Uzbek melody Tour 8

 

Uzbek melody Tour 8
Destination: Uzbekistan
Duration: 9 days
Places to visit: Tashkent - Samarkand - Urgut - Gijduvan - Bukhara Khiva -Tuprak Qala - Ayaz Qala - Urgench - Tashkent 

Day 1: Tashkent
Uzbek melody Tour 8 welcomes dear travelers. Uzbekistan tours will inspire you. Today you will have an opportunity to visit the Independence square placed for the victory over fascism in World War II. We will the local Broadway and of course the famous Tashkent metro opened in 1977. The tour will be continued visiting the old part of the city as Chorsu Bazaar, Kukaldash Madrasah and Hast Imam complex that resides of several madrasahs, mosques and mausoleum. There is no tour without visiting Othman Quran. It is the world's oldest Quran copy originated in the 8^th century which belonhed to the Othman Ibn Affan, the Third Caliph (of the four honorable Caliphs who prospered the prophet Muhammad), but he was killed by non-muslims in 8^th century where his blood poured on Quran's pages. Transfer to a hotel for rest.

Day 2: Tashkent - Samarkand (350 km, 4 hrs drive)
After a hearty breakfast you will be transferred to Samarkand situated in the valley of the river Zerafshan as well as the second largest city of Uzbekistan. On this tour you will visit the Registan square, Shakhi Zindeh, Mausoleum Guri Emir and Bibi Khanum Mosque. Registan Square is known for three enthralling Madrasahs of the 15-17^th centuries. Shakhi Zindeh denotes a great collection of mausoleums of the 11^th-15 centuries, later became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bibi Khanum Mosque was built by the order of Tamerlane for his wife, after his effective campaign in India. Overnight is in a hotel.

Day 3: Samarkand - Urgut - Samarkand
In the morning you will drive to a small village of Samarkand, called Urgut. This village is famous for its raucous and vibrant national bazaar. In the afternoon we will profit to Samarkand and drive to see a memorial complex of Al Bukhary. Al Bukhary was an Islamic professor, who authored the hadith collection known as Sahih al Bukhari, observed by Sunni Muslims as one of the most authentic Hadith collections. He also wrote books as Al Adab al Mufrad. Transfer to a hotel.

Day 4: Samarkand - Gijduvan - Bukhara
In the morning we will start our way to Bukhara. On the route we will stop over at Gijduvan village to visit famous private pottery workshop. Gijduvan ceramics school has a rich history. The skills passed from generation to generation. Currently Gizhduvan is home for the sixth generation of potters from Narzullayevs family which overvalued Gijduvan school ceramics all over the world. Gijduvan School of ceramics is renowned by a geometric pattern. Green and blue colors overcome in decoration of products.  We will continue driving to Bukhara. Night is in a hotel.

Day 5: Bukhara
Today you will have the city tour of Bukhara. Visit the most ancient citadel in Bukhara of the 4^th century named Citadel Ark which aided as a palace for several dynasties of Bukhara Empire. Drive to see Samanids mausoleum, a unique masterpiece of architecture of 9^th -10^th century. The next destination is Chashma Ayub, meaning Job's well and Bolo Hauz mosque, recognized also as the mosque of forty columns built in honor of Bukhara governor Abu Fayud Khan. Afterwards you will visit one of the most famous madrasahs of Bukhara as Nodir Divan Begi which is also a part of Lyabi House Ensemble, well-known central sightseeing of Bukhara. The tour will end with visiting Poi Kalon complex which has three structures built in the 12th - 16th centuries: Kalon minaret, Kalon mosque and Mir Arab Madrasah. Rest is in a hotel.

Day 6: Bukhara - Khiva (440 km, 7 hours)
In the morning we will travel to Khiva and immerse in the history of the legendary Khorezmshah's State with its capital in Urgench before. In the 10^th century Khiva is declared as a main trading center on the Silk Road.  The caravans had a stop here on their way to China and back with camels with baggage passed them. You will drive from Bukhara to Khiva by famous Kizilkum desert. On the way we will enjoy the view to Amu Darya river as the deepest river in Central Asia, shaped by the confluence of the Panj and Vakhsh in Tajikistan and flowing into Aral See. On arrival in Khiva you will have free time. Overnight is in a hotel.

Day 7: Khiva
Today you will have the city tour. It will be inside of Ichan Qala, the inner city in Khiva curved with durable walls. You will have an opportunity to see centuries old sound buildings, palaces, mosques, Madrasahs, Mausoleums, Minarets, Caravan-Sarais and Bathhouses distorted Ichan Qala into unique city-memorial. Ichan Qala entails of over 400 traditional dwelling houses and about 60 architectural monuments. Ichan Qala was chosen a historical and architectural conservation area in 1969. The most extraordinary sites in it are the Kunya Ark fortress of the 17^th century by Muhammad Arang Khan, Kalta Minor minaret and Tash Khouvli palace, a farfetched sample of Khorezm architectural mastership of 1830s. Night is in a hotel.

Day 8: Khiva -Tuprak Qala - Ayaz Qala - Urgench - Tashkent 
Today we will travel to the capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Nukus city. It is located in the north of Uzbekistan close the Aral Sea, enclosed by three deserts - the Kara Kum, Kyzyl Kum and Ustyurt. On the way we will see two famous fortresses: Ayaz Qala and Turpak Qala. Ayaz Qala is an earliest castle of Khorezm, belonged to the legendary warrior-slave Ayaz, who was a Turkic folklore hero. Fortress was found in the II century AD. Tuprak Qala, means "clay fort", was the majestic city of Khorezmian ruler Artav. Archeologists entitlement that fortress was built in the I - II century AD and occupied until 6^th century AD due to wars and invasions. Night is in a camp.

Day 9: Tashkent - Flight
Transfer to airport. End of Uzbek melody Tour 8. We had great tours in Uzbekistan.

Transport:
02 pax - Sedan
04-06 pax - Minivan
08-10 pax - Minibus
 

Price per person:
02 pax - 650 $
04 pax - 560 $
06 pax - 520 $
08 pax - 480 $
10 pax - 450 $
Single - 90 $

Early check-in - 30 $
Single early check-in - 50 $ 

*Half board - 60 $
*Full board - 110 $

*Entrance fees - 55 $ available with escort guide only  

Local guides - 210 $ per group
Escort guide - 450 $ per group

Service includes:
- Transport
- Accommodation:
Tashkent - "Tourist Inn" Hotel 3*
Samarkand - "Ideal" Hotel 3*
Bukhara - "Old City" Hotel 3*
Khiva - "Old Khiva" Hotel 3*
- Mineral water during the tour                                  

Service does not include:
- Visa
- Full board
- Travel insurance
- English speaking guide
- Entrances to all museums
- Urgench-Tashkent flight - from 80 $
- Train tickets Tashkent - Samarkand - 30 $