Ancient Marakanda Tour
In ancient history, Samarkand is known as the capital of the ancient state of Sogdiana, described as early as the sixth century BC in the holy book of Zoroastrianism, the Avesta. It was first mentioned under the name Marakanda in the writings of Roman and Greek historians and biographers of Alexander the Great, who conquered Samarkand in 329 BC. At that time, it was well fortified and economically developed. Throughout its centuries-old history, it has been conquered and destroyed many times, then it was upset again and regained its greatness. The Arabs built mosques on the site of Zoroastrian temples, the Turks built the first madrasas and palaces, the Mongols completely looted and destroyed everything that was and only during the reign of Timur (Tamerlane) and the Timurids (1370-1499) was the capital of his empire. The vast majority of the city's architectural masterpieces were built during this era. This was the period of Samarkand's highest development in the post-Mongol period. Further, the region was ruled by the Sheibanids and was captured by the Russian Empire in the 19th century. As you have noticed, the great conquerors of that time visited here and left a huge mark on its history, architecture, mentality, etc. Therefore, we decided to make this program specifically for those who want to immerse themselves in history, ancient architecture, ancient customs and crafts that have been passed down from generation to generation. Two days in Samarkand will open it to the maximum, we will visit the village of Konigil, where time seems to have stopped, we will be taught how to make Samarkand paper using technologies from the time of the Timurids, cook real Samarkand pilaf, weave carpets by hand, make ceramics, oils and much more. A trip to Shakhrisabz, the birthplace of Amir Timur, through the Kitab pass, to a city surrounded on all sides by mountains, will not leave anyone indifferent. You can talk about the Bukhara region for hours without stopping, it's just a storehouse of historical attractions and its own unique culture. Tashkent and Khiva are not included in this tour, but if necessary, we can add them to the program for you. We invite you to visit our hospitable country!
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1Meeting of the Guests
Meeting at Samarkand airport Transfer to the hotel (Check-in at 14:00) Overnight at the hotel
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2Samarkand City Tour
Breakfast at the hotel 10:00 Meeting with the guide and start of the Samarkand city tour (by car) We will visit: - Roman Catholic Church in 1916 (without stopping) - The Ulugbek Observatory, where the preserved part of the sextant of the XV century is still located. (This great scientist devoted his life to science, he was the first to calculate the exact time of the earth's revolution around the sun and built a star map, which was used by the whole world for more than 300 years.) - Shahi-Zinda Necropolis (an ensemble of mausoleums of Samarkand nobility) - Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel (This prophet ordered to dismember himself after death and place body parts in different corners of the world, the tombstone itself is an impressive 20 meters) - Mausoleum of Sheikh Abd and Darun - Lunch at the Uzbek national house "Muborak Sharipova" (included) - The Bibi Khanum Cathedral Mosque (Construction began by order of Amir Timur in 1404, but the construction itself was led by his beloved wife Bibi Khanum, since he was on a campaign. The building far surpassed other buildings, which, according to many sources, angered Amir Timur) - Registan Square of the XV century. (The center of Samarkand since the time of Tamerlane, Ulugbek madrasah, Sher-Dor and Tillya-Kari madrasahs of the XVIII century are located here.) Thanks to craftsmen and architects, they perfectly harmonize and create a unique architectural ensemble. - Mausoleum of Gur-Emir XIV-XV centuries. (tombs of Tamerlane and members of the Timurid dynasty) Overnight at the hotel
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3We continue our journey through Samarkand
Breakfast at the hotel 10:00 Continuation of the Samarkand city tour (by car) We will visit: - The Great Silk Road Tourist Complex, the new pearl of Central Asia. There is an ethnographic complex "Eternal City", a real Uzbek flavor, workshops, souvenir shops and beautiful architecture. - Konigil village is a real authentic village where you will encounter ancient traditions and crafts. Making paper from mulberry bark, black cumin oil, and various tools that are more than a thousand years old. - Lunch in a village where the most authentic Uzbek dishes are prepared from eco-friendly products according to ancient ancestral recipes (included) - Visit carpet and silk factories (you can take part in workshops held here) - Siab Bazaar, where you can see the local flavor, buy souvenirs and bargain with local vendors. (Monday is a day off) - Visit the artisan center (here you will visit a workshop for making suzane, a boutique for sewing stylish clothes from Uzbek fabrics in which you can take pictures, embossing, gold painting on ceramic products, and many others). Overnight at the hotel
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4A journey through Shakhrisabz
Breakfast at the hotel At 12:00 start of the tour to Shakhrisabz by car. We will visit: - Shakhrisabz - Dor-Us-Saodat Memorial Complex - Ak-Sarai Palace - Dor-Ut Tilavat Ensemble - Kok-Gumbaz Mosque - Tomb of Father Amir Timur During the tour you will stop for lunch in a picturesque place overlooking the mountains, where you will taste the national Uzbek cuisine. (enabled) Transfer to the train station 22:20 High-speed train to Bukhara 00:03 Arrival and transfer to the hotel Overnight at the hotel
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5A trip around Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel At 10:00 meeting with a guide in the lobby of the hotel, start of a tour of Bukhara, A trip to the showroom at the Karakulchi factory (famous throughout the USSR) On Request! We will visit: - Lyabi House Complex - Magoki Mosque-Attori Mosque - Kalyan Mosque, Bolo House - Chor Minor Madrasah - Miri Arab Madrasah - Lunch at an Uzbek cafe in the city center (included) - Ulugbek Madrasah - Abdulaziz Khan Madrasah - Kalyan Minaret - Ark Fortress - Samanid Mausoleums and Chashma Ayub Overnight at the hotel
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6We continue our journey through Bukhara
Breakfast at the hotel At 10:00 Meeting with a guide, country tour of the surroundings of Bukhara. We will visit: - The summer residence of the last emir of Bukhara, Sitorai Mokhi Khosa. Mausoleum of the founder of the Sufi order Bahauddin Naqshbandi - Necropolis of Chor-Bakr - Lunch will be held at the Uzbek national cafe (included) Overnight at the hotel
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7Let's go home!
Breakfast at the hotel (Check-out at 12:00) Transfer to the departure point