Uzbek hospitality

Breakfast.

Morning of rest.

Discovery of the capital: the Hazret-Imam complex in the heart of old Tashkent including the Barak Khan medersa (16th century), the Tellia Cheikh mosque (of Friday) open for worship and the mausoleum of Kaffal Chachi (16th century). Medersa Koukeldach; market.

Panoramic city tour: Alicher Navoi Opera Theater Square, Amir Temur Square, Independence Square.

Lunch during the visits in a restaurant in town.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Transfer to the station to take the "Afrasiab" train at 08.00 (2h from the road)

Arrival and installation at the hotel.

First discovery of Samarkand the great: visit of Registan square, the heart of Samarkand, with the medersas of Ouloug Beg (15th century), Cher-Dor (medersa with lions) (17th century) and Tilla-Kari (decorated with gold) (17th century).

Breakfast in a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Afrosiab, one of the largest sites in the world; the Oulugbeg observatory, built in the 15th century by Oulugbeg, one of the greatest astronomers of his time; the Gour-Emir mausoleum (15th century), housing the tombs of Tamerlane and his descendants

At the end of the afternoon, visit the Khavrenko cellar, renowned throughout Central Asia for its wines. The visit will be followed by a wine tasting at the cellar museum. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Night at the hotel.

Breakfast.

In the morning visit of Bibi-Khanim mosque (14th century - early 15th century), the biggest mosque in Central Asia, built by order of Tamerlane after the conquest of India; Shakhi-Zinda (the living king) necropolis, the pearl of Samarkand, a group of mausoleums dating from 11th to 15th century, a real museum of medieval architecture, market.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Visit of the silk carpet factory in Samarkand.

Visit of Valentina Romanenko's workshop where you can admire silk jackets, scarves and clothes.

Dinner in a traditional Uzbek house.

Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer from Samarkand to the mountain village of Nurata (180 km).

Arrival in the mountain village of Sentyab. Settling in the guest house.

Excursion to the village and acquaintance with the way of life of the local people.

Night in the guest house.

Transfer to the yurt camp (65km).

Installation. Transfer to the lake. Bathing in the lake Aydar KUL.

Camel ride across steppes and dunes.

Dinner in the open air (around the fire) accompanied by the songs of Akyn, a Kazakh singer.

Night under the yurts

Departure to Bukhara.

Arrival and check-in at the hotel.

Lunch in the city.

Beginning of the sightseeing in Bukhara: Liabi-Khaouz complex consisting of Nadir-Divan-Beghi Medersa (1622), Kukeldach Medersa and Nadir-Divan-Beghi Khanaka (1620), one of the most popular places in Bukhara, Magok-Attori Mosque (12th-16th c.); merchant domes of the 16th century Toki-Sarafon (exchangers' cupola).

Dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Ark Citadel (17th - 20th cs); Bolo-Khauz Mosque (1712); the pearl of the East - Ismail Samani Mausoleum (9th - 10th cs) one of the oldest monuments in the world in memory of Muslim personalities; Chachma-Aiub Mausoleum (14th - 17th cs) - the source of the Prophet Job; market.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon:

ChorMinor medersa ("four minarets"), four towers that decorated the entrance to the Niyaz Kul medersa (19th c.). Visit of the Bukhara carpet workshop which is very famous for its wool and silk carpets.

Folkloric concert of traditional dances and songs with dinner in Nodir Divan Beghi medersa.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Departure to Bukhara (480 km): long drive through the Kyzyl Koum desert (the Red Sands).

Picnic lunch on the way.

Arrival and accommodation in the hotel.

Relaxation after a long drive.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Visit of Khiva: the medersa of Moukhammad Amin Khan and Kalta Minor (the unfinished minaret) (XVIIIth c.); Kounia-Ark (the old fortress) (XVIIth - XIXth c.); the medersa of Moukhammad Rakhim Khan (XIXth c.); the mausoleum of Said Allaoutdin (XIVth c.); the Djami (Friday) mosque with its 212 carved wooden columns (XVIIIth c.); market.

Lunch at a local's house.

Continuation of the tour to Khiva.

Dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast.

Transfer to Urgench airport (30 km) for flight Urgench-Tashkent. Check-in at the hotel.

Visit of the former residence of the tsarist diplomat which nowadays houses the museum of Applied Arts. Lunch in the hotel.

City tour: the metro, Amir Timur square, Independence square.

Farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Night at the hotel. 

Breakfast.

Visit of the orthodox and catholic churches. Lunch.

Transfer to the airport for the flight Tashkent - Paris