Uzbekistan Holiday Package: Uzbekistan tour

Uzbekistan lies astride the Silk Road, the ancient trading route between China and the West. The country boasts some of the finest architectural jewels among the Silk Road countries, featuring intricate Islamic tile work, turquoise domes, minarets and preserved relics from the time when Central Asia was a centre of empire and learning. Good examples of this architecture can be found in the ancient walled city of Khiva in Urgench, the winding narrow streets of the old town of Bukhara and Samarkand, known locally as the ‘Rome of the Orient’. The Ferghana Valley, surrounded by the Tian Shan and Pamir mountains, still produces silk and is well worth visiting for its friendly bazaars and landscape of cotton fields, mulberry trees and fruit orchards.

ITINERARY Day 1, LONDON/TASHKENT Depart from London. Arrive IN Tashkent by HY 202 at 08:05.Upon arrival in Tashkent Airport you are met and transferred to your pre booked Hotel (immediate check in)Morning rest at leisure/Afternoon sightseeing tour of Tashkent:Half day visit old town: Kaffal Shashi mausoleum, Barak Khan Medrassah, Tilla Sheih Mosque, Chorsu Bazar. Overnight Stay at the Hotel Tashkent Palace 4* or similar. Day 2, TASHKENT day sightseeing tour in Tashkent: Visit Abdul Kassim Medrassah (19c) - center of craftsmen of whole Uzbekistan (there you will have an opportunity to see all variety of different crafts like: metal carving, wood carving, silk paper painting, ceramics, etc, masters themselves work there/Later visit Museum of Applied Arts, excursion to visit Mustakillik (Independence) Square in the heart of Tashkent and famous Tashkent Metro (underground) decorated with local marble and granite like an underground palaces.Overnight Stay at the Hotel Tashkent Palace 4* Hotel or similar. Day 3, TASHKENT – SAMARKAND (330 km) Morning drive to Samarkand and on arrival in Samarkand check into your pre booked Hotel. Afternoon half day city tour of Samarkand to visit: Registan Square to see the three beautiful madrassahs, visit Gur Emir - mausoleum of Great Tamerlane. Overnight Stay at the Hotel Malika Prime or similar. Day 4, SAMARKAND Full day sightseeing in Samarkand:Visit: Bibi Khanum mosque, the Silk Road bazaar and Shahi Zinda necropolis,Afternoon visit Afrosiab museum and site and Ulugbek’s observatory located at the entrance to Samarkand.Overnight Stay at the Hotel Malika Prime or similar. Day 5, SAMARKAND – SHAHRRISABZ – BUKHARA (368 km) Morning drive to Bukhara en route excursion to Shakhrisabz - the birthplace of the Great Amir Temur, visit: Ak Saroy Palace ruins, Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday mosque. Late afternoon drive to Bukhara.Upon arrival in Bukhara check in at your hotel Overnight at Boutique Hotel Minzifa or similar. Day 6, BUKHARA Full day sightseeing tour:Visit – Lab-i-khauz, madrassah Nadirkhon, Devanbegi, Khanaga, Mogaki Attari mosque, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque, Madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek. Afternoon visit: Ark Fortress, Balakhauz mosque, mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, Chashma Ayub. Overnight at Boutique Hotel Minzifa or similar. Day 7, BUKHARA Full day sightseeing in Bukhara. Morning half day excursion to Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of the former emir of Bukhara where you can see unique mixture of traditional Russian style of architecture harmoniously mixed with local oriental traditions. Famous thrown white hall decorated with carved alabaster resembles halls in Petergof Palace in the suburb of St Petersburg. Afternoon excursion to Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausolem famous Sufi spiritual leader of this region in 14th century. Bahouddin Naqshband's cult was highly venerated among folks. The rulers, too, paid a considerable attention to this architectural ensemble.Return to Bukhara and enjoy walking among old Bukharian streets Overnight at Boutique Hotel Minzifa or similar. Day 8, BUKHARA – KHIVA (480 km, 8-9 hrs) Upon your arrival to Khiva check in at your hotel.Overnight in Khiva. Day 9, KHIVA-URGENCH-TASHKENT (by air) Sightseeing in Khiva,visitng The madrasah of Muhammad Amin-khan,Makhmud Pahlavan: national hero of Khiva, Dishan-kala hospital, Khiva Islam Khoja Complex: mosque and minaret,Djuma mosque: features of architecture,Kalta-minor: "short minaret",Tash-Khovli Palace: summer residence of Khivan Khans Allakuli Khan Madrassah, Kunya-ark: history of the fortress,Shergazi-Khan Madrasah: history of the construction,Sayid Allauddin Mausoleum: the ancient mausoleum in Khiva Itchan Kala: open-air museum. Overnight in Khiva Day 10,Khiva - Ayazkala - Urgench - Tashkent KHIVA-URGENCH-TASHKENT (by air) This morning you will be transferred to Ayazkala, visit ancient Fortresses. Ayazkala, Kirkkizkala and Toprakkala. After your lunch in Ayazkala, we will dirve back to Urgench have our dinner and for your domestic flight back to Tashkent (HY-1058 / 21:10) Upon arrival, transfer and check in to your hotel. Overnight in Tashkent. Day 11, TASHKENT - LONDON (by air) Transfer to the airport for direct flight to London.

UZBEKISTAN TOUR REF:UZBEKISTAN DURATION: 10 DAYS Dates 2011 14 Sep - 23 Sep TOUR COST (2011): £1950 per person Single supplement: £ 280 Dates 2012 09 May - 18 May 12 Sep - 21 Sep TOUR COST (2012): £2050 per person Single supplement: £ 290 What is included in the tour prices: International flight accommodation sharing a twin room airport transfers breakfast land transports all excursions and sightseeing, entrance fees porterage English speaking guide What is not included: Uzbekistan Consulate visa fee £50.(British) lunch, dinner Travel insurance, which we can be obtained through Persian Voyages. Persian Voyages acts as agents of Facts Travel Ltd ATOL 4109 for the international flight.