Silk Road#4. Uzbekistan – Kyrgyzstan

Early morning transfer to the local airport for flight to Urgench (1093 km, 1 h. 40 min.). Arrive in Urgench, transfer to the hotel in Khiva (30 km, 35 min.). Later proceed for a guided walking sightseeing tour. Spend a day at the UNESCO World Heritage site Ichan-Kala Fortress. Visit Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Kunya-Ark, Juma Mosque, Toshkhovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, Minaret of Islom Khodja. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning depart Khiva and drive to Bukhara (480 km, 7-8 h.*). The Great Silk Road once routed through Bukhara and Khiva ran through the Kyzylkum Desert, as the present road does nowadays**. Stop en-route to enjoy views of the Amudarya River and the desert.

Arrive in Bukhara late in the afternoon, check in to the hotel. Time for rest and overnight at the hotel.

*We advise preparing lunch-boxes for this trip.

**some parts of the road are presently being renovated.

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a walking sightseeing tour with a guide in Old City. Visit Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani, and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Overnight at the hotel.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Meals: Breakfast

Start the second day with a visit to Sitorai-Mokhikhosa – the summer residence of Bukhara’s last emir, a unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to Bakhoutdin Naqshbandi Mausoleum and Chor-Bakr Necropolis.  In the afternoon depart Bukhara and transfer to Samarkand. Arrival at Samarkand. Check-in the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Meals: Breakfast

Meet your guide and driver at the hotel lobby to start the city tour. Visit spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi Khanum Mosque, Siyob Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis, and Gur Emir Mausoleum – authentic shrine of Tamerlane. Overnight at the hotel.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 6-7 hours

Meals: Breakfast

Continue sightseeing: visit Afrasiab Museum and the Tomb of Saint Daniel. Then drive to Koni Ghil village to explore the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry.

Enjoy free time with car and driver at your disposal after sightseeing tour.  At 16:00 transfer to the Railway station to get the train leaving to Tashkent at 17:00. Arrival at 19:10. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Duration of sightseeing tour: 3-4 hours

Meals: Breakfast

At 7 AM transfer to the Railway station to get the train to Andijan, departing at 08:05. Arrive at Andijan at 13:15. Transfer to Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan border point “Dostuk”. Border formalities. At Kyrgyzstan, part of the border meets the drive. Transfer to Osh Airport to get the flight to Bishkek.  Departure. Meeting at the airport by the driver and transfer to hotel. Overnight.

Meals: Breakfast