Traditional Uzbeki hats , Bukhara
SEE PASTEBOARD ASIA
4 REGION
Kalta Minor Minaret , Khiva Old Town , Khiva
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Depart for your flight to Tashkent , Uzbekistan , via Istanbul , Turkey .
DAY 2 • Istanbul , Turkey • Tashkent , Uzbekistan Upon arrival in Istanbul , transfer to your hotel in Tashkent and meet your fellow travelers , including those who took our Tajikistan : Khujand & Dushanbe pretrip extension .
Lotte City Hotel or similar
DAY 3 • Tashkent Walk to Independence Square , a symbol of freedom for the Uzbekistan people who declared their independence from Russia in 1991 . Then visit the Crying Mother Monument , constructed to honor Uzbeks who died in World War II .
Meals : B , L , D | Lotte City Hotel or similar
DAY 4 • Tashkent ’ s Old Town • Controversial Topic : Life in Uzbekistan post-Soviet Union
Visit Barak Khan Madrassah , a historical monument that has become a center for local artists and craftsmen . See one of the world ’ s oldest Korans , and visit Chorsu Bazaar , Tashkent ’ s famous green-domed market . Later , meet a local woman for a conversation about the Controversial Topic of life in Uzbekistan after the Soviet Union ’ s collapse .
Meals : B | Lotte City Hotel or similar
DAY 5 • Samarkand • Ulugh Beg Observatory • Tamerlane ’ s mausoleum
Journey to Samarkand , one of the oldest cities in the world . Later , visit the Ulugh Beg Observatory , a 15th-century astronomical center that was one of the most advanced in the Islamic world . Then , visit Gur Emir , the mausoleum of conqueror Tamerlane and his descendants .
Meals : B , L , D | Sultan Boutique Hotel or similar
DAY 6 • Samarkand • Home-Hosted Dinner Explore Samarkand , including Registan Square , Bibi- Khanum Mosque , and Siab Bazaar . Later , drive to Shahi-Zinda , a towering necropolis where a cousin of the prophet Muhammad is buried . This evening , enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local Uzbek family .
Meals : B , L , D | Sultan Boutique Hotel or similar
DAY 7 • Samarkand • Gissar Mountains • Conversation about arranged marriages in Uzbekistan
Hike the foothills of the Gissar Mountains , concluding at Ohilik , a small mountain village where we ’ ll engage with the locals before returning to Samarkand . Later , join two local women for a conversation about arranged marriages in Uzbekistan .
Meals : B , L | Sultan Boutique Hotel or similar
DAY 8 • Train to Bukhara • Walking tour Today , we ’ ll journey by train to Bukhara . Upon arrival , we ’ ll begin a walking tour of the ancient holy city followed by dinner at a local restaurant .
Meals : B , L , D | Amelia Boutique Hotel or similar
DAY 9 • Bukhara & Ark Citadel Tour Bukhara , including the 18th-century Bolo Hauz Mosque , Chashma Ayub Mausoleum , and UNESCOlisted Old Town . We ’ ll also view Ark Citadel , the city ’ s ancient fortress .
Meals : B , L | Amelia Boutique Hotel or similar
DAY 10 • Bukhara • A Day in the Life of Nayman village • Community lunch
Spend A Day in the Life of Nayman , a farming village outside Bukhara . We ’ ll try our hand at making Samarkand bread , and join local families for lunch .
Meals : B , L | Amelia Boutique Hotel or similar
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
On Day 5 , visit Tamerlane ’ s Mausoleum in Samarkand , and admire the elaborate architecture of the final resting place of the legendary founder of the Timurid Empire
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www . oattravel . com / slk 51