ON THE TRAIL OF THE CARAVANSARIES – CULTURE AND NATURE TOUR

You fly with Uzbekistan Airways to Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. Flight duration is approximately 6 hours.

Accommodation: City Palace Hotel

We leave early for Samarkand, the town of the stories from One Thousand and One Nights (UNESCO-World Culture Heritage). In the Middle Ages, it was considered to be one of the most beautiful towns in the world and still today it has lost none of its attraction. Then we will visit one of the visiting cards of Uzbekistan, the famous Registan Square with its three unique madrasas Ulughbek, Sherdor and Tillya Kori.
Then on to see the palace-like mausoleum Guri Emir of the great ruler Amir Timur.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Ideal Hotel

Today you visit the paper factory in Samarkand, where silk paper has been produced since 751 AD. Then you go to the largest mosque in Central Asia, Bibikhanum. Then on to the Siyob Bazaar, right next to the mosque. Just the choice of dried fruits is remarkable. After you visit the Ulugbek Observatory, once the largest research centre in Central Asia, and to Shakhi Zinda, or the burial place «living king», where today Timur’s family members are buried.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Ideal Hotel

Journey from Samarkand towards Shakhrisabz, the home town of Amir Timur. Visit to the ruins of the Ak Saray summer palace, the mosques Khazrat Imam and Kok Gumbaz and the Dar-us-Saodat complex. Samarkand was the capital of Timur’s empire, but Shakhrisabz was his place of birth and today gives us some idea of the former might of the ruler. The ruins of the summer palace are still very imposing and are a testimony to the past greatness of Timur’s empire. In the afternoon we drive to Bukhara, arriving late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Komil Boutique Hotel

We start the excursion at the Mausoleum of Ismail Samani and then visit the grave complex Chashmai Ayub. Afterwards we go on foot through the Old Town. It is like being in the fairy-tale world of One Thousand and One Nights. It is unbelievable that active teaching and learning still takes place here in the mosques and madrasas just as it did hundreds of years ago, for instance in the Madrasa Miri Arab. You will be able to admire the «classic» architectural complexes of Lyabi Khauz with trading domes and several mosques and madrasas as well as the dervish monastery Khanaka in the inner town, and will understand its title of «noble town».

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Komil Boutique Hotel

Today we set out on a grand and impressive drive through the overgrown Kyzylkum Desert (Red Sand Desert) and the vast steppes to Khiva (480 km). On the way, we can have lunch in an Uzbek "rest stop" or tea room. We reach Khiva in the late evening and check in at the hotel. Then you have enough time to explore the old town on your own.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Muso Tura Hotel

A visit to Ichan Kala, the inner town citadel of Khiva, which looks back on a rich past and still looks as historical as it did centuries ago. It is one of the few preserved places in Central Asia where one can imagine life as it was in Khan’s time. The famous building complexes of Central Asia which have long become its landmark, are to be found in Ichan Kala (UNESCO-World Heritage). After dinner in Khiva, flight to Tashkent.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: City Palace Hotel

Today we visit the historical complex of Khast Imam in Tashkent’s Old Town. In the large square, we visit the Tilla Sheykh Mosque, the Barakkhan Madrasa, the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library in which the oldest Koran in the world is kept. Then we go to the Chorsu Bazaar, which was already known in the Middle Ages and which was at the crossing of the caravan processions of the Great Silk Road. In the afternoon, we walk through the modern town and on the way visit Independence Square and Amir Timur Park. Then we travel to the airport for the flight Tashkent - Bishkek. Arrival in Bishkek, transfer to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Asia Mountains Hotel

Trip to Issyk Kul, one of the deepest inland seas in the world, about 700 meters deep. Then you have some free time to enjoy the sea and the sun. Later, we will go to Burana Tower, one of the historical objects from the 11th century, situated 80 km east of Bishkek. There is a large nomad cemetery next to the tower with many ‘balbals’ (gravestones with human faces).

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Raduga Hotel

Trip to the wonderful village of Karakul in the mountains (capital of the area of Issyk Kul). On the way, we will see the Prijivalski Museum with many interesting exhibits. Then on to Karakul to see a historical building made of wood. Services are still held in the Russian Orthodox Cathedral next to it.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Green Yard Hotel

Today we go to a Hot Spring called Altin Arashan («Golden Source»), 10 km east of Karakul. There is a river there called Arashan where the water temperature is more than 50 degrees. After walking for about five minutes we reach the first glacier called Palatka, one of the landmarks of the place. There we can visit further glaciers and waterfalls if so desired.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Green Yard Hotel

Visit to the horse bazaar in Karakul (only early on Sunday morning). Karakul and Tamga are small towns, but when one goes to the animal markets he gets amazed by the number of people and animals. There follows an excursion to the Jeti Oguz Gorge. On the way we see the rock called "broken heart". Continue on to Bishkek – the capital of Kyrgyzstan. After arriving, we make an afternoon town tour in the modern town of Bishkek. The town is still fairly marked by the Soviets, but the department stores and new buildings are very modern. In the midst of the town we see the Lenin Monument.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Asia Mountains Hotel

Early flight back home.

Meals: Breakfast and dinner.