The Heart of Central Asia. Tour to Uzbekistan from Moscow (Comfort)

Arrival in Tashkent. You will be met by the driver and guide. You will have a guided tour of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. Early check-in at the hotel with breakfast. On this day, a visit to the following attractions is planned:

• Old City - here you can still see residential houses built in the late XIX century. This is the historical north-western part of Tashkent, where the city was located before the formation of the Turkestan general-governorship (1865).
• Hast-Imam Complex (XVI-XXI century) - It is here that the famous Quran of the Caliph Osman (VII century) is stored. In Hast-Imam you will visit the madrasa of Barak Khan, the Tillya-Sheikh mosque, the mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi and the Imam al-Bukhari Islamic Institute.

• "Chorsu" bazaar - one of the oldest bazaars of the city. Tashkent’s Chorsu Bazaar is more than one hundred years. It was also always located on the main square of Eski-Zhuva.

• Tashkent Metro (1977) - currently the only active metro in Central Asia.

• Amir Timur Square and buildings around the Square: hotel "Uzbekistan", the building of the Law Institute (the former building of the Women's Gymnasium), the Museum of Amir Timur, famous Tashkent Chimes and one of the most grandiose architectural structures in Tashkent - Forum Palace.

• Independence Square - This is a favorite recreation place for Tashkent residents. To a large extent, this was facilitated by the fact that the most beautiful fountains of the city are on the square. Today, Independence Square is the venue for celebrations on the days of holidays, such as the Independence Day of Uzbekistan (September 1) and the New Year (January 1).

• Museum of Applied Art (1937) - opened in 1937, when the first exhibition of works by masters of Uzbekistan was organized here. The museum stores more than 7,000 samples of folk arts and crafts: handmade embroidery, skullcaps, jewelry, carpets and other samples of craftsmanship from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the present day.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel

Transfer from the hotel to the station at 07:00. Afrosiab high-speed train, leaves Tashkent at 08:00 and arrives in Samarkand at 10:10 (345 km.). The guide and driver will accompany you during the tour:

• Registan Square (XV-XVII centuries) - is one of the most beautiful squares in the world, it is called the pearl of Central Asia. Surrounding it from three sides in the form of a beautiful architectural ensemble are: Madrasa of Ulugbek (1417-1420), Madrasa Sher-Dor (1619- 1636) and the Madrasa of Tillya-Kari (1646-1647). This ensemble is considered the greatest among the structures of the Islamic world.

• Bibi-Khanum Mosque (1399-1404) - The scale of this monumental structure is breathtaking, striking with its size and beauty. Its dome was compared with the celestial vault, and the portal arch with the Milky Way.

• Siab Bazaar (closed on Mondays) is the largest trade center of Samarkand. Here you can find national bread, fruits, vegetables, sweets and much more.

• Ulugbek Observatory (1428-1429) - Scientific works of Ulugbek were created thanks to a unique observatory, which he erected in Samarkand. The main stationary tool was a giant quadrant located inside a cylindrical building with a diameter of 48 m.

• Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis (XIV-XV centuries) - Harmoniously interwoven into a living and moving composition, the mausoleums of different time periods are closely grouped along a narrow medieval street. Shakhi-Zinda consists of eleven mausoleums, which were built one after another in the 14th - 15th centuries. But the main mausoleum, from where the necropolis begins, is the imaginary tomb of the cousin of Prophet Muhammad - Kusam Ibn Abbas. He was called "Shahi Zinda", which means "Living King" in Persian.

• Mausoleum Gur-Emir (XV century) - the tomb of Amir Timur and the Timurids. This majestic complex consisted of khanaka, madrasah of Muhammad Sultan - grandson of Amir Timur and later tomb of Amir Timur himself and his descendants. Subsequently, Gur-Emir served as a prototype for the famous monuments of architecture of the Great Mogul era: the mausoleum of Humayun in Delhi and Taj Mahal in Agra, built by the descendants of Timur, who ruled in Northern India.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continuation of the excursion around Samarkand. You will visit:

• Museum "Afrosiab" (1970) is a museum of Samarkand, dedicated to the history of the founding of the city. The museum is located in the northern part of Samarkand behind the central bazaar, next to the hills of the ancient Afrosiab settlement.

• The grave of Saint Daniel (1900, but the grave itself is much older) - There is hardly a place in the world where Muslim, Christian and Jew would come to pray. The stretch of the building is directly connected with the tombstone, 18 meters long.
  Then you will travel to the village of Konigil, where you can observe the process of making Samarkand paper from mulberry according to ancient technology. After the tour - free time, at your disposal is a car with a driver.

OVernight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning departure from Samarkand to Bukhara (280 km, 4 hours*). Stop on the way for:

• Caravansarai Rabat-i-Malik (XI century) is the summer residence of the Karakhanids. Only the foundation of the building and the entrance portal are left. Rabat-i-Malik is the only surviving monument to the palace of the Karakhanid era.

Continue to Bukhara. Arrival in Bukhara, accommodation at the hotel. Excursion with a guide in the historical center of Bukhara, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will visit:

• Kalyan Minaret (1127) is a symbol of the city of Bukhara. From anywhere in the city this vertical construction is visible, which is inseparable from the complex silhouette of the city with its ridge of portals, towers and domes. The main purpose of the minaret is to call the Bukharians to pray.

• Kalyan Mosque (XV century) - is considered one of the oldest and second largest after Samarkand mosque Bibi-Khanum in the whole of Central Asia. Here at one time, about 10 thousand people could pray. Now it is the cathedral mosque of the city, here they pray on Fridays and on holidays.
• Miri-Arab Madrasah (XVI century) - is a functioning madrasa where future imams and religious mentors are trained. And on the domes of the madrasa storks nest, from year to year, flying here from Egypt.

• Magoki-Attori mosque (XII century) is an Islamic mosque, which dates back to Zoroastrianism. Its portals are a masterpiece of architectural decor: they are decorated with a variety of ways - carving on alabaster, masonry from ground bricks, irrigation majolica and carved terracotta.

• Madrasah of Ulugbek (1417) is a rectangular building with a courtyard and a main entrance, decorated with a high portal. There are towers called guldast. The motifs of the ornament are dominated by astral elements, which can be related to Ulugbek's worldview as an astronomer.

• Madrasah of Abdulazizhan (1651-1652) - There are images of the Chinese dragon and Semurg bird. In the madrasah there are two mosques - winter and summer. The portal of the madrassah is striking with its height and rich exterior decoration.

• Trading domes: the Toki-Sarrofon Trade Dome (formerly the largest currency exchange in Central Asia), the Telpak Furushon Trading Dome (in which hats were sold, later it gave way to the souvenirs of local artisans), the Trading Dome of Tim Abdullahan (carpets and fabrics), Trading dome Toki-Zargaron (Once there were 36 jewelry shops).

• Lyabi-Khauz complex (XVI-XVII century) is a historical source of water supply in Bukhara. Three monumental monuments of the 16th-17th centuries were built around this ancient basin (36х42 m) 5 m deep. They are madrasa Kukeldash (1568-1569), khanaka (1619-1620) and madrasa Nadir Divan-Begi. All of them form a single ensemble.

• Madrasah Chor-Minor (1807) – translates as "four minarets". This name is completely justified: in the corners of the square-rectangular building of the madrasa, four small minarets are attached, crowned with blue domes, the decor of which does not repeat each other. There is an opinion that the elements of the decoration of these towers reflect the religious and philosophical comprehension of the four world religions.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Continuation of the tour of Bukhara. You will visit:

• Ark Fortress (IV century BC) - an ancient symbol of state power. It seems that since the creation of the world, this huge fortress stands in the center of Bukhara, which has always been a defense and a support for Bukharian rulers. For centuries, the Ark remained the main residence of the Bukhara’s Emir, the place from which the country's supreme command was exercised.

• Bolo-Hauz mosque (1712) is the only surviving monument in the Bukhara's Registan Square. The complex consists of a pond, a Friday mosque and a minaret.

• Mausoleum of the Samanids (IX century) - the family burial vault of the rulers of the Samanid dynasty represents one of the best examples of the architecture of the reign of the Samanid dynasty (875-999).

• Mausoleum Chashma-Ayub (XII-XVI centuries) - in translation meaning "Source of the Holy Job". The legend says that the biblical prophet Job, visited this land and decided to help people suffering in the desert from lack of water. He struck the ground with his stick, and in that place appeared a source of crystal clear water.

After excursions in Bukhara you will find a trip outside the city:

• Sitorai Mohi-Khosa (XIX century) - the summer residence of the last Bukhara emir. Here you can see Venetian mirrors, Japanese mirrors enclosed in unusual frames, and even a trellis that creates a reflection that repeats 40 times.

• Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi (1544) - the founder of the Sufi Order of Naqshbandi. Every self-respecting Muslim knows and respects this name. It is known that Nakshbandi was Temur's spiritual instructor and performed hajj to Mecca 32 times. The mausoleum of Saint Bakhouddin Naqshband is considered to be the Central Asian Mecca.

Free time.

OVernight at the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel

In the morning: departure from Bukhara to Khiva (480 km, 7-8 hours). The modern highway crosses the Kyzylkum desert, repeating the ancient route of the Great Silk Road *. Stop on the way, during which you will have the opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of the desert and the Amu Darya River. Arrival in Khiva at the end of the day, check-in and rest at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

The full day of excursions in the fortress of Ichan-Kala, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List:

• Fortress of Ichan-Kala – listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today Ichan-Kala is an open-air museum - the old part of the city, surrounded by a fortress wall and turned into a state historical-archeological museum-reserve. It is here that on an enormous territory of 26 hectares an exotic image of the eastern city is preserved. About 60 historical buildings have been preserved in Ichan-Kala.

• Madrasah of Muhammad Aminhan (1851-1854) - This is the largest madrassah not only in Khiva, but also in the whole of Central Asia. The two-story building occupies an area of 72 by 60 meters, and has 125 hujras (cells) designed for 260 students.

• Madrasah of Muhammad Rahimkhan (1876) - Muhammad Rakhimhan was one of the most enlightened representatives of the Kungrat dynasty, who ruled Khiva Khanate from 1770 onwards. The crowning point of his activity was the erection of one of the largest madrassas in Central Asia named after Muhammad Rahimkhan.

• Minaret of Kalta-Minor (1855) - became a true symbol of the city. Its dimensions are amazing, and it is difficult to tear off the unique design. However, the architect's plans were not destined to happen - the tower remained unfinished, and now it looks like a huge glazed barrel, and has the name "Kalta", which translates as "short".
• Juma mosque (end of XVIII century) - unique in structure, it does not have portals, domes, galleries and courtyard. The mosque has access from three sides. The ceiling of the large hall rests on 213 wooden columns.

• Tash-Hovli Palace (XIX century) - Palace of Allakuli-khan, the ruler of Khiva. Initially, it housed 163 rooms and 3 courtyards: the harem, mehmonhona (guest room) and the Arzkhon (court hall).

• Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Mahmud (1701) - If blue domes, the symbol of eastern architecture, is often found in Samarkand and Bukhara, then in Khiva, in particular, in Ichan-Kala, there is only one blue dome. It decorates the tomb of Pakhlavan Mahmud, a poet and hero of the fourteenth century.

• Minaret of Islam-Khoja (XX century) is the highest minaret in Uzbekistan. The height of the minaret is 56.6 meters, the diameter of the base is 9.5 meters. The Minaret of Islam Khoja is called the symbol of Khiva.

• Enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view of old Khiva from the Kunya Ark observation platform (1686).

Free time in the afternoon.

Breakfast at the hotel.

07:30 in the morning: transfer to the airport of Urgench (30 km, 35 minutes) for the flight to Moscow at 11:20 (flight HY-615).