MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

Arrival in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The guide will meet the tourists holding the “SISO TRAVEL GROUP” sign. Transfer to the hotel.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

Visit to the old town: Hasti Imam complex (Barak Kan and Kafal Shohi madrasas), Library with the “Usman Quran”, Kukeldash Madrasa (exterior), and Chorsu Bazaar.

Transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Urgench. Arrival and transfer to Khiva (30 km, ~40 min). Accommodation at a 3* hotel.

Note: Uzbekistan Airways flight schedules may change without prior notice.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

After breakfast, we begin the visits at the Ichan Kala architectural complex, which is the inner citadel and the most important commercial center during the medieval period on the Silk Road. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990 and is a well-preserved example of Muslim architecture in Central Asia.

City tour of the Ichan-Kala architectural complex (12th–19th centuries): Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark Castle, Mohammed Rahim Khan Madrasa, Minaret and Islom Khodja Madrasa; Tash Hovli architectural complex (19th-century harem), Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum (14th–18th centuries), Juma Mosque (10th century). Return to the hotel at the scheduled time.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

After breakfast, depart by vehicle towards Bukhara (550 km, 8–9 hrs.), crossing the Kizil-Kum desert, which means “the red sands.” On the way from Khiva to Bukhara, we will cross the historic Amu Darya River (this river, together with the Syr Darya to the north, marks the border with Kazakhstan and is the only water source for the Aral Sea). In the Amu Darya Valley, we will make a stop to enjoy an extraordinary panoramic view of the valley. Arrival in Bukhara and accommodation at a 4* or Boutique Hotel.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

City tour in Bukhara: we will visit the Samanid Mausoleum (9th–10th centuries), built using proportional design techniques. During the era of great mathematicians, principles of geometry were applied to architecture. Bolo-Hauz Mosque (early 20th century). Ark Citadel (4th century BC), the oldest structure in the city, which served as the residence of the emirs of Bukhara from the 5th century until 1920, when it was bombarded by the Russian army. The last coronation held there was that of Ali Khan in 1910.

Chashmai Ayub Mausoleum and sacred spring (14th century), also known as “Job’s Spring.” It is considered a sacred place visited by the prophet Job, and its waters are believed to have purifying and healing properties.

Kalon Minaret, erected in 1127, represents the history of Bukhara in the 11th–12th centuries. Its base is 9 m in diameter, gradually tapering toward the top, which is adorned with stalactite decoration, reaching a height of 46 m.

Poi Kalon Mosque (12th century), measuring 127 m by 78 m, is one of the largest in Central Asia. Miri Arab Madrasa, built during the reign of Khan Ubaidullah between 1530 and 1536.

Three Domed Markets: this 16th-century domed complex, known as the First, Second, and Third Domes, consists of vaulted chambers connected to numerous galleries for shops and artisan workshops.

Lyabi Hauz Architectural Complex (14th–17th centuries): a set of two madrasas and a khanaka built around the city’s largest pond.

Return to the hotel at the end of the tour.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

Departure by high-speed train to Samarkand. Upon arrival in Samarkand, transfer to the hotel.

Sightseeing in Samarkand includes:

• Shakhi-Zinda Architectural Complex (9th–15th centuries): a group of funerary monuments whose name means “Tomb of the Living Kings.” It consists of several mausoleums, including the tomb of Usam Ibn Abbas, the Prophet Muhammad’s cousin. It is one of the oldest buildings in the city and an important pilgrimage site.

• Ulughbek Observatory (15th century)

• Afrosiyab Museum – showcasing the ancient city of Samarkand.

Return to the hotel at the end of the tour.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for a full-day excursion in Samarkand:

• Registan Square: a complex of majestic madrasas and the city’s historic center, home to three major madrasas – Ulughbek, Tillya-Kori, and Sher-Dor. The square was the hub of public life in the Middle Ages, restored in 1920, and today is a major tourist attraction.

• Guri Emir Mausoleum (14th–15th centuries): this architectural complex with its sky-blue dome contains the tombs of Tamerlane (Amir Timur), his sons Shahrukh and Miran Shah, and his grandson, the famous astronomer Ulughbek. The main crypt houses decorative tombs carved in marble, onyx, and even Tamerlane’s own tomb in jade.

• Bibi-Khonum Mosque: completed shortly before Emperor Timur’s death, it was once one of the largest Islamic mosques in the world.

• Siyob Bazaar: the local market.

Return to the hotel at the end of the tour.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

Early in the morning, transfer to the Jartepa border between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan (50 km, ~1 h).
Customs and passport control on both sides of the border. Meet your local Tajik guide and driver and drive to Penjikent.

Sightseeing in Penjikent:

• Rudaki Museum

• Local bazaar

• Mosque

Visit Old Penjikent, located 5 minutes by car from modern Penjikent. Old Penjikent was an important Sogdian city dating back to the 5th century and was destroyed by Arab conquerors in the 8th century.

Overnight at the hotel.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

Drive to Dushanbe via Iskanderkul Lake, known as Alexander the Great’s Lake, established in 1969. The lake covers an area of 30,000 ha. According to legend, Iskanderkul was named after Alexander the Great, known as Iskander in the East. It is said that Alexander’s route to Central Asia from India passed by this lake.

Lunch at a traditional family house, “Dilovar”.

Explore the surroundings of the lake: five springs, Zmeinoe Lake (Snake Lake), and a hike to the 38-meter-high waterfall called “Fan Niagara”.

Return to Dushanbe in the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel and overnight stay.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the United Museum of Tajikistan, which includes exhibitions on history, natural history, and art. The Buddha in Nirvana is one of the museum’s valuable exhibits. (Closed on Mondays)

Visit the Botanical Garden, a beautiful garden with many old trees and a favorite spot for locals.

Bazar: an oriental market and the busiest place in the city.

Hissar Fortress: the remains of an 18th-century fortress, occupied until 1924, located 30 km west of Dushanbe. Next to the fortress are two simple madrasas, one dating back to the 18th century and the other to the 19th century, with a 16th-century mausoleum beyond them.

Overnight at the hotel.

MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST

Transfer to the airport to catch the flight to the next destination.