Non-tourist places of Uzbekistan

Arrival to Tashkent. Excursion. Arrival in Tashkent, meeting with the driver and guide, transfer to the hotel (early check-in is not included). After lunch we will have a city tour around Tashkent - the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia.

We will visit the old town, where you can still find residential buildings built at the end of the 19th century. This is the historical north-western part of Tashkent where the city was located before the formation of the Turkestan Governor-General (1865).

We will visit the Barak-Khan Madrasah (XVI century), the Yunus-Khan Mausoleum, the Kafal-al-Shashi Mazar Mausoleum (XVI century) and the Kukeldash Madrasah (XVIII century). We will also take a look at the Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan which has been known since 1927 when the first exhibition of works by Uzbek masters was organized here. The museum stores more than 7,000 samples of folk applied art: handmade embroidery, skullcaps, jewelry, carpets and other examples of craftsmanship from the beginning of the 19th century to the present day. Later we will walk through the new part of the city: Amir Temur Square, the Monument of Courage (a monument to the earthquake of 1966), Friendship of Peoples Square, the building of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Independence Square - a favorite vacation spot for Tashkent residents with the most beautiful fountains of the city. Today, Independence Square is the venue for celebrations on holidays such as Uzbekistan's Independence Day (September 1).

The main attraction for today is "Chorsu" bazaar - one of the oldest bazaars in the city. The Tashkent bazaar Chorsu whose age is more than one hundred years has always been located on the main square of the city, Eski-Juva.

Flight to Termez. Excursion. Today we will have an early breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the local airport and flight to Termez 07:40 - 09:00. Here we will have an excursion. Termez is the southernmost city of Uzbekistan, the oldest city in Central Asia and the ancient center of Buddhism. This city is located on the right bank of the Amu Darya River which serves as a natural border between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. During the tour you will visit the archaeological sites of centuries-old Buddhist monastic complexes and get acquainted with the impressive heritage of Islamic architecture of the Surkhan oasis.

We will have an excursion to the Mausoleum of Sultan Saodat (XII-XVII centuries) - the family burial vault of Termez rulers - seyids. The complex includes a group of mausoleums, mosques, khanaka, made of burnt bricks. The buildings form a 70 meters long courtyard.

Approximately 3 kilometers from Old Termez, there is one of the suburban historical monuments - a castle an interesting architectural structure dated back to 9th-11th centuries surrounded by green gardens with the romantic name Kyrk-Kyz or 40 girls. According to the descriptions of medieval historians there was a large suburban feudal estate - a castle of Termez ruler. The building got its name due to forty rooms which were guarded by 40 Amazon girls; they protected the sleep and peace of the resting noblemen. Only fragments of the ruins of the palace have survived to this day which can be used to judge the high skill of its builders. We will visit ancient archaeological monuments - the Fayaz-Tepa temple complex and the Kara-Tepa Buddhist place of worship built on three hills in the northwestern part of Old Termez.

At the end we will get to Kampyr-Tepa - one of the oldest archaeological sites on the territory of Uzbekistan. These are the ruins of a port city on the Amu Darya River (in ancient times it was called Oxus) founded at the end of the 4th century BC and existed until the beginning of the 1st century AD. The Kampyr-Tepa complex consists of a main citadel surrounded by a moat, a "lower city" surrounded by a fortress wall with towers, and an unfortified suburb. Numerous finds as well as architectural features of the settlement testify to the fact that various cults and religions like Zoroastrians, Buddhists and worshipers of the ancient Greek gods as well as followers of local cults peacefully coexisted in Kampyr-Tepa for centuries.

Overnight at the hotel.

Drive to Denau. Excursion to “Martian mountains”. After breakfast we will be transferred to the small town of Denau. The road heading southeast towards Mount Zakasa is of breathtaking beauty and leads through pistachio forests and incredible rock formations. It is a very dry desert-like landscape with colors ranging from brown, orange, red to turquoise. If you go there around April you will see everything in bloom. It can get quite hot in summer. The best time to visit this place is from March to May and from September to December.

On the way, we will make a short stop at the Jarkurgan minaret (1109) - one of the oldest minarets in Uzbekistan of the original (corrugated) form. The height of the minaret is 21.6 m. The minaret belonged to a huge cathedral mosque which unfortunately has not survived to this day.

After checking into a hotel and having lunch, we will drive to an amazing mountainous region (50 km / 1.5 h) where red-colored clays and sandstones have created a fantastic “Martian landscape”. Easy hiking among bizarre rocks which numerous vultures have chosen for their nests. In the evening we will return to the hotel in Denau.

Denau – Sangardak - Baisun. After breakfast, we will leave for the foothills of the Hissar Range to the beautiful Sangardak waterfall which is rightfully considered one of the best sights of amazing Uzbekistan (50 km, 1 hour). The beauty of this waterfall was admired by the ancient Greeks and Arabs, simple shepherds and great rulers. Ancient poets and our contemporaries repeatedly wrote about it. The waterfall is a karst griffin and flows out of numerous holes in the side of a huge canyon. The rocks near the waterfall are covered with emerald moss and grass all year round. The smallest splashes of the waterfall sparkle in the sun and form incredible rainbows. It is a fantastically mesmerizing spectacle.

Then we will walk through the picturesque exotic mountain village, take colorful photos, get acquainted with the locals and their way of life. We will return to Denau for lunch.

After that, our path lies to a small cozy town of Baysun where we can get acquainted with the art of local artisans (making silk fabrics, artistic embroidery, making original Baysun skullcaps). Baysun is the center of the cultural space of a unique ethnographic region in the Surkhandarya region.

Hotel accommodation.

Baisun – Derbent – Shakhrisabz drive. Recognizing the uniqueness of the Surkhan oasis in 2001 UNESCO included the Baysun region in the list of 19 cultural places bearing the title of “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.

Trade caravans have been moving through the Iron Gates in a narrow mountain gorge for thousands of years. The armies of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Amir Timur went this way. The Teshik-Tash cave where the remains of Neanderthals were found is known all over the world. Nearby in the mountains of Kugitanga, one could see the rock paintings of the “magic hunting for bulls” of the Mesolithic era. Here, the centuries-old way of life and relations between people have been preserved almost in their original state.

The crystal water of mountain streams creates a special microclimate that has a beneficial effect on all living things. In the spring, dehkans cultivate the land on mountain plots in the old way. They lay furrows leaning on a plow in which a horse is harnessed. And this is not exotic, this is life.

According to legend, Alexander the Great or Iskander, left wounded soldiers in Baysun. When he returned from the conquered Sogdiana the soldiers were completely healthy. They said that this was the power of the healing springs of Omonkhon. The unique properties of the water flowing from the source according to local beliefs are of a healing nature.

Baysun is famous not only for its healing springs but also for the Kyzyl Canyon (Red Canyon), a thousand-year-old plane tree with a door and a room. Mount Khoja Gur GurOta (the father of all caves) rises above Baysun ( 3720m). It is noticeable for its extraordinary shape in the form of a huge wall 5 km long and more than 300 m high. It is worth seeing once, and you will never forget this stunning view. We will have an excursion to the local authentic museum of applied arts. We will walk through the exhibits which by the way are still in full working order. We will meet the girls who work here and manually create masterpieces that are unique in a single copy. They make wall and floor carpets, and material for clothes. We will also see a collection of old products of Baysun girls.

Dinner will be served at the house of a local family. You will get acquainted with the existence and calorie content of the Baysun people. The house is located in the western part of the town on a hill which allows you to enjoy the scenery of the surrounding mountains. The highlight is the courtyard with a colorful terrace from where there is a magnificent view of Baysun and the mountains. In addition, a small exposition of national embroidery and headdresses is displayed on the balcony.

Moving to the city of Shakhrisabz - the birthplace of the greatest medieval commander and founder of the Timurid Empire - Amir Temur (Tamerlane).

Upon arrival, accommodation at the hotel.

Drive to Samarkand (140 km, 2,5 h). Excursion. In the morning we will have a tour around Shakhrisabz. The green garden city of Shakhrisabz is famous for its unique architectural monuments most of which were built under Timur and the Timurids.

We will visit the Ak-Saray Palace - one of the most grandiose monuments of the Timurid era of the late XIV - early XV centuries erected in the city of Kesh (Shakhrisabz). The construction was built directly under the leadership of Amir Timur himself.

We will see the majestic monument to Amir Temur as well as the mausoleum of Jahangir. We will visit the Dorut-Tillyavat Ensemble (translated as "Place of Thoughts") built at the end of the XIV - the beginning of the XV centuries. It is located on the territory of an ancient cemetery in the southeastern part of Shakhrisabz. Emir Taragai - the father of Amir Temur is buried here.

Another place worth visiting today is the Kok-Gumbaz Mosque which means "Blue Dome". The mosque was built in 1435 on the skeletons of an earlier building located in the architectural complex Dorut-Tillyavat facing the mausoleum of Shamseddin Kulyal. In fact, Kok-Gumbaz is the largest Friday mosque in Shakhrisabz.

Next, we will move to the city of Samarkand over the Takhta-Karacha pass. Arrival in Samarkand, transfer to the hotel and sightseeing tour of the city. Samarkand is a legendary city on the Great Silk Road, the capital of the Great Empire of Tamerlane.

Excursion to the very heart of the city - Registan Square. Being one of the most beautiful squares in the world it is called the pearl of Central Asia. It got its fame due to the unique monuments of medieval oriental architecture surrounding it from three sides in the form of a beautiful architectural ensemble: Ulugbek Madrasah (1417-1420), Sher-Dor Madrasah (1619-1636) and Tilla-Kari Madrasah (1646-1647). This ensemble is considered the greatest among the buildings of the Islamic world.

Excursion to the Bibi-Khanum Mosque - the largest mosque in Central Asia shrouded in many legends. Its majestic blue domes make an extraordinary sight. The heart beats fast when you think of how this monumental structure was built by hand striking in its size and beauty. In ancient times, its dome was compared with the vault of heaven, and the arch of the portal - with the Milky Way. Visiting the Gur-Emir Mausoleum which is translated as the grave of the emir, ruler - the place where Amir Temur, his sons and grandchildren are buried. It is a single-dome building with a crypt. The basis of the mausoleum is an octahedron with a ribbed dome on a high drum which is the pride and decorations of the mausoleum.

At the end of the excursion day, you will visit the Siab Bazaar where you can best experience the lively atmosphere of the ancient city. Crossing the threshold of the arch, you immediately find yourself in a completely different even somewhat fabulous atmosphere: an abundance of colors catches your eye, a hum of voices of hundreds of buyers and merchants is in your ears, and the number of different fruits and vegetables is amazing.

Overnight at the hotel.

Samarkand - Gijduvan - Bukhara (300 km, 4.5 h). Excursion. Continuation of excursions in Samarkand: Excursion to the Shakhi-Zinda necropolis - one of the most mysterious and unique architectural monuments of Samarkand. The oldest structures of the ensemble (now there are only foundations and tombstones left) date back to the 11th-12th centuries. The vast majority of buildings date back to the 14th-15th centuries, and the reconstructions of the 16th-19th centuries had practically no effect on the composition and appearance of the complex.

Visiting the museum of the famous observatory of the great scientist in the field of astronomy Mirzo Ulugbek - the grandson of the great Tamerlane. Here you will see a sextant or quadrant, which was intended for observing the stars and planets, as well as for compiling astronomical tables.

We will also visit the ethno-tourist village of Konigil. Moving to noble Bukhara - one of the most ancient cities of the East. On the way, visit the house-workshop of the Narzullaev ceramists in Gijduvan. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel.

Free time for a walk around the old town.

Bukhara. Bukhara is a city of oriental poetry and fairy tales. Its romantic appearance attracts tourists from all over the world; it is also known as the holiest city of Asia. There are about 300 mosques and 80 madrasahs in Bukhara.

Excursion in Bukhara includes:

The Ark Citadel is an ancient symbol of state power. It seems that since the very creation of the world, this huge fortress has been standing in the center of Bukhara being a protection and support for the Bukhara rulers. The history of Ark is still shrouded in mystery. The age of Ark has not been established exactly, but half thousand years ago this majestic fortress was already the seat of the ruler. It was built by the efforts of thousands of slaves who created an artificial hill by hand without powerful equipment under the scorching sun many centuries ago. For centuries, the Ark remained the main residence of the Emir of Bukhara, the place from where the supreme command of the country was exercised. Here in Ark in addition to the rulers, great scientists, poets and philosophers like Rudaki, Firdowsi, Avicenna, Farabi and Omar Khayyam lived and worked.

We will also visit the BoloKhauz Mosque (XVIII century) and the architectural ensemble Poi-Kalon (Pedestal of the Great). The religious heart of Sacred Bukhara consists of the Kalyan minaret (XII century), the Kalyan mosque (XVI century) and the Miri-Arab madrasah (XVI century). Next on the list of visits are Ulugbek madrasah (1417), Nodir - Divan - Begi madrasah, Abdul Aziz Khan madrasah, Magoki-Attori Mosque (XII-XVI centuries), LyabiHauz Ensemble (XIV-XVII centuries) and Chor Minor madrasah (Four minarets ).

Overnight at the hotel.

Bukhara – Khiva drive (500 km, 7-8 h). Today we will have a long drive to ancient Khiva, the capital of a powerful late medieval khanate. Road to Khiva passes through the Kyzylkum desert. On the way you will be able to admire the great Central Asian river Amu Darya and discover exotic landscapes of the desert. Arrival in Khiva, hotel accommodation.

Free time for walking around the old town. Overnight at the hotel.

Khiva. Khiva is one of the oldest wood carving centers in Central Asia. During the tour, you will be able to visit one of the wood carvers’ workshops and watch how ordinary wood is used to create works of art with ornaments, where each scroll has its own symbolism.

The city tour will include a visit to the architectural complex Ichan Kala (XII-XIX centuries) - an open-air museum city; Kunya Ark Citadel (XVI-XVII centuries) - the former official residence of the Khiva khans; residences of the last Khan, including the Mausoleum of Ismail Khadzhi, madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan, madrasah of Muhammad-Rahimkhan, Juma - mosque (X century), Minaret of Juma-mosque, madrasah of Shergazikhan, Mausoleum of Said Alauddin, minaret of Murad-Tur.

We will also see Islam Khoja Minaret - the highest minaret in Uzbekistan, Ak-mosque, Baths of Anushakhan, Allakulikhan Caravanserai, Alpakulikhan Madrasah (1834-1835). Tash-Khovli Palace (XIX century), Kalta-Minar Minaret, and other sights of Khiva.

In the evening we will have a gala dinner with Khorezm folklore. Overnight at the hotel.

Departure. Transfer to Urgench International Airport for your flight home.