Silk Road Uzbekistan

Samarkand & Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Departure: September 22, 2017
Return: September 28, 2017
Meeting Point: Tashkent International Airport

Package includes

Private tour in vehicle (33 seater/45 seater)
Six nights’ accommodation at comfortable hotels (combination of 3-star and 4-star boutique hotels)
Room is on a twin-sharing basis; for single occupancy, the upgrade fee is SGD250
All entrance fees and permits
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
English speaking guides for the entire trip
Group visa to Uzbekistan (for registration before July 30, 2017)
Guided trip coordinated by XA Travel tour leader and an Asian Geographic tour leader (if the trip is full)
One-way express train tickets from Samarkand to Tashkent
A domestic flight from Tashkent to Urgench, including taxes and surcharges

Package excludes

International flight to and from Tashkent International Airport
Additional beverages (including alcohol) not included in meals
Any other incidental expenses incurred by participants
Tips for driver and local guide (voluntary basis)

Sponsored by

Uzbekistan-Expedition-Web — The Republic of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development

Explore Samarkand and Bukhara in untouched Uzbekistan. A crossroad of cultures and a centre for Islamic scholarly study, Samarkand boasts a history going back hundreds of years. Bukhara, a World Heritage Site, has over 140 architectural monuments waiting to be explored.

Price
Cost per head: 2,400 USD only*

*Refer to inclusions and exclusions of cost per head
*10% discount on past participants.

BOOKING CLOSED

Here are the details of the itinerary for the Silk Road, Uzbekistan expedition, September 22–28, 2017

Day 1 - 22nd September 2017, Tashkent to Urgench

All participants will need to arrive at Tashkent International Airport by 17h00 local time, after which we will transfer to the domestic airport to catch a flight to Urgench in the western region. We will overnight in Khiva.

Day 2 - 23th September 2017, Khiva to Itchan Kala

Our route starts in Khiva, a city of museums with extensive history. We will spend the whole day in the Itchan Kala Fortress, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Narrow streets, carved “ayvans”, scenic verandas and doorways, and majestic minarets and mausoleums make this city a spectacular national treasure. We will overnight at Khiva.

Day 3 - 24th September 2017, Khiva to Bukhara

The Silk Road went through Bukhara and Khiva and then on through the Kyzylkum Desert. Before departing for Bukhara, we will explore Itchan Kala at daybreak and then visit one of the busiest morning markets. We will stop en route to enjoy views of the Amu Darya River and the desert. We arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon.

Day 4 - 25th September 2017, The Historic Centre of Bukhara

We spend a day exploring the historic centre of Bukhara. Located on the Silk Road more than 2,000 years ago, Bukhara is a centre of trade, scholarship, culture, and religion. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most complete examples of a medieval city in Central Asia today. We will enjoy an authentic local Uzbek meal, and overnight in Bukhara.

Day 5 - 26th September 2017, Samarkand

We depart for Samarkand with another local lunch arrangement in a traditional Uzbek home. Samarkand will be a definitive highlight for photographers, who can capture the beauty of the Shahi Zinda Mausoleum Complex. We will also visit the tomb of Qusam Ibn Abbas – a cousin of the Prophet Mohammad who was instrumental in the Islamic history of Central Asia. We overnight at Hotel Platan Samarkand.

Day 6 - 27th September 2017, Samarkand to Tashkent

We pay a morning visit to the Bibi Khanoum Mosque, which was built in the 14th century, as well as a nearby market. We enjoy another local lunch arrangement with a traditional Uzbek meal, and then visit Registan Square, which is at the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand (which was part of the Timurid Dynasty). We will transfer to the train station for the express train to Tashkent, and overnight there.

Day 7 - 28th September 2017, Departing

We will then run an excursion through the old part of the capital city, visiting the religious complex, Khasti Imam, and the Muy-Mubarak Mosque, which houses the well-known Qur’an of Khalif Osman. By noon, we will transfer to the airport to take our respective departures home.