A trip to ancient cities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is the best tour for those who are interested in the culture and history of Central Asia. Enjoy your visit to such famous cities as Samarkand, Bukhara, Merv and Nisa.

Excursion
1

Arrival in Tashkent.

Your driver will meet you holding a sign 'YOUR NAME'. Transfer to the hotel.

Meeting with a company representative who will provide a tour package, and you will have the opportunity to discuss the details of the program.

Resting time.

Overnight.

2

Breakfast in the hotel. 

Start sightseeing tour of Tashkent (5-6 hrs) visiting old and new parts of it:

Earthquake Memorial, the composition is devoted to the tragic date of earthquake in Tashkent on April 26, 1966, and is erected in the approximate place of the earthquake epicenter. Residents still come to the monument to honor those people who took a part in the reconstruction of Tashkent - the main square of Uzbekistan reflects the past, present, and future of the country;

Khast Imam Square – a religious center of the city consisting of the Barakkhan madrasah;

Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the library of Islamic Literature with the Holy Koran Book of the VII century. 

– Visiting Chorsu marketplace and drive back to the new city by metro. 

Continue excursion with visiting Independence Square. There are fountains standing for life energy of Uzbek people, the “Eternal flame" in honor of soldiers who died during the World War II,  the arch " Good and noble aspiration" crowned with birds of happiness and prosperity, a road "Ok Yul" (“Good way”) leading to Independence Monument and monument to Happy Mother that symbolize the hope for a great future.

One can often see the newly-weds who start a family and independent life walking through the arch of “Good and noble aspirations”, laying flowers at the monument of Happy Mother and Eternal flame.

Amir Temur Square

Theatre Square with the Opera House

Resting time.

Overnight.

3

Breakfast in the hotel. 

07:00 Transfer to the railway station.

08:00 Start to Samarkand by high-speed train «Afrosiab».

10:08 Arrival in Samarkand. You will be met by our staff. Transfer to the hotel.

14:00 Standard check-in. 

Meet with your guide & driver at the hotel's lobby and start excursion in Samarkand:

Gur Emir Mausoleum – a burial vault of Timur the Great and his descendants decorated with gold ornaments and considered as one of the most significant places in the world;

– Continue to the famous Registan Square – the heart of Samarkand and a real masterpiece of Central Asian medieval architecture consists of three grandiose buildings: Ulughbek Madrassa, Madrassa Sherdor, and Madrassa Tilla Kori;

Bibi Khanim Mosque – the biggest medieval building in the city which was one of the most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world in 15th Century;

Shahi Zinda Necropolis – unique complex of Mausoleums  formed by standing on both sides of the cenotaph (an imaginary grave) belonging to the Muslim person named Saint Abbas ibn-Kussam;

Ulugbek’s Observatory – the finest astronomical centers in the medieval world was built by order of Ulugbek, an outstanding scholar and astronomer;

Samarkand bazaar – Siyab.

Resting time in the evening.

Overnight at the hotel.

4
Breakfast.

Departure to Samarkand (270 km), en-route visiting famous Gijduvan pottery workshop where visitors are welcome for a tour around the workshop and observe the process of ceramic making and painting.

The owners demonstrate the stages of making ceramics from turning the potter’s wheel to making paints from natural ingredients, decorating the ceramics in a distinctive style, drying and firing.  Take a tour around the museum-hall of ceramic masterpieces with a unique collection of the ceramic items of Gijduvan and other regions of Uzbekistan. 

A festive gift from the company ANUR TOUR - master class in painting ceramic products. You can take the finished product with you as a souvenir from sunny Uzbekistan!

Continue driving to Samarkand via Memorial complex and maqam of Imam Al- Bukhari  

Arrival in Samarkand.

Transfer to the hotel, check-in.

Overnight at the hotel.

5

Breakfast.

09:00 Meet your guide in the hotel's lobby. Head over to the old part of Bukhara and start your walking excursion:

Start WALKING sightseeing program in Bukhara (5-6 hours):

- Ensemble Lyabi Hauz (Nadir Divanbegi Madrassa, Khanaka, Kukeldash Madrassa and the monument of Khodja Nasreddin);

- Magoki Attari Mosque is one of the oldest mosques survived in Bukhara from the time before the Mongolian invasion;

- Abdullakhan’s Tim with numerous handicraft shops of souvenirs, ceramics, national clothes and carpets;

- Caravanserai Sayfuddin (the Center of Handicraft Development of Bukhara);

- There are three trading domes or so-called covered bazaars Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon and Toki Zargaron preserved from the XVI century and these bazaars were the centers for trade of silk, jewelry and even for money exchange. Today as well, one can enjoy and purchase different souvenirs of a wide range, from small souvenir magnets to the famous Bukhara carpets;

- Visit Ulughbek and Abdulazizkhan Madrassas or so called Kosh (pare) madrassas opposite each other with distinctive style of facade ornamental decoration;

- Poi Kalon Square with Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Mir Arab Madrassa – the heart of Bukhara, a monumental complex impresses the imagination of every visitor;

- Ark Fortress – the oldest citadel dating back to I century BC where one can feel the history of the great fortress covered in beautiful legends and myths.

Optionally can be added by request :

- Visit to Samanids mausoleum (IX century), a monument of early medieval architecture.

Free time in the evening.

Overnight in the hotel.

6

Breakfast in the hotel.

Transfer to Uzbek - Turkmen Boarder pass "OLOT-FARAB". Border formalities on both sides, meeting with the representative of Turkmenistan travel company.

Transfer to Mary.

Excursion to Ancient Merv (UNESCO).  Discover the historical park with:

- Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum - The best remaining testimony to Seljuk power at Merv is the 38 m-high Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar, located in what was the center of Sultan Kala. The building was restored with Turkish aid and rises dramatically in the open plain. Sanjar, the grandson of Alp-Arslan, died in 1157, reputedly of a broken heart when, after escaping from captivity in Khiva, he came home to find that his beloved Merv had been pillaged by Turkic nomads.

- Mohammed bin Said Mausoleum, medieval castles – “Kesk” fortresses (6-7 centuries) and others.

Transfer to airport.

19:20 evening flight to Ashgabat

20:00 arrival in Ashgabat

Transfer to hotel.

Resting time.

Overnight in the hotel.

7
Breakfast in the hotel.

Meet with your guide & driver at the hotel's lobby and start excursion in Ashgabat:

- Ertogrul Gazy Mosque,

- Independence Park with Monument of Independence (it's a 118 m column that considers the highest building in the country),

- Neutrality Arch - a unique composition that rotates slowly after the sun.

Visiting  National Museum, where you can see more than 166 unique expositions from Ancient Merv and Nisa. 

A trip to ancient Nisa (18km from Ashgabat) that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the ruins of the ancient city (the date of foundation of the I millennium BC - I millennium BC).

Return to Ashgabat. Visit en-route Turkmenbashi Mosque-Mausoleum. It's considered the biggest in Central Asia (10 thousand people). There're beautiful gardens and fountains near the mosque. 

Resting time.

Overnight in the hotel.

8

Breakfast in the hotel.

Transfer to Ashgabat airport.

Departure.

End of the tour.

Book it
Notes

- Check-in 14.00, check-out time 11.00. No early check-in/ late check-out is included unless indicated;

- Please note that the tour price does not include seasonal VAT 15 %, VAT can be added to the basic tour price.

- Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English;

- All the changes in the basic itinerary, the timing for transfers depending on the international flight departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed;

- Please note that the train trip/s can be replaced for transfer/s by car depending on train tickets availability and trains schedule;

- After the date of publication, any changes in the hotels, air/train ticket prices, tax increase, and exchange rate fluctuation may influence the tour prices;

- Anur Tour is not responsible for the force majeure occasions (weather conditions during the tour, repairing-reconstructing works at some parts of roads, government restrictions).

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