15-day Exotics of the East Tour

Arrive in Tashkent. Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Morning flight to Nukus (810 km, 1 h 40 min). Arrive in Nukus and drive to former fishermen’s town Muynak (220 km, 3 h), which used to be situated on the shores of the Aral Sea. On the way stop at archaeological complex Mizdakhan. In Muynak have a look at a former port with abandoned ships in the sand also known as The Cemetery of Ships. Then visit Local History Museum with art exhibits of the Aral Sea history. In the afternoon return to Nukus. Overnight at the hotel.

Visit the Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum*. The museum hosts the world's second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art and exposition of Karakalpak applied arts items. Have a short drive around center of Nukus: see statue of Karakalpak poet Berdakh, Nukus City Hall, and Drama Theatre. In the afternoon depart to Khiva (200 km, 4-5 h). On the way visit archaeological monuments of Ancient Khorezm: Chilpyk, a Zoroastrian dakhma (funerary tower) and Toprak-Kala, the capital of Khorezm dating back to the 3rd century A.D. Arrive in Khiva, check in to the hotel. * Savitsky Karakalpakstan Art Museum is closed on Mondays. ** Due to renovations in Block 1 of the Savitsky Museum, some archaeological and applied arts exhibitions are closed indefinitely. Only Block 2 is currently open to visitors.

Spend a day in Itchan-Kala Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take a walking sightseeing tour in Khiva with a guide, visit Tash-Khovli Palace, Mukhammad Aminkhan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta-Minor, Juma Mosque, 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. Free time. *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 Ensemble, 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 a village located in Nurata Mountains (330 km, 5-6 h*). On the way we will have a few stops: Gijduvan pottery masters workshop, Nurata local mosque with a holy spring water, and Nurata pass to see petroglyphs. Arrive in Ashraf, Sentyab or Yangi Hayot village, accommodation in the guesthouse. All villages are located far away from roads and cities in a picturesque mountain area with fresh air, green orchards, singing birds, sky full of stars, and friendly people. Have a tour around the village and explore life of locals. Overnight in the guesthouse. Meals: dinner *The drive on vans and buses is on average an hour longer.

People have been living in Nurata Mountains since the times of Alexander the Great. Villagers keep house and farm as it was done centuries ago. Women cook on the open fire, weave, spin yarn, bake their own bread, milk the cows. Men farm, shepherd, built houses of stone, rocks and clay. Stay in a village, watching birds, hiking, riding donkey, and participating in cooking traditional food gives an excellent opportunity to witness life of local peasants. Extras to do in the area: Option 1. Take a guided hike to a waterfall. Have look at petroglyphs on the way. (6-7 km, 2-3 h one way). Return to the guesthouse. Cost: $40 for the service of a guide. Option 2. Take a ride on a donkey. Cost: $25 for the service of a guide.

Depart the village and drive to Samarkand (220 km, 4 h). Arrive in Samarkand, check in to the hotel. Free time. Meals: breakfast, lunch

Meet your guide and driver at the 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

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

Today you will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour 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

Free day in Tashkent. Optional: take a hike in mountains just outside of Tashkent (70 km): Gulkam canyon

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