A fully inclusive 8 day small group
tour exploring
part of the great silk road.
Code SM8D.
Only £1,195 per person.
Best time to go
March - June & September - October.
Samarkand is one of the
world’s most ancient cities which flourished between the
4th and the 8th century due to its position on the
fabled Silk Road. Later Amir Temur, or Tamerlane (
1336-1405 ) created a huge empire stretching from India
to Turkey and chose Samarkand as his capital. The city
soon earned a deserved reputation for its stupendous
architecture – including towering portals, magnificent
minarets and turquoise-blue domes which are still the
pride of today’s city. Departure from Heathrow every
Saturday and Birmingham every Sunday in April, May, Aug,
Sep, Oct only. All flights & hotels subject to
availabilities.
Price is
based on 2 persons sharing a double/twin room. Price includes :
International flights with Uzbekistan airways or
similar, internal flight, hotels with daily breakfast, fulboard meals, transfers by a/c vehicles, English
speaking local guides, admission fees, visa to
Uzbekistan.
Price excludes : camera & video fees,
tipping and any service not specified. Single room
supplements is £195 per person.
Day 1 : Departure
Fly from London Heathrow or Birmingham to Tashkent with
scheduled airlines.
Day 2 : Tashkent ( L,D )
On arrival transfer to Tashkent Palace hotel. After
lunch Tashkent guided city tour visiting the Museum of
Applied Art and old Tashkent : Khast-Imam Square with
Barak Khan Madressah founded in the 16th century, Tellya
Sheik Mosque and its Islamic library which is housing
the immense Osman Koran, claimed to be the world’s
oldest, Iamam Ismail Al Bukhari Islamic Institute, the
highest Muslim seminary. Dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight at Tashkent Palace hotel.
Day 3 : Tashkent/ Bukhara ( B,L,D )
Morning transfer to airport for flight to Bukhara. On
arrival transfer to
Asia Bukhara hotel in the centre of Old town. Lunch at
local restaurant. Afternoon
Bukhara tour starts with the Ark Fortress, Bukhara
citadel with the Palace of Bukhara Amir, Mosque,
exchequer, govermnet administration and prison. Next,
visit to the most magnificent monuments of Bukhara : the
Kalon minaret, 46 m high awe inspiring landmark of
Bukhara, Kalon Mosque with its intricated mosaics
façade, and Miri Arab Madressah, one of the most
prestigious Islamic universities.
Dinner and overnight at Asia hotel.
Day 4 : Bukhara ( B,L,D )
Drive to Bukhara outskirt to visit the splendid Summer
Palace and Chor minor, a four-ark-dome structure built
in 1807 . Back to Bukhara old town to visit Ulugbeg
Madressah with its remarkable inscription on the
entrance door :’Aspiration to knowledge is a uty of each
Muslim, man and woman’ and Magoki Attaki the most
ancient Mosque in Central Asia. After lunch at
Lyabi-Hauz, a very popular and cooling place thanks to
its large artificial reservoir, stroll in the three
trade domes stopping at caravansarais. Dinner and
overnight in Bukhara.
Day 5 : Bukhara/ Shakhrizab/ Samarkand ( B,L,D )
Drive to Shakhrizab, hometown of Tamerlane. Visits to
the impressive ruined entrance towers of the AK Serai
Palace ( White Palace ), testimonial of an age of power
by Tamerlane who once said : ‘Let he who doubt our power
and munificience look upon our buildings.’ Lunch at
local restaurant. Drive to Samarkand for dinner &
overnight at Panorama or Afrosiyab hotel.
Day 6 : Samarkand ( B,L,D )
Full day Samarkand city tour including Registan square,
the centre of Samarkand with the imposing Ulugbeg &
Sher-Dor Madressahs facing each other, Tillya Kari
richly gilded Mosque, Gur Emir Mausoleum and the
Temurids tombs where Amir Temur and his sons & grandsons
were buried, Shahi-Zinda necropolis and the female
Temurids mausoleums beautifully decorated with sapphired
blue mosaics. Afternoon is reserved for the visit to the
largest Mosque dedicated to Bibi Khanum the most beloved
wife of Tamerlane and Samarkand colourful bazaar. Dinner
& overnight in Samarkand.
Day 7 : Samarkand/Tashkent ( B,L,D )
Drive to Tashkent. After lunch, time at leisure to
stroll along the streets of new Tashkent. Evening enjoy
a ballet or music performance at Navoi Theatre ( subject
to availability ). Farewell dinner. Overnight at
Tashkent Palace.
Day 8 : Departure
Transfer to airport for flight home or optional
extension to Ferghana Valley.
