Turkmenistan Tours
A. Uzbekistan Tour 8 Days With Extension In Turkmenistan: Tashkent – Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Bukhara – Khiv
Day 1 - Arrive In Tashkent
Arrive in Tashkent international airport and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Tashkent - Samarkand
After breakfast at the hotel visit Old Tashkent and Kukeldash Madrassah will be the first to see. Built in the mid-16th century by the ruler’s vizier Kukaldash, the madrassah was the biggest among 17 madrassahs in Tashkent. The Madrassah was built in very traditional style, just so any madrassah is built in any Muslim country. After secular use as a Soviet warehouse and museum, the madrassah is reasserting religious role. Visit Khast Imam Square – the holy heart of Tashkent and the least Russified or Sovietized part of the city – consisting of Barak Khan Madrassah, Tillya Sheykh Mosque and Kafal Shashi Mausoleum. Barak Khan founded in the 16th century by a descendent of Tamerlane who ruled Tashkent for the Shaybanid dynasty. This is the administrative center of the Mufti of Uzbekistan, the head of official Islam in the Republic. Tillya Sheykh mosque built in the same time as Barak Khan Madrassah, now employed as the district’s Friday Mosque. The highlight is the immense Osman Koran, claimed to be the world’s oldest; in 655 it was stained with the blood of the murdered Caliph Osman. Kafal Shashi mausoleum – the grave of a local doctor, philosopher and poet of Islam who lived from 904 to 979. The portal, inner dome and arcade date from the 16th century, when his holy reputation attracted a cemetery. Also visit to Chorsu bazaar – the biggest, spice-smelling farmers’ bazaar in Tashkent and Applied Art Museum – the museum is as popular for its setting as for its many beautiful exhibits. Tsarist diplomat Polovtsev expressed his appreciation of Uzbek architecture by having his residence built by masters from Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva Fergana and Tashkent. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch drive to Samarkand (320 km). Arrive and transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 - Samarkand
After breakfast at the hotel proceed for city tour. Visit to Gur Emir (in Tajik - Tomb of the emir) – mausoleum of Timur and the Timurids (15 c.), Reghistan square (Sandy place) – ensemble of majestic madrassahs (15-17 cc.), ranks first in Central Asia and among the greatest of all the grandiose and magnificent works of the Islamic world; Bibi Khanym Mosque (15 c.) – the gigantic congregational mosque, once one of the Islamic world’s biggest mosque and Siab market – colorful main farmers’ market. After lunch at local restaurant visit to Shakhi Zinda (The Living King) – necropolis of Samarkand rulers and nobles. The name refers to its original, innermost and holiest shrine – the grave of Qusam ibn-Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, who is said brought Islam to this area. Also visit to Ulugbek Observatory (1420) – the remains of an immense (30 m. tall) astrolabe for observing star position, part of three-storey observatory and Afrasiab ruins and museum with fragments of 7th century frescoes. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight
Day 4 - Samarkand – Shakhrisabz – Bukhara
After breakfast at the hotel drive to Shakhrisabz (170 km). Arrive and visit Ak Saray (White Palace) – Summer residence of Tamerlane (14 c.), Kok Gumbaz (Blue Dome) – Friday mosque (15 c.), built by Ulugbek in honor of his father and Dorut Tilyavat (House of Meditation) – burial complex of Timur’s forebears. Also visit Crypt of Timur – an underground room, which was discovered in 1963. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch drive to Bukhara (300 km). Arrive and transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 - Bukhara
After breakfast at the hotel visit Poi Kalon Ensemble (Pedestal of the Great). The square separates the Mir-I-Arab Madrassah and the Kalon Jummi mosque. The Kalon Minaret (in Tajik means Great) is one of the defining symbols of Bukhara. When it was built by the Karakhanid Arslan Khan in 1127, the Kalon Minaret was probably the tallest building in Central Asia. It’s incredible piece of work, 47 meters tall, which in 875 years has never needed any but cosmetics repairs. Also visit 3 remaining domed bazaars – Taqi Zargaron (1570), or Jeweler’s Bazaar, Taqi Telpak Furushon or Cap Makers’ Bazaar and Taqi Sarrafon, or Moneychangers’ Bazaar, which were among dozens of specialized bazaars in the town, Magok-I-Atori Mosque – the remains of a Buddhist monastery, a Zoroastrian temple and the mosque of the Arab invaders, all sharing the same space and Lyabi Hauz Ensemble. Lyabi Hauz, a plaza built around a pool in 1620 (the name is Tajik for “around the pool”). To the east, the Nadir Divanbegi Madrassah, built in 1630, on the west side of the square, and built at the same time, is the Nadir Divanbegi Khanaka. North across the street, the Kukeldash Madrassah, once was the biggest Islamic school in Central Asia. After lunch at local restaurant visit the Ark fortress – royal town-within-town, as old as Bukhara itself, home to the rulers of Bukhara for over a millennium, Bolo Hauz Mosque (“Mosque Near the Pool”) (1712) – the royal court mosque, Ismoil Samani Mausoleum – the town’s oldest building (completed around 905) and one of the most elegant structures in Central Asia, and Chashma Ayub (“Spring of Job”) – built in 12 century over a spring. Legend says Prophet Job, a millennium before Islam came to the Zerafshan Valley and witnessed a great and terrible drought. Job
struck the dusty earth with his staff and a cool source of spring water brought liquid salvation. Dinner with folk show at Nadiк Divan Begi Khanaka. Return to the hotel for overnight
Day 6 - Bukhara - Urgench
After breakfast at the hotel drive through Kyzyl Kum desert (480 km, M-37) to Urgench. Villages in Bukhara oasis change to desert with sand dunes. A short stop at “Bukhoro-I-Sharif” teahouse right in the middle of the trip for lunch (box-lunch to be provided). The teahouse replaced old caravanserai, which had served caravans for hundred years. One fifth of the road goes along Amudarya River, but there are only few places, from where the river can be seen. Stop at one of them to take pictures of the scroll of Amudarya. Arrive in Urgench and accommodate at hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 - Khiva – Tashkent
After breakfast drive to Khiva (30 km) and visit Ichan Kala (Inner town). Khiva is the most intact and most remote of Central Asia’s Silk Road cities, the final destination from modern Tashkent to medieval slave town. Visit Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah (1852-1855) – the largest of its kind in the city with a capacity of 250 Islamic students, or rather 130 romantic tourists, as the madrassah today houses hotel “Madrassah”; Kelte Minor (“Short minaret”) commissioned by the khan in 1852 to stand (at over 70 m.) as the biggest in the Islamic world, but abandoned in the wake of his death at a frustrated 26 meters. Also visit Kunya Ark (Old Fortress) – the Khiva rulers’ residence, first built in 12th century, then expanded by the khans in the 17th century. The khans’ harem, mint, stables, arsenal, barracks, mosque and jail were all there. Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum – Pakhlavan Mahmud the Hercules of the East, Palvan Pir the "kurash" wrestler-saint, Pirar Vali the antireligious Persian poet, Mahmud the district furrier, all died here, one and the same, in 1325 to enter local folklore as a hero of both brain and brawn and to become the adopted patron of Khiva. With its lovely courtyard and stately tilework it is one of the town’s most beautiful spots. Islam Khoja Madrassah (1908) and Minaret (1910) – Khiva’s newest Islamic monuments. Islom Khodja, who commissioned the Madrassah and Minaret was and early 20th century grand vizier and, by Khivan standard, a liberal. The minaret is 45 meters tall and it’s Khiva’s highest. Juma Mosque (1788) (Friday Mosque) – is interesting for the 213 wooden pillars, each 3,15 m., supporting its roof – a structural concept though to be derived from ancient Arabian mosques. Lunch at private house. After lunch visit Tosh Howli (Stone House) – residence, built by Allah Kuli Khan between 1832 and 1841 as more splendid alternative to the Kunya Ark and Allah Kuli Khan Madrassah (1835). Dinner at local restaurant. Return to Urgench for flight to Tashkent. Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to hotel for overnight.
Day 8 - Departure
Early morning transfer to airport for departure flight.
Extension To Turkmenistan
Day 8 - Khiva
Full day city tour with the group. Evening transfer to Urgench. Overnight at hotel.
Day 9 - Urgench – Kunya - Urgench – Ashgabat
After breakfast drive to Kunya Urgench (Turkmenistan) via Tashauz (160 km). At Uzbek-Turkmen border go through the Customs and visa procedure. Kunya Urgench (Gurganj) has oscillated through history between sophisticated, cultural metropolis and distant, desert backwater; three times sacked by invading nomad empires, three times to rise from the ashes in an intense burst of cultural energy. Visit the unique Turabek Khanum Mausoleum, built in 1370 in honor of the Princess Turabeg, daughter of the Golden Horde’s Uzbek Khan and wife of Kutluk Timur and Kutlug Timur Minaret (1320-1330) – the tallest minaret in Central Asia (62 meters tall). The chimney-stack tower contains 143 steps and would have been built by workmen standing on the inside. The blue-tiled tent design of the Sultan Tekkesh Mausoleum (1200) rises on 16 sides to commemorate on of the greatest rulers of Gurganj’ golden age. The holy Forty Mullah’s hill is said to contain the original Mamun Academy of Science, home of Ibn-Sina and Al-Beruni and the center of the fiercest resistance to the Mongol invasion, and thus its bloodiest retribution. The 12-sided Il Arslan Tomb is named after the father of Sultan Tekesh who ruled Gurganj from 1156-1172. The bricks of its rich eastern terracotta facing were laid on the ground, covered in clay, carved, baked individually and then reassembled to make up the remarkably intense trim. The base of Mamun II Minaret lies anchored in the ground to the south like a tree stump that the Mongols failed to uproot. Shards of tilework and an inscription examined in 1952 date the pre-Mongol minaret and Friday mosque to the year 1011. Tash Kala Caravanserai, site of the reluctantly resettled 16-th century town, and 13th century Ak Kala fortress – a prime example of what happened to fortress that stood against the Mongol fighting machine. Najmeddin Kubra Mausoleum (1321-1333) is Kunya Urgench the holiest place. The intense of floral tileworks and inscription of ultramarine rank it alongside the most beautiful in Central Asia. Kubra (1145-1221) was and important figure in the intellectual development of Sufism. His tomb is believed to have healing properties. Sultan Ali Mausoleum (1580) – Khorezmshah Sultan Ali was the ruler of Gurganj when Jenkinson visited the town in the mid-16th century. Lunch at local restaurant. After all visits are done, drive to Tashauz airport for flight to Ashgabat. Arrive in Ashgabat and transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 - Ashgabat – Mary – Ashgabat
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to airport for flight to Mary. Arrive in May and transfer to Merv ruins (30 km). Merv arose more than 2500 years ago and developed very quickly to a big municipal center. Now Merv is a group of ancient settlements, springing in history one after another. Visit to Erk-Kala - site of ancient settlement. In VI B.C. Akhaemenyd Persia and Alexander the Great conquered it. Geaur – Kala (3 c. BC), when Merv region was the part of Greko-Baktriyan State with the Capital-Nisa.. Sultan-Kala (12 c. AD), when Merv was at the peak. The ruins with Sultan Sanjar mausoleum in the center of Sultan-Kala are evidence of it. Also visit to Big and Small Kys-Kala (VI – VII centuries, Palace in Shakhriyar-arch (IX – XII centuries), Mausoleum of Mukhammed-ibn-Zade (XII c.). Lunch at local restaurant. Evening transfer to airport for flight to Ashgabat. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 - Ashgabat
The capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat – the City of Love (from the Arabic ashk “to love”) – is the biggest city in Turkmenistan. The first recorded comment on Ashgabat is that they made good wine there, written on a Parthian-era tablets noting a gift of several casks graced with European shops and hotels. The city was even on the itinerary of a Thomas Cook tour. Ashgabat today is a completely modern creation. Visit to Ashgabat’s pride – Museum of History – a collection of artifacts from Nisa, Carpet museum with the world’s largest handwoven rug and ruins of Nisa – the royal fortress-city that existed 2300 years ago. Lunch at local restaurant. Evening flight to Mary. Arrive and transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 12 - Ashgabat – Tashauz – Urgench – Tashkent
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to airport for flight to Tashauz. Arrive in Tashauz and drive to Turkmen-Uzbek border. After border formalities proceed to Urgench. Evening flight to Tashkent. Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 13 - Departure
Early morning transfer to airport for departure flight.