TOURGUIDE TRAVEL

Day 1: Arrival in Uzbekistan
Departure from Frankfurt to Tashkent. Arrival in Tashkent at 20:40. Transfer to the hotel.
2 overnight stays at the Tashkent Hotel.

Day 2: Tashkent
During a city tour, you’ll get to know the Uzbek capital. Though Tashkent isn’t rich in standout sights, it’s a pleasant, green city. You’ll first encounter the Central Asian madrasa (Quranic school) architectural style and see the world’s oldest preserved Quran manuscript. Visit the historical museum with its impressive collection, offering a good overview of the cultural and artistic epochs you’ll encounter on the trip. In the afternoon, stroll through the large, lively bazaar, where you’re sure to discover goods you’ve never seen before.
Overnight stay at the Tashkent Hotel.

Day 3: Tashkent – Samarkand
Travel by comfortable high-speed train through a green, agriculture-rich landscape to the southwest, crossing the Syr Darya River, and arrive in Samarkand by late morning. Samarkand, several millennia old, will be proven to you right away: Explore the pre-Mongol destruction era at the Afrosiab Museum, including the stunning frescoes from a Sogdian palace. Nearby, a large necropolis with numerous beautiful tombs from post-Mongol eras, known as Shahizinda, stretches out. Unrivaled is the ribbed dome of the Gur Emir Mausoleum, where Timur is buried—visit both inside and out.
2 overnight stays at the Samarkand Hotel.

Day 4: Samarkand
The Registan: No other square in the world can compare with this ensemble of three richly decorated madrasas with their blue mosaic and majolica facades. You’ll tour all three Quranic schools with expert guidance. Nearby lies the Bibi Khanum Mosque, your next stop. Stroll through the large, colorful bazaar adjacent to the mosque. Ulugbek, unlike his grandfather Timur Lenk, is famed not for great wars but for promoting arts and sciences. Archaeologists have excavated his astronomical observatory, which you’ll visit this afternoon. The remaining tours focus on crafts: a silk paper manufactory (UNESCO project), idyllically located by a stream with its own waterwheel and hammer mill, and the studio of silk painter Romanenko.
Overnight stay at the Samarkand Hotel.

Day 5: Samarkand – Shahrisabz
Enjoy picturesque landscapes on your journey today. The region is known for agriculture, including cotton farming. Drive over the mountains with several stops at scenic landscapes and interesting motifs. With a bit of luck in May, you might see farmers raising silkworms. In Shahrisabz, visit the Kok Gumbaz Mosque and the equally artistic tombs connected to this complex. The vast ruins of the Ok Saray, the “White Palace” from the 14th century, dominate the city center. Explore the site and pass by the statue of its patron, Timur, on a pedestal once Lenin’s, also known to us as Tamerlane.
Overnight stay at the Shahrisabz Hotel.

Day 6: Shahrisabz – Termez
Following the Silk Road, travel through flat and mountainous landscapes southward. To the east rises the majestic snow-covered Pamir Mountains. In Boysun, cross the border of the ancient lands of Bactria and Sogdiana. Hike through the narrow gorge known in historical sources as the “Iron Gate.” Arrive in Termez by evening.
3 overnight stays at the Termez Hotel.

Day 7: Termez
The 2,500-year-old city of Termez was a center of Buddhist culture during the Kushan period, particularly Mahayana Buddhism. Visit Buddhist monasteries like Kara-Tepe and Fayaz-Tepe, dating from this era. The archaeological museum provides an overview of the cultural history. Dinner and overnight stay in Termez.
Overnight stay at the Termez Hotel.

Day 8: Termez
Hakim at-Termizi, a renowned Sufi teacher and folk saint of southern Uzbekistan, is buried in Termez. His tomb has been an active pilgrimage site for over a millennium. After visiting his mausoleum, travel to Dsharkurgan, where a minaret from the Karakhanid period (12th century) stands with its unique shape and decor. Alexander the Great reached Central Asia on his campaigns, as you’ve heard in Samarkand. The city beneath the excavation mound of Kampir Tepe is likely one he founded. Visit this archaeological site this afternoon.
Overnight stay at the Termez Hotel.

Day 9: Termez – Bukhara
Set off early as the “caravan” travels all day to Bukhara. Mountains, steppes, oases, and semi-deserts lie along your route. Arrive in Bukhara by evening.
3 overnight stays at the Bukhara Hotel.

Day 10: Bukhara
Spend two full days exploring this exciting city and its surroundings. Visit numerous madrasas, including Kalon, Mir-e-Arab, Ulugbek, Nodir Divan, the old Chor Minor portal, the citadel, and the Samanid Mausoleum. Immerse yourself in the bazaars and uncover another treasure: Uzbekistan’s incredible wealth of folk art. Bukhara carpets, ceramics, or intricately hand-forged knives and scissors make beautiful souvenirs. One evening, enjoy a folklore show with dinner in the stunning ambiance of the former Nadir Diwan-Begi Madrasa. The next day, dine at the hotel or a restaurant.
Overnight stay at the Bukhara Hotel.

Day 11: Bukhara
The tomb of Bahauddin Naqshbandi is one of Central Asia’s most important pilgrimage sites. Naqshbandi founded the Sufi order named after him. Visit the mausoleum and its associated complex outside Bukhara. Back in Bukhara, tour the restored 19th-century palace of merchant and politician Fayzulla Khodjaev in traditional Uzbek style and visit a school with advanced German language instruction. You’ll have free time to wander the old town on your own.
Overnight stay at the Bukhara Hotel.

Day 12: Through the Kizilkum Desert to the Khiva Oasis
Today, cross the Kizilkum Desert (“Red Sand”). Shortly after Bukhara, see the gas facilities of Gazli. With some luck, you might spot camels en route. Stop for a meal of “desert fish.” Afterward, cross the Amu Darya, Central Asia’s largest river, and drive through the vast Khorezm Oasis.
2 overnight stays at the Khiva Hotel.

Day 13: Khiva
Khiva is an oriental dream, an oasis that remained a feudal state until the 19th century, isolated from external influences. The old town (UNESCO World Heritage List) is framed by a massive, square fortress wall. “Intra muros,” madrasas, palaces, and mosques line up—due to centuries of isolation, Khiva has preserved its authenticity. The tall minarets, also tiled with blue and turquoise ceramics, stand out. Structurally, the city resembles Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria.
Overnight stay at the Khiva Hotel.

Day 14: Khiva – Tashkent
Short transfer to Urgench Airport and flight to Tashkent. In Tashkent, visit the “White Mosque,” the TV tower, and the metro with its artistically designed stations.
Overnight stay at the Tashkent Hotel.

Day 15: Homeward Journey
Transfer to Tashkent Airport and return flight to Frankfurt.

We offer transfers with the following vehicles: