This week in Uzbekistan you will spend tasting all the best national dishes and enjoying various tastes of the East.

 

The famous Uzbek hospitality can be seen in the set of a table - "dastarkhan". Its first attribute is a salad of fresh juicy vegetables grown under our hot sun. Various soups are an equally important part of the meal. Of course, the main dish of the table is a second dish, which is most often laid out in the middle of the table in a large plate "lyagan". Uzbek flat bread is not just a bread, but what the dastarkhan begins and ends with. As well as tea, which is customary to drink for a long time after the meal is over, enjoying oriental sweets for dessert. In hot summer, there is always time to treat yourself to the juiciest fruits fresh from the tree.

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Route: Tashkent - Urgench - Khiva - Bukhara - Samarkand 

 

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Arrival in Tashkent in the early morning.
Meeting with your guide at the airport.
Transfer to the hotel and rest until lunch.

We start our Gourmet tour with the Tashkent regional dish Naryn. It is prepared from slices of meat and dough, and this is a dish not only of Uzbek cuisine, but also of other Turkic peoples. Most often, naryn is prepared from horse meat, as was customary among the nomads. A rich broth is also served with naryn.

After lunch, sightseeing tour of Tashkent:

  • The Khast Imam complex is a religious center in the old city of Tashkent, formed on the grave of the famous scholar, expert on the Koran and hadith, poet and craftsman Khazret Imam. The ensemble includes the Barak Khan madrasah built in the 16th century, the Kaffal Shashi mausoleum, a majestic operating mosque and a modern Islamic institution. However, the main value of this complex is the library housed in the Tillyashih mosque, where you can see the most ancient manuscripts of Central Asia and the famous Koran of Osman of the 7th century.
  • In the State Museum of History, we will get acquainted with all the milestones in the history of Uzbekistan and see many unique cultural and historical exhibits.
  • The building of the opera house named after Alisher Navoi - masterpiece of architecture. It was built during the Second World War and Japanese prisoners of war also took part in the work.
  • In the evening we will take a walk along the Amir Timur square, and the Broadway that runs to it - the city center and a favorite vacation spot for local residents. In hot weather, here we will enjoy fresh milled ice cream with different flavors.

For dinner we will try Dymlama. It is a dish made from meat and vegetables stewed in a cauldron.
Overnight at the hotel.

 

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Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport and flight to Urgench by domestic airlines.
Arrival in Urgench and transfer to the hotel in Khiva (standard check-in time is after 14:00).
Sightseeing of Khiva:

  • We begin our excursion of "Ichan Kala" - the inner city-fortress of Khiva - through the main gates "Ata Darvoza". And at once we see the Madrasah of Muhammad Amin Khan, built in 1852 for the residence and education of students, now used as a hotel.
  • Kalta minor (1851) - a minaret located in the far corner of the Amin Khan madrasah. It was originally conceived as the tallest minaret in the Muslim world, its diameter was 15 m and a height of 28 m. But after the death of Amin Khan (1855), the project remained incomplete and its name is translated as "short minaret".
  • Kunya Ark (XVII century) - an internal fortress with administrative buildings, a powder workshop, a courthouse and its own mosque
  • Madrasah Muhammad Rahim Khan (XIX century) - a madrasah distinguished by its architectural construction in that it has not one, but two courtyards.

Uzbekistan cannot be emagined  without Plov! In each region, plov is cooked differently, and here in Khiva, we will try Khiva plov in order to compare it with plov in Samarkand.
After lunch, continue the excursion:

  • Juma Mosque (X - XVII centuries) - the roof of the mosque is supported by 213 carved columns. Thanks to the unique construction, this is the coolest place in Khiva, with excellent acoustics.
  • Islam Khoja minaret and madrasah (1908 - 1910) - 45 m. Height - the highest minaret in Khiva and an excellent place for viewing the panorama of Ichan Kala.
  • Tosh Hovli (1825 - 1842) - the khan's palace, consisting of three main buildings: the coronation hall, the reception hall and the harem.
  • The Pakhlavan Mahmud complex (XIV - XIX centuries) is the most remarkable architectural monument in Khiva with unique tiles. It was built in honor of the national hero, poet, healer and invincible fighter Pakhlavan Mahmud.

For dinner you will try a traditional dish of the Khiva region - green noodles "Shivit oshi". It is green because dill is added to the dough, and you cannot try this in other regions. We will also taste the most popular and at the same time simple Uzbek soup "Shurpa".

Overnight at the hotel.

 

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Breakfast at the hotel.
Today we will have a long transfer from Khiva to Bukhara, through the Kizil Kum desert and the Amurdarya river. Enjoy exotic views of the sand dunes of one of the largest deserts in the world.

Lunch in the teahouse on the way will be simple, but on the way we will have the opportunity to have a snack with seasonal fruits, dried fruits and nuts.

We will arrive in Bukhara in the evening, and after a long trip we advise you to visit the eastern bath - hammam (optional). A visit to the hammam will help you relax and gain strength to continue your tour and discover the secrets of oriental traditions.

For dinner we will try traditional Uzbek Lagman noodle. The gravy noodle dish can be dense or with broth, according to your taste. And also we will taste meat rolls, which are made in Uzbekistan in grape leaves, and in bell pepper, and of course in cabbage.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

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Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, walking tour of Bukhara:

  • The Lyabi-Khauz complex - the heart of Bukhara - is one of the central squares, formed in the 16th-17th centuries. The central pond "hauz" is framed by three buildings - Kukeldash madrasah, Divan-Begi madrasah and Divan-Begi khanaka. The hazu is surrounded by old tall trees, which provide coolness in the summer heat and make the square a favorite resting place for local residents.
  • The Trade Domes are three trade centers that have survived since the 16th century: Toki Zargaron - the bazaar of jewelers, Toki Telpak Furushon - the skullcap bazaar, Toki Sarrafon - the bazaar of money changers.
  • Magoki Attari Mosque - in 937 the mosque burned down almost to the ground in a fire and in the 12th century it was restored in the likeness of a miraculously preserved southern portal.
  • The Poikalyan complex (XII-XVI centuries) is a visiting card of Bukhara - an architectural ensemble consisting of the Kalyan cathedral mosque, the Miri Arab madrasah and the Kalyan minaret, the highest (46 m) in the Central Asian region.

For lunch, we offer you several types of dumplings, or "barracks" in Uzbek, which will surprise you. Firstly, it is "Tukhum barak" - dumplings with an egg, and secondly, it is fried dumplings. And also we will have a more familiar hot dish from chicken.
After lunch, continue the excursion:

  • ARK fortress (IV BC - XIX century) - in the Middle Ages it was a whole small city surrounded by a wall. Inside the fortress there were the emir's palace, mint, mosques, government institutions, warehouses, shops, a prison and a public meeting area.
  • Bolo Hauz Mosque (1712) - a famous and revered mosque near an artificial reservoir with amazing wooden columns.
  • The Samanid Mausoleum (IX-X centuries) - the first building in Central Asia, built of baked bricks in the shape of a cube, with a covered dome and a unique geometric design of masonry - a masterpiece of world architecture.

In the evening we invite you to enjoy Uzbek national folk music and dances.
And for dinner we will serve you one of the most popular local dishes - Manty. They are steamed and served with "syuzma" - a fermented milk sauce similar to cream, but with a sour taste.
Overnight at the hotel.

 

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Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, out-of-town excursion around Bukhara:

  • Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace (XIX century) - the summer residence of more than one generation of Bukhara emirs, built in the combined style of local and European traditions of that time. The halls of the palace are richly decorated with carpets and paintings.
  • Chor Minor is a unique and one of the most amazing buildings in Bukhara with four minarets - one in each corner. Built in 1807 by the Turkmen merchant Caliph Niyazkul.

At lunchtime we will go to a restaurant that serves local fish. For Uzbeks, fried fish is not a common dish, since it cannot be found in our region all year round. Fish is caught in the local rivers Amurdarya and Syrdarya and cooked immediately, it is not customary to freeze fish here.

After lunch, transfer to the railway station and take high-speed train from Bukhara to Samarkand.

Upon arrival in Samarkand, transfer and hotel accommodation.

 

Today we have MEAT for dinner! That is, Shashlyk kebabs. Here you can find 99 types of kebabs for every taste, from all types of meat and a wide variety of variations. Beef, lamb, pork, chicken, with inserts of fat, with ribs, with a kurdyuk, and even mysterious "bulbs".
Overnight at the hotel.

 

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Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day sightseeing tour of Samarkand:

  • Ulugbek Observatory (15th century) - the first observatory in the east with a 30-meter sextant built by Ulugbek to accurately measure the trajectories and positions of star bodies. All that remains of the goth of the ancient observatory is the curved trench of the sextant part.
  • The Mausoleum of Khoja Doniyar is a place of numerous pilgrimages for Jews, Christians and Muslims, covered with numerous legends and legends.
  • Museum "Afrosiab" - created near the ancient settlement Afrosiab, where the main unique exhibits found during excavations are presented.
  • Visit to the bakery. Samarkand flatbreads are deservedly considered the most delicious. Even Amir Timur himself took out Samarkand craftsmen and all the ingredients with him on campaigns so that fresh Samarkand flatbreads could be prepared for him far from home. However, according to legend, the craftsmen did not manage to bake the same flat cakes as in Samarkand in other places. Baking flatbread is a whole art, and we will be able to observe this process, and immediately enjoy hot, fluffy freshly baked bread.

For lunch we will try the famous Samarkand somsa - puff pastries with meat cooked in the Uzbek tandoor oven.
And in the summer heat, we can refresh ourselves with a drink called "chalop" - this is a kind of cold yogurt soup with finely chopped cucumbers and radishes.
After lunch, continue the excursion:

  • Registan Square (XV-XVII centuries) - the heart of Samarkand. A unique ensemble, consisting of three madrasahs, which was and is the center of the old city and the place of holding forums and festivals.
  • Mausoleum Gur Emir (XV century) - burial place of the Timurid dynasty. A unique architectural monument with an unforgettable blue and blue dome. Here is the famous tomb of Tamerlane

For dinner we have the Feast of Plov.
Rice grain to grain, tender soft meat, yellow carrots, sprinkled with fragrant cumin, raisins or peas, and a quail egg in addition! Plov in Uzbekistan is prepared both for holidays and for every day. Many agree that plov should be eaten with your hands, and they do it very skillfully, without dropping a grain of rice. And for those who like it hot, they will definitely put a chili pepper.

Overnight at the hotel.

 

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Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day sightseeing tour of Samarkand:

  • Shahi Zinda complex (XI-XIX centuries) - the so-called "City of the Dead". A complex of more than 20 unique buildings from different times of construction. This one of the oldest buildings in the city is an important pilgrimage site.
  • Siab Bazaar is a modern traditional "oriental" market in Samarkand that surprises tourists with its colorfulness and variety of products and goods offered. Here you will find mountains of spices, oriental sweets, souvenirs and everything you could want to take with you from your trip.
  • Bibi-Khanum Mosque (XIV - XV centuries) - a project conceived by Timur as the largest mosque of that time. It impresses with its size and grandeur.

At lunchtime we will enjoy another national dish cooked in a cauldron - Kazan Kabob. This is meat with vegetables, and at first glance may seem like a simple dish, but it is very tasty. And for the first time we will try the usual Uzbek borscht.
Free time after lunch.

  • Tasting of collection wines at the winery named after Khovrenko - After the traditional historical outline, the oldest winery in the city, 10 traditional glasses of different types of wines await guests.

Our final dinner will be unusual as we will taste "bedona" - quail dish. This is a rarity even for Uzbekistan, but there are special places where quails are specially grown for gourmets.
Overnight at the hotel.

 

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Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to airport for morning flight out.

 

 

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The basic choice is 3* comfort class hotels.
We can upgrade hotels upon request.