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Silk Road Cities

Uzbekistan Holidays - Khiva

Click on the name of the hotel for details

9 days from £955

excluding international flights

GUARANTEED SMALL GROUP DEPARTURES - Min 2, Max 9 passengers. 

DAY 1 – Arrive Tashkent.

Your World Discovery Uzbekistan holiday begins on arrival in Tashkent in the early morning (of DAY 2), when you will be met by one of our representatives outside immigration and customs and taken by private car to your hotel.  Recommended flight from London: Turkish Airlines from London Heathrow via Istanbul (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 – Tashkent.

After a good night's rest you be introduced to your fellow group members and taken on an afternoon sightseeing tour of Uzbekistan's capital, including the History Museum, the Fine Arts Museum and a stroll along the main central thoroughfare of the what is now the largest city in Central Asia.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 3 -  Fly to Nukus.  Igor Savitsky Museum.  Khiva.

Morning flight to Nukus, where you will be met and taken to visit the fascinating Igor Savitsky Museum, containing one of the world's most important collection of Russian avant garde paintings, many rescued from the Stalinist authorities who wished to destroy them.  The Guardian newspaper has described the Savitsky collection as "one of the most outstanding museums of the world".  After your visit, drive overland to the ancient city of Khiva.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 4 - Khiva.

A full day walking tour of the walled city of Khiva, often described as an 'Open Museum',  a city with a history going back some 2,500 years.  Khiva has the distinction of having more minarets than any other city in Asia.  Visits today include the unfinished Kalta Minar, the Kunya Ark, the Rakhimkhon maddrassah (Islamic college), the UNDP workshops for the development of local handicrafts, the Mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmud, the 44-metre high Islam Khodja minaret and the museum.  You will also visit the Friday Mosque, the Tashauli palace and harem, and the Caravan Bazaar.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 5 - By road through the Kizilkum Desert to Bukhara.

Your journey continues eastwards through the Kizilkum Desert to arrive in Bukhara in the late afternoon.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 6 - Bukhara.

A full day of sightseeing in Bukhara, the holiest of the ancient Silk Road cities with a history of more than 2,500 years. At the heart of the old city lies the Kalyon Mosque with its stunning 48m/155ft minaret. As well as exploring this and the nearby Islamic monuments, you will visit the infamous Ark, palace of the ruling emirs of Bukhara, including Emir Nusrallah who was responsible for the cruel treatment and subsequent beheading of the British envoys Stoddart and Connolly in 1842, an incident that caused international outrage. Just outside the Ark is a small park which is graced by the exquisite 10th century Ismael Samani Mausoleum with its intricately patterned brickwork. The unique Chor Minar with its 4 blue-tiled towers is also on your itinerary.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 7 - Drive to Samarkand.

Morning journey to Samarkand, whose very name conveys grandeur and extravagance as well as mystery and remoteness. Tamerlane's great capital city was one of the richest and most extravagant cities in the world and its remaining monuments bear clear witness to this. The Registan (pictured) is undoubtedly one of the world's wonders - ".the noblest square in the world" according to Lord Curzon in the 19th century. Its unique combination of massive but elegant mosaic facades, turquoise domes and patterned minarets creates a perfect harmony and balance. You will spend time in and around the Registan before walking to Tamerlane's awesome Bibi Khanum Mosque, once the largest mosque in the world. Another included visit is to Tamerlane's final resting place, the Gur Emir Mausoleum with its distinctive ribbed dome.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 8 - Further Samarkand sightseeing.  Return to Tashkent.

Further sightseeing in Samarkand will include the beautiful Shah-i-Zinda tombs which contain some of Central Asia's finest majolica tilework, the Astronomical Observatory built in the 15th century by Tamerlane's grandson Ulug Beg, and Samarkand Winery, where you may sample some of the local wines.  In the afternoon return by road to Tashkent.
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 9 - Depart.

Private transfer in the early morning to the airport for your flight home.

International Flights

We recommend the services of Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Istanbul.  Depart 11.25; arrive Istanbul at 17.15
Istanbul/Tashkent. Depart at 18.35; arrive Tashkent at 01.10 (next morning)
Tashkent/Istanbul.  Depart at 03.00; arrive Istanbul at 06.20
Istanbul/Heathrow. Depart at 07.55; arrive Heathrow at 10.05

Uzbekistan Holidays: Silk Road Cities (Tour Reference: WDUZ006)
2013 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled domestic flight by Uzbekistan Airways from Tashkent to Nukus, including taxes.
• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities.
• 7 full breakfasts and 7 dinners as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transportation throughout (group size: 2 to 9 passengers).
• English-speaking guide for all included sightseeing.
• All sightseeing as shown, including entrance fees.
• Porterage at airports and hotels
  

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing. The World Discovery representatives in Uzbekistan will be pleased to organise any additional sightseeing you may wish to include during your stay.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.
• Uzbekistan visa. This must be obtained before departure from the United Kingdom. We recommend that you obtain your visa through CIBT in London - www.uk.cibt.com. World Discovery will assist in obtaining your visa as documentation is required from our agents in Uzbekistan.

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Uzbekistan holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.