Picnic lunch or lunch box in a café on the road.

Arrival in Bukhara in the late afternoon. Check in at the hotel. Free time to wander through the narrow streets of the old city.

Dinner in a local restaurant in the city. Overnight at the hotel.

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

Breakfast, then early departure for Samarkand. On the way, visit the Summer Residence of Bukhara's emirs Sitora-i- Mokhi Khossa. Then we will stop to visit the Gijduvan Private pottery workshop and attend a lecture by the ceramist on the types of Uzbek ceramics. Lunch during the visit at the ceramist's house.

Arrival in Samarkand in the late evening and check-in at the hotel.

Dinner in a restaurant in the city. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the monuments of Samarkand, pearl of Uzbekistan and capital of Tamerlane. Visit to the Gur Emir Mausoleum, Tamerlane's tomb with its magnificent dome. 

The sublime Reghistan Square with its Timurid architecture, surrounded by three marvellous Medersas: Ulugh-Beg, Shir-Dor and Tilla-Kari, decorated with dazzling faience, representing the true "threshold of Paradise" for artists and dreamers. 

On leaving the Reghistan, visit the Bibi Khanoum Mosque, then discover the magnificent Shakh-i-Zinda Necropolis

After breakfast at the hotel, departure for Tamerlane's birthplace, Shakhrisabz, via the mountains and the famous Takhtakaracha Pass. 

Visit the ruins of Tamerlane's Palace,

Ak Saray (14th century) meaning White Palace.  Behind the walls of the mausoleum is the 19th century mosque of Khazrati Imam (Holy Imam), who built the architectural complex called Dorus Saodat meaning The Abode of Power and the Mausoleum of Djekhanguir, Tamerlane's eldest son.

Breakfast and drive to Urgut, a city located 40 km from Samarkand, famous for its oriental bazaar, where you can admire the thousand colours of traditional Uzbek and Tajik tussu. You can also shop in terms of a very large choiw of fabrics called IKAT. 

Return to Samarkand and visit the mausoleums. Transfer to the train station for departure to Tashkent by train at 17:00.

Arrival in Tashkent at 19.30. Dinner in a restaurant in the city.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day to visit Tashkent, museums, bazaars and parks of the city. 

Overnight at the hotel. 

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