Day 1 & 2: Departure from USAFlight to Tashkent via Istanbul on from JFK on Turkish Airlines.
Day 3: Arrive in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) [D]Welcome to Central Asia! Upon arrival to Tashkent Airport, we will meet you and transfer to hotel for rest after flight. Rest of the day is at your leisure!! Overnight in Tashkent.
Day 4: Tashkent (Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast a full day sightseeing in Tashkent, visit the old part of the city – Khast Imam Complex as well as possessing a rich Islamic Library with immense Osman Koran VII Century, Chorsu Bazaar, Kukeldash Madrasah. Afternoon visit Independence (Mustakillik) Square with Governmental Buildings, A. Navoi Theater Square, A. Temur Museum and Square. Overnight in Tashkent.
Day 5: Tashkent – Samarkand (Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast we transfer to the railway station for the bullet train AFROSIAB to Samarkand. Upon arrival to Samarkand Start tour of “Rome of the East”visiting: Registan Square, Gur Emir Mausoleum, Bibi – Khanum Mosque and Central Bazaar in Samarkand, Afrosiyob Museum, and Museum of Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis. Overnight in Samarkand.
Day 6: Samarkand – Shahrisabz – Samarkand (Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast we drive to Shahrisabz, hometown of Great Tamerlane, arrival to Shahrisabz: visit the remains of Ak-Saray Palace, Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, Khazrati Imom Ensemble. After sightseeing Shahrisabz, depart to Samarkand and visit the Paper Mills. Overnight in Samarkand.
Day 7: Samarkand – Bukhara (Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast, we drive to Bukhara via Gijduvan. In route visit remains of Caravanserai and Sardoba, a water reservoir. Excursion to Gijduvan – famous pottery house. Arrival in Bukhara and check in to the hotel. We then continue sightseeing in Bukhara: Kalon Ensemble, Madrasah Miri-Arab, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chashma-Ayub, Madrasah Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan, Kosh Madrasah, Trade Domes, Lyabi Hauz Complex, Madrasah Chor – Minor. Overnight in Bukhara.
Day 8: Bukhara (Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast we continue our sightseeing of Bukhara: summer palace of Bukhara emirs Sitora-i-Mokhi khosa, Necropolis Chor Bark, burial of Sheikhs and Royal Family members, Complex of Bahauddin Naqshband, place of locals to worship, visit Samanid Dynasty Mausoleum, Ark Fortress. Overnight in Bukhara.
Day 9: Bukhara – Farab – Turkmenabat – Mary (Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast, we depart Bukhara and drive to the Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan Border point in Farab. Border formalities on both sides crossing the border. Transfer to Mary via Turkmenabat & Merv (350 km/4.5 hrs.). Upon arrival tour of Merv which was located at the crossroads of Great Silk Road and quickly became one of most important and biggest cities of the ancient World. Sightseeing will include: Gyz Gala and Oglan Gala, Complex of Askhabs, Gyaur Gala, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum, Ibn Zeid Mausoleum. Overnight in Mary.
Day 10: Mary – Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast we transfer to the airport for your flight to Ashgabat. Visit Ashgabat famous Oriental Bazaar, Hippodrome of Ashgabat, Arch of Neutrality, Presidential Square, Gulistan Bazaar, Monument of Lenin, Ertogrul Gazy Mosque, National Museum of History & Ethnography Excursion to Nisa (Visit Old Nisa Ruins), discover Kopet Dag Mountains, Turkmenbashi Spiritual Mosque. Afternoon sightseeing of Monument of Independence and Ruhnama. Overnight in Ashgabat.
Day 11: Ashgabat – Dashoguz – Kunya – Urgench – Nukus (Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, we transfer to the airport for your flight to Dashoguz. Arrival to Dashoguz, transfer to Kunya-Urgench (120 km/1.5 hr.). Sightseeing Tour in Kunya Urgench: visit Portal of Caravanserai, Mamur Minaret, II Arslan Mausoleum, Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum, Academy of Khorezm, Kutlug Timur Minaret, Turabek Hanum Mausoleum. After sightseeing, return to Dashoguz and transfer to border checkpoint. Border formalities on both sides. Enter Uzbekistan and transfer to Nukus, in route visit oldest Necropolis Mazda Khan and remains of Gaur Kala Fort. Overnight in Nukus.
Day 12: Nukus – Kala – Khiva (Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast, a morning tour in Nukus, capital of Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, visit the Savitskiy State Museum, a collection of over 95,000 pieces including fine arts, applied Karakalpak Folk Art, and ancient art from the region of Khorezm. After lunch drive to the ruins of Toprak Kala from the Kushan period, built in the II and III Centuries. Next stop is Kizil Kala, a frontier fortress from the Kang Kuyi period. Last will be Ayaz Kala, the fort of Wind, built in early A.D. Overnight in Khiva.
Day 13: Khiva – Urgench – Tashkent (Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast a full day of sightseeing in Khiva: visit Ichan Qala Fortress – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where monuments Alla Kuli Khan Madrassah, Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Islam Khoja Minaret, Juma Mosque, Tosh Hovli and other monuments are located. Evening transfer to the airport in Urgench for the flight to Tashkent as per timetable. Overnight in Tashkent.
Day 14: Tashkent – Khujand (Uzbekistan/Tajikistan) [B,L,D]After early breakfast at the hotel in Tashkent, today we’ll head on to a 2 day excursion of Tajikistan. We’ll drive to the border checkpoint Oybek and after border crossing formalities we’ll continue on to city Khujand. Khujand – the country’s second largest city – situated in the north of Tajikistan and is one of its most ancient, founded about 2,300 years ago during the time of Alexander The Great. Standing in a favorable location in the Ferghana Valley, Khujand prospered for a long time, becoming rich by building palaces, mosques, and citadels. In the XIII Century it was conquered and destroyed by the Genghis Khan’s Army. We’ll have a close city tour in second part of the day, and end the day with dinner at a local restaurant followed by a show. Overnight in Khujand.
Day 15: Khujand – Tashkent (Tajikistan/Uzbekistan) [B,L,D]After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll continue sightseeing in Khujand: visit ancient part of Khujand: Timurmalik Fortress, Archeology and History Museums, Orient Bazaar Panjshanbe – famous Panjshanbe City Market is one of the most interesting sights of Khujand. Near the market, we’ll stop by Sheikh Muslihiddin Mosque and Mausoleum, Museum of Archaeology and Respiration. We’ll have lunch at the local restaurant and in the afternoon we transfer back to Tashkent. Once back in Uzbekistan, you’ll rest at the hotel. We’ll have a farewell dinner followed by a show and return to hotel for overnight to Tashkent.
Day 16: Tashkent (Uzbekistan) [B]We’ll have breakfast at the hotel and arrange your transfer to the airport for your flight home.