Book between April 1st and June 30th and GET A DISCOUNT OF $150 PER PERSON!
Sneak peek of a few highlights
Aral Sea
Camp under the stars in the surreal landscape of the Aral Sea.
Khiva
Wander through Khiva, a UNESCO-protected site and the most romantic city on the Silk Road.
Bukhara
Be blown away by the ancient mosques, madrassas and oriental bazaars of Bukhara.
Samarkand
In spiritual Samarkand stand among the ornate portals, patterned minarets and glistening cupolas of Registan Square.
Inclusions
11-night accommodation
14 meals: 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Flight tickets Tashkent-Nukus (economy class)
Train tickets Bukhara-Samarkand, Samarkand-Tashkent (economy class) (Subject to availability, we reserve the right to change the program and/or substitute trains by other transport.)
Private English-speaking guides for city tours (subject to availability)
Ground transportation in private, air-conditioned vehicle
Drinking water during sightseeing
Wine degustation on Day 10
Multilingual 24-hour customer support hotline in all destinations
All applicable local taxes
Exclusions
International airfare – Beverages – Gratuities to guides, drivers, and hotel staff – Optional excursions – City tax and visa fees when applicable – Travel insurances – All other items not mentioned in the inclusions
DAY 1 TASHKENT
A Central Asian nation and former Soviet republic, landlocked Uzbekistan is the proud home to spellbinding architecture and ancient cities that have been overlooked for many years.
Its centuries-long history under Persian rule and as a key stop on the Silk Road left a rich cultural and architectural legacy, made all the more fascinating by the country’s time as an enclave of the Soviet Union.
Upon clearing immigration and customs, the representative will be waiting at the airport meeting area for your transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation : Tashkent for 2 nights
DAY 2 TASHKENT
We’ll go on a half-day city tour, starting by exploring the narrow winding streets of the Old Town. This area is home to Barakkhan Madrasah, Tillya Shaykh Mosque, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the Library of Islamic Literature.
Under a giant dome, we’ll find a delightful slice of city life in the traditional Chor-Su Bazaar. It’s also a great place to buy souvenirs, watch Uzbek bread baking and taste many national dishes in between the numerous food rows.
In the modern part of the city we’ll visit Mustakillik Square. We’ll even take a ride on the vibrant, arty Tashkent Metro. The tour of Tashkent ends at Amir Temur Square, established on the intersection of two ancient trade roads in the heart of the city.
Meals : Breakfast
DAY 3 TASHKENT – NUKUS – ARAL SEA
The mysterious Ustyurt Plateau consists of a clay and stony desert with chalky mountains, jagged limestone peaks and deep sheer-sided canyons. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch at Lake Sudochie. We’ll also visit the ruins of a fishermen’s house, a fish factory, an old lighthouse and the abandoned airport.
On arrival at the ever-shrinking Aral Sea, an hour’s walk will bring us to Kurgancha-Kala, an old caravansarai and fortress from the great Silk Road period hidden in the hills.
In the evening, we’ll have dinner under the starry desert sky and then retire for the night to our cosy yurts amid the surreal moon-like surroundings.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Overnight in the yurt
DAY 4 ARAL SEA – NUKUS
After breakfast we’ll drive to the eerie ‘cemetery of ships’ where the husks of rusting ships lie stranded in the sand of this dry sea bed. Once they were submerged in water, so it’s incredible to think that the nearest shore is now over 100 miles away. We’ll visit the museum to learn more about this disaster and drive past the gas towers and gas plant. On hills near Khodjeli city we’ll find the Mizdakhan necropolis - an ancient cemetery; and the ruins of the Gyaur-Kala fortress.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation : Nukus for 1 night
DAY 5 NUKUS – KHIVA
We then start our 3 hour drive to Khiva. On the way we’ll discover the ancient desert fortresses of Khorezm – Ayaz Kala and Toprak Kala. We’ll also see Chilpik Dahma, known as the Tower of Silence. The Zoroastrians would throw the bodies of their dead into this roofless tower for the birds to consume.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Khiva for 2 nights
DAY 6 KHIVA
A visit to this 6th century walled city is like travelling back in time. It is a city of colour thanks to the navy, indigo and cerulean ceramic tiles embedded in the ochre walls of many of the buildings.
We’ll walk the labyrinth of sand-laden alleyways to find the Juma Mosque whose roof is supported by 213 unique columns of 10th century elm; Tash Hauli, the main palace of Khiva rulers and Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, an open-air mausoleum.
We’ll also visit Muhammad Amin Khan Madrassah, Kalta Minor Minaret, Kunya Ark, Muhamad Rahim Khan Madrassah, Islam Khodja Minaret and Shirgazi Khan Madrassah.
Meals : Breakfast
DAY 7 KHIVA – BUKHARA
Upon arrival in Bukhara, time at leisure. We recommend relaxing at local ancient hammam Bozori Kord (XVII C) with some spa procedures.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Bukhara for 2 nights
DAY 8 BUKHARA
We’ll visit the Ark Fortress – the residence of Bukhara khans, Bolo Hauz Mosque, Samanids Mausoleum, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum and some beautiful madrassahs.
At the Poi-Kalyan complex we can see the Kalyan Minaret, also known as the ‘Tower of Death’. We’ll also visit the Lyabi Hauz complex, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city containing several impressive Islamic monuments.
Dinner with a family of local artisan – master of oriental miniature, where you can eat main Uzbek dish – plov (pilaf).
Meals : Breakfast
DAY 9 BUKHARA – SAMARKAND
We’ll also visit the Chor Minor Mosque; Sitorai Mokhi Khosa – the summer residence of the last Emir of Bukhara; and the Baghautdin Nakhshbandi Mausoleum – an important Muslim shrine and pilgrimage site.
In the afternoon, we’ll board the train for the 1.5 hour ride to Samarkand.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Samarkand for 2 nights
DAY 10 SAMARKAND
We’ll visit the awe-inspiring restored madrassas standing on three sides of the iconic Registan Square: Ulughbek Madrassah, Sher-Dor Madrassah and the gold-covered Tillya-Kari Madrassah.
Other highlights include the Bibi Khanym Mosque with its ocean-blue domes and exquisite carvings and the Shakhi Zinda Necropolis, which contains monuments dating back between 500 to 1000 years. We’ll also visit the Gur Emir Mausoleum and the Ulughbek Observatory with its interesting underground passages.
In the evening, we’ll visit Khovrenko Winery and have degustation of wine produced there.
Meals : Breakfast
DAY 11 SAMARKAND – TASHKENT
At Konigil village there’s time to visit the local paper mill which offers a fantastic insight into how traditional paper is still made using old-fashioned techniques.
We’ll then catch the evening train to Tashkent.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Tashkent for 1 night
DAY 12 DEPARTURE FROM TASHKENT
Meals : Breakfast
HOTEL OPTIONS OR SIMILAR
Price based on the following accommodations or similar. The names of the hotels will be communicated to you upon confirmation.
OPTION A, 3*
TACHKENT
Gabrielle International 3*
Art Deluxe 3*
Sharq 3*
Gloria 3*
Standard Room
ARAL SEA
Yurt
NUKUS
Jipek Joli 3*
Standard Room
KHIVA
Arkanchi 3*
Minor 3*
Malika Kheivak 3*
Standard Room
BUKHARA
Devon Begi 3*
Sasha & Son 3*
Kabir 3*
Minzifa Boutique 3*
Standard Room
SAMARKAND
Rabat Boutique 3*
Malika Prime 3*
Zilol Baxt 3*
City 3*
Standard Room
OPTION B, 4*
TACHKENT
Hampton by Hilton 4*
Mercure 4*
Wyndham 4*
Ichan Qala 4*
Standard Room
ARAL SEA
Yurt
NUKUS
Pana 3*
Standard Room
KHIVA
Asia Khiva 4*
Erkin Palace 4*
Khiva Palace 4*
Standard Room
BUKHARA
Wyndham Bukhara 4*
Sahid Zarafshon 4*
Asia Bukhara 4*
Zargaron Plaza 4*
Standard Room
SAMARKAND
Hilton Garden Inn 4*
Continental 4*
Zarafshon Parkside 4*
Grand Samarkand Superior 4*
Standard Room
Rates in CA$, per person, starting from, in double occupancy |
Land Package | |
Departures until December 31, 2024 | Option A | Option B |
Book between April 1st and June 30th and get a DISCOUNT OF $150 PER PERSON |
||
Solo traveler | 6075 | 6970 |
2 persons | 3820 | 4375 |
3-4 persons | 3440 | 4105 |
5-6 persons | 3100 | 3655 |
Single supplement | +360 | +625 |
**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.