10-day Golden Road to Samarkand Tour

Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Advantour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at 14:00. Your tour will start with meeting your guide to start sightseeing in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Begin at the Courage Monument, which commemorates the 1966 earthquake and honours the resilience of the people of Tashkent, before continuing to the historic Old City. Visit the Mausoleum of Kaffal Shashi, walk past the Khast-Imam Complex, view the exterior of the Islamic Civilization Center, and stroll along the newly developed Zarkaynar Street. Next, explore Chorsu Bazaar and a local pottery gallery, then ride the beautifully decorated Tashkent Metro to the modern city centre. Enjoy free time for lunch on Taras Shevchenko Street, known for its lively dining scene, then continue to the State Museum of Applied Arts and admire the elegant facade of the Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, concluding the tour at Amir Timur Square, where your captivating Tashkent City Tour comes to an end. After the tour or later in the evening you can visit the Islamic Civilization Center in Tashkent on your own (optional). Lunch break 13:00-14:00 Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Early morning transfer to local airport for flight to Urgench (1093 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrival in Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 45 min). Later proceed for guided walking sightseeing tour. Spend a day in Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, Tash-Khovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islam-Khoja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours

In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h*). Today we will have an overland transfer from Khiva to Bukhara through Kyzylkum desert**. Caravans on the Great Silk Road carrying porcelain and spices used the same route for hundreds of years. Stop along the way to enjoy the views of the surrounding desert. Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel. *As the cafés and restaurants on the way are basic and offer limited menus, you may wish to take a packed lunch on this trip (your hotel or guide can help you arrange this the day before). **Some parts of the road are not in the best condition.

Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi-Khauz Complex, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to the Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and House Museum of Fayzulla Khodjaev. Enjoy free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

In the morning, depart Bukhara and drive to Samarkand via Gijduvan (48km, 1hr*). Stop in Gijduvan to visit the Gijduvan Ceramics Center and Workshop. The owner of the center is Alisher Narzullaev, one of the most well-known and respected ceramics masters of modern Uzbekistan. Activities at the center include: Tour of the ceramic painting workshop, including a demonstration of the related production techniques; Master Classes on ceramic painting; Ceramics Museum, displaying works from five generations of potters; Gallery of ceramics; Master cooking class, where you’ll make a traditional Uzbek dish and bake Gijduvan bread. Enjoy your cooking creation for lunch. In the afternoon, continue driving to Samarkand (233km,3.5 hrs*). Arrive in Samarkand and check in to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. *If traveling by van or bus, the drive will be approximately one hour longer.

Meet your guide and driver at hotel lobby to start city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the final resting place of the Turco-Mongol emperor, Timur. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Samarkand. Depart Samarkand and drive to Shakhrisabz (90 km, 2 h). Have a short city tour in Shakhrisabz. Visit Mausoleum of Jakhongir in Dor-us Saodat Memorial Complex, remains of Ak-Saray Palace, Dor-ut Tilavat Ensemble with Kok-Gumbaz Mosque and burial vault of Tamerlane’s father. In the afternoon return to Samarkand. Overnight at the hotel. Duration of sightseeing: 2 hours Several sedan type cars will be presented instead of Vans for this trip.

Check-out from the hotel till noon. Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Konigil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour. Late in the afternoon transfer to railway station to take the high-speed Afrosiyob train departing to Tashkent (journey time 2 h 10 min). Transfer to the hotel for overnight. Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Check-out from the hotel at noon. Free time until transfer to Tashkent International Airport. Departure. End of the tour.