On the borders of Uzbekistan

— Our guarantees —

PARIS – URGENCH

• 18h30: Convocation of the participants at the airport.
• Welcome
• Assistance with registration and boarding formalities.
• 21h30: Flight takes off of Uzbekistan Airways HY 252 to Urgench.
• Dinner and night on board.

URGENCH – KHIVA (BLD)

Khiva is probably the most intact towns dotting the Silk Road in Central Asia.

• Arrival in Urgench at 6:10 am.
• Welcome at the airport by the guide and driver.
• Departure to Khiva (30 km).
• Settle at the hotel and breakfast.
• Discovery of Ichan Kala, the inner city, entrenched behind high brick walls.
• 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.

KHIVA – TOPRAK KALA – AYAZ KALA – KHIVA (BLD)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Discovery of the Khorezm remains (fortresses Kyzyl Kala, Touprak-Kala and Kala Chilpyk).
• Visit the remarkable archeological site, on the hills of the Kyzyl Kum.
• Lunch in the yurt at Ayaz Kala.
• Back to Khiva.
• Free end of the afternoon for personal discovery of the mysterious Ichan Kala Khiva.
• Dinner in a local restaurant.

DAY 3

KHIVA (BLD)

• Breakfast
• Visit the historic monument of Turkmen “Oulli Khovli” (17^th century), 25 km from Khiva where lived a large Turkmen family.
• Participation in building a yurt.
• Lunch at “Oulli Khovli” then back to Khiva.
• The discovery of the city continues: Juma Mosque (10^th -18^th century), Kosh Darvoza, Tach Haoulie and Allah kouli Khan (18^th -19^th century).
• Dinner at the restaurant.

DAY 4

KHIVA – BUKHARA (BLD)

475km road, 7 to 9 hours.

• After breakfast, depart for Bukhara at 8:30a.m.
• During 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 oasis. 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.
• Arrival in Bukhara late in the afternoon.
• First immersion in Bukhara.
• Dinner in a traditional restaurant.

DAY 5

BUKHARA (BLD)

• The whole day is dedicated to the discovery of the old part of Bukhara.
• Most sights of Bukhara are concentrated in the old city of Chakhristan and explored on foot.
• First, the mausoleum Ismail Samani (9^th -10^th century), the oldest building in the city and one of the most beautiful jewels of Uzbekistan.
• Then, the mausoleum Chashma Ayub (12^th -14^th century), all Bola Hauz (18^th century) and the Citadel Ark. 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.
• Dinner in Nadir Divan Begi madrasa with folk dancing.

DAY 6

BUKHARA (BLD)

• After breakfast, discover nearby of 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 (14^th century).

BUKHARA – CHAKHRISABZ – SAMARKAND (BLD)

• Chakhrisabz is the hometown of Timur or Tamerlane.
• Early breakfast before leaving at 8 a.m to Chakhrisabz (222 km from Bukhara).
• You will discover the ruins of the White Palace – Ak Saray (14^th century), the mosque of Imam Khazrati, 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 and then drive to Samarkand (160 km).
• Arrival in Samarkand at the end of the afternoon.
• Dinner in a restaurant.

SAMARKAND (BLD)

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

SAMARKAND (BLD)

• The Gur Emir mausoleum – is one of the masterpieces of the Timurid architecture. The beauty of the mausoleum amazes its pilgrims for centuries, with its famous dome rib. This is based Amir Temur and his family members.
• Lunch in town.
• Visit the museum Afrosiab, which consists today of huge lifeless hills north of the city of Samarkand, where once there was a flourishing life.
• Visit the Observatory Ulugbeg – one of the largest observatories of the Middle Ages.
• Visit the necropolis Shakhi Zinda. “Shakhi Zinda” – which means in Persian “king alive”.
• Cave tour and wine tasting.
• Visit a silk carpet factory.
• Discovery of the complex of Imam Al-Bukhari in the Khartan campaign with the tomb of Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ismail Bukhari.
• Dinner in Samarkand.

SAMARKAND – TASHKENT (BLD)

354 km of drive.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Drive to Tashkent by passing through the great Uzbek motorway that follows the ancient Silk Road.
• Arrival in Tashkent at noon and lunch in town.
• Discovery of the historic heart of Tashkent: Khasti Imam with the Barak-Khan madrasah, mausoleum and mosque Kaffal Chochiy Tilla Shaykh.
• Visit the market Chor-Su, and discovery of Tashkent metro.
• Farewell dinner and night in Tashkent.

TASHKENT – PARIS (B–)

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Free until transfer to the airport for the return flight.