10 day cultural tour to Uzbekistan

Tour's name: 10 day cultural tour to Uzbekistan

The tour route: Tashkent- Nukus - Ayaz Qala - Tuprak Qala - Bukhara - Gijduvan - Samarkand

Day 1: Tashkent
This day you will get acquainted with your guide at the airport and drive to Tashkent. The entire day is devoted to sightseeing tour in Tashkent. Today you will visit Independence square this is one of the most interesting squares in the world and the pride of Tashkent. After that you will marvel along the local Broadway, artists sell paintings on both sides of the alley, where you can view and buy various Souvenirs. Then you will explore the fascinating place Tashkent metro, this artfully constructed structure was erected in a seismically active area, in 1977. It is known for the most beautiful architectural solutions. After you will discover the old part of the city which includes: Chorsu Bazaar, Kukaldash Madrasah and Hast Imam complex that consists of several madrasahs, mosques and mausoleum. You're the best spot of the tour will be the Othman Quran an outstanding and rare monument of history and Islamic culture, stored in a special room in the madrasah, which still attracts the attention of tourists and followers of Islamic culture. Your night will spend in the hotel.

Day 2: Tashkent - Nukus
After breakfast you will be driving to the airport and fly to Nukus. After arrival you will have a city tour. Russian avant-garde is the second largest Museum of Savitsky (after the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg), which is extremely popular today. There is also an interesting collection of artifacts of the ancient Khorezm civilization and a well - selected collection of folk arts and crafts of Karakalpakstan. And all this was collected by the famous artist and ethnographer Igor Savitsky, who carefully searched for and collected collections of banned artists. Then you will discover Mizdakhan necropolis. On the territory of the complex there are two fortresses built in the IX-XII centuries. The last burial in the necropolis dates back to the XIV century: according to scientists, the complex was destroyed by Tamerlane in 1338. After you will visit a 2200 years-old Zoroastrian ancient monument known as Chilpyk. Your night will be I the hotel.

Day 3: Nukus - Ayaz Qala - Tuprak Qala - Khiva
Today we will drive to Khiva. The city of Khiva is the only outstanding monument of medieval urban planning and architecture of Central Asia in terms of preservation and concentration of architectural objects. This city played a particularly important role in the Great Silk Road, the caravans were countless heading to China and back. Khiva is a city-reserve, a city-Museum of folk architecture. En route you will travel to amazing fortresses: Ayaz Qala and Tuprak Qala. According to archaeologists, the Ayaz-Qala fortress dates back to the II century ad - the heyday of the Kushan Empire. It was part of the system of border fortresses that protected the oasis from the desert. Tuprak-Kala hillfort-ruins of the majestic capital of Ancient Khorezm, located in the Kyzylkum desert on the territory of Uzbekistan. Tuprak Qala, means ‘clay fort'. You will spend the night in the hotel.

Day 4: Khiva - Bukhara
After the breakfast you will transfer to amazing city Bukhara. One of the oldest cities in Central Asia, the administrative center of the Bukhara region of Uzbekistan; a real architectural and historical-cultural reserve that has preserved unique architectural monuments of all historical eras.  There are situated about 140 architectural monuments Bukhara is a "town museum" dating back to the Middle Ages. Bukhara is 2,500 years old. In ancient times, it was part of one of the regions of Central Asia - Sogd, where the troops of Iskander Zulkarnain (Alexander the great) passed. You will direct over Kizilkum desert. On the territory of Kyzylkum you can find vegetation, especially valuable are wild tulips, black and white Saxauls, Cherkez, Kandym. Sagebrush and shrubs survive on clay elevations. You will feast your eyes upon Amu Darya river, the longest river in Central Asia. When you will come to Bukhara you will have free time. The night will be in the hotel.

Day 5: Bukhara
After the breakfast you will have a sightseeing tour of Bukhara. You are going to discover amazing masterpiece of architecture Citadel Ark which played a significant role in the history of Uzbekistan. After that you will fascinate the interesting highlight Samanids mausoleum, which dates back to 9^th -10^th century. Your tour will continue with Chashma Ayub, a traditionally revered place, a well with a spring that was created by the will of the biblical Job-Ayub. After you will have an opportunity to discover fascinating shopping domes and discover one of the most incredible madrasahs of Bukhara called Nodir Divan Begi which was named after the famous vizier Nadir Divan Begi. You will finish your tour with experiencing Poi Kalon complex, the famous example of masterpieces of Bukhara. The complex contains three structures built in the 12th - 16th centuries: Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. Your night will be in the hotel.

Day 6: Bukhara
Today's tour is devoted to highlights of the city. You are going to start Bahauddin Naqshbandi complex, located few kilometers from Bukhara. It is a memorial complex of famous Sufi Leader and Philosopher, one of the Muslim pilgrimage places for all people of Islamic world. Sheikh Bakhauddin Nakshbandi was great persian-tajik mystic, one of the greatest savior, Sufi teacher, Khojai Buzur, founder of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. Already formed as a spiritual teacher, Naqshbandi called for simplicity and unpretentiousness in his sermons, but rejected asceticism and seclusion. After you will explore incredible site the countryside residence of Bukhara Emirs named Sitorai Mohi Hosa complex. The name "Sitorai Mohi-Khosa" literally translates as "Palace of the star like the moon". It is believed that the Emir of Bukhara said Alim Khan dedicated the construction to his third wife Sitorai, whom he loved more than life. Then you will discover Chor Bakr memorial complex, the name of the necropolis "Chor-Bakr "means" Four brothers", but abroad the necropolis is better known as "City of the dead". In the end of the day you will transfer to city. Your night will be in the hotel.

Day 7: Bukhara - Gijduvan - Samarkand
After breakfast we will start our way to Samarkand. On the way, we will stop over at Gijduvan village to visit famous private pottery workshop. Gijduvan ceramics occupies a special place among the various crafts that flourish in the town. The Gijduvan school of ceramics is distinguished by the use of geometric forms and colors in ornaments. Ibodullo Narzullayev was one of the most famous ceramists in Uzbekistan and the founder of the Gijduvan school of ceramics. He has participated in more than 50 international exhibitions. The Narzullaev family regularly participates in exhibitions of applied and decorative art. Over the past few years, the Gijduvan school's ceramists have been exhibited at 60 international exhibitions. Then you will be transferring to Samarkand. The night will be in the hotel.

Day 8: Samarkand
Today you will explore amazing city Samarkand that is located in the valley of the river Zerafshan. The cultural heritage of Samarkand is quite large. For many centuries, the city was a key center of the Great Silk Road. It is the second largest city of Uzbekistan and very ancient as the cities Babylon or Rome. In course of the tour you will discover the astonishing landmarks Registan square, Shakhi-Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanum Mosque. Registan is the main square of the Uzbek city of Samarkand, which is decorated with an ensemble of magnificent ancient buildings. Shakhi-Zindeh the oldest structures of the ensemble, from which only the foundations and tombstones have been preserved, date back to the XI-XII centuries. Bibi Khanum was Timur's most beloved wife and the most beautiful woman in his harem. The night will be in the hotel.

Day 8: Samarkand - Tashkent (transfer or train)
This day you will have a transfer or train to Tashkent. Upon arrival you will have a city tour in Tashkent. You are going to discover Courage Monument which is a memorial complex. It is dedicated to the events of almost half a century ago, which left a deep mark on the history of Tashkent. On the granite podium is a cube of black labradorite, on one side of which is carved the date: April 26, 1966, on this day the tragedy took many lives. After you will explore interesting sight Zangi Ota memorial complex. And continue your tour with the State Museum of Timurids' history there you will see 3,000 different items including jewelry, musical instruments, weapons, various coins, paintings, documents, historical manuscripts and clothing of Timurid's period. Afterwrds you can direct to the State Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan, consisting of fine examples of glasses and national clothing, hand and machine embroidery, skullcaps and national fabrics, carpets and woodcarving. You will rest night in the hotel.

Day 10: Flight
In the morning is transfer to airport.