The Golden Journey to Samarkand

The Silk Roads of Uzbekistan

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Tour Introduction

Uzbekistan, intriguing and historically rich, is a cradle of culture from where a mesmerising collection of sapphire and gold buildings, monuments and magnificent cities have arisen reflecting the influence of the diverse cultures that have passed along the ‘Silk Road’. Some of the oldest settlements in the world conjure up images of sandy-coloured buildings adorned with turquoise domes, intricate wall tiles in magnificent rich colours that fill entire rooms, and bustling bazaars complete with patterned carpets and the smell of spices swirling through the air all of which will transport you back to a time when these places were the centre of world trade. Situated in the heart of the Eurasian Steppe, the country boasts a dramatic geography of unforgiving deserts, sumptuous oases and fertile valleys watered by the Amu Darya, the ancient River Oxus. From its fast-modernising capital Tashkent, to the small oasis of the ancient Islamic world in Khiva a trip to Uzbekistan offers a truly pioneering once in a lifetime opportunity.

Background

The ‘Silk Road’ was a series of trade routes that stretched from China to the Mediterranean, established during the Han dynasty. Not only were these routes crucial to the trade of goods including textiles, spices and of course silk, arguably its most important export was culture. Religion, language, philosophy and technology all travelled with the merchants and were introduced to societies all over the civilised world. The Silk Road was closed off in the mid-fifteenth century by the Ottoman Empire, which wasn’t a total disaster, as traders were forced out to sea, giving birth to the ‘age of discovery’. Uzbekistan played an important role on the route and flourished. After a turbulent history in which it has been conquered by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Imperial Russia as well as a period of oppressive Soviet regime, it has been left with a rich and diverse history.

Highlights

  • Explore Tashkent’s old city, ‘Eski Shakhar’
  • The Khan’s fortress of Ichan Kala in Khiva
  • Desert castles at the Khorezm Oasis
  • Bukhara’s massive Ark fortress
  • Samarkand’s Registan Square
  • Travel by high-speed ‘bullet’ trains
  • Tamerlane’s Gur Emir Mausoleum
  • Wonderful Khorazmian architecture at Shakhrisabz

What's Included

  • Expert historian throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
  • Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
  • 4 & 5 Star Hotels
  • Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening
  • Buffet breakfast each morning
  • All lunches
  • Dedicated Tour Manager
  • Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
  • Internal train journeys
  • Internal flight(s)
  • Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned coach
  • Tour information booklet
  • Return flights from London (optional)
  • The company of like-minded travelers

"The Cultural Experience brings professional insight, planning and performance to an enviable level"

Itinerary

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Depart. Fly to Tashkent via Istanbul.

Day 2 – Tashkent. Arrive Tashkent early morning and check-in to our hotel. Mid-morning start to explore the old city or “eski shakhar” including its spiritual heart, Hast Imam Square, the Tellya Sheik Mosque and the striking brand-new Mosque of Hazrati Iman. Thence to the National Museum of History with many of its exhibits and displays, insightful for the days ahead.

Day 3 - Shohruhiya. Drive through the Uzbek countryside to the ancient settlement of Shohruhiya, the first large city of the Tashkent oases, situated on the Great Silk Road through Yaksart. This evening we fly to Urgench then drive to Khiva to check-in to our hotel for three nights.

Day 4 – Khiva. Today we explore Khiva on foot, the most isolated of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road cities situated on the edge of the Karakum Desert. Although it was virtually destroyed by Genghis Khan, much of what was subsequently rebuilt is impressive. Particularly its designated World Heritage inner fortress of Ichan Kala home to the Kunya Ark, the Khan’s fortress, the Kalta Minor Tower, the Djuma Mosque, the superbly tiled Pakhlavan Makhmud and many other mosques and Madrassas.

Day 5. - Khorezm Oasis. We explore the well-preserved remains of four of the ancient desert castles on the edge of the Khorezm Oasis: Ayaz Kala, Kyzyl Kala, Janbas Kala and Toprak Kala, the latter known as the fortress in the wind. After lunch in our Yurt restaurant, we return to Khiva to complete our exploration of this wonderful city.

Day 6 – Journey to Bukhara. We take the morning high speed train across the Kyzylkum Desert to Bukhara enjoying a picnic lunch onboard. This afternoon we visit the beautifully located Samani and Chashma Ayub mausoleums and the Bolo Khauz Mosque before we check-in to our hotel for the next two nights.

Day 7 - Bukhara. A full day to explore the ‘Noble City’ of Bukhara, once one of the most important and beautiful cities of the Muslim world with over a hundred architectural monuments, the most important being the Po-i-Kalyan religious complex and the massive Ark fortress including its infamous Zinden in which Col Stoddart and Capt Connolly were imprisoned prior to their beheading in 1842. This evening experience a traditional folk show followed by dinner.

Day 8 – Bukhara to Samarkand. Another late morning start to drive to the Palace of the Moon-like Stars, the Summer Palace of the last Emir of Bukhara. Thence take the later afternoon high-speed ‘bullet’ train to Samarkand where we check-in to our hotel for three nights.

Day 9 – Samarkand. Visit the 14th Century Ulugbek Observatory, its small museum and the giant astrolabe; explore the stunning Shah I Zinda avenue of beautifully tiled mausoleums;; the lavish Regional Studies museum with its peculiar collection including furniture captured from Napoleon in 1812; Registan Square and its wondrous architectural ensemble of Tilla-Kori Madrasah; Ulugbeg Madrasah and Sher-Dor Madrasah, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.

Day 10 – Samarkand. Visit the ruins of Afrosiab and the important archaeological collection found in its museum, thence to the Bibi Khoym Mosque built in commemoration of Timur's wife, buried in a tomb located in a madrasa complex nearby. Continue to the Gur Emir mausoleum complex where Tamerlane is interred.

Day 11 – Shakhrisabz, Tashkent. Travel via the Takhta Karcha Pass to one of the oldest cities in the world and the birthplace of Emir Temur. Among the architectural monuments there are the remains of the massive portal of the Ak-Saray Palace and the Dor-us-Saodat Burial Complex, an outstanding example of Khorazmian architecture. Also here is a mausoleum built for Tamerlane himself several years before his death arranged in the shape of a tent. On our return we visit the shrine of Langar Ota with its monument to Tamerlane’s general and its wonderfully tiled 15th century mosque. Late afternoon high-speed train to Tashkent where we spend our last night at our airport hotel.

Day 12 – Depart. Morning return flight to London via Istanbul.

Recommended Reading List

Photo Gallery

  • The Regestan
  • Sunset over Khiva
  • Samanid mausoleum
  • Poi Kalon dome
  • Lunch in a Yurt
  • Khodja Minaret
  • Khiva City Wall
  • Ayaz Kala
  • Locals in Uzbekistan

Your Holiday Essentials

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click here to register your interest

Tour Reviews

Take a look at some images from our 2017 tour here

Take a look at some of the images taken on our most recent tour

Take a look at some independent reviews of this tour by previous participants here

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