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Day 1
Tashkent
Meeting and assistance on arrival. Transfer to hotel. Morning rest at leisure.
Afternoon visit the old town to see Barak Khana Seminary, Tila Shaikh mosque and archives known for the exhibit of a rare copy of Koran written the third Caliph Othman. Later proceed to Chorsu bazaar, Kukeldash Madrassah.
Overnight: hotel
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Day 2
Tashkent
Samarkand - 330 km
Morning leave for Samarkand. Visit Registan Square which was for many centuries the heart of Samarkand. See the three beautiful madrassahs: the Ulug-Bek Madrasah built in the fifteenth century; the Tillya-Kori Madrasah and the Sher-Dor Madrasah built in the seventeenth century. Visit Gur Emir - mausoleum of Great Tamerlane.
Morning see the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times is the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum, the Silk Road bazaar nearby.
Overnight: hotel
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Day 3
Samarkand
Morning see Shahi Zinda necropolis. Continue with the visit of excavations and museum of the ancient city of Afrosiab and Ulugbek’s observatory located in the entrance to Samarkand.
Later excursion to Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniil. The Biblical Prophet Daniil, known in the East as Hoja Daniyar, lived in 4-5th century BC. He was a descendant of Solomon tsar, revered by the three world religion. It is considered that parts of Daniil remains, namely a hand, were conveyed to Samarkand by Temur.
Overnight: hotel
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Day 4
Samarkand
Sentab village
Morning we set out overland for Nuratau Nature Reserve. We take a break from the architecture, and spend one night in tiny village in the Nurata Mountains - Sentab village.
As our hosts are ethnic Tajiks, this is a unique opportunity to hear another regional language, eat delicious home-cooked local specialities, and see the day-to-day life of the village.
On arrival lunch at guest house in Sentab village. Short trekking tour to the mountains to see the mosque, ruins of an ancient fortress, petroglyphs of Arab time and Bronze Age. Dinner at guest house.
Overnight: guest house
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Day 5
Sentab village
"Yangigazgan" desert camp
Morning after breakfast countinue to the yurt camp.
All yurts are decorated with hand made carpets and sherdaks (felt rugs) of local craftsmen. Possible camel riding.
We will have an unforgettable excursion to Aydarkul Lake, which is also known as "geographical miracle" that formed in the waterless desert.
Picnic lunch with fresh fried fish from the lake.
Dinner at the camp with delicious food cooked on Saksaul tree.
Overnight: yurt camp
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Day 6
"Yangigazgan" desert camp
Bukhara (through Nurata)
Morning after breakfast drive to the town of Nurata. Arrive in Nurata and visit Chashma complex, including pool with holy fishes and ruins of ancient citadel
Later continue to Bukhara (280 km).
On arrival transfer to hotel. Check in
Overnight: hotel
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Day 7
Bukhara
Full day sightseeing tour of Bukhara: Visit – Lab-i-khauz ensemble, the pool and chaikhana of which is the modern centre of traditional Uzbekistan.
Visit Madrassah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga, Mogaki Attari mosque, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque, see Madrassahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek.
Later visit Ark Fortress, Balakhauz mosque, mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, Chashma Ayub.
Overnight: hotel
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Day 8
Bukhara
Khiva - 470 km
Morning drive (8-9 hours) to Khiva via famous Kizil Kum desert (Red sands) See desert flora and fauna: unique saksaul trees and other desert vegetation, different kind mammals. Stop at Amudarya river bank . Later continue to Khiva
Overnight: hotel
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Day 9
Khiva
Tashkent (through Urgench)
Khiva is the museum under the open sky. Today we will have a walking tour in Ichan Kala. Visit Kalta Minor, Kunya Ark, Madrassah Rakhimkhon, Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud. Enjoy view of whole ancient Khiva, Friday mosque and Tashauli Palace/harem.
Transfer to the airport in Urgench to catch a flight to Tashkent.
Overnight: hotel
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Day 10
Tashkent
Morning transfer to the airport for departure flight home