Wonders Of Surkhandarya - 14-day Uzbekistan Tour
About this tour
Discovering the Beauty of Southern Uzbekistan.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Arrival at Tashkent airport. Transfer to the hotel (check-in from 14:00). Early luggage drop off, breakfast at the hotel. At 9:00 - beginning of exploring the capital, one of Central Asia`s most populous and dynamic cities. Sightseeing tour in old part of the city. Hazrati Imam Complex, the spiritual heart of Tashkent for centuries. The ensemble was built near the grave of one of the first Islamic preachers in Tashkent. In addition to the buildings, the complex has a library of oriental manuscripts. Here you can see one of Islam's most sacred relics - the world's oldest Quran. Afterwards you visit the largest and most dynamic market of Uzbekistan - Chorsu Bazaar. Here you can taste real Uzbek pilaff and shashlik. Here is the whole history of Uzbekistan: ceramic products, skullcaps, national robes, oriental sweets, spices, fruits, vegetables, clay products, handmade souvenirs. Then you take the subway to get to the city center and visit the State Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan, which contains over 4,000 exhibits on decorative art, including wood carving, ceramics, embossing, jewelry, gold weaving and embroidery. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Termez, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Tashkent panoramic tour: Independence Square, Opera and Ballet Theater Square, Amir Temur Square. At 11:00 – transfer to Tashkent airport. Domestic flight HY-065 (13:30 - 14:50) to Termez, the capital of Surxondaryo Region in southern Uzbekistan. Arrival. Transfer to the hotel in Termez. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Termez, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour in Termez, the ancient city and a centre of early Buddhism. You visit Kokildor-Ota Khanaka, Kyrk-Kyz fortress (the summer residence of the rulers of the Samanid dynasty), the complex of Sultan Saodat, Al-Hakim At-Termizi Mausoleum. There are three major Buddhist sites that you visit today near Termez. Buddhist Stupa Zurmala, a 12-m high Buddhist stupa, found in the north-east of the ruins of Ancient Termez. Kara Tepa, one of the world’s oldest surviving Buddhist cave monasteries. Fayaz Tepa, another Buddhist temple and monastery complex. Then you visit the Archaeological Museum of Termez: the whole history of the city located in one place. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Termez, Uzbekistan to Baysun, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Trip to the village Derbent. It is famous for the natural attraction of the same name - the Derbent canyon. Escarpment walk provides panoramic views of the mountains. Nerby is a place of piligrimage with a symbolic grave of Saint Huzhamoy-ota. Trip to the village Sayrob. In the heart of the village, the main square is shaded by gigantic plane trees, centuries old. Trip to the village Padang. You see juniper forests and red canyons. Transfer to Boysun, where you visit Suzane Art Gallery. Overnight at the hotel in Boysun.
Day 5: Baysun, Uzbekistan to Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Shakhrisabz (200 + 150 km), the hometown of Tamerlane. Then excursion around the city (about 2 hours). You visit Tamerlan’s palace Ak-Saray, which means “white palace”, the construction of which remained unfinished after his death. Visit the complex: Friday mosque Kok-Gumbaz, built by Ulugbek.; Imam Hazrati Mosque with a shady summer terrace; Darus Siadat – the tomb of Timur’s eldest son. Transfer to Samarkand. Arrival and accommodation. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Samarkand was blessed with a strategic geographical location which made it an important part of the Great Silk Road. In the 14th century the conqueror Timur (Tamerlane), the founder and ruler of the Timurid Empire, made Samarkand his capital. He built many architectural masterpieces here, many of which have survived over the centuries. The tour starts with a visit to the famous Registan Square, where Ulugbek, Till Kori and Sherdor madrassahs are located. Visit to Gur-Emir Mausoleum. Visit to the Konigil Meros paper factory. The place is famous for its unique traditions of handicrafts, the purest nature and shady trees. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Second day of sightseeing tour in Samarkand: necropolis Shahi-Zinda, Ulugh Beg Observatory, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Afrosiab Archaeological Museum, Siab Market, the busiest market in the city and the mausoleum of Prophet Daniel. Muslims, Christians, and Jews treat him with equal respect. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 8: Samarkand, Uzbekistan to Aidar Yurt Camp, Нурота, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from Samarkand to Yurt Camp (150 km). Authentic national yurts are located on the route of the Great Silk Road. Lunch at the Yurt Camp. Nomadic lifestyle. Dinner at the Yurt Camp restaurant accompanied by traditional songs. Overnight in the Yurt Camp.
Day 9: Aidar Yurt Camp, Нурота, Uzbekistan to Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Breakfast in the Yurt Camp. Transfer to Nurata, the town is famous as a Muslim pilgrimage place. On the way, near the town of Gijduvan, you visit the famous ceramic workshop. Nurata was founded as the ancient town Nur by Alexander the Great. Nurata sightseeing: the ruins of the Nur fortress, holy mineral spring Chashma. Lunch in a traditional house. Transfer to Bukhara. Arrival and accommodation. Free time to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Today’s tour is dedicated to discover old city of Bukhara. Bukhara sightseeing tour: Magokki Attari Mosque, built on the site of a Buddhist and Zoroastrian temple; four medieval (16th century) trading domes; Ulugbek Madrasah built by Tamerlane’s grandson; Abdul-Aziz Khan Madrasah (17th century); Abdullah Khan Tim Madrasah (16th century), which was used by Afghan silk and wool traders and the magnificent architectural complex of Poy Kalon (12th-16th centuries). Visit to the majestic Ark Citadel, the residence of the Emir until 1920. At the end of the tour you visit Chor Minor Madrasah with an unusual outward shape. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Second day of sightseeing tour in Bukhara. Visit to Lyabi Hauz complex of XVI-XVII centuries. The Lyabi Hauz ensemble, surrounding the pool on three sides, consists of the Kukeldash Madrasah and two religious edifices built by Nadir Divan-Beghi: a khanqah and a madrasa. Then you visit Ismail Samani Mausoleum, built in the X century, a masterpiece of Arabic geometry; Bolo House complex, including a mosque (XVIII century); Chashma Ayub Mausoleum. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Bukhara, Uzbekistan to Khiva, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Extended trip to Khiva (450 km, 7-8 hours) through the Kyzylkum Desert, one of the most extensive deserts in Asia. Arrival and accommodation. The rest of the day – free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Khiva, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Khiva is a beautiful oasis city that impresses with its tranquility. Sightseeing tour inside of Itchan Kala, the walled inner town of the city of Khiva. You visit many historic monuments: citadel Konya Ark, Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Itchan Kala Minaret and Madrasah, Kalta Minor Minaret, Tash Khovli Palace, Ak Mosque, Anush Khan Baths, Muhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Friday Mosque. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: Khiva, Uzbekistan to Urgench, Uzbekistan
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Urgench airport (35 km).
What's included
Hotel accomodation. Meals: B&B 13 breakfasts. Services of local guides. Entrance tickets. A/C transportation for the whole tour. Bottle of still water daily.
Insurance. International flights. Domestic flight HY-065 from Tashkent to Termez. Uzbek visa – visa-free for Europeans. Meals: lunches and dinners. Single room supplement of €171. Personal expenses, including on-site photo and video rights. Excess baggage. Tips for guides and drivers. Tourist fee in Uzbekistan €50.
What to know
This tour can be customized. Please get in touch with me.
Route & locations
Tashkent, Uzbekistan