DAY01:

TASHKENT
Arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Spend the night in Tashkent.

DAY02:

TASHKENT - SAMARKAND
Transfer to the train station to take the high-speed two-hour train ride to Samarkand. The day is dedicated a city tour of Samarkand. Visit Registan Square, or Place of Sand, one of the most beautiful squares in Central Asia. It is surrounded by towering three madrassas or places of Muslim education. Ulugbek Madrassa was built in the fifteenth century. Sher-Dor and Tilla-Qori Madrassas were built in the seventeenth century. Visit the huge Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane and still attracting large Friday crowds. Then wander through the Samarkand Bazaar is famous for its cakes and dried or fresh fruit. Enjoy an afternoon of tea tasting with halva (Uzbek sweets) in a restored courtyard of the former resthouse for caravans. Spend the night in Samarkand.

DAY03:

SAMARKAND - BUKHARA
In the morning, discover the jewels of Tamerlane's empire. Visit of the splendid mausoleum of the great conqueror Timur The Lame. See the remains of the Observatory of Ulugbek, one of greatest astronomers of his time. Travel 300 kilometres to Bukhara, Central Asia’s holiest city. Spend the night in Bukhara.

DAY04:

BUKHARA - TASHKENT
Visit the main attractions of Bukhara including Central Asia’s oldest surviving mosque, the Maghoki-Attar, which was built on the site of a Zoroastrian shrine and a Buddhist temple. Walk through the covered market dating back to the sixteenth century known as the Trade Dome. Discover the rest of the Poikalian complex which includes the Kalon Mosque, Miri Arab Madrassa and the intricately-carved 50-metre Kalon Minaret. In the afternoon, travel a short distance to The Ark, the fortified residence of the Bukhara Royal family. Much of the Ark is now ruins, however you can visit some former living quarters and many history museums. Further outside the city, see the Ismael Samani Mausoleum built for a Persian ruler and the Spring of the prophet Job. Take a late night one-and-a-half hour flight to Tashkent. Spend the night in Tashkent.

DAY05:

TASHKENT
Despite great loss of cultural heritage during the Russian occupation and the 1966 earthquake, there are many sights worth visiting in Tashkent. The Khast Imam Mosque houses the oldest Koran in the world dating from 655 and stained with the blood of murdered caliph, Uthman. The Barakhan Madrasa, established in the sixteenth century today hosts the Grand Mufti of Central Asia. The Tellia Sheikh mosque, with its beautiful library, is the main Friday mosque of the city. Visit the former residence of Russian diplomat Polovtsev which now houses the Museum of Decorative Arts. Transfer to the airport for a flight to your next destination.

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