The Magic of Uzbekistan

The sightseeing tour of the Old City of Tashkent begins with a visit to Khast Imam Square, the spiritual heart of the capital. Here you will explore the Barak-Khan Madrasah and the Kaffal al-Shashi Mausoleum, among the oldest architectural monuments of the city. You will also visit the Center of Islamic Civilization, a unique cultural complex that serves as a bridge between the Golden Age of Islamic culture and modern Uzbekistan.

Lunch at the Plov Center Museum.

The tour continues with visits to the Anhor Park, including its ethnographic area featuring boutiques of contemporary designers specializing in clothing, jewelry, and ceramics; the elegant white Minor Mosque; Amir Temur Square; the famous twin Tashkent clocks; the Palace of International Forums; Theatre Square and the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Uzbekistan; and Cosmonauts Square.

The day concludes with a pleasant walk through Tashkent City Park, renowned for its spectacular dancing fountains, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and depart for the Chimgan Mountains, a picturesque resort area located in the western spurs of the Tian Shan Mountains, just 85 km from Tashkent. The mountain range stretches at elevations from 1,600 to 3,309 meters above sea level. Its highest peak, Greater Chimgan (3,309 m), can even be seen from the capital on a clear day.

Upon arrival, explore the modern Amirsoy Mountain Resort. Take a comfortable gondola cable car ride to the panoramic viewpoint at an altitude of 2,290 meters. From the top, enjoy breathtaking views of the Chatkal Range, the turquoise waters of the Charvak Reservoir, and the charming village of Burchmulla.

Enjoy a walk along the mountain trails, where fresh air, tranquility, and a unique atmosphere prevail throughout the year, bringing a sense of energy and inner harmony.

Return to Tashkent. On the way back, stop for lunch near the Charvak Reservoir, where cozy cafés and restaurants serve traditional Uzbek cuisine, including the region's famous Uzbek shashlik.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

At 09:00, continue the sightseeing tour of Tashkent with a visit to the Museum of Applied Arts, showcasing exquisite examples of traditional Uzbek craftsmanship and decorative arts.

Next, visit Chorsu Bazaar, the oldest and most distinctive market in Tashkent. Beneath its enormous blue dome, visitors can discover local produce, aromatic spices, handmade crafts, traditional textiles, and souvenirs. In the Old City district, alongside traditional oriental architecture, you will see authentic mahallas (residential neighborhoods) with adobe houses, narrow winding streets, and the genuine atmosphere of old Tashkent.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, depart for Samarkand, one of the oldest cities in the world and a true jewel of the Great Silk Road, where history comes alive through magnificent oriental architecture. The city impresses visitors with its grand madrasahs, turquoise domes, and the atmosphere of the legendary era of Tamerlane.

Samarkand carefully preserves its rich cultural heritage, combining the spirit of the ancient East with exceptional hospitality. Walking through its historic streets allows visitors to experience the grandeur of the past and enjoy the unique atmosphere of one of Central Asia's most beautiful cities.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

The sightseeing tour of Samarkand introduces visitors to the city's most remarkable landmarks. The highlight of the tour is the magnificent Registan Square, the most famous architectural ensemble in Central Asia, surrounded by the three majestic madrasahs of Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor, and Tillya-Kari.

The tour continues with a visit to the Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the monumental burial place of the Timurid dynasty, which later served as an architectural inspiration for Humayun's Tomb in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The itinerary also includes the grand Bibi-Khanym Mosque, renowned for its impressive scale and architectural beauty; Siab Bazaar, the largest and most vibrant market in the city; and the unique Shakhi-Zinda necropolis, an outstanding architectural complex comprising eleven medieval mausoleums adorned with exquisite decorative tiles.

The excursion concludes with a visit to the Ulugh Beg Observatory Museum, one of the most important astronomical observatories of the Middle Ages, where a preserved section of the enormous underground sextant can still be seen.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

An early morning transfer brings you to the Uzbekistan–Tajikistan border post at Jartepa, where you cross into Tajikistan and continue to Haft Kul — the Seven Lakes — a chain of mountain lakes, each a different color, set in the Fann Mountains. The seven are Mijgon, Soya, Hushyor, Nofin (2,139 m), Khurdak, Marguzor, and Hazorchashma (2,400 m).

Arrive at Marguzor, the sixth lake, for a short stay with snacks and tea on the lakeshore. From there, continue on foot to the seventh and highest lake, Hazorchashma, whose name means "a thousand springs" — a walk of approximately 2 km, taking around an hour and a half. Enjoy a walk around the lake on arrival.

Return to Penjikent to visit the Rudaki Museum, then drive back to Samarkand via the Sarazm border crossing.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Begin the day with a visit to the Mausoleum of Saint Daniel (Khoja Daniyar), one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in Samarkand, honored by representatives of several religions. Continue to the Afrosiab Museum, where unique archaeological finds reveal the rich history of ancient Samarkand and the once-flourishing settlement of Afrosiab.

Proceed to the Konigil tourist craft village, where visitors can observe the traditional production of the famous Samarkand silk paper, manufactured using centuries-old techniques. The visit also includes local ceramic workshops, where skilled artisans preserve and demonstrate the ancient traditions of Uzbek pottery.

Lunch at a restaurant serving traditional Uzbek cuisine.

In the afternoon, visit the modern tourist complex known as the "Eternal City." Stroll through its beautifully designed streets and courtyards, inspired by the architectural heritage of Uzbekistan, and discover various artisan workshops showcasing traditional handicrafts and local craftsmanship.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Depart for Gijduvan, one of Uzbekistan's most renowned centers of traditional ceramics. Visit the Narzullaev family, hereditary master potters and guardians of the famous Gijduvan pottery school. During the visit, you will discover the entire process of ceramic production, including clay shaping, firing techniques, and the intricate art of hand painting.

Lunch will be served at the potters' home and will feature a tasting of the region's famous Gijduvan kebabs.

Continue to Bukhara, one of the oldest cities in Uzbekistan and an important crossroads of the Great Silk Road. During the Middle Ages, Bukhara was a major political, cultural, and religious center of Central Asia. Today, the city preserves more than 140 architectural monuments, including magnificent madrasahs and mosques, the iconic Kalyan Minaret, the Ark Fortress, medieval bathhouses, and historic trading domes. The historic center of Bukhara is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

En route, visit the Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace, the former summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, which combines Oriental and European architectural styles. Continue to the Bahauddin Naqshband Memorial Complex, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Central Asia and the spiritual center of the Naqshbandi Sufi order.

Upon arrival in Bukhara, check in at the hotel.

The sightseeing tour of Bukhara begins with a visit to the Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble, the city's most famous square, centered around a picturesque pond and surrounded by the Kukeldash Madrasah, the Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasah and Khanaka, the monument to Khoja Nasreddin, and numerous traditional cafés.

The tour also includes a walk through the covered trading domes of the 16th century, where local craftsmen continue the traditions of silk weaving, embroidery, jewelry making, and other traditional handicrafts.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Continue exploring the remarkable architectural heritage of Bukhara with a visit to the Samanid Mausoleum, the dynastic tomb of the Samanid rulers and one of the masterpieces of early Islamic architecture, combining elements of both Sogdian and Islamic traditions.

The tour proceeds to Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, an unusual elongated structure associated with the biblical legend of Job, who is believed to have struck the ground and brought forth a spring of water.

Visit the Bolo-Hauz Complex, one of the architectural symbols of Bukhara's historic Registan Square, consisting of a pond, a minaret, and a mosque distinguished by its elegant wooden ceiling supported by twenty finely carved columns.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue the tour with a visit to the Ark Fortress, the ancient citadel of Bukhara often referred to as a "city within a city," which served as the residence of the rulers of Bukhara for centuries.

Explore the Poi-Kalyan Complex, the central architectural ensemble and the principal symbol of Bukhara, featuring the magnificent Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, and Mir-i-Arab Madrasah.

The tour also includes visits to the Abdulaziz-Khan Madrasah, renowned for its elaborate decoration, and the Ulugh Beg Madrasah, one of the oldest educational institutions in Central Asia.

In the evening, transfer to the railway station and board the evening Afrosiyob high-speed train for Tashkent, where you are met at the station and transferred to your hotel.

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Group transfer to Tashkent International Airport approximately 3 hours prior to the scheduled flight departure.