15-day Exotics of the East Tour from the USA15 Days | Tashkent, Nukus, Muynak, Khiva, Bukhara, Sentyab village, Samarkand

Day 1: Tashkent – arrival

 

Arrive in Tashkent. Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Have a rest after a long flight from the USA. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Tashkent – Nukus – Muynak – Nukus

 

Transfer to the Airport to get a morning flight to Nukus (1255 km, 2 h 45 min). Arrive in Nukus and drive to former fishermen’s town Muynak (220 km, 3 h), which used to be situated on the shores of the Aral Sea. On the way stop at archaeological complex Mizdakhan. In Muynak have a look at a former port with abandoned ships in the sand also known as The Cemetery of Ships. Then visit Local History Museum with art exhibits of the Aral Sea history. In the afternoon return to Nukus. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Nukus – Khiva

 

Visit the Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum*. The museum hosts the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and exposition of Karakalpak applied arts items. Have a short drive around center of Nukus: see statue of Karakalpak poet Berdakh, Nukus City Hall, and Drama Theatre. In the afternoon depart to Khiva (200 km, 4-5 h). On the way visit archaeological monuments of Ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk, a Zoroastrian dakhma (funerary tower) and Toprak-Kala, the capital of Khorezm dating back to the 3^rd century A.D. Arrive in Khiva, check in to the hotel.

Day 4: Khiva

 

Spend a day in Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a walking sightseeing tour in Khiva with a guide, visit Tash-Khovli Palace, Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-Khoja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours

Day 5: Khiva – Bukhara

 

In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h)*. Today we will have an overland transfer from Khiva to Bukhara through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Free time.
*As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before).
**Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.

Day 6: Bukhara

 

Enjoy 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 and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 7: Bukhara

 

Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa, the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 8: Bukhara – Nurata Mountains (Ashraf, Sentyab or Yangi Hayot village)

 

In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to a village located in Nurata Mountains (330 km, 5-6 h*). On the way we will have a few stops: Gijduvan pottery masters workshop, Nurata local mosque with a holy spring water, and Nurata pass to see petroglyphs. Arrive in Ashraf, Sentyab or Yangi Hayot village, accommodation in the guesthouse.
All villages are located far away from roads and cities in a picturesque mountain area with fresh air, green orchards, singing birds, sky full of stars, and friendly people. Have a tour around the village and explore life of locals. Overnight in the guesthouse.
Meals: dinner
*The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.

Day 9: Village

 

People have been living in Nurata Mountains since the times of Alexander the Great. Villagers keep house and farm as it was done centuries ago. Women cook on the open fire, weave, spin yarn, bake their own bread, milk the cows. Men farm, shepherd, built houses of stone, rocks and clay.
Stay in a village, watching birds, hiking, riding donkey, and participating in cooking traditional food gives an excellent opportunity to witness life of local peasants.

Extras to do in the area:

Option 1. Take a guided hike to a waterfall. Have look at petroglyphs on the way. (6-7 km, 2-3 h one way). Return to the guesthouse.
Cost: $30 for the service of a guide. (Available from Sentyab village only)

Option 2. Take a ride on a donkey.
Cost: $20 for the service of a guide.

Day 10: Village – Samarkand

 

Depart the village and drive to Samarkand (220 km, 4 h). Arrive in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Free time.
Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 11: Samarkand

 

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Day 12: Samarkand – Tashkent

 

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the 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.
Late in the afternoon transfer to railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Day 13: Tashkent

 

Today you will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imam Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman has been preserved. 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 14: Tashkent

 

Free day in Tashkent before your long flight back home to the USA.

Optional: take a hike in mountains just outside of Tashkent (70 km):

Gulkam canyon
Jade Lakes (Urungach)

Day 15: Tashkent – departure

 

Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of Exotics of the East Tour from the USA.

Price includes:

• All transfers 1-2 pax by sedan type car; 3-7 pax by minivan type car; 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14 pax and more by 40-50 seat bus;
• Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included;
• Sightseeing tour program in each city with local English speaking guides (except for city tour in Nukus and trip to fortresses of Ancient Khorezm);
• Entrance fees to sights as per itinerary;
• Economy class ticket for flight Tashkent-Nukus;
• Ticket for train 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 the 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;
• Day trek to mountains on Day 14;
• Travel insurance;
• International flight tickets from/to USA.