Mountain and oasis flowers

After breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on a tour of Tashkent's Old Town, first visiting the Khast Imam Complex. In the large square, the Barakhan Madrasa and the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum bear witness to the time when Tashkent was a center of Islamic culture and religion. The madrasa's library houses the oldest version of the Quran, dating back to the time of the third Caliph, Osman.
Afterwards, we will visit the Chorsu Bazaar, already known in the Middle Ages and located at the crossroads of caravanserais on the Great Silk Road. This is one of Tashkent's largest markets, not far from the city center.
After a lunch break, we continue to Ashraf Village (270 km). We spend the night in a guesthouse in Ashraf.

These mountain villages have been inhabited since the time of Alexander the Great. The houses and stables have been built the same way for centuries; women cook over open fires, weave, spin yarn, bake their own bread, and milk the cows. The men farm, keep goats and sheep, and build houses from stone and mud.
A stay in this mountain village gives you the opportunity to participate in village life – go for walks or ride horses, help cook traditional dishes, and experience the local culture firsthand.
Around midday, we continue to the next mountain village, Sentob (7 km).
Overnight at the guesthouse. Lunch with a local family.
In the afternoon, we take a hike to the Sentob River, where countless petroglyphs are carved into the rocks – some are over 900 years old. With a little luck, we might see wild horses, a golden eagle, or partridges. Dinner with the family. Two nights at the guesthouse in Sentob.

Today's hike takes us through lush gardens into the Fazilman Valley (1640 m) – a wide valley surrounded by mountains.
Along the way, we discover petroglyphs in caves and abandoned stone houses.
At lunchtime, we have a picnic at Lake Fazilman, a small lake covered in reeds.
In the afternoon, we return to the village for dinner with the family.

Early in the morning, we hike (2.5 hours) to the mountain pass (2035 m) and then descend to the village of Sob, where our bus is waiting for us.
We continue through the Kyzylkum Desert to Yangikazgan and the yurt camp.
Picnic by the lake.
Afterwards, there's the option of camel rides or trekking on a 4-5 km route to Lake Aydarkul, as well as a 5 km hike along the lake.
Depending on the season, we can swim at the lake or observe the wildlife – with a bit of luck, we might spot steppe tortoises, hares, or desert agamas. Overnight in a yurt camp.

We travel to the ancient city of Nurata. There, we visit the Nurata Mausoleum and the ruins of Alexander the Great's fortress. The city's name "Nurata" comes from the fortress of Nur, founded in the 4th century BC when Alexander the Great's garrison was stationed here.
A spring of refreshing water, the so-called Chashma, was the main reason for the settlement's founding. The holy Chashma spring is now a place of pilgrimage and one of the most important Islamic religious centers in the region.
After lunch, we continue our journey via Gijduvan to Bukhara.
Bukhara is also called "The Holy Land of the 7,000 Peers (Holy Teachers)."
Your pilgrimage to the holy sites of Sufism begins with a visit to the tombs of some of the seven Sufi leaders outside the city.
In Gijduvan, we visit the tomb complex of Abdulhalik Gijduvani (1103–1179). The city is also known throughout Uzbekistan for its warm-colored ceramics.
Continue to Bukhara, arriving in the late afternoon.
After checking in at the hotel, we'll walk through the old town. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Bukhoroi Sharif ("Noble Bukhara") is a city with impressive madrasas (Koranic schools) and still-functioning mosques dating back to ancient times.
You begin your tour with the Poi Kalyan complex. Of particular note is the Ark Fortress – originally a monumental fortification that served as the residence of the emirs of Bukhara for centuries before the Soviets came to power.
The oldest Muslim site in Bukhara and a true masterpiece of early Islamic architecture is the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani.
Other attractions include the domed arcades in the old town:

- Toki Saraffon (Money Changers' Bazaar)
- Toki Telpak Furushon (Cap and Hat Makers' Bazaar)
- Toki Zargaron (Jewelers' Bazaar)

Drive to Shahrisabz ("Green City") – the birthplace of Tamerlane.
Tour of the city with the ruins of:
- Tamerlane's summer palace, "Ak-Saray" (early 15th century)
- The Khazrati Imam Mosque and Kok-Gumbaz (15th century)
- The Dorus-Saodat Complex (15th century)
- Although Samarkand was the capital of the Timurid Empire, Shahrisabz, as the birthplace of Timur, had to reflect his power. The ruins of the summer palace are still monumental and demonstrate the former greatness of Timur's empire.

Continue to the village of Ayakchi. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family (guesthouse).

We hike for six hours through the beautiful village of Alvastikul ("Devil's Lake") and continue to the Takhtakaracha Pass (1250 m).
Here we reach the highest level of the Ayakchi River – with breathtaking views in all directions.
Picnic lunch.
In the afternoon we arrive in the village of Sholipoya (1200 m).
Dinner and overnight with a family in Sholipoya.

Our next destination is the village of Tersak.
After breakfast, we begin a seven-hour hike.
Picnic lunch.
We cross the Chimbay Pass (1750 m) in a green valley and then descend to the mountain village of Tersak (1245 m).
Overnight at the guesthouse in Tersak, whose owner was a former French teacher.
Dinner with the family.

Today we visit one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Uzbekistan – the Cave of St. David.
This pilgrimage site is visited not only by Muslims, but also by Christians and Jews.
To reach the Cave of St. David, we must climb 1300 steps.
Afterwards, we continue to Samarkand.
Check-in at the hotel.
Samarkand – the city of 1001 Nights – was considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world in the Middle Ages and has lost none of its fascination to this day.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight stay in Samarkand.

Today we visit the landmarks of Samarkand:
- Registan Square with its famous madrasas, which leave unforgettable memories
- The Gur-Emir Mausoleum – the burial place of Tamerlane
- The Bibi-Khanym Mosque – once one of the greatest sacred buildings in the Orient
- According to legend, Tamerlane had this mosque built for his beloved wife.
- Afterwards, we visit the Siyob Bazaar and sample the famous Samarkand bread, which is heated in traditional clay ovens (tandyrs) with cotton twigs.
In the late afternoon, we take the express train "Afrosiyob" to Tashkent. Transfer to the hotel.
Dinner at a local restaurant. One night in Tashkent.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Tashkent Airport for your flight home.

End of the Mountain and Oasis Flowers Tour.