Uzbekistan 5-day tour / 2

Flight to Tashkent.

Arrival in Tashkent International Airport named after Islam Karimov, first President of Uzbekistan.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. Come out of the terminal and meet the staff holding a sign “ANUR TOUR” or with your name on it.

Transfer to the hotel. As Tashkent airport not far from the city center, the transfer will not take a long time (20 – 40 minutes depending on the hotel location).

Arrival in the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

07:00 Transfer to Kokand by car (~240km, 4hrs).

11:00 Arrival in Kokand.

Start sightseeing program in Kokand visiting (4-5 hrs):

- The Palace of Khudoyar Khan (XIX c.) is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List and currently houses the Kokand Regional Museum of Local History, which presents a unique collection of more than 3000 artifacts from the ancient, khan and royal periods of the region. The Grand Palace was built in several stages from 1822 to 1867, and the facade was decorated with exquisite ceramic patterns by masters of Rishtan and Kashgar. Most of the decoration has survived to this day.

- Norbut-Biy Madrasah, the largest madrasah in Kokand, built in the XVIII century by both subdued architects and the famous Bukhara architect Usto Muhammed Salih Kasim, so the design and construction are quite typical of some monuments of the XVIII century in Bukhara.

- The Mausoleum of Modari Khan ("Modari Khan" means "Mother of Khan") was built in 1825 by order of Umarkhan's widow, the famous poetess Nodira. Since then, the mausoleum has become the family mausoleum, where most of the female members of the Khan's family are buried.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Kokand with sightseeing en-route:

- Rishton (50 km west of Fergana) is famous all over the world for its pottery that is decorated according to the ancient tradition that is more than 800 years. Masters hand down their trade secrets from father to son. The unique red clay ceramic masterpieces are decorated with naturally made ultramarine, turquoise, and azure ornaments known as blue glaze "ishkor".

- Workshop of the famous potter Rustam Umarov where visitors are welcome to observe the finest Rishtan ceramics in wonderful hand-made and painted tea sets and lagans and beautifully decorated jugs and vases.

Start sightseeing tour around Kokand visiting:

- Khudoyar-Khan Palace of 19th century is listed in the world heritage of UNESCO, at present days houses Kokand Regional History Museum that exhibits a unique collection of more than 3000 artifacts from ancient, khanate, and tsarist periods of the region.

- Norbut-Biy Madrassah, the largest madrassa in Kokand. The madrassa was built in the XVIII century by captured architects as well as the famous Bukharian architect Usto Muhammed Salih Kasim, so the design and construction are quite typical to some monuments of the XVIII Century in  Bukhara.

- Modari Khan Mausoleum (Modari-khan means "Mother of Khan”)  was built in 1825 by order of the widow of Umarkhan,  famous poetess Nodira to honor the tomb of her mother-in-law. Since then the mausoleum became the family mausoleum where most of the female members of khan family were buried.

16:10 Transfer to the railway station in Kokand.

17:24 Departure for Tashkent by speed train " O'zbekistan".

21:54 Arrival in Tashkent.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver. Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

07:00 Transfer to the railway station in Tashkent.
08:00 Departure for Samarkand by high-speed train "Afrosiyob".

10:08 Arrival in Samarkand.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver and guide.

Start sightseeing program in Samarkand (6 hours):

– Gur Emir Mausoleum – a burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants decorated with gold ornaments and considered as one of the most significant places in the world;

– Continue to the famous Registan Square – the heart of Samarkand and a real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture consists of three grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor, and Madrassa Tilla Kori.

– Bibi Khanim Mosque – the biggest medieval building in the city which was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in 15th Century;

– Shahi Zinda Necropolis – unique complex of Mausoleums  formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) belonging to the Muslim person named Saint Abbas ibn-Kussam;

– Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

16:00 Transfer to the railway station in Samarkand.

17:06 Departure for Tashkent by high-speed train "Afrosiyob".

19:16 Arrival in Tashkent. 

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver and transfer to he hotel

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

Return flight from Tashkent tomorrow.

End of the tour.