DAY01:

TASHKENT
Arrive in Tashkent. Spend the night in Tashkent.

DAY02:

TASHKENT - URGENCH - KHIVA
Tour the modern monuments of Tashkent: Independence Square, Amir Temur Square and Theatre Square. Then visit the Rakhimov Ceramics Workshop. Wander through the Museum of Applied Arts which is housed in a large traditional Uzbek house. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your flight to Urgench. On arrival, take a short drive to Khiva. Spend the night in Khiva.

DAY03:

KHIVA
Visit madrassas, mosques and the Palace of the Khans of Khiva in the walled inner city. Sights include Kunya-Ark, the fortified palace built in the seventeenth century, Muhammad Rakhim Khan Madrassa built in 1871 and Islam-Khodja Madrassa with the highest minaret in Khiva at 44.5 metres. Behind the Djuma Mosque stands the most famous monument of Khiva, the Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum built in the nineteenth century. The tour ends with one of the oldest monuments in Khiva: the mausoleum of Sayid Alaouddine after the death of Sheikh in 1303. Browse the stalls in the ancient Khiva marketplace. Spend the night in Khiva.

DAY04:

KHIVA - BUKHARA
Take yourself back in time to the days of the caravans as you head through the desert of Kum Kyzil towards Bukhara. Stop near the region’s biggest river, the Amu Darya. On arrival in Bukhara, relax after the long drive with a leisurely walk in the Old Town. Spend the night in Bukhara.

DAY05:

BUKHARA
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. Spend the night in Bukhara.

DAY06:

BUKHARA - SAMARKAND
Travel a short distance from Bukara 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. In the afternoon, drive the 300 kilometres to Samarkand. Spend the night in Samarkand.

DAY07:

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.

DAY08:

SAMARKAND - TASHKENT
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. Depart by road to Tashkent. Transfer to Tashkent Airport for a flight to your next destination.

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