Eastern Dastarkhan and the Aral Sea: Tashkent - Bukhara - Samarkand - Khiva - Nukus

Eastern Dastarkhan and the Aral Sea: Tashkent - Bukhara - Samarkand - Khiva - Nukus. 

Duration: 11 days / 10 nights

Route: Tashkent - Nukus (night in yurts) - Aral Sea - Khiva - Samarkand – Bukhara – Tashkent

+ 5 culinary masterclasses included in the price 

Master class on cooking tukhum-barak
Master class on cooking real Uzbek manti 
Master class on cooking Bukhara pilaf with the owner of the house.
Master class on cooking the national dish - kazan-kabob.
Master class on cooking the national dish - the famous Samarkand pilaf.

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Book an Expedition or call back:

Tour dates in 2024: May 10 - 20, 2024, September 15-25, 2024

Benefits nour tour "Eastern Dastarkhan: Tashkent-Bukhara-Samarkand-Khiva, Aral Sea": 

• we go on tour at the best time - when it's not too hot. Why not escape to wonderful Uzbekistan while we have a couple of free days? :) 
• guaranteed mini-group from Ukraine;
• compactness of the program, nothing superfluous, no free days, only a tour of Uzbekistan;
• incredibly tasty and incomparable oriental cuisine throughout the tour;
• the opportunity to participate in various master classes along the route (cooking pilaf, knitting carpets, etc.);
• comfortable transport throughout the route.

Why Uzbekistan??

• Firstly, Uzbekistan is a real oriental fairy tale! And they come here first of all to see Samarkand and Bukhara with their palaces, mosques and madrasahs, caravanserais and minarets, narrow streets and fortresses. Many monuments have been reconstructed or restored and are really very impressive.
• Secondly, Uzbekistan is a real example of sincere and cordial hospitality, in comparison with which Georgian hospitality simply pales! Here you will never encounter negativity, but on the contrary, the locals will always be happy to help you and in general will simply be glad to see you.
• Finally, the third is Uzbek cuisine. Everything is fresh, tasty and cheap! The beginning of the season of fruits and vegetables, cherries, strawberries, ripe tomatoes, which here you can just gobble up on two cheeks, various delicious cakes in all cities along the route, kebab, which is no less tasty than barbecue, and, finally, and most importantly, pilaf , which is more than a hundred!!! types. This is true love at first sight! Having tried Uzbek plov, you will never forget its taste.
• And, of course, the incredible beauty of the nature of the very heart of Central Asia! 

Tour program Eastern Dastarkhan: Tashkent-Bukhara-Samarkand-Khiva, Aral Sea: 

Day 1: Tashkent

We arrive in the capital of Uzbekistan. Let's go to see the main sights of the largest city in Central Asia - Tashkent.
Old city 
We will walk along the streets of the Old Town and see residential buildings built at the end of the 19th century. 

Khast-Imam Complex (XVI-XXI centuries) 
We will see the famous Quran of Caliph Osman, the oldest manuscript of the Quran that has survived to this day. We will visit the Barak Khan Madrassah, the Tilla Sheikh Mosque, the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum and the Islamic Institute named after Imam al-Bukhari.«

Chorsu Bazaar
We will visit one of the oldest bazaars in the city, which is more than one hundred years old.
Let's try delicious dried fruits and local street food.

Lunch at the national house near Hilola Opa. The guests will be met by the hostess and will tell about the ancient Asian rite - kelin-salom. Master class on cooking manti.

Ceramic workshop of Akbar and Alisher Rakhimov
We will visit the workshop, where each bowl and plate is a work of art. A house with a beautiful garden adds a special oriental flavor and charm to the workshop.

Madrasah Abdulkasym (XIX century)
We will see the works of skilled embroiderers: carpets, scarves, scarves, bags embroidered in the national style. Connoisseurs of metal products can purchase various metal items with skillful carvings and engravings.

Day 2: Nukus – Yurt camp 

Nukus
We arrive in Nukus.
We set off on the road to the yurt camp along the bottom of the Aral Sea.

Aral Sea
We explore the dried bottom of the Aral Sea. We learn the history of the disaster and the current state of the lake.

"Cemetery of ships" and the city of Muynak
We will admire the unique panoramic view of the city and the bottom of the sea from the highest point of Muynak.

Ustyurt Plateau
We continue our way along the drained bottom of the Aral Sea. We will climb the Ustyurt Plateau. We will stop at the magnificent canyons of Ustyurt.

Dinner by the fire
We will spend a wonderful evening by the fire and go to rest in yurts.

Overnight at the yurt camp

Day 3: Aral Sea - Lake Sudochie - Kungrad - Khodjeyli - Mizdakhan Necropolis - Gaur Kala - Nukus (350 km)

Sunrise at Yurt Camp
We will meet an unforgettable sunrise and have breakfast in the Yurt camp.

Fortress Kurgancha Kala XIII V.
Visiting the fortress of Kurgancha Kala XIII century. Stop in the village of Kubla Ustyurt, where you can try shubat (camel sour milk).

Lighthouse
Visit to the lighthouse on the hill.

Necropolis of Mizdakhan
We will visit the Necropolis of Mizdakhan XIV in., mausoleum of Nazlumkhan (XII-XIV centuries), hillock Dzhumartkassab, Shamun Nabi, mausoleum of Caliph Yerezhep and Gaur kala (VIB.C.-IXA.D.)

Day 4: Nukus – Ayaz Kala – Kizil Kala – Toprak Kala – Khiva 

Desert Kyzylkum
We will see the famous Kyzylkum desert and its camels.

Ayaz Kala fortress and Kyzyl Kala
We will visit the impressive ruins of the largest fortresses of Ancient Khorezm - Ayaz Kala and Kyzyl Kala.

Toprak Kala
Let's go to the ancient settlement of Toprak Kala, where in the III century. was the capital of Khorezm.

Khiva
We arrive in Khiva. We will have dinner at the guest house of local residents, where they will offer the Khan's dish tukhum-barak and other colorful dishes of local cuisine. Master class on cooking tukhum-barak

Day 5: Khiva

Let's go on a city tour. We will visit the architectural complex Ichan Kala.
We will learn about the history of the ancient Khorezm civilization and visit the Mamun Academy Museum.

Residence of all Khiva rulers
We will visit the Citadel - the residence of all Khiva rulers, the Madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan (XIX century) - the current hotel, the Madrasah of Muhammad-Rahimkhanaya. Juma - mosque and minaret, Mausoleum of Said Alauddin.

Lunch at the restaurant "Zarafshan"

We will have lunch at a restaurant decorated in the Uzbek national style, located inside the Ichan-Kala fortress complex in the courtyard of the Tolib Makhsum Madrasah of the 19th century.

We continue our acquaintance with the significant places of the city: Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum (XIV-XVIII centuries), Islamkhodzhi Minaret, Allakulikhan Caravanserai, Alpakulikhan Madrassah (1834-1835). Tash Palace - Khovli (XIX century), Kalta Minaret - Minar, and other sights of Khiva.

Day 6: Khiva – Bukhara

Desert Kyzylkum

We leave for Bukhara. Our path passes through the famous Kyzylkum desert.

Dinner at Rahmon's house
Enjoy the amazing taste of the traditional Bukhara pilaf. Master class on cooking Bukhara pilaf with the owner of the house.

Day 7: Bukhara

We will walk through the pearl of the East - a tour of Bukhara, one of the most ancient and beautiful cities located in Uzbekistan. This city keeps many secrets and legends.

Ark Citadel
We will visit the ancient symbol of state power. It seems that since the very creation of the world, this huge fortress has been standing in the center of Bukhara, which has always been a protection and support for the Bukhara rulers.

Mosque Bolo Khauz and Ensemble Lyabi Hauz
We will see the mosque of the 18th century. with a luxurious painted multi-column iwan, which is reflected together with the minaret in the waters of the Hauz. Let's admire one of the central squares of Bukhara, where the Madrasah and khanaka Nadir Divan-Begi are grouped around the reservoir, and the Kukeldash Madrasah is also located nearby.

Dinner with miniaturist Davlat Toshev, who opened a school for gifted children from all over the country, as well as for students from all over the world.

Master class on cooking the national dish - kazan-kabob.  

Poi-Kalon architectural complex
Let's visit - the main ensemble in the center of Bukhara is located at the intersection of trade routes of the "four bazaars". The ensemble includes 4 elements: mosque Kalyan and Miri-Arab Madrasah facing each other, between them Minaret Kalyan, And Madrassah of Amir-Alimkhan.

Day 8: Bukhara – Samarkand

Visit to Chor Bakr necropolis.
In the necropolis of Chor-Bakr there are burial places of sheikhs from the family of Djuybar seyids. The necropolis itself is a fairly large architectural complex, listed in the UNESCO catalogue.

Mausoleum of Bakhoudin Nakshbandi
Continuation of the tour in the Mausoleum. Believers from different Muslim countries come here to ask for the fulfillment of desires and the aversion of sins.

High-speed train to Samarkand
We send by high-speed train Afrosiab to Samarkand

Arrival in Samarkand

Day 9: Samarkand

We have breakfast and go on a city tour.

Visit Siab Bazaar
It is impossible to visit Uzbekistan and not visit the oriental market, where you can best feel the lively atmosphere of the ancient city.

Bibi Khanum Mosque
We will visit the largest mosque in Central Asia, shrouded in many legends.

Registan Square
Let's enjoy the square, which is one of the most beautiful squares in the world, it is called the pearl of Central Asia. This square is a unique monument of medieval oriental architecture, surrounding it from three sides in the form of a beautiful architectural ensemble: the Ulugbek madrasah (1417-1420), the Sher-Dor madrasah and the Tillya-Kari madrasah. This ensemble is considered the greatest among the buildings of the Islamic world.

 
Lunch at the national house of Ilkhom Ibragimov is a small and cozy house where guests will be offered amazing dishes of national cuisine. Master class on cooking the national dish - the famous Samarkand pilaf.  

Mausoleum Gur-Emir 
We will visit the mausoleum, the place where Amir Temur, his sons and grandsons are buried.

Necropolis of Shakhi-Zinda
We will see one of the most mysterious and unique architectural monuments of Samarkand.

Day 10: Samarkand and Tashkent

We continue to enjoy the sights of Samarkand

Visiting the Mausoleum of Prophet Daniel 
Prophet Daniel is revered by three world religions: one of the four great Israelite prophets in Judaism; a prophet whose book was included in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible and a prophet of the Islamic tradition.

Observatory of Ulugbek (XV century)
Ulugbek's scientific works were created thanks to the unique observatory that he erected in Samarkand.

Museum "Afrosiab" which tells about the life, culture and traditions of the people who inhabited this area in various eras and left their mark in the form of works of art, household items, tools.

B“Meros” tanning factory in the village of Konigil, which is famous for its production of Samarkand silk paper.

Silk factory "Khujum".
Factory tour. Here you can observe directly the process of making carpets, see unique samples of carpet products.

High-speed train Afrosiab to Tashkent

Day 11: Tashkent – Kyiv

Transfer to the international airport. I. Karimov on a flight home

Our Telegram channel with all the news and updates on Expeditions
https://t.me/KalipsoUkraine

Cost of the East Dastarkhan tour: Nukus-Tashkent-Bukhara-Samarkand-Khiva, Aral Sea:

1825 USD/person based on double occupancy.

Included in cost:

• Accommodation in 3* hotels in double occupancy with breakfast 
• Comfortable air-conditioned transport along the route
• Group meeting / seeing off at the airport
• Railway tickets for the high-speed train Afrosiab in the directions of Samarkand-Tashkent (economy class)
• Meals - breakfast every day, lunch and dinner at the yurt camp in Nukus
• Entrance fees to monuments
• Local guides

Master classes with dinners included in the program price: 
Master class on cooking tukhum-barak
Master class on cooking real Uzbek manti 
Master class on cooking Bukhara pilaf with the owner of the house.
Master class on cooking the national dish - kazan-kabob.
Master class on cooking the national dish - the famous Samarkand pilaf.

The price does not include:

• International air travel
• Local flight Tashkent – Nukus (from 70$ US per person)
• Meals - lunches and dinners according to the program
• Alcoholic drinks
• Collection in museums and monuments for professional photography
• Tips for guides and drivers

OTHER TOURS to UZBEKISTAN and PRICES HERE 
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