Uzbekistan Train Tour from Australia8 Days | Tashkent, Ferghana Valley, Bukhara, Samarkand

Day 1: Tashkent – arrival

 

Arrive in Tashkent from Australia. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel from noon.
Meet your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. You will visit Old City where Khast-Imam Complex is located. The sight is famous for keeping Quran of Caliph Uthman. In Khast-Imam you will see Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tillya-Sheykh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore Chorsu Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center to visit Applied Arts Museum and walk through Navoi Theater to Amir Timur Square where you will end Tashkent city tour. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 2: Tashkent – Kokand – Rishtan – Fergana

 

At 07:00 transfer to the train station. Take train departing to Kokand at 08:05. Arrive there at 12:16*. Meet your guide and driver and start sightseeing tour in Fergana Valley. Visit Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Jami Mosque and Norbut-biy Madrasah. Continue to Rishtan to the house of a well-known ceramic master, Rustam Usmanov, whose works are exhibited on world exhibitions. At pottery master’s you will visit the workshop, see the process of pottery creation and see collection of local ceramics. Afterwards, we will continue to Fergana city. Arrival in Fergana, check in to the hotel for overnight.
Alternative transportation is a car with a driver; the road takes 4 hours and lies through Kamchik Mountain Pass.

Day 3: Fergana – Margilan – Tashkent

 

In the morning visit Akhmad Al Fergani Park. Drive to Margilan and visit Margilan and visit Said Akhmad-Khoja Madrasah. Today, madrasah is a home to a number of craftsmen producing handmade carpets and silk. Have a walk on traditional market and continue to Yodgorlik Silk factory to see the production process of silk with traditional Ikat patterns. If it is Thursday or Sunday, visit Kumtepa Bazaar, the largest market in Fergana Valley. At 15:30 transfer to Margilan railway station. Take the train to Tashkent at 16:48. Arrive in Tashkent at 21:40. Pick-up and transfer to the hotel for overnight.

Day 4: Tashkent – Bukhara

 

At 06:30 transfer to the train station. Take the high-speed train, Afrosiyob, departing to Bukhara at 07:30 (605 km). Arrival at 11:17. Upon arrival the driver will transfer you to the hotel in Bukhara. Meet your guide and start a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 5: Bukhara – Samarkand

 

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel and visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum Bakhouddin Naqshbandi. Return to Bukhara and visit Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. At 14:40 transfer from the hotel to the train station. Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train to Samarkand departing at 15:52, arriving at 17:25 (270 km). Upon arrival the driver will transfer you to the hotel in Samarkand. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 6: Samarkand

 

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar and Gur-Emir Mausoleum – the mausoleum of Amir Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5-6 hours

Day 7: Samarkand – Tashkent

 

Check out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, Ulugbek Observatory and Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. At 16:00 transfer to the train station. Take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent at 17:00 (300 km); arrival at 19:10. Pick-up and transfer to the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4-5 hours

Day 8: Tashkent – departure

 

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure to Australia. End of the tour service.

Price includes:

• All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by van type car;
• Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
• Sightseeing tour program in each city with local guides;
• Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
• Tickets for trains Tashkent-Kokand, Margilan-Tashkent, Tashkent-Bukhara-Samarkand-Tashkent (on rare occasions when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train).

Price doesn't include:

• Tour leader to accompany travellers for the whole period of the tour;
• Full board (lunches and dinners);
• Hotel charges for additional services;
• Consular fees for Uzbekistan tourist visa;
• Tips are not included, but would be appreciated;
• Travel insurance.