Who can mention the names of Samarkand, Bukhara or Khiva without conjuring up images of the romance and intrigue of the Great Game, of skull caps and silk sashes, of fabulously coloured mosaic domes and minarets, or of a freshly arrived caravan train of traders… We invite you on this journey, which preserves the tradition of Christmas whilst experiencing the beauty and majesty of wintery Uzbekistan. We walk amongst the snow-covered domes of the minarets, visit the magnificent madrassahs and spend unforgettable cultural days in romantic cities, where we explore the maze of twisting alleyways, medieval mosques, tombs and palaces.

Itinerary:

* This Christmas program is just a variant of a trip about Uzbekistan. If you want to change it - we would willingly make any necessary corrections.

detailed tour program »»

      * Agent commission is included into the tour cost.

The cost tour includes:

The cost tour does not include:

Additional service:

Additional information:

Necessary documents.
In order to make this tour you need to get a visa to the following country:

The list of the documents necessary to apply for a visa may vary greatly depending on the country of your residence (e. g. the citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan (for the period of 60 days) and Kazakhstan can enter Uzbekistan without a visa, because Uzbekistan has bilateral agreements on visa-free travel with all CIS countries except Tajikistan and Turkmenistan). General guidelines on visa application process and the list of necessary documents can be found here. If you need more detailed information, please, contact our tour operators.

General recommendations:
- If possible all necessary documents to enter/exit all countries of the tour must be prepared before your arrival to the starting point of the tour;
- Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the supposed ending date of the tour.

Transport.
You are supposed to use the following types of transport en route:

Plane - 1 local air flight is expected during the tour (Urgench - Tashkent). Air ticket is included into the price of the tour.

Car / Minibus / Bus (depending on the size of the group) will be used in all other cases en route. This type of transportation is also included into the price of the tour.

Accommodation en route.
The following type of accommodation is supposed for this tour:

Hotels - we choose the most comfortably located and reputable hotels to accommodate our travelers. Below you will find the list of recommended hotels, however, due to seasonal conditions and group size the list is subject to change.

Photo of the tour:

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Detailed tour description in Uzbekistan:

Day 1. December, 24. Arrival in Tashkent.
On arrival in Tashkent we will check into our hotel. We will start our sightseeing of this Central Asian capital. This will include visiting Independence Square flanked by public buildings and water fountains and also the Old City with its mausoleums and bazaar. There are some very interesting museums as well as mosques.
We will visit a magnificent monument of the Barak-Khan (16th century) and visit the museum of Amir Temur (the great commander).
In the evening, the group will be invited for the Christmas supper.
Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 2. December, 25. Tashkent-Samarkand (330 km, 5-6 h).
After breakfast we will drive to Samarkand.
Samarkand is situated in the valley of the river Zarafshan. It is the second largest city of Uzbekistan and is of the same age as the city of Babylon or Rome. The history of Samarkand is about 2,500 years old and has witnessed a lot of upheavals during the times of Alexander the Great, the Arabic Conquest, Genghis-Khan Conquest and lastly Tamerlane"s. Hence, the culture of Samarkand was developed and mixed together with the Iranian, Indian, Mongolian and a bit of the Western and Eastern cultures. Majestic and beautiful city Samarkand has a marvellous and attractive power. Poets and historians of the past called it "Rome of the East, The beauty of sublunary countries, The pearl of the Eastern Moslem World". Its advantageous geographical position in Zarafshan valley put Samarkand to the first place among cities of the Central Asia.
After small resting we will have time to visit stunning Shahi Zinda, which is a unique museum of glazed decoration XIV-XV centuries and will head on to amazing Shahi-Zinda mausoleums.
Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 3. December, 26. Samarkand.
As you can see Samarkand is truly a jewel of the ancient and modern Silk Road and still a major centre for textiles, carpets and works of art and is the perfect city to try out bargaining skills and explore the ancient site of the bazaar.
After breakfast we will continue our exciting introduction with this magic city, Samarkand. We will visit remarkable old building Registan (XVII century), located in the heart of Samarkand. The word Registan means "sand place". Registan is known as a center of crafts and commerce and the area is surrounded by three buildings: Medressa (1417-1420), Sher-Dor (1619-1636), Madrasah Tilla-Kari (1647-1660). Next we will visit the mausoleum of Gur-Emir Mausoleum, the tomb of Tamerlane, where to this day are the remains of the great commander Amir Temur.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4. December, 27. Samarkand - Shakhrisabz - Bukhara (450 km, 6 hrs.).
Our day starting from breakfast following by driving to Bukhara. On a middle of our journey we will stop for lunch in the old town Sharzizabz, is known as the birthplace of Tamerlane.
After we will continue carry on go to Bukhara, which is one of the most ancient cities of Uzbekistan, situated on a sacred hill, the place where sacrifices were made by fire-worshippers in springtime. Bukhara is supposed to be founded in the 13th century B.C. during reign of Siyavushids, who came to power 980 years before Alexander the Great. The name of Bukhara came from the word "vihara", which means "monastery" in Sanskrit. The city was once a large commercial centre on the Great Silk Road.
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5. December, 28. Bukhara.
Today we will spend a remarkable day in Bukhara. This stunning city boasts over 900 historical monuments and we will spend the time visiting many sites and wandering at leisure in the old city streets. Unlike Samarkand the district of the old town has remained separate from the rest of Bukhara and has undergone lots of restoration and preservation in recent years. In addition to its importance as a trading centre, it is the perfect setting to just sit and watch the world go by much as it has done for hundreds of years while sipping green tea.
Our city tour will start from the shrine Chashma Ayub Mazar (XIV-XIX centuries) and Poi-Kalan complex (XII-XVI cc.), which includes the famous minaret of Kalyan (height - 49 m, built in 1127). Kalyan Minaret at one time was the cities main observation post and then the place of public execution. Then we will visit Labi-Hauz complex (XVI-XVII), which consists of: Madrasah Kukeldash (1568) and madrassas Nadir Divanbegi (1622).
Traditional Plov Supper.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6. December, 29. Bukhara - Khiva (440 km, 5-6 hrs.).
Breakfast and transfer to remarkable ancient city of Khiva.
The early history of the area is still sketchy but by the time the Arabs arrived in the 8th century there were three important cities in the region of which Khiva was one because it was strategically located on the Volga branch of the Silk Route. Khiva was conquered in 1740 by the Persians. The city has hardly changed since ancient times, with all the interest focused within the unbroken, clay city walls which are studded with 40 bastions. Exploring the old citadel is like stepping back in time to a scene from the Arabian nights. Originally the 12th century fortress dominated the city but later a palace, harem, barracks and mosques, were constructed and the Khan built a second outer wall to make the citadel even more secure. It is worth climbing the steps of the Dzhuma Minaret for a panoramic view of the maze of streets below.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7. December, 30. Khiva.
Breakfast in Hotel.
Today we continue our journey in this old city. We will start in Ichon-Kala (XVIII .- in the inner city of Khiva). It is here, that we will find the Pahlavan Mahmud complex (XIV-XIX centuries), Kun-Ark Fortress (XVII century.) Madrassah and minaret of Islam Hodge (1908), Tash Hauli Palace Alakul Khan (XVIII-XIX centuries), Jumma mosque (X-XVIII centuries), Minaret and Madrassah Muhammadaminhana (1831-1855 years).
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8. December, 31. Khiva - Urgench - Tashkent.
Breakfast in the Hotel. We spend the last morning in this beautiful city, after which we will take a flight to Tashkent.
You will have free time for your own exploration of Tashkent.
In the evening the group will attend a New Year’s Eve Dinner, after which we will celebrate through the night in true Uzbek style.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9. January, 1. Transfer to the airport. Departure.
In the morning Tashkent will greet you for the last time this year… Depending on your flight time you can plan your activities in Tashkent, e.g. you can visit Chor-Su bazaar or simply walk around the New city and admire its parks, monuments and buildings. Or maybe you"d like to have an underground joy-riding session. Well, it"s great as Tashkent underground is the most beautiful in the world!
Oh, your flight back home is so soon. It"s time to go to the airport! Your journey around the magic Uzbekistan during the Christmas and New Year holidays has reached its close. We hope, that after visiting this wonderful country during this period of time, your will get unusual impressions and will want to visit this place again and again and see its various sides, which change every season.

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