9 DAYS LEGENDS OF UZBEKISTAN

Arriving into Tashkent International Airport, we will drive 9 km or about 20 minutes into the city centre.

Today’s orientation tour of Tashkent will bring you to the Independence Square, Amir Temur’s Square and Alisher Navoi Theatre Square. Hop across the Tashkent Metro to explore the beautiful train stations before concluding at the Museum of Applied Arts, housed in the ancient place of a Tsarist diplomat.

This morning, we fly from Tashkent to Nukus. Uniquely off-the-beaten, we start our Nukus exploration at the Museum of Fine Arts by Savitsky (closed on Mon), dubbed “The Lost Louvre” for its banned avant-garde paintings. Continue to Mizdakhan Complex, one of the most ancient Karakalpak ruins. En route to Gyaur Kala Fortress before arriving in Khiva to rest.

A UNESCO site, we dedicate the day to explore the intricate inner city of Ichan Kala, dotted with over 60 historical monuments. We visit the Muhammed Aminkhan Madrassah & Minaret, Kunya Ark, Juma Mosque with its 218 pillars, Tash Khauli Palace, Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, Islam Khodja Complex and more.

This morning, we transfer to train station.

Train Khiva / Bukhara 08.23-13.35 (5h 12m)
(Note: This train operates on Tue, Fri & Sun only. If it is cancelled during winter, we will drive 453km or approximately 6.5 hours.)

Arriving in Kagan train station, we will drive 14km or approximately 30 minutes to your accommodation to rest.

Often dubbed as a museum city due to its rich Silk Road monuments, caravanserais and colourful bazaars, we explore this UNESCO city in details: Liabi-Khauz Complex, Magoki-Attari Moque, the three trading domes of Jeweler’s Bazaar, Cap Maker’s Bazaar and Money-Changer’s Bazaar. Pause at the Silk Road Spices Tea House to sample cardamom, anise, cinnamon and oregano tea spices. Afterwards, we continue to Ulugbek’s madrassah, Abdulaziz-khan madrassah, Poi Kalyan Ensemble and Chor Minor with its peculiar towers. Finally, we conclude the night with a plov dinner at a local’s house.

More colourful facades and monuments await today. We will visit the Fortress Ark, Bolo-Kauz Mosque, Chashma-Ayub Shrine and Samanids Mausoleum before transferring to Kagan train station.

Train Bukhara / Samarkand 15.50-17.20 (1h 30m)

Upon arrival, we transfer to accommodation to rest.

The legendary Samarkand (UNESCO) has long enchanted travellers across centuries. Traverse the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the postcard-perfect Registan Square, Ulugbek’s madrassah, Sher-Dor madrassah, Tilla-Kori madrassah, Bibi-Khanum mosque, Siab Bazaar and Shakhi-Zinda Metropolis.

Discover more masterpieces of Samarkand in depth. Visit the Afrosiab Museum, the Ulugbek Observatory and the Samarkand Handmade Silk Paper Center “Meros” where artisans revived the ancient paper-making practice before transferring to train station.

Train Samarkand / Tashkent          17.28-19.44 (2h 16m)

Upon arrival, we transfer to accommodation to rest.

As the new day beckons, we explore the Khast Imam Square at the heart of Tashkent with its Barak Khan Madrassah, Tiyyla Sheyk Mosque, Kafal Shashi Mausoleum and Kukeldash madrassah. Depending on your flight, if time permits we will visit Chorsu Bazaar (closed on Mon) and Usto-Shogird ceramics studio founded by world-famous ceramic masters Akbar Rakhimov.