Bukhara

Overview

Gallery

Itinerary

• Meet outside of airport terminal building by driver and transfer to hotel (Travelers should go outside of airport terminal building and there is a metal fence and all people who come to meet passengers wait there. Our driver will be there with a name board)

• The driver picks you up from your hotel in Tashkent at 5 am (flight is at 7 am).

• Travelers should go outside of airport the terminal building and there is a metal fence and all people who come to meet passengers wait there. Our driver will be there with a name board and transfer to Khiva city which is 35 km.

• Ichan Qala Fortu2014 is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990. Present day Ichan Qala is open-air museum. It represents the old part of the city, surrounded with wall and turned into the State Historical Archaeological Museum. The area of Ichan Qala is 26 hectares. The feeling in Inner Fortress transfers people into the past in a city with narrow lanes, low houses, mosques, mausoleums and madrassahs (Quran or Koran schools). nThe sightseeing in Ichan Qala Fort: nMuhammad Amin Khan Madrassau2014 (1855) nKalta Minor. Zindonu2014 city jail. Kunya Ark (u201cKuhna Arku201d in Uzbek). nMuhammad Rakhim Khan Madrassau2014 (1871)nPakhlavan Mahmud MausoleumnIslam Khoja MadrassanIslam Khoja Minaretu2014 the tallest minaret in the city (Note: climbing the minaret 100.000 sum per person and it is not included to the tour price)nJuma Mosqueu2014 (1788)nTash Hauli Palace (u201cStone Palaceu201d in Uzbek)(Note: separate entrance) to the reception court (ishrat hauli).

• Transfer from Khiva to Bukhara 7-hour drive. Crossing the river Amu Darya (in the antique called Oxus) and the desert Kizilkum. On the way lunch stop in a tea houseu2014chayxana (optional)

• On this walking tour you learn about Art, history, old town, architectural monuments, food. The UNESCO listed city Bukhara has it all. Bukhara, one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia, has a 2500-year-old history. Bumichkat u201cNew Castleu201d, Al Madina as-sufriyya u201cCopper Cityu201d, Madinat at-tujjor u201cCity of Tradersu201d, Foxira u201cHonorable Cityu201d are some the names given to this unique city.

• Bolo Hauz mosque (XVIII century)u2014 it is a functioning Friday mosque from XVIII century and consists of reservoir, mosque and minaret (Note: this mosque you can visit from outside, since it is functioning Friday mosque)

• The Citadel Ark (I-XX centuries)u2014 the construction of the citadel is dated to beginning of the 1st millennium BC. During the history the fortress has been destroyed several times but has been restored again. All buildings of the citadel have been reconstructed mainly during the XVIII-XX centuries

• Poi Kalon complex (u201cThe foot of tallu201d in Uzbek) from XII-XVI centuries. Consisting of mosque, madrassah and minaret, one of the great centre of trade and scholarship along the Silk Road. The beauty of the minaret amazed Genghis Khan (Temuchin or Temujin)

• Magoki-Attari Mosqueu2014 Central Asiau2019s oldest surviving mosque. Prior to the Arab invasion there was a Buddhist monastery and then a Zoroastrian temple on the site. It now houses the dull Museum of the History of Carpet Weaving

• Labi Hauz Complex (u201cThe edge of the pondu201d from Persian) constructed by Nadir Divan Begi, The Grand Vizier of Bukhara, around 1620

• XVI century Synagogueu2014 to the south of Labi Hauz Square spreads the Jewish Quarter of the old town. Jews have been an important minority in Bukhara since their forced migration from Merv and Shiraz in the 14th century (the majority having emigrated to Israel and the US since 1970s). (Note: most of the time it is closed if it is open travelers can visit inside and see old Torah)

• Statue of Hodja Nasruddinu2014 the homespun philosopher and humorist on his donkey. Elsewhere in the world he is generally accepted as Turkish, but Uzbeks claim he was born in Bukhara and is one of their own

• Discover city on your own or purchase optional half day tour of the top attractions outside of Bukhara on this day trip to Chor Minoru2014 an unusual madrassah with four minarets, Naqshbandi Sufism complexu2014 where the founder of a Sufi order which was later named Naqshbandi was buried, The summer palace of Bukharau2019s emirsu2014where travelers can see a Soviet and Bukharian architecture and Chor Bakr Necropolisu2014resting place of Imam Sayid Abu Bakr and his three brothers Fazl, Ahmed and Hamed, all direct descendents of the Prophet.

• Late afternoon transfer to Bukhara train Station 15 km and catch the train to Samarkand (subject to availability) upon arrival outside of train station of Samarkand met by driver and transfer to hotel

• Samarkandu2014 a fairy tale city along the ancient Silk Road. u201cThe Mirror of the Worldu201d, u201cThe Garden of the Soulu201d, u201cThe Jewel of Islamu201d, u201cThe Precious Pearl of the Moslem Worldu201d are some the names given to this unique city. In ancient Greece, this city was known as Marakanda

• The complex Shahi Zinda (u201calive kingu201d in Uzbek) from XII-XX centuries. Burial place of royal persons and nobles. One of the most spiritual place in Uzbekistan

• Bibi Hanim mosque XV century. The mosque was built in honour of Temuru2019s chief wife, Saray Mulk Khanum

• Gur-Amir mausoleum (u201cthe tomb of the kingu201d in Uzbek) from XV century

• Registan square (u201csandy placeu201d in Uzbek) from XV-XVII centuries. A spectacular architectural ensembles, with fantastic Islamic designs and calligraphy etched into the facades of its mosques and madrassahs

• Local Siab market (u201cblack riveru201d in Uzbek)

• Discover city on your own or purchase optional tour in Samarkand city which includes: the Ulugbek Observatory, built by Amir Temuru2019s grandson astronomer-king Ulugbek in XV century, Samarkand Handmade Paper Centreu2014 for centuries Samarkand was famous for its mulberry paper and famed for its durability and resistance to insects, The museum of Afrasiab (the history museum of Samarkand and the highlight of this place is the original frescos of Turk Khanate u201cTurk kingdomu201d from VII century) and Mausoleum of Daniyaru2014 everyone has heard of Daniel and the lionu2019s den, but few could tell that his final resting place.

• Late afternoon transfer to Samarkand train station and catch the train to Tashkent (subject to availability) upon arrival outside of train station of Tashkent met by driver and transfer to hotel

• Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. If you would like to spend some more time in Tashkent, extra accommodation can be arranged in advance (subject to availability) or you can purchase day trip in Tashkent.

Good to know

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

• Public transportation options are available nearby

• Infants are required to sit on an adultu2019s lap

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• Check in to the hotels is after 14:00

• Note: In a high tourist season when the high-speed train is unavailable, we will replace this with the most-comfortable class of regular train

• The itinerary might be changed according domestic air ticket availability

• After booking send copy of passport for booking train tickets and hotels, please

• It is recommended to have some extra cash in US dollars to buy the souvenirs, food, tipping and for other expenses. There are many ATMs but you canu2019t withdraw US dollars they always give you cash in local currency and there is a limit

• On this tour you visit architectural marvels which have a rich history and important religious sites. Itu2019s recommended to follow a specific dress code when visiting these iconic landmarks. Both men and women should wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees. Avoid wearing tight, revealing, or transparent clothing. Women should cover their hair with a headscarf or shawl when they enter to holy places

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.