Cultural and Ethnic Tour for 11 days Economy

(0 reviews)
Description

Except the great ancient cities of Uzbekistan, this educational tour includes a trip to the Aidarkul Lake with an overnight stay in the yurt camp, as well as an introduction to the life and traditions of the population of the mountain village.

Start of the tour: Tashkent Accommodation: 3 stars.
End of tour: Tashkent Tour category: Historical tours, Sightseeing tours.
Duration: 11 days / 10 nights Сities: Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Nurata, Samarkand.
Program
  • Day 1: Tashkent

    Arrival in Tashkent.

    Transfer from the airport to the hotel.

    Overnight in Tashkent

  • Day 2: Tashkent - Khiva

    Morning flight Urgench (1100 km, 1 hour 40 minutes of flight).

    Transfer from Urgench to Khiva (30 km, 30-40 min).

    11:00 Beginning of the city tour Khiva. Spend the day at Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Itchan Kala - an open-air living museum.

    Itchan Kala

    Sightseeing tour with a guide: you visit the Citadel of Kunya-Ark,

    Citadel of Kunya-Ark

    Tash-Hovli Palace,

    Tash-Hovli Palace

    madrasah Muhammad Aminkhan,

    madrasah Muhammad Aminkhan

    madrasah Muhammad Rahimkhan.

    madrasah Muhammad Rahimkhan

    14:00 Lunch at the Uzbek restaurant.

    Continuation of excursion: Ata-Darvaza, Kalta Minor,

    Kalta Minor

    Allakuli Khan Palace,

    Allakuli Khan Palace

    Tash-Hauli, where there was a harem of concubines 40, Caravanserai and Tim Allakulikhan, Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum,

    Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum

    Mausoleum Seid Allaudin,

    Mausoleum Seid Allaudin

    Minaret and madrasah of Islam Hoja,

    Minaret and madrasah of Islam Hoja

    Mosque and minaret of Jami.

    20:00 Dinner at the Uzbek restaurant with folk live music.

    Overnight in the city of Khiva.

  • Day 3: Khiva - Bukhara

    06:00-07:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

    08:00 Trip to Bukhara (500 km, 6-7 hours).

    Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

    14:00 Lunch.

    Excursion. To the west of the Citadel Ark, long before Bukhara was conquered by the Arabs, there appeared a lively city center - Registan Square. In the XVII century on the outskirts of the square were the ranks of the market. One of the caravan roads connecting Bukhara and Khorezm led to the square from the city gates of Dashtak. Fortress Ark is the residence of Bukhara khans.

    Fortress Ark

    According to the latest excavations, it was determined that the citadel was in this place from the 4th century BC. During many years of construction and destruction, an artificial hill 20 meters high was formed; its upper layers were built during the last Bukhara emirs. Poi Kalyan Complex: Kalyan Minaret and Kalyan Mosque.

    Poi Kalyan Complex

    Dinner at the Nadir Divanbegi Madrassah with traditional folk and fashion show.

    Overnight in the city of Bukhara.

  • Day 4: Bukhara

    07:00-09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

    The beginning of the excursion around the city of Bukhara. The mausoleum of Ismail Samani is a world-famous architectural masterpiece, built in the late ninth century. The mausoleum was built as a family crypt immediately after the death of the father of Ismail Samani. Chashma-Ayub, translated as the source of St. Job.

    Chashma-Ayub

    According to legend, the biblical prophet Job, visiting this land, decided to help people suffering from a shortage of water in the desert. He struck the ground with his staff and created on this place a source of crystal clear water. The Bolo-Hauz complex, consisting of a reservoir, a Friday mosque and a minaret.

    Bolo-Hauz complex

    Lunch at the hotel.

    The architectural ensemble of Lyabi-Hauz, formed by three large monumental buildings: the Kukeldash Madrassah, the khanaka and the Nodir Divan-begi madrassah. From the south the square was bordered by Torgovaya Street. Trading domes of Bukhara - the famous eastern bazaars - domes stretching from Lyabi-Khauz to the Miri-Arab madrassah.

    Dinner.

    Overnight in the city of Bukhara.

  • Day 5: Bukhara - Nurata - Yurt Camp

    07:00-09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

    In the morning leave Bukhara and go to the village, located in the Nurata Mountains (330 km, 5-6 hours).

    On the way we will stop in the workshop of the masters of ceramics in Gijduvan.

    Excursion in Nurata: the complex of Nurata is a place of worship of local people. The complex consists of a Dervish monastery with rooms for a ten-day and forty-day vow, a 16th-century mosque erected in 1580 by Abdullahan Sheibani, instead of a fire-worshiping temple (founded in the 9th century), a sacred source of Nur, the remnants of the fortress of the watchtower of Alexander the Great.

    Nur Fortress

    Local people themselves believe that the purest water and Islam are the most important riches that God has given them. Around the city, many springs with crystal clear water are considered sacred. Fish living in springs and in a pond are also considered sacred, they do not eat it.

    Transfer to the yurt camp in the Kyzylkum desert. Before us are panoramas of huge barkhans overgrown with saxaul. Accommodation in yurts. The camp is located 10 km from the western coast of Aidar Kul lake. In the camp there are 23 yurts, which are richly decorated with handmade carpets of local craftsmen. Color patterns and chandeliers create an unusually festive atmosphere in the yurt. Yurt camp is also equipped with stationary toilets and showers with modern plumbing. There is a large yurt, where there are lunches and dinners. There is electricity in the camp. Upon arrival in the yurt camp, tourists are offered green tea, which will quench thirst. Before dinner, you can meet the sunset on the barkhana.

    Dinner.

    Folklore performance of akyn at campfire. Stars of extraordinary brightness and the Milky Way will allow you to enjoy harmony with nature.

    Overnight in the yurt camp.

  • Day 6: Yurt Camp - Sentob

    Breakfast at the camp.

    Riding on camels (10-15 minutes). During a walk on camels, tourists will be able to observe the flora and fauna of the desert (up to 25 species of plants and a variety of wildlife).

    Drive to Lake Aydarkul. Aydarkul is called the "turquoise sea in the sands", every year it expands. A lake in the middle of the desert is not a mirage, but a real miracle of nature. The origin of the crystal clear lake in the southeast of the Kyzylkum desert is very mysterious. Although there is a scientific explanation. In the summer of 1969, the extremely high water level on the Syr Darya River exceeded the capacity of the Chardara Reservoir, and the water filled the Arnasai Basin. A lot of fish appeared in the lake. You will be offered a picnic on the shore of Aidarkul (fried fish is offered).

    After a picnic, the group will be transported to the village of Centab.

    Accommodation in a local guest house.

    Overnight in the guest house.

  • Day 7: Sentob

    Breakfast at the guest house.

    Full day excursion to the village of Sentob.

    The village of Sentob is away from roads and cities in a picturesque mountainous area with fresh air, green gardens, birdsong, sky full of stars, and friendly people. During the tour you can see different kinds of flora and fauna. In the mountains of Nuratau and in the Kyzlum steppe, there are three main ethnic groups: Uzbeks, Tajiks and Kazakhs. As the largest ethnic group, Uzbeks arrived here in the 13th century from the north of present-day Kazakhstan. The second largest group, the Tajiks, has a more ancient settlement history, dating back to the reign of Alexander the Great in Central Asia. The third ethnic group, the Kazakhs, until the beginning of the 20th century led a nomadic life in the Kyzyl-Kum desert.

    Overnight in the guest house.

  • Day 8: Sentob - Samarkand

    Breakfast at the guest house.

    Transfer to Samarkand (220 km, 4-5 hours).

    Arrival in Samarkand.

    Hotel accommodation and lunch.

    City tour: Bibi Khanum mosque, once the largest mosque in Central Asia, was erected by order of Tamerlane after its victorious Indian campaign in 1399.

    Bibi Khanum mosque

    Necropolis Shahi-Zinda (the Living King), a place of pilgrimage from XI century.

    Necropolis Shahi-Zinda

    Mausoleum of Kusam Ibn Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, is also in this Necropolis. It consists of 20 mausoleums, built in the period from XI to XIX century.

    Dinner.

    Overnight in the city of Samarkand.

  • Day 9: Samarkand - Tashkent

    08:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

    09:00 Excursion. Memorial complex. Imam Ismail al-Bukhari. The highly respected scholar of the Islamic world, Muhaddis (the collector of the statements of the prophet Mohammed and stories about him), Imam Ismail Al Bukhari was born in Bukhara in 810 and died in 870 in the village of Khartang and was buried there (the district of the present Samarkand region, located at 30 km from Samarkand). Since then, the burial site has been one of the most sacred places for worship among Muslims.

    13:00 Lunch at the Uzbek restaurant.

    Continuation of the excursion: mausoleum of Gur Emir, the burial place of Amir Temur and other members of his family.

    mausoleum of Gur Emir

    Registan Square, the heart of Samarkand, consisting of the Madrasah of Ulugbek, Sherdor Madrasah and the Tillya-Kori Mosque.

    Registan Square

    Saint Daniel Tomb is the only place in Central Asia that Muslims, Jews and Christians consider a sacred place in their religion.

    Saint Daniel Tomb

    Ulugbek's Observatory is the largest observatory of its time.

    Ulugbek's Observatory

    18:00 Transfer by high-speed train "Afrosiab" from Samarkand to Tashkent (300 km, 2 hours).

    Arrival.

    Dinner.

    Hotel accommodation.

    Overnight in Tashkent.

  • Day 10: Tashkent

    07:00-09:00 Breakfast at the hotel.

    10:00 Visiting sacred places of Tashkent: ensemble "Khazret Imam".

    ensemble "Khazret Imam"

    Here you can see the oldest manuscript of Uzbekistan, the famous Muslim heritage - the Koran of Osman, which has a certificate of authenticity from UNESCO. Madrasah Kukeldash, located on Chorsu Square, was built in the 16th century during the reign of the Sheibanikhan dynasty. Now it's a college where the basics of Islam are taught.

    Madrasah Kukeldash

    Chorsu Bazaar is an oriental bazaar where you can really bargain.

    Chorsu Bazaar

    Dinner.

    Continuation of the tour: Independence Square,

    Independence Square

    Amir Temur Square,

    Amir Temur Square

    Museum of Applied Art.

    Museum of Applied Art

    Farewell dinner at the restaurant with a belly dance show.

    Overnight at the hotel.

  • Day 11: Tashkent

    Departure from the hotel.

    Transfer to the international airport of Tashkent.

Itinerary
Budget
Quantity (from) Quantity (to) Cost per person
2 pers. 3 pers. $1019 *
4 pers. 5 pers. $798 *
6 pers. 7 pers. $709 *
8 pers. 9 pers. $685 *
10 pers. 11 pers. $663 *
12 pers. 13 pers. $633 *
14 pers. 15 pers. $630 *
16 pers. 17 pers. $618 *
18 pers. 19 pers. $601 *
20 pers. 21 pers. $587 *
Different number of people in your group? TBD *

* Requesting a price does not oblige you to buy a tour. You can send a request for different tours and choose the most suitable option.

What's included
  • Accommodation in twin rooms;
  • Free bottles of mineral water (0.5 litre bottle of mineral water per person per day);
  • Visa support (invitation);
  • Meals: full board;
  • Professional guide services in Russian, English or German;
  • All excursions along the route;
  • All transfers on the route on transport with air conditioning;
  • Railway tickets;
  • 100% discount for group leader for groups of more than 10 people;
  • Tourist fee;
  • All taxes.
Transport

Number of persons

Type of vehicle

2

Sedan (Lacetti/Cobalt)

4-8

Minivan (Grand Starex/Istana/Mersedes Benz Sprinter)

10-14

Minibus (Golden Dragon/Toyota Coaster/Mitsubishi)

16-20

Bus (Golden Dragon/Yu Tong)

What’s not included
  • Additional services in hotels;
  • Local air ticket Tashkent-Urgench;
  • Consular fees for a visa to Uzbekistan;
  • Payment for photos and videos in some sights;
  • Personal insurance;
  • International air tickets.
Conditions

Accomodation:

Cities

Hotels

Tashkent

Uzbekistan Hotel

Bukhara

Fatima/Volida

Samarkand

Malika Classic

Khiva

Euro Asia

Aydarkul

Yurt Camp

Sentob

Guest house Sebtob

Additional services

Supplement for single accommodation: 160 USD.


Up