Nomadic spirit of the Aral Sea to the Silk Road

— Our guarantees —

PARIS – TASHKENT

• Assistance with registration and boarding fo
• Take off flight to Tashkent (flight not included).
• Dinner and night on board.

TASHKENT (BLD)

• Arrival in Tashkent at …. in the morning.
• Welcome at the airport by your guide and driver.
• Settle at the hotel where rooms are available to you to end the night.
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Panoramic discover of the capital of Uzbekistan.
• Visit the old town: Khasti Imam with the Barak-Khan madrasah, mausoleum and mosque Kaffal Chochiy Tilla Shaykh.
• Visit the market Chor-Su, madrasah Koukel Dache.
• Lunch
• Visit: Moustakillik, Theatre Alisher Navoi Square, the Museum of Art applied.
• Discover the Tashkent metro.

TASHKENT – NUKUS – MOUNIAK – NUKUS (BLD)

170 km, 2h30 to 3 hours of drive.

• Transfer to Tashkent airport for flight to Nukus.
• Take off at 7:10 a.m on flight Uzbekistan Airway HY1001.
• Arrival in Nukus at 8:55 am.
• Welcome by your driver and Breakfast in the city.
• Depart to the ruins of the ancient city of Mizdakkhan, 30 km from the town of Nukus. Mizdakkhan is also known as the mausoleum of Khalif Erajep.
• Then drive to Mouynak to observe the disasters of the drying up of the Aral Sea, once the fourth inland sea in the world. The port of Mouniak demonstrates this disaster and a very particular atmosphere reigns in this desolate pl Rusted and abandoned fishing boats lie on the crest of a dune, a hundred kilometers from what remains of the sea.
• Lunch at Moynak and return to Nukus.
• Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 4

NUKUS – KHIVA (BLD)

430 km, 5 to 6 hours of drive.

• Breakfast and discover the Savitsky Museum.
• Lunch in Nukus and drive to Khiva.
• On the road, stop to take pictures and approach Tchilpyk Kala – the Ride of Silence. The round building has a diameter of 70 meters and a height of 15 meters.
• You take the road until you arrive at Toprak Kala, lunch and discover the fortresses: Toprak Kala – the most impressive fortress in the region that covers a hectare and a half and in the middle of desert fields. The construction runs from the 1^st century BC. J.C. to the 4^th century J.C. It was the capital of ancient Khorezm. At 2 kilometers are visible the ruins of the fortress Kizil Kala – which was a garrison of the capital.
• Road to Khiva.
• Dinner in Khiva.

DAY 5

KHIVA (BLD)

• The whole day is devoted to visit the city museum: Ichan-Kala, Ota Darvosa, Madrassah of Muhammad Amin Khan and minaret Kalta Minor (19^th century), etc.
• Folk dance in the madrasa Allakoulikhan.
• The Djuma mosque and its minaret, the Museum of Avesto, madrasa and Islam Khodja minaret, mausoleum Pakhlavon Makhmud, the carpet workshop, the engraving workshop on wood etc.

DAY 6

AROUND KHIVA (BLD)

• En route to Kala fortress Kaladjik 75 km from Khiva.
• On the way, visit a summer residence of the khans of Khiva where you’ll admire a four-storey building and a large orchard.
• Arrive at the fortress, stroll around a salt lake and the top of the fortress, you can admire the desert and lake.
• You can swim in the salt lake. People come here to seek relief from their back pain, their rheumatism, and all sorts of other diseases.
• After a dip in the salt water, people are buried in hot sand, sometimes to the neck.
• After the medical application, the whole family relaxes in catering establishments along the lake.
• On the way back, visit a ceramic workshop to get to know the ceramic preparation process.

DAY 7

KHIVA – BUKHARA (BLD)

450 km, 6-7 hours of drive.

• For a hundred kilometers, we pass through the villages of the Khorezm region and across the desert of Kizil Kum (Red Sand).
• Some stops are planned for photos and lunch in one of the “Chaykhana” – coffee oasi The particular beauty of the desert Asian center takes us back to the time of caravans crossing this sea of sand on camel’s back.
• Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon.
• First immersion in Bukhara.
• Dinner in a traditional restaurant.

DAY 8

BUKHARA (BLD)

• The whole day is dedicated to the discovery of the old part of Bukhara.
• Most attractions of Bukhara are concentrated in the old city of Chakhristan and is explored on foot.
• First, the mausoleum Ismail Samani (9th-10th century), the oldest building in the city and one of the most beautiful jewels of Uzbekistan.
• Then the mausoleum Chashma Ayub (12^th-14^thcentury), all Bola Hauz (18^th century) and the Citadel The symbol of the Bukhara Emirate stands in all its majesty on the square of Registan and recalled the terror of Mang’it time. Residence of the lords of Bukhara, the Ark is as old as Bukhara itself.
• Folk Dance in Nadir Divan Begi madrassah.

BUKHARA (BLD)

• After breakfast, discover nearby Bukhara.
• The sacred site Bakhaoudin Nakshbandi (16^th century) where are buried a founder and one of the most venerated saints of Islam Sufi.
• Then visit the summer residence of the last emir “Setora-i-Mokhi Khosa” (19^th century).
• The visit continues to the madrasa Chor Minor (early 19^th century), one of the most attractive buildings and strangest in Bukhara.
• Free time to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town or enjoy the beautiful hammam Bukhara (16^th century).

BUKHARA – GUIJDOVAN – AYDAR KUL YURT CAMP (BLD)

The Kazakh yurts, round tents mounted on a wooden frame have a lackluster appearance, but conceal a profusion of colors to discover once past the door hangings, blankets and embroidery compete in beauty.

225 km, 4 to 4:30 road

• At 9 a.m departure to the village of Abu-Abdulloh Guijdovani – Guijdovan (70 km) is famous for his fine ceramics.
• On the way visit the small town of Nurata where you can climb the hill of Alexander the Great, and visit the Nomozgokh mosque and the sacred spring “Chashma”.
• Arrival at the yurt camp at5 p.m.
• Free time to watch the sunset in the desert.
• Camels ride to watch the sunset in the steppe. An unforgettable and peaceful time when you’ll meet here and there, a few goats.

Dinner in yurt camp with traditional song of a Kazakh Akhoun

AYDAR KUL YURT CAMPS – AYDAR LAKE – VILLAGE SENTOB (BLD)

2h30 hours by car

2-4 hours of walking, as per your wish.

• Breakfast in the yurt.
• Arrive at Lake Aydar.
• Continue along the lake shore to observe the birds that colonize the banks (pelicans, cormorants, condors, etc. The turquoise lake Aydarkul “sand sea”, was born on the outskirts of the southeastern desert of Kyzylkum.
• It is possible to swim in the lake.
• Departure for the village of Sentob a beautiful Tajik village along a river and surrounded by lush orchards.
• Lunch and stroll through the village to the mill.

SENTOB (BLD)

Walking time according to your wish.

Elevation + and – 400 m

• After breakfast, hike up the Kadvan valley past a former fortress (Kala) and crossing of villages.
• Visit an archaeological site where there are still some Arabic writings.
• Hike to a small waterfall to freshen up in one of the small natural pools. The valley is ideal for bird watching and has a very varied flora.
• Return to Sentob.

SENTOB – SAMARKAND (210 KM) (BLD)

By car 3h30-4h

• At 9 a.m departure to Samarkand.
• Discover the capital of the empire of Temourides.
• Visit the Registan Square, the most grandiose complex in Central Asia and one of the most beautiful of Islam. It was the hotspot of the capital of Tamerlane, where six arteries met under the dome of a bazaar. It consists of three beautiful madrassahs: Oulougbeg, Cher-Dor, Tilla-Kari.

SAMARKAND (BLD)

• The whole day is dedicated to the discovery of the capital of the empire of Timur or Tamerlane.
• Crossroads different Silk Road, the west to Persia, the east to China, and south to India. Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan were his conquerors and Tamerlane made it his capital. Its domes and blue mosaic still spellbound today’s travelers.
• Visit the observatory Ulug bek, Shakhi Zinda necropolis, a silk carpet workshop (suzani).
• The visit continues with the SYAB market and Bibi Khanum mosque.

SAMARKAND – CAVE HAZRAT DAWOOD – SAMARKAND (100 KM) (BLD)

By car 2 hours round trip

• Breakfast
• Departure to the mountain ranges of Turkestan, to the Cave of Hazrat Dawood, place of worship about fifty kilometers south of Samarkand.
• According to legend, King David (Hazrat Dawood) at the end of his reign went to distant lands to preach monotheism to the pagans. Arriving near Samarkand, Hazrat Dawood preached and worked in a forge. At the foot of the ascended to the cave is the forge of Hazrat Dawood. A few hundred meters from his forge start climbing the stairs with more than 2000 steps.
• Discover the cave.
• Return to Samarkand.
• Farewell dinner offered at a good restaurant.

SAMARKAND – CHAKHRISABZ – SAMARKAND (BLD)

• Early breakfast before leaving at 8a.m to Chakhrisabz (90 km). Chakhrisabz is the hometown of Timur or Tamerlane.
• You will discover the ruins of the White Palace – Ak Saray (14^th century), the Mosque of Khazrati Imam, all Dorut Tyllawat (the Abode of Reflexion) Dorus Saodat (the Abode of Power), the mausoleum Gumbazi Saidon (15 sec.) and mosque Kouk Gumbaz (15 sec.).
• Lunch in town then back to Samarkand (90 km).
• Arrival in Samarkand at the end of the afternoon.
• Dinner at a restaurant.

SAMARKAND – TASHKENT (BLD)

Transfer: 285 km by the high speed train (2h15)

• Morning departure for the village of Khartang.
• Visit the magnificent mausoleum of Imam al Bukhari, one of the most important pilgrimage sites Uzbekistan.
• In the afternoon tour of the paper mill and the carpet.
• Free time.
• Around 4 p.m transferred to the station to take the high speed train Tashkent – Samarkand.
• Arrival in Tashkent at 7:15 p.m

TASHKENT – KOKAND (BLD)

Kokand is a strategic city that has also long been the subject of conflicts. It has been linked to Uzbekistan in 1922. The palace of the last khan of Kokand was built in 1870. He owned a large enclosure breakthrough twelve gates, named after the towns to which they led.

(235 km, 4 hours drive)

• Breakfast at Tashkent.
• In the morning, drive to the Ferghana Valley via Kamchik Pass (2110 m).
• On the way, visit the monuments of Kokand 235 km from Tashkent.
• Visit a sculpture studio house on wood Dangara, Khoudayar Khan Palace.
• Lunch in Kokand.
• Walk in the market Kokand, visit of the Narbutabey madrassah, built in 1799 by architect Bukhara and was one of the few schools to accommodate students during the Soviet occupation.
• After lunch you can visit the mausoleum Modari Khan and Jami mosque.
• Dinner in Kokand.

KOKAND – FERGHANA (BLD)

• Breakfast
• On the way to the famous city Richton throughout the Ferghana Valley for the quality of its traditional pottery. Rishtan, famous for its ceramics made from the local red clay and decorated with blue and green natural pigments, which are then glazed.
• Visit the woolen carpet workshop.
• Arrival in the city of Ferghana.
• Settle at the hotel.
• Walk in the Al-Fergani Park.
• Dinner in Fergana.

FERGANA – MARGILAN – TASHKENT (BLD)

• Breakfast
• Road to Marg
• A dozen kilometers of road, and here you are in Margilan, important stage town of the Silk Road in the eleventh century as a pioneer of sericulture.
• The visit of the textile factory Yodgorlik, ‘souvenir’ in Uzbek, you will learn everything on silk! Yodgorlik perpetuates traditional manufacturing methods – the progress of the cocoon thread scalded to dyeing and weaving. Previously, the silkworms were fed white mulberry leaves during 25 to 28 days and placed on straw, which allows them to hold on and shape their cocoon … Margilan the silk town of the valley.
• Visit the Said Akhmad Khodja madrassah and the central market.
• Lunch in Margilan.
• Return to Tashkent.

TASHKENT – SUKOK – TASHKENT (BLD)

By car, about 2 hours.

• Breakfast, then drive to the village of Sukok (60 km).
• Walk in the village until lunch awaits you at a local chaikhana (tea house).
• Departure for a beautiful hike (difference +/- 300m) on small Tchotkol mountains (alt. 1800m), to the hidden source Chashma, crossing small rivers, heath and pine forest.

Return to the village and drive to Tashkent

TASHKENT – PARIS (B–)

• Depending on the time of your flight, visit the modern part of Tashkent: Alisher Navoi Theater, Moustakillik, Amir Temur and free time.
• Transfer to the airport for your return flight. End of services.

The program and accommodation can be changed as desired.