DAY 1: Arrive (Wed, 22 Apr) Tashkent

Upon arrival in Tashkent airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel (includes immediate occupancy). Tashkent is one of the oldest and largest cities in Central Asia, and the Uzbek capital since 1930. It is very much a showpiece of Soviet and post-Soviet architecture.

Afternoon start exploring the capital and visit the old town. Here you will visit the Barak Khana Seminary, Tila Shaikh mosque and their archives, which houses an original version of the Koran written by the third Caliph Osman. Later continue to Chorsu bazaar, the oldest market in Tashkent and Kukeldash Madrasah.

Optional Tour: You can visit the workshop of a famous family of ceramists - Akbar and Alisher Rakhimov for an opportunity to learn about the history of ceramics and see the unique collection of their exclusive works.

Overnight Overnight in Tashkent (Grand Bek 3*/ Navruz 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 2 (Thu, 23 Apr): Tashkent - Nukus (morning flight) – Sudochye lake – Aral Sea

Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Nukus. From Nukus airport you will be transferred to Mizdakhan and Gyaur-Kala complex. Located in the north of Karakalpakstan region is the archeological site of Mizdakhan. This is a complex of historical monuments located across three hills. The flat top of the west hill is crowned with the ruins of Gyaur-Kala Fortress, built in the 4 th century BC. This fortress was used to defend a large town that occupied the eastern hill. Scholars identify Mizdakhan with the town Mazda built in honor of Ahura-Mazda – the main fire-worshippers’ deity who is mentioned in the holy Zoroastrian book, Avesta. Today the eastern hills host the oldest Central Asian necropolis.

Continue your drive to the immense Ustyurt Plateau, the most amazing natural sight on your route. Wind-sculpted for millions of years, there are naturally formed bizarre figures, in unique colors that are found here. Nature has masterfully created picturesque, steep ledges and canyons of textured limestone layers.

As you continue to Sudochye Lake, there will be a short stop en route to see pink flamingos (from a distance). Later arrive at Sudochye lake, which has the status of a State ornithological reserve. 117 species of birds nest here, and you can spend some time looking for more species of birds. Drive a short distance to Kubla Ustyurt village, where you can see camels. Your final stop of the day will be the Aral Sea, which impresses with its blueness, especially in good sunny weather. You can take a dip in the sea or just walk along the coast, in the free time you have before dinner at your yurt camp. The descending darkness will give you a view of the star-studded sky. And in the morning, you cannot miss an unusually beautiful dawn over the sea.

Overnight in a Yurt Camp (these camps have shared accommodation and facilities. Shower and toilet tents are located outside the yurts, in a separate area. Based on our group size, everyone may be accommodated in 1 or 2 yurts.)

Meal: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3 (Fri, 24 Apr): Aral Sea – Muynak – Nukus (155 km)

Start your day watching the beautiful sunrise, photographing the dawn. Leave the camp after breakfast. You will have various stops along the way before you reach Muynak and Nukkus. Your first stop would be to visit the Kurgancha Fortress archeological complex, which consists of a hillfort, a tower, a pottery kiln, and separate structures. Next on your route will be a stop at the ancient Massaget cemetery, followed by the canyons before you cross the drained bottom of the sea and arrive at the former port town of Muynak. Here you will visit the famous Cemetery of ships, private museum of House of Fisher and Museum of ecology, which tell you all about the former power of the Aral Sea. At the end of the visit, transfer from Muynak to Nukus.

Overnight in Nukkus (Jipek Jolly 3*)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 4 (Sat, 25 Apr): Nukus – Desert fortresses – Khiva (200 km)

Morning drive to Khiva, visiting ruins of ancient fortresses en route. First stop will be Chalpikkala, the Tower of Silence which is located 43 kilometers to the South of Nukus. A major Zoroastrian region is often identified by the presence of a tower of silence, a dakhma, and there are ruins of a dakhma at Shilpiq (also spelt Chilpik).

As per archaeologists, Shilpiq /Chilpikdakhma was constructed sometime between the first century BCE and the first century CE. According to local legend, the region around the dakhma is also the place where Zarathushtra began to compose the Avesta.

Later visit Kizil Kala Fortress. The fort was built in the 1st or 2nd centuries AD and is therefore a contemporary of Toprak Kala. It was occupied until the 4th century and then abandoned. It seems to have been restored much later, during the 12th or early 13th century, just prior to the Mongol invasion. We drive further and visit Toprak Kala fortress - an excavated town dating back to the 1st - 5th cent. AD and is considered as the most important monument in Khorezm from the Kushan time.

Also visit Ayaz Kala which is one of the biggest forts in Karakalpakstan. The site is located on the western side of the Sultan-Uiz-Dagh mountains and consists of three fortresses which were built from the 4th century BC to the 7th century AD. Arrive in Khiva and check in to your hotel.

Overnight in Khiva (Zarafshan Boutique 3* / Malika Kheivak 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 5 (Sun, 26 Apr): Khiva

Khiva is a city meant for walking. It is compact, well looked after and basks in a beautiful desert light. This walking tour takes in all the major sights of the Ichan Kala - the citadel - where we will see the truncated Kalta Minor minaret, the Kunya Ark, the Madrasah Rakhimkhon, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud and Islam Khodja minaret - from the latter you will get a view of the entire town around you and the desert beyond. As you walk around you relive the history around you - the town is thought to date back more than 2,000 years. What you see now would not be dissimilar to the city that the Russian army stormed in 1873 in their conquest of Central Asia. The ravages of modern development have been largely kept away from the citadel itself, which adds to its charm.

In the afternoon you will visit the Friday Mosque and Tashauli Palace, including the harem. Later we can arrange silk dying demonstration at UNESCO Silk workshop handled by Ustod Madrahim in Ichan Kala.

Overnight in Khiva (Zarafshan Boutique 3* / Malika Kheivak 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 6 (Mon, 27 Apr): Khiva – Bukhara – 470 km (6-7 hours’ drive)

Today we set out for Bukhara across the famous Kyzyl Kum desert ("Red sands"). It takes around 6-7 hours drive by road. The Great Silk Road once routed through Bukhara and Khiva, across desert - along the path of the modern road that we will use. En route there will be several photo stops to see the desert flora and fauna. We will also stop at the banks of the Amudarya River (the fabled & Oxus of Antiquity).

On arrival in Bukhara.  Check in to your hotel.

Overnight in Bukhara (Minzifa 3*/ Royal Bukahara 3* / Amulet 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 7 (Tue, 28 Apr): Bukhara

Spend the full day exploring the city of Bukhara. This incredible city is one of the most famous names from medieval Islam and is home to hundreds of registered monuments. You will visit some of the main highlights (listed below), as well some lesser-known sights along the way. In no particular order you will visit: Lab-i-khauz ensemble - modern center of traditional Uzbekistan, madrasah Nadirkhon Devanbegi, Khanaga, Mogaki Attari mosque, Poi Kalon minaret and mosque, and Madrasahs Aziz Khan and Ulugbek. After lunch visit Ark Fortress, Balakhauz mosque, mausoleum of Ismail Samanid, ChashmaAyub. You will walk through the surviving Jewish part of the old city, and then stroll around the ancient domes which have interesting shops featuring new and old pieces of art, from hand-made shoes to local-style ceramics, and traditional metallic embroidery. You will also visit Hunarmand UNDP Assisted workshops near Lyabikhauz. Here you will see block printing, metal chasing, suzani embroidery, carving, miniature painting and gold Embroidery.

Overnight in Bukhara (Minzifa 3*/ Royal Bukahara 3* / Amulet 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 8 (Wed, 29 April): Bukhara – Gijduvan – Bukhara (48 kms each way)

Morning continue your sightseeing of Bukhara with an out-of-town excursion to visit the Sitora-i-Mokhikhosa, the summer residence of the former emir of Bukhara where you can see a unique mixture of traditional Russian style of architecture harmoniously mixed with local oriental traditions. It has a selective Suzani collection as well as other artifacts.

Continue your excursion to Bahauddin Naqshbandi Mausoleum famous Sufi spiritual leader of this region in 14th century. Bahouddin Naqshband's cult was highly venerated among people. The rulers, too, paid a considerable attention to this architectural ensemble. Later drive to Gijduvan – the town where the famous Bukhara ceramics are produced. Here you will get to see the process by which these unique ceramics are handcrafted and get a glimpse into the local life in this town.

Return to Bukhara.

Overnight in Bukhara (Minzifa 3*/ Royal Bukahara 3* / Amulet 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 9 (Thu, 30 Apr): Bukhara – Shakhrisabz – Samarkand (368 km)

Morning leave for Samarkand via Shakhrisabz - the birthplace and hometown of Central Asia’s foremost conqueror - the Great Amir Temur.

On arrival in Shakhrisabz, you will visit Ak Saroy Palace, Dorus Tilavat seminary, Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Dorus Saidat and the Friday Mosque.

Later, continue to Samarkand. The road from Shakhrisabz to Samarkand goes through the picturesque mountain pass, Tahtakaracha (highest point 2100m). There will be stops along the way to take pictures of beautiful landscapes. Arrive in Samarkand and check into your hotel.

Overnight in Samarkand (Grand Samarkand 3*/Kosh Hovuz 3*/Wellfort 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 10 (Fri, 01 May): Samarkand

No name is so evocative of the Silk Road as Samarkand. It is one of the oldest existing cities in the world and the oldest in Central Asia. Built on the site of Afrosiab, which dated from the 3rd or 4th millennium B.C., Samarkand was known to the ancient Greeks as Marakanda; ruins of the old settlement can be seen in the northern part of the city.

During the tour we will see the famous Registan Square which was for many centuries the heart of Samarkand. See the three beautiful monuments: the Ulug-Bek Madrasah built in the fifteenth century; the Tillya-Kori Madrasah built in the seventeenth century; the Sher-Dor Madrasah, also built in the seventeenth century.

In the afternoon, continue your sightseeing tour of Samarkand with a visit to Gur Emir - mausoleum of Great Tamerlane. Then visit the grandest structure of Amir Temur’s times - the chief Friday Mosque called Bibi-Khanum, the Silk Road bazaar and Shahi Zinda necropolis. End your day with a visit to the wine tasting center at Central Asia's oldest Hovrenko winery to taste Samarkand wines and brandies.

Overnight in Samarkand (Grand Samarkand 3*/Kosh Hovuz 3*/Wellfort 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 11 (Sat, 02 May): Samarkand – Tashkent by fast train

Morning visit Ulugbek’s observatory, constructed by Ulugbek (Grandson of the Great Amir Temur) in 1428-1429. Also see the ancient settlement of Afrosiab, which is situated on the spurs of Chupan-Ata hills to the north-east of present-day Samarkand. According to the legend, it was here, on the banks of the river Siab, that the Turanian king and hero Afrosiab, a character of the folk epic ‘Shahnama’, founded the town that became the capital of Sogdiana.

Later you will head to Konigil village (10 km from Samarkand) to visit the paper-making workshop. For a long time, Samarkand was famous as a center of a high-quality paper manufacturing. In the workshop of a talented master, you will see how the rind of the mulberry tree turns into paper. Here you will be able to try your hand at the unique process of hand-made paper production: cleaning tree branches from the bark, polishing paper with a stone and painting it.

Later transfer to the railway station to catch the fast train to Tashkent. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Tashkent (Grand Bek 3*/ Navruz 3* or similar)

Meal: Breakfast

Day 12 (Sun, 03 May): Tashkent – Departure

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.