Mysterious Uzbekistan

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport and take domestic flight to Nukus.
Arrival in Nukus and transfer to the hotel (standard check-in time is after 14:00).

• Nukus is the capital of the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan, which is part of Uzbekistan. Before the tragedy that befell the Aral Sea, Nukus was a city with a developing industry, but today the ecosystem of the city needs constant support. Fishing and shipping are now impossible here.
• The purpose of our visit to Nukus is the famous collection of Igor Savitsky. The museum of the city of Nukus displays the second most valuable collection of paintings by the Russian avant-garde of the 1920s-1930s. Savitsky worked as part of the Khorezm Archaeological and Ethnographic Expedition, and then conducted independent excavations and collections of folk applied art. These collections became the backbone of the museum. This largest art collection spans over 4 millennia. A special part of the museum's exhibitions is the collection of fine art. Here are presented many works of both local and Russian artists who lived in this region, the so-called "Turkestan avant-garde".

The collection of the Moscow avant-garde and post-avant-garde of the 1920-1930s, as well as a group of non-conformists from the Moscow underground of the 1960-1970s, is also significant. Thousands of works by masters of the brush who did not receive official recognition, became pariahs in the USSR, and found refuge in distant Nukus.

• A visit to the museum will leave a lasting impression on art lovers. No wonder it is called the "Louvre in the Sands".

After the excursion, return to the hotel.
Lunch and dinner at the restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.
From Nukus we will head to the area of ​​ancient fortresses, which were called "kala" and are now in the middle of the desert.

• The road will take about 3 hours, and we will make a break for lunch in the yurt camp. A yurt is a traditional house of nomads, and here, far from cities and villages, only yurts can become a resting place from the heat or cold.
• Toprak Kala is a 2000 year old ruined city fortress. It is the most researched ancient settlement in the region. The town began to grow in the 1st century BC and in the 3rd century it flourished under the auspices of the Kushan, was the capital of the region.
• The Ayaz-Kala fortress dates back to the 2nd century AD. - the heyday of the Kushan Empire. It is located on the top of a hill, and most often tourists examine it from afar. It was part of the system of border fortresses that protected the oasis from the side of the desert, located in a chain from East to West.
• Janbas-Kala - the fortress is a fairly clear rectangle oriented to the cardinal points. The walls of Janbas-Kala are almost 10 m high, which indicates the scale of the building. At the same time, there is another one behind the outer wall for additional protection. It was a military fortress. In the 1st century AD, the invaders ravaged the fortress. Probably most of the inhabitants died in the battle or were taken into slavery. After that, the fortress was not restored.

Arrival in Khiva in the evening and accommodation at the hotel.
Dinner at a restaurant or hotel.
Overnight at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.
All day sightseeing in 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
• Ak Sheikh Baba observation platform
• Madrasah Muhammad Rahim Khan (XIX century) - a madrasah distinguished by its architectural construction in that it has not one, but two courtyards.

Lunch at the restaurant. 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.

Dinner at the restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

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

Dinner at a restaurant or hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

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 Trading 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.

Lunch at the restaurant. 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.

Dinner at the restaurant. During dinner, we invite you to enjoy Uzbek national folk music and dances.
Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, out-of-town excursion around Bukhara:

• Sitorai Mokhi Khosa (XIX century) is a 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.

Lunch at the restaurant.
After lunch, transfer to the railway station and transfer by high-speed train from Bukhara to Samarkand.
Upon arrival in Samarkand, transfer to hotel and check in.

Dinner at a restaurant or hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

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 location of star bodies. All that remains of the ancient observatory is the curved trench of the sextant part.
• Shahi Zinda complex (XI-XIX centuries) - so-called "City of the Dead". A complex of more than 20 unique buildings from different times of construction.
• Siab Bazaar is a modern traditional "oriental" market in Samarkand that surprises tourists with its colorfulness and variety of products and goods offered.
• 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.

Lunch at the restaurant. Afternoon visit:

• Registan Square (XV-XVII centuries) - the heart of Samarkand. A unique ensemble, consisting of three madrasahs, which were and are the center of the old city and the passage of 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. The famous tomb of Tamerlane is located here.
• 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.

Dinner at the restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast at hotel or boxes.

Transfer to airport for morning flight out.