Tour to Uzbekistan from Tajikistan - 2

Flight to Dushanbe.

Arrival in Dushanbe International Airport.

Migration formalities usually take 20 min to 60 min: visa/passport control and baggage claim. 

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver and guide holding a sign “ANUR TOUR” or with your name on it.

Transfer to the hotel to drop off the bags. Standard check-in (14:00).

Start Dushanbe sightseeing tour visiting:

- Tajik National Museum of Antiquities with the biggest Buddha in Nirvana.

The Museum consists of 22 exhibition halls with departments of nature, antiquity and the Middle Ages, modern history, fine and applied arts.

- Tajik flagpole-one of  the World tallest flagpoles (165-meter flagpole);

- Main square of Dushanbe. The Monument of Ismoili Somoni-the forefather of Tajik Nation located on the main square. A 40-meter-high monument built to the memory of Ismaili Saman-Khuda, founder of the Samanid dynasty;

- Mehrgon Bazaar - one of the biggest markets of Dushanbe;

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Tajik - Uzbek–border "Bratstvo"/ "Sariosiyo” (80 km) en-route visiting:

- Gissar Fortress - the remains of the Bukhara Emirate Beck’s palace. Its thick walls once guarded a pool, garden, and palace, while the fortress itself opposed a noisy market and caravanserai. The place was famous for its center of commerce during the Silk Road.

- Old Medressa (Madrasai Kuhna) of the 16-17th century with a museum inside, the new Medressa of 17-18 century as well as Caravan Saray.

- Hisor Caravanserai - was a roadside inn where travelers could rest after the day's journey. Caravansarai supported the flow of commerce, information, and people across the network of trade routes covering Asia, North Africa, and Southeast Europe, most notably the Silk Road.

Arrival at the border post "Sariosiyo". Border crossing to Uzbekistan usually takes about 30 min-1 hr.

Meet the driver at the Uzbekistan side of the border and transfer to Termez (180 km, 2.5 hrs) with sightseeing en-route:

- Jarkurgan Minaret (about 40 km from Termez in Minor village), one of the oldest minarets in Central Asia built in 1109 by the order of Sultan Sanjar.

The decoration of the minaret is not mosaic of colored tiles but masonry on ganch solution. The design is notable for that the tower consists of 16 half-columns in the shape of a flower or a star.

The minaret was covered with inscriptions from holly book Koran and ornaments, the remains of the minaret of 21,6 m high are considered as one of the most significant historical sites of Termez and surroundings.

Arrival in Termez in the afternoon.

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide in the hotel's lobby.

Termez, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, is located in the Surkhan Oasis, where ancient Buddhist monastery complexes coexisted along with monumental Islamic architectural masterpieces of the region.

Start Termez  sightseeing tour visiting:

- Kokildor-Ota Khanaka, Sultan Saodat Ensemble, a summer residence of Samani governors;

- Fortress Kyrk-Kyz - the unique "Kirk Kiz" building ("forty girls”) attracted the attention of researchers for a long time, has been variously considered as a palace, an abbey, a caravansarai, hanaqa, or just simply a civil construction.

- Zurmala – Buddha’s stupa, Buddha complex Fayaz – Tepa – one of the museums in the open air under the protection of UNESCO.

- Mausoleum of Al-Hakim at–Termezi, the founder of the dervish order, an outstanding theologian who wrote numerous religious works and a leader of Islamic mysticism.

 - Archaeology Museum of Termez where one can see the unique exhibits found on the territory of Termez and its surroundings.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to Samarkand via Shakhrisabz town. Photo stops en-route.

Meet the guide in Shahrisabz.

Excursion tour in Shakhrisabz includes visiting (2,5 hrs):

- Ak Saray Palace (“White Palace”), the ruins of the summer palace of Tamerlane. The palace was constructed and decorated by deported from conquered Khorezm skillful builders, masters and artisans. Some parts of the gate tower survived to the present day.

- Mausoleum of Dorus-Saodat ("The Place of Power", XIV century) contains the tomb of Eldest and favorite Tamerlane’s son Jahongir.

- Visit Kok Gumbaz, so-called “House of Meditation.

- Mausoleum Gumbazi-Seyidon of the XVI century where the descendants of Ulugbek are buried.

Continue to Samarkand. Arrival in the evening. Hotel check-in.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Camp-style breakfast.

Morning at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the hotel.

Start walking sightseeing program in the old part of Bukhara:

– 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 stores offering you souvenirs, ceramics, national clothes, and carpets; 

– Caravanserai Saifuddin (the Center of Handicraft Development of Bukhara);

– There are three trading places or so-called covered bazaars: Toki Sarrofon, Toki Telpak Furushon, and Toki Zargaron preserved from the XVI century. 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 standing in front of each other with a distinctive style of facade ornamental decoration;

– Poi Kalon Square with Kalon Minaret and Mosque, Mir Arab Madrassa – the heart of Bukhara, a monumental complex impressing 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: a quick visit to Samanids mausoleum (IX century), a monument of early medieval architecture with a local guide.

14:30 Transfer to Bukhara train station.

15:50 Departure for Tashkent by train "Afrosiyob". 

19:44  Arrival in Tashkent.

Come out of the terminal and meet the driver who will wait for you with a tablet "ANUR TOUR".

Transfer to the hotel.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Meet the guide at the hotel lobby.

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

- Amir Timur Square, founded in 1882 and originally called Konstantinovsky Square, was renamed on August 31, 1994 after of the Amir Timur to honor the cultural and historical contribution of the great conqueror.
Around the Square there is the Museum of History of Timurids, Uzbekistan hotel, Forum Palace and famous Tashkent striking clock.

- Tashkent striking clock, one of major symbols of Tashkent.

- Theater Square with the Opera House: State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi built in 1947 is one of the best opera theater of the world performs both classical and national repertoires. 

- Independence Square, the main square of Uzbekistan reflects the past, present and future of the country. There are fountains standing for life energy of Uzbek people, the Cabinet and the Senate, the “Eternal flame" in honor of soldiers who died during the Second World War.
- 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 earthquake epicenter. Residents still come to the monument to honor those people who took a part in the reconstruction of Tashkent;

- 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 (original Quran Othman). Khast Imam is one of the most significant spiritual centers in Central Asia and attracts the pilgrims and visitors all over the world.

- Chorsu bazaar – the ancient bazaar of Tashkent. “Chorsu” means “four waters”, symbolically meaning the conjunction of four major parts of old city in bazaar where people come for trades. The bazaar beautiful blue dome, built in traditional style after the Tashkent earthquake, is often depicted in postcards and international magazines and became one of the major sights of interest both for locals and guests – one can see oriental tiled bazaar from different souvenir shops with ceramics, handicraft works, carpets and jewelry, the whole pavilion full of delirious fruits to the finest textiles and colorful fabrics.

- Tashkent Metro (the first line was launched in 1977) with beautiful train stations each decorated in thematic style with traditional ornaments and special lightning.

Transfer to Tashkent International Airport.

Departure by evening flight.

End of the tour.