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Uzbekistan local time  

Navruz – the New Year Festival of Spring

Tashkent – Samarkand – Nuratau villages – Bukhara – Tashkent

Navruz, the national holiday of Uzbekistan, is deeply rooted in the rich heritage of the country's past. It falls on March 21st – vernal equinox and symbolizes the beginning of a calendar year in many oriental countries. From the times this holiday originated, Navruz has been mainly the festival of masses. On this day all over Uzbekistan there are numerous merry-meetings, popular folk games are organized including horse-back sport games, while children get gifts - sweets and penny whistles.

Various and plentiful meal is the height of the festival, which is held in the hope of the coming profitable and bumper-crop year. But the culmination of the holiday is sumalaq - a ritual meal. Sumalaq is made from flour and wheat sprouts, which are the symbols of eternal life. Thus this sweet dish has always been considered kind of medicinal and people believe it endows man with life-giving force for the whole year to come.

8 days / 7 nights


Days Cities Activities  
Day 1 Tashkent Arrival in Tashkent.
Meet and greet.
Transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation in hotel.
Overnight in Tashkent.
Day 2 Tashkent –
Samarkand
Breakfast.
Sightseeing tour in Tashkent.
After lunch transfer to Samarkand.
Dinner and overnight in Samarkand.
Registan
Day 3 Samarkand Breakfast.
Sightseeing tour in Samarkand.
Festive lunch consisting of different traditional spring dishes at local family.
Proceed with sightseeing tour.
Festive dinner at local restaurant.
Overnight in Samarkand.
Gur emir. Samarkand
Day 4 Samarkand –
Nuratau area
Early breakfast.
At 07:00 transfer to Nurata mountain area via Djizak town (250 km).
Arrival in Otoqurgon yurt camp at 10:30.
At 11:00 you will have the unique opportunity to witness Kopkari - traditional equestrian game of horsemen of Central Asia. Lunch at Otoqurgon Yurt Camp.
Leisure stroll along the shore of the Aydarkul lake (8 km from Otoqurgan).
Transfer to Khayat village (25 km). En route get acquainted with daily life of villagers in Ukhm village and visit local highlights: an old water mill, rock paintings of Ukhumsay, and the ruins of ancient settlement.
Arrival in Shiringul guesthouse and accommodation.
Close to the village there is an enclosure where endangered species of wild sheep(Severzov Argali) are being breed.
Visiting the celebration of Navruz: you will have the unique possibility to participate in the preparation of the ritual festive meal "Sumalaq" in a big caldron.
Overnight in Shiringul guesthouse.
Kupkari, ulak. Navruz
Nurata. Navruz tour
Sumalak. navruz
Day 5 Nuratau area –
Bukhara
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to Bukhara via Nurata (283 km). En route visit Deggaron mosque in Khazara settlement. The mosque dates back to the first half of the 9th c. and bear resemblances of ancient type of mosques with an amazing curved arch structure with dome supported by four round pillars. En route visit Narzullaev’s ceramic studio in famous pottery center Gijduvan (45 km off Bukhara).
Lunch in Narzullaev’s family.
Arrival in Bukhara.
After lunch you will participate in pottery master class and learn to make decorative ceramic toys.
Arrival in Bukhara. Accommodation.
Overnight in Bukhara.
Ark Citadel
Day 6 Bukhara Breakfast.
Full day sightseeing tour in Bukhara.
Overnight in Bukhara.
Poi-Kalon
Day 7 Bukhara –
Tashkent
Breakfast.
Proceed with sightseeing tour in Bukhara.
After lunch free time at tourist own leisure.
In the evening transfer to the airport to take domestic flight to Tashkent at 20: 50 on Wednesdays and Fridays or at 21:35 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Transfer to the hotel upon arrival.
Overnight in Tashkent.
Kukeldash
Day 8 Tashkent After early breakfast transfer to the airport to take international flight back home.

Suggested accommodation in:
Type A Type B
Tashkent – Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace 4*
Samarkand – Registan Plaza 4*
Bukhara – Asia Bukhara 4*
 
Тashkent – Uzbekistan Hotel 4*
Samarkand – Mallika Prime 3*
Bukhara – Asia Bukhara 4*
 

SERVICES INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE:
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE:
  • Accommodation based on TWN rooms
  • Meals – according to the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for sightseeing spots mentioned
  • Overland transportation by AC coach
  • All airport-hotel-airport transfers
  • Escort guide for the whole tour (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese-Mandarin, etc speaking)
  • All sightseeing and events as specified in the itinerary
  • Farewell dinner in Bukhara
  • Visa support to Uzbekistan
  • Portage services in airports and hotels
  • 1 bottle of mineral water per day per pax
  • International airfares
  • Domestic air fare Bukhara – Tashkent 50 USD (subject to be changed)
  • Camera and Video charges during the sightseeing

Payment: 100 % prepayment should be made not less than 3 days before the group's arrival.    

Cancellation fees:
Cancellation 30 days prior– no penalty is charged
Cancellation 30-15 days prior – 50 % penalty is charged
Cancellation 15-1 days prior – 100 % penalty is charged

Attractions to be visited during the sightseeing excursions:

Tashkent:
Kukeldash Madrassah, Abul Kassim madrassah, Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, Barak Khan Madrassah, Mosque on Khazrati Imom street, visit to Chor - Su (handicraft bazaar), Museum of Applied Arts, Amir Temur Monument and Square, Independence Square, Alisher Navoi Teater and Square.

Samarkand:
Shakhi - Zinda necropolis (14-15c), "Stars above Samarkand" - Ulugbek observatory (15c), "Ruines of Afrosiab"- the excavation and museum of the ancient town (6 BC-13 AD), Visit to medieval architectural monuments: Bibi Khanum Mosque (14c.), Gur-Emir Mausoleum (15c), Registan Ensemble including Ulugbek (15 c.), Shir Dor (17c), Tillya-Kari Madrassahs (17c).

Bukhara:
Visit to Samanids mausoleum (9-10 cc.) - vault of Bukhara rulers' dynasty, Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum14c ), Ark Fortress (16 c.) and Bolo Khauz Ensemble (18c.), Poi-Kalon Ensemble including Minaret (12c), Jami Mosque (15c) and functioning Madrassah Miri-Arab (16 c), Taqi (trading domes), Lyabi – Khauz Ensemble (17 c.), Magaki Attari Mosque(12 c.- 16 c.), Ulug Beg Madrassah (15 c.) and Abdul Aziz Khan Madrassah (17 c.), Chor-Minor Madrassah (18c.) Visit to summer residence of Emir - "Sitora-I-Mokhi-Khosa" (1911). Memorial complex of Bakhhauddin Nakshbandi (14c – 17c), Chor Bakr necropolis (16 c)

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