Explore two Stan countries of Central Asia, visit Silk Road sites and hike in the mountains, meet hospitable Central Asian people!

Destination: Uzbekistan - Kazakhstan
Route: Tashkent -Samarkand -Bukhara -Khiva –Tashkent- Turkistan-Chimkent- Tashkent
Duration: 12 days / 11 nights

Land Cost: From 2,799

2012 Small Group Tours

April 23-May 4, 2012

October 1-12, 2012

Day 01: Tashkent
Arrival in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, You will be met by the representatives of our company. Accommodation. Welcome dinner.

Day 02: Tashkent
Sightseeing tour: Tashkent sightseeing tour: Kukeldash Madrassah, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Barak Khan Madrassah, Mosque on Khast Imam Street, Visit to Chor-Su bazaar; circus show, taste traditional foods, watch craftsmen at work, bargain for souvenirs. Lunch in local restaurant. Mustakillik Square (Independence Square), Museum of Natural History, National Puppet Theatre, Halklar Dustligi Square (Friendship Square), Alisher Navoi Park and National Theatre of Opera and Ballet

Day 03: Tashkent-Samarkand
Sightseeing day drive to Samarkand. Stop near Amur Temur "Gate" where two mountain ranges meet. Accommodation at hotel. Sightseeing tour: Enormous Registan Square (Square of Festivals). In Ulugbek medreseh, try on costumes from the time of Temurids. View panorama of Samarkand from the highest point of the city. Dinner in hotel restaurant.

Day 04: Samarkand
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour in Samarkand: Visit medieval architectural monuments: Guri Emir Mausoleum (XV c.), Ishrat Khana Mausoleum, Bibi Khanum Mosque. Visit local Samarkand bazaar. Lunch. Shahi Zinda necropolis, “Stars above Samarkand” - Ulugbek's Observatory (XVc.), Mazar of Daniel. Dinner at traditional family home.

Day 05: Samarkand-Bukhara
Morning drive to Bukhara through the desert Malik chul. Stop at Rabota Malik Karavan Saray of XII century. Arrival in Bukhara. Accommodation at hotel. Walk to Labi Khaus, the heart of legendary Bukhara city. Ride a camel! Dinner in Labi Khaus Chai-khana

Day 06: Bukhara
Sightseeing tour: Kalyan Complex, which includes minaret ( 47 metres high), Trade domes of jewelers, hat sellers silk embroidery weavers and money changers, Ismail Samani and Chasma Aiub mausoleums from the IX-XII centures, Ark- Fortress-winter residence of local rulers (I century).

Day 07: Bukhara.
Breakfast. Visit Mohi Khosa Palace (summer residence of local rulers with national traditional costumes), Chor Minor Complex built in Indian style. Lunch. Free time. Dinner

Day 08: Bukhara – Khiva (470 km, 8 hours)
Drive to Urgench ( 450 km) through the KizilKum desert. Picnic in Uzbek Chaykhana (tea –house). Panaramic view of Amu Darya river. Arrival in Urgench. Accommodation. Dinner in hotel restaurant.

Day 09: Khiva-Urgench (30 km)
Drive to the fairy tale city of Khiva ( 35 km.). Excursion to Ichan Kala (old city) surrounded by high wall of air-dried bricks. Colored pink in the sunset, when darkness falls the light of the moon and srats brighthen the tops of the minarets and the entrances to the Medresehs and you can imagine the tales of Sheherrazadh coming to life.Visit the Ata – Darvaza (West Gate , XVII-XVIII c.), Kalta Minar (small tower). Lunch at the national restaurant owned by woman. Continue the sightseeing tour. Medreseh Mohammad Amin (XIX c.), Kunya Ark (old fortress, XVII-XIX c.), Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum (XVIII –XIX c), Medreseh Khodja Islam with minaret (tower), Tash Hauli Palace (old harem- stony Palace), Caravanserai ( traditional inn for traveling merchants), Juma Mosque ( XI-XII c.) with 200 wooden pillars. Flight to Tashkent

Day 10: Tashkent-Turkestan, Kazakstan
Sightseeing day drive to Turkistan(300 km), one of the ancient cities of Kazakhstan. Border formalities.
Visit Mazar of Khodja Ahmed Yassavi (XII), the first Kazakh patrimony to be recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Turkistan town necropolis, oriental baths and bazaar. Accommodation at the hotel.

Day 11: Turkestan-Shymkent -Tashkent
Sightseeing day drive to Shymkent city. Explore Otrar ruins., the ancient city which has brought Jenghiz Khan to Central Asia (XIII c.), the archeological and historical museum of Al-Farabi. Return back to Tashkent. Custom and Border formalities. Accommodation. Dinner at the Hotel Restaurant.

Day 12: Departure from Tashkent International Airport

This tour program includes:

• Visa support
• Local air tickets
• Ground Transportation (with air conditioning)
• English-speaking guide/escort
• Hotel accommodation in double room
• Meals on a full board basis: Breakfast and Dinner, one complimentary lunch
• Entrance fees to museums, monuments and parks
• Folklore Show in Bukhara and Samarkand