Uzbekistan – Turkmenistan Tour | 6

Flight to Tashkent.

Afternoon/evening arrival in Tashkent International Airport.

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” .

Transfer to the hotel. As Tashkent airport is not far from the city center, the transfer will take about 20 – 40 minutes depending on the hotel location.

Arrival in the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Meet the driver in the hotel in Tashkent.

07:00 Transfer to the railway station in Tashkent.

08:00 Departure for Samarkand by high-speed train "Afrosiyob".

10:08 Arrival in Samarkand.

Meet the driver and guide, who will wait for you with a signboard "ANUR TOUR".

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.

Transfer to the hotel. Check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel. 

Breakfast at the hotel.

Afternoon transfer to Bukhara, en-route visiting the famous Gijduvan pottery workshop where visitors are welcome for a tour around the workshop and observe the process of ceramic making and painting.

The owners demonstrate the stages of making ceramics from turning the potter’s wheel to making paints from natural ingredients, decorating the ceramics in a distinctive style, drying, and firing.  Take a tour around the museum-hall of ceramic masterpieces with a unique collection of the ceramic items of Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan. 

By request, a master-class of painting ceramics, suzani embroidery, and traditional bread baking.

Continue to Bukhara.

Arrival in Bukhara in the afternoon, check-in the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the lobby.

Start WALKING sightseeing program in Bukhara (5-6 hours):

- Ensemble Lyabi Hauz (Nadir Divanbegi Madrassa, Khanaka, Kukeldash Madrassa and the monument of Khodja Nasreddin);

- Magoki Attari Mosque is one of the oldest mosques survived in Bukhara from the time before the Mongolian invasion;

- Abdullakhan’s Tim with numerous handicraft shops of souvenirs, ceramics, national clothes, and carpets;

- Caravanserai Sayfuddin (the Center of Handicraft Development of Bukhara);

- There are three trading domes or so called covered bazaars Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon, and Toki Zargaron preserved from the XVI century and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry and even for money exchange. Today as well, one can enjoy and purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets;

- Visit Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so-called Kosh (pare) madrassas opposite each other with the distinctive style of facade ornamental decoration;

- Poi Kalon Square with Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Mir Arab Madrassa – the heart of Bukhara, a monumental complex impresses the imagination;

- Ark Fortress – the oldest citadel dating back to I century BC where one can feel the history of the great fortress covered in beautiful legends and myths.

Optionally can be added by request:

Visit Samanids mausoleum (IX century), a monument of early medieval architecture.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:30 Meet the driver at the lobby .Transfer to Uzbek- Turkmen border post Alat.

Pass the border. Border passing formalities (passport and visa control might take 1 to 2 hrs depending on the customs formalities). Meet the guide and driver at Turkmen side.

Meeting with guide and driver at Turkmenistan side of the border.

Transfer to Mary en route visit to the Ancient Merv (UNESCO).

 Sightseeing in  historical park visiting

- Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum,

- Mohammed bin Said Mausoleum,

- medieval castles – “Kesk” fortresses (6-7 centuries);

- History museum of Merv region.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the Mary airport.

Early morning flight to Ashgabat ( 40 min).

Arrival in Ashgabat.

Start Ashgabat city tour with visiting

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque  with four minarets reminding the Blu Mosque of Istabul was built in honour Ertogrul the father of the Osman I , the founder of Ottoman Empire,

- Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that consider the highest building in the country);

- Neutrality Arch - unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun;

- National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique exposition from Ancient Merv and Nissa. 

- Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It is considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousands of people). There are beautiful garden and fountains near the mosque.

- Ancient Nissa (18km from Ashgabad) UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation of I millennium BC - I millennium BC). 

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the afternoon. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start Ashgabat city tour with visiting

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118m column that consider the highest building in the country);

- Neutrality Arch - unique composition that  rotates slowly after the sun;

- National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique exposition from Ancient Merv and Nissa;

- A trip to ancient Nissa (18km from Ashgabad) that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city ;

- Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum is considered as the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousands of people). There are beautiful garden and fountains. 

- In the afternoon transfer to Darwaza crater and change from the asphalt road to the Karakum desert track, continue 10 km deep inside. In 1971 geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with natural gas. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided to burn the gas. Geologists hoped the fire would go out in a few days but it has been burning ever since. Locals have named the cavern The Gate - Darwaza. The views are impressive, especially in sunset and night when the mild sunlight and burning crater evoke incredible and ambiguous feelings. 

BBQ dinner and overnight stay in yurt.

Camp – style breakfast.

09:00 Transfer to Kunya – Urgench.

Start sightseeing tour with visiting

-the founder mausoleum of Sufi sects "Kubra" Nadzhimetdin Kubra (XII-XIII centuries);

-the mausoleum of Mongolian princess Torebeg-Hanym (XII-XIV centuries); minaret Mamun (X-XI centuries);

-minaret Kutlug-Timur (XII-XIV c, the highest minaret in Central Asia);

-Mausoleum Kyrkmolla (II in BC - III A.D.);

- Mausoleum Arslan II (the oldest building in the city - date of its bookmark is roughly estimated by XI century).

Afternoon transfer to Turkmen – Uzbek Border post Khojeyli. Border passing formalities. Meet the driver at Uzbek side of the border. Transfer to Nukus.

Resting time in the afternoon/evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the driver in the lobby.

- Visit Savitsky Museum exhibiting a unique collection of antiques of Khorezm and Karakalpak, Uzbek fine arts, and second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde works after the Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg.

The founder of the museum, Igor Savitsky devoted his life to piece-by-piece collecting of the finest works of modern artists of Uzbekistan and Russian avant-gardists. In 70 s it was quite risky to become an anti-Soviet propagandist. During perestroika and first years since Uzbekistan independence, the museum earned world recognition and deserved rightfully the must-see site status in Central Asia.

Transfer to Khiva (180 km, ~ 3,5 hours) en-route photo stops at the ruins of fortresses of ancient Khorezm.

- Ayaz-Kala and Toprak-Kala, the fortresses of the Kushan period of Ancient Khorezm that used to be mighty border forts protecting the residents from raids of nomadic tribes.  The forts were built in ~4-7th century BCE, during the ages when Khorezm achieved its independence. The fortresses are located on the hills quite close to each other and visitors are welcome to have a short overview tour in the monumental forts that currently are drowning in sands.

Arrival in Khiva. Check-in the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Start WALKING excursion in the historical part of Khiva – Ichan-kala (translated as “Inner town”). Ichan-kala - the largest Museum in the open air in Central Asia:

- Ata-Darvaza,Kunya- Ark,

- Madrassah of Muhammad Rahim Khan,

- Madrassah of Muhammed Aminhan,

- Kalta Minor, the Palace of the Allakulihan Khan of Khiva

- Tash Hauli, where the harem of 40 concubines was,

- Caravanserai and Tim Allakulihan,

- Pahlavan Mahmud Gates,

- Mausoleum of Seyd Allaudin,

- Minaret and Islam-Khoja Madrassah,

- Mosque and Jami Minaret.

21:00 Transfer to Urgench airport.

22:55 Flight Urgench – Tashkent by HY 58 

00:15 Arrival in Tashkent.

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

Resting time in the afternoon/evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

09:00 Meet the guide and driver at the hotel's lobby. 

Start sightseeing tour of Tashkent (5-6 hrs) visiting old and new parts of the city:

- Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square, was renamed on August 31, 1994, after the Amir Timur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi built in 1947 is one of the best opera theaters in the world that performs both classical and national repertoires. 

- Independence Square, the main square of Uzbekistan reflects the past, present, and future of the country. There are fountains standing for the life energy of Uzbek people, the Cabinet and the Senate, the “Eternal flame" in honor of soldiers who died during the Second World War.
- Earthquake Memorial, the composition is devoted to the tragic date of the earthquake in Tashkent on April 26, 1966, and is erected in the approximate place of the earthquake epicenter. Residents still come to the monument to honor those people who took a part in the reconstruction of Tashkent.

- Khast Imam Square – a religious center of the city consisting of the Barakkhan madrasah; Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library of Islamic Literature with the Holy Koran Book of the VII century (original Quran Othman). Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts pilgrims and visitors all over the world.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four water”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of the old city in the bazaar where people come for trades. The bazaar beautiful blue dome, built in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, is often depicted in postcards and international magazines and became one of the major sights of interest both for locals and guests – one can see oriental tiled bazaar from different souvenir shops with ceramics, handicraft works, carpets and jewelry, the whole pavilion full of delirious fruits to the finest textiles and colorful fabrics.

- Tashkent Metro (the first line was launched in 1977) with beautiful train stations each decorated in thematic style with traditional ornaments and special lightning.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.
The evening departure flight from Tashkent.

End of the tour.