Archaeological Tour of Uzbekistan
Route
Tashkent – Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Termez – Bukhara – Khiva – Ayaz-Kala – Nukus – Tashkent
Duration
13 days / 12 nights
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Day 01 Arrival in Tashkent
AM. Arrive in Tashkent international airport. Meet and transfer to hotel for breakfast and some rest. Full day excursion of Tashkent. Visit Ming Uryuk (AD I-VIII c) archaeological site, Shoshtepa ruins (VI c BC-AD XVI c), History Museum and famous ceramist-Mr. Akbar Rahimov’s workshop to learn the meanings of symbols and figures in historical ceramic dishes. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 02 Tashkent-Samarkand (by train)
Early light breakfast in the hotel. Take morning express train Afrosiyob to Samarkand. Upon arrival transfer to Afrosiyob Museum and archaeological hill. Excursion to be led by ex-Afrosiyob Museum director who participated in the excavations. Visit Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi Zinda necropolis. PM. Visit Bibihanum Mosque, Registan Square and Guri Emir Mausoleum. Also visit a workshop producing a historically legendary Silk paper in Konig Ghil village. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 03 Samarkand-Shakhrisabz (220 km)
Breakfast in hotel. Check-out. Excursion to Urgut. Visit Chor Chinar cemetery where archeologists found a Nestorian temple (monastery) belonging (AD IX-XIII c), and Urgut bazaar. PM. Drive to Shakhrisabz. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 04 Shakhrisabz-Termez (300 km)
Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion of Shakhrisababz. Visit Ak Saray Palace, Kok Gumbaz, Dorut-Tilovat Complex, Dorus-Saodat Complex. PM. Drive to Termez. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 05 Termez
Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion of Termez: Archaeological museum, Fayaztepa (the site of an ancient settlement of the AD II-III c), Mausoleum of Hakim At Termezi (AD IX-XV c), Buddhist Stupa Zurmala, Mausoleum Sultan Saodat (AD X-XVth c), Honako Kokaldor Ota (AD XVI c), Nunnery Kirk Kiz (AD IX-Xth c.), Karatepa (AD II c). Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 06 Termez-Bukhara (450 km)
Breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Bukhara. Upon arrival transfer to hotel for overnight.
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Day 07 Bukhara
Breakfast in the hotel. Full day excursion program in Bukhara: Samanids’ Mausoleum, Chashmai Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo-Khovuz mosque, Ark Fortress, Poi-Kalyon complex (Kalyan mosque and minaret, Miri Arab madrassa), Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrassas, Magoki Attori mosque, Trade Domes (Toki-Zargaron, Toki-Telpakifurushon and Toki-Sarrofon), Labi Khovuz complex. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 08 Bukhara
Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion of Poykent archaeological site (IV c BC- AD IX c; an ancient city of Central Asia, located in the lower stream of Zarafshan River, once one of the trading centers of the Great Silk Road) and Varakhsha archaeological site (IV c BC- AD XI c; a triangle shape small city- shakriston and fortress connected in the Eastern wall). You will be accompanied by a local archeologist under your guide’s translation. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 09 Bukhara-Khiva (by train)
Early light breakfast in the hotel. Take early morning train to Khiva. Upon arrival excursion of Ichan Kala-a museum under the open sky”: Ota-Darvaza (main gate), Madrassah of Mukhamad Amin-Khan, Kalta-Minor Minaret, Kunya-Ark complex, Madrassah of Mukhammad Rakhimkhan, Mausoleum of Said Alautdin with Zoroastrian signs, Juma Mosque (Friday mosque, (AD X-XVIII c) with pillars having Zoroastrian figures) and Minaret, Tosh-Hovli Palace (Harem), Karavan-Saray, Palvan-Darvaza Gate, Medrese of Abdulla-Khan, Minaret and Mosque of Khodja-Islam, Madrassah of Shergazi-Khan, Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 10 Khiva-Kala Citadel/Temples-Ayazkala (200 km)
Breakfast in the hotel. Full day excursion to Zoroastrian Citadels such as: Kyzyl Kala (AD I-XIII c), Toprak Kala (I century BC-AD IV c), Ayazkala (IV c BC- AD XIII c), Kyrkyz Kala (AD I-VI c) -Djanbas Kala (IV c BC-AD I c) -Koykirilgan Kala (IV c BC-AD IV c), Guldursun Kala (II c BC-AD XI c), Ayazkala. Overnight in Yurts.
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Day 11 Ayazkala-Nukus (170 km)
Breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Nukus. En route visit Chilpik Kala (Silence Tower, I c BC – AD XI c). Upon arrival in Nukus, visit Savitskiy Museum (a must museum for all visitors of Nukus. It consists of countless number of archaeological, ethnic and painting masterpieces). Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 12 Nukus-Tashkent (by air)
Breakfast in the hotel. Visit Mizdakhan complex (IV c BC – AD XIV c. It is said that Adam of Zoroastriam religion – Gayomard was buried here) with a well-archaeologist – Mr. Oktyabr Dospanov. Take an evening flight to Tashkent. Overnight in the hotel.
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Day 13 Departure from Tashkent
Breakfast in the hotel. Morning transfer to Tashkent international airport for flight to next destination. End of the tour.
| PAX in a group | PRICE (PER PERSON) |
| – 1 pax (single accom.) | Upon request |
| – 2 pax (twin sharing) | Upon request |
| – 3 pax (twin sharing) | Upon request |
| – 4 pax (twin sharing) | Upon request |
| – 5 pax (twin sharing) | Upon request |
| – 6 pax (twin sharing) | Upon request |
| – 7 pax (twin sharing) | Upon request |
| – Single supplement | Upon request |
Features of the tour:
This tour contains the highlighted cities of Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Khiva, Bukhara, Shakhrisabz and Samarkand by covering cultural, historical, architectural and educational features. As a standard classical tour, its duration is ideal with enough time to learn the famous cities on the Silk Road and at the same time to enjoy one’s holiday.
Best season to travel:
You can travel and enjoy this program all year around however one can feel a little bit uncomfortable to travel in the hottest period of summer (in July) and in winter when the weather is cold. But during these off-season periods, travellers can get special discounted rates for packages by request.
Level of difficulties and age limitation:
This is an easy level tour and there is no age limitation as far as a person has no walking distance problem. Because in some cities such as Khiva and Bukhara, transportation is limited and normally tourists walk around approximately from 3 to 5 km during an excursion.
