Uzbekistan in Depth

Arrive at Tashkent Airport in the morning (for example, the Uzbekistan Airways flight from London Heathrow arrives at 3:10 AM; the Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul arrive at 2:00 AM and 8:05 AM; and FlyDubai from Dubai arrives at 2:40 AM). Transfer to the hotel and rest after your flight. Take some time to relax before we meet for an introductory session and walk to lunch. We will enjoy our first meal of Uzbek cuisine and discuss the journey ahead of us. After lunch, we will set out on an orientation tour of Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. We will walk to Independence Square, which is a symbol of freedom for the Uzbek people, who declared their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. We also will wander through Tashkent’s artists’ corner, locally known as Broadway. Finally, we will have our first encounter with Uzbekistan’s national hero, Emperor Timur (Tamerlane) in Amir Timur Square, and also see the Alisher Navoi Theatre from the outside. Together we will enjoy a lively welcome dinner and celebrate the start of what will no doubt be a captivating journey through Uzbekistan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Inspira-S 4* or similar

Following breakfast, we will travel by train to the Fergana Valley. Surrounded by the Tien Shan Mountains and watered by tributaries of the Syr Darya River, this is the most fertile part of Central Asia. Since the time of Alexander the Great and throughout the heyday of the great Silk Road, it was a rich oasis. We will arrive in Kokand by train around noon. This was the capital of the Kokand Khanate which fought for power with Bukhara and Khiva before the arrival of the Russians. First, we will have lunch in the house of Master Hasan, who is a well-respected blacksmith. He will show us his process of forging knives and then chat with us over our meal. In the afternoon, we will visit the Palace of Khudayar Khan, once a 113-room royal court that housed the ruling families in charge of vast lands stretching between the Kazakh Steppe and the Pamir. We will also visit the Juma Mosque, which is famous for its 100-meter-long iwan, one of the finest examples of wood-carving in Uzbekistan. After this sightseeing, we will drive to the town of Fergana, where we check in at the hotel for two nights and have dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Asia Fergana Hotel 3*  or similar

This is our second day exploring the Fergana Valley. The region is famous in Uzbekistan not only for agriculture but also for its artisans and markets. After visiting the local market in Fergana, we will drive around one hour to Rishtan, which is celebrated as a center of ceramics. It is no coincidence that pottery became such a prominent industry here: the local red clay and pigments are of excellent quality. We will have the chance to visit the studio of a master potter and learn more about his job and passion, which has been passed down from generation to generation. After lunch, we will visit a village where many ethnic Kyrgyz families live. Our host this afternoon is Bahromjon, a Kyrgyz man whose family keeps alive the craft of felt-making. After conversation and tea, we will see and participate in the creation of a felt carpet. We will return to Fergana this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Asia Fergana Hotel 3*  or similar

After breakfast, we will visit the neighboring town of Margilan. The economic life here is still dominated by the large-scale production of silk and other textiles. We will learn firsthand about the manufacturing process during a visit to the Margilan Yodgorlik Silk Factory. At Yodgorlik, silkworms are raised on mulberry leaves, and the cocoons are unraveled to yield the raw material. The artisans use natural dyes and Uzbekistan’s traditional ikat technique to produce stunning pieces. Several different grades of fabric are produced, from the pure silk khon atlas to cotton and silk blends called adras. After the factory visit, we will have a look around the town before departing for Tashkent.  The journey to Tashkent takes about five hours, but we will make a few stops to have lunch, take some photos, and stretch our legs. Arrival in Tashkent will be in the early evening when we will check in at the hotel. Independent dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Inspira-S 4* or similar

Tashkent is not only the biggest city in Central Asia, but also one of the oldest. Unfortunately, most of its historic buildings were destroyed in a catastrophic earthquake in 1966, after which Tashkent was rebuilt as a model Soviet city. Amongst the historic buildings that did survive are those of the Khast Imom Complex, which is where we will head first on today’s city tour of Tashkent. The complex’s library contains the Quran of Caliph Uthman, which dates from the 7th century and hence may be the oldest Quran in the world. In the same place is the mausoleum of an Islamic saint, Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi. We will then join traders at the vibrant Chorsu Bazaar before taking a ride on the stunningly decorated Tashkent Metro. There will be free time in the afternoon. In the evening we will get together to have a chat about the next day’s trip to Nukus, and then have dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Inspira-S 4* or similar

We will start the day early to catch our domestic flight to Nukus, the capital of the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. Due to its remote location near the Aral Sea, Nukus was a ‘closed city’ throughout the Soviet era, as the Red Army researched and developed chemical warfare weapons here. We will drive to the famous Savitsky Museum, officially known as the State Art Museum of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. An art curator from the museum will give us a special tour of the collection. The museum showcase the life’s work of Russian painter and collector Igor Savitsky, whose legacy includes thousands of archeological and ethnographic treasures, along with the world’s second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde art. Many avant-garde artists were purged by Stalin, but Savitsky acquired their artworks and kept them hidden from the vigilant eyes of the KGB in this isolated desert location. We will have lunch together and then more time to explore the collections further on our own. We will also have a walk around the local vicinity to see life in Nukus. This evening we will organize a folklore show with traditional Karakalpak music and dance.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel Jipek Joli 3*

Our destination for today is Khiva. On the way, we will visit the ruins of Toprak Kala and Ayaz Kala, two ancient fortresses in the Kyzylkum (Red Desert). First, we will drive about two hours to Toprak Kala, which was the capital of Khorezm in the 2nd century AD. From there, it is just half an hour’s drive onto the Ayaz Kala. According to archeological excavations, the oldest parts of the Ayaz Kala fortress date from the 2nd century BC. It was one of a chain of border fortresses which stretched from east to west and defended the Khiva oasis from attack. At Ayaz Kala we will have a lunch prepared by locals inside a traditionally built yurt. Then we will drive about two hours to Khiva. Upon arrival, we will check-in at the hotel and meet up again for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel Zarafshan Boutique 3* or similar

A jewel of desert architecture, Khiva is one of the most important centers of ancient Khorezm. Locals believe that Shem, son of Noah, founded the city when he discovered a fresh water spring in the middle of this vast desert. Archeologists believe the city was founded some 2,500 years ago. Today, Khiva is the most architecturally intact and tightly packed of Central Asia’s Silk Road cities. Its intense blue-and-green tile work ranks as some of the most ornate in Uzbekistan, and the entirety of the Ichan-Kala – the inner city – is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also has the feel of a movie set or open-air museum.

Khiva is full of incredible architecture, and today we will get the chance to see it all. The focus of our tour is  the walled Ichan-Kala, within which are preserved more than 60 historic monuments and hundreds of centuries-old houses. You will also have time on your own to wander around this fabled town. Make sure you join the tour manager for the sunset walk where you will have the chance to go up onto the city walls and see Khiva at dusk. Dinner will then be with the group.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel Zarafshan Boutique 3* or similar

After breakfast, transfer to Urgench Airport to catch the domestic flight to Bukhara (9:20 am – 10:10 am). Transfer to the old town of Bukhara.

Bukhara was a key trading post on the Silk Road. This UNESCO-listed city has numerous zigzagged backstreets, bustling bazaars, and historical monuments. The city is also known as Bukhara Sharif, which translates as “Holy Bukhara”, because of its hundreds of mosques and mausoleums. The city has seen various dynasties battling for influence as it has always stood as a center of trade, culture, and scholarship. Similar to Khiva, Bukhara’s Old City is quite small and compact, and so can be comfortably explored on foot.

Today we will visit the Ismail Somoni Mausoleum, which was built in the 10th century and is the oldest surviving monument in Central Asia. More than 16 styles of decorative brickwork adorn the face of this cubic memorial. The Chashma Ayub Mausoleum is a pilgrimage site for locals, who believe the site was visited by the Prophet Job. We will then visit the Bolo Hauz Mosque, which functions as Bukhara’s central mosque. Across from the mosque is the Ark citadel. This is the original fortress of Bukhara and likely dates back 2,000 years or more. After lunch, we will visit the Poi Kalon, the complex at the heart of the city which includes the Kalon Mosque and Minaret, and also the Mir-i-Arab Madrassah. These buildings surround an open plaza teeming with local merchants selling handicrafts.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel Amelia 3* or similar

Today we visit a few more interesting sights on the outskirts of Bukhara. The first of these sites is the Mausoleum of Naqshbandi, an important order of Sufism that is well represented in Uzbekistan and has had a long-lasting influence. This memorial place is still a popular place of pilgrimage for Sufis, many of whom visit from abroad. From here, we will then visit the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara. Next, we visit the Chor Bakr memorial complex. In the afternoon, return back to Bukhara and have some free time before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel Amelia 3* or similar

Free time in the morning to relax, and explore on your own the old town with its narrow streets or have some coffee or tea by the Lyabi Hauz Complex. In the afternoon, transfer to the train station and take the bullet train to Samarkand (3:50 PM – 5:20 PM). We will transfer to the hotel for check-in and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel Rabat 3* or similar

Sublime Samarkand was the imperial capital Emperor Timur, one of history’s greatest conquerors. His vast empire rivaled any, stretching across the Eurasian steppe and as far away as Ankara and Delhi. Timur ruled his kingdom with an iron fist while at the same time patronizing the arts and literature. Much of his architectural heritage has been preserved, allowing us a glimpse of how the city might have looked at the peak of his power.

Today is devoted to exploring Samarkand. We will start the day at the Gur-e-Amir, the gilded mausoleum where Timur is buried. We will hear stories about his life and how he began the construction of Samarkand. Then, we will go on to the Registan, the most famous (and arguably most impressive) landmark in Uzbekistan. This square is the historic focal point of Samarkand, and it is framed by three beautiful madrassas, Ulugbek, Sherdor, and Tillya Kori. We will stroll from here through the spacious courtyard of the Bibi-Khanum Mosque, a structure which legend says was gifted to Timur by one of his wives. After lunch, we will have time to explore the Siyob Bazaar, where fruit and vegetables grown in the rich soils of the Zarafshan Valley are sold in a colorful market. After lunch, we will explore Shahi Zinda, a tile-rich street of turquoise and blue domes, where family members of Timur are buried. We will finish the day with a visit to bakery in one of the backstreets of the old town, where a family prepares bread for the local community. You may try making a loaf of bread after watching the process.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel Rabat 3* or similar

Day 13:  Samarkand – Tashkent (train ride, c. 2h)

After breakfast, we will drive to a nearby village situated in the lower foothills of the Hissar mountain range. Upon arrival, we will visit a local house to use the bathroom facilities and then go for a walk in the mountains. The hike is about two miles and it takes you through village streets, along mountain trails, and through meadows. During this short walk we will talk about various subjects such as local village life and the nature around us, and it is likely we will meet people and chat to them along the way. This is a good chance to have a rest from architecture and history, and to get an introduction to rural Uzbekistan with its natural beauty and hospitality. We will return to the city in time for lunch, and continue exploring the city with a visit to Ulugbek’s Observatory, once the biggest research center in Central Asia. Ulugbek was decades ahead of the West with his observations of the solar system and the Earth, and we will learn more about his story in this prestigious setting. We will also visit the Afrasiyab Museum to learn more about the ancient city of Samarkand – then known as Afrasiyab – which was destroyed by the Mongols in the early 13th century. This evening we will take the high-speed train back to Tashkent. On arrival, we will enjoy a farewell dinner and then check-in at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Inspira-S 4* or similar

We will arrange a complimentary transfer to Tashkent International Airport for you.

Meals: Breakfast