Day 1 Arrival in Tashkent.
Welcome reception at airport and transfer to your hotel for overnight. If the arrival in the morning or afternoon, lunch and dinner are also included this day.
Day 2 Wednesday : Tashkent.
Your sightseeing in Tashkent will start visiting old Tashkent. The 16th Barak-Khan Madrasah complex, Mui Muborak Library of 16th Century with a original Koran of 7th century. Here you will be able to visit workshops of wood carving masters, miniature masters and silk ikat boutiques. While in the old city. Also visit Madina’s embroidery workshop. Madina is the most famous Suzane embroiderer in Uzbekistan. She also gives master-classes in Uzbek embroidery, but we need additional one day for this. Later we will visit well known Uzbek ceramic master Akbar Rahimov. And your day tour ends with a visit to Applied Arts Museum, which houses the best collection of Uzbek applied arts and crafts. Overnight.
Day 3 Tashkent to Samarkand by Afrosiab train at 0800-1010.
This morning we will have early and quick breakfast in the hotel and then be transferred to railway station at 0700 for your fast train to Samarkand. The ride is only 2hrs 10 min. On arrival, visit the Registan complex. It is the heart of Samarkand, consisting of 3 madrasahs built in different periods but forming a remarkable and harmonious complex. Within the madrasahs masters of various crafts . Nearby is the magnificent 14th c Bibi Hanum mosque with its famous blue dome. May will arrange lunch at the excellent café next to Bibiu Hanum. This is operated by Samarkand textile designer Nargiza. Samarkand main market, Siab bazaar, is also nearby. Later in the afternoon visit the Shahi Zinda necropolis, an avenue of richly decorated tombs.
Day 4 Samarkand-Urgut-Samarkand 40 km one way.
Penelope suggests it is not so fascinating as before and the bazar of embroidery is not in open market now. She recommends to skip the bazar visit as you can find many local products in Bukhara and in Samarkand shops. Instead, this day you may spend with visiting Silk Carpet factory of Samarkand . On the way back to Samarkand stop at Konigil village where crafts people have revived the production of traditional Samarkand Silk paper.
Day 5 Samarkand full day sightseeing.
Today you can visit other sites of Samarkand not visited in previous 2 days. It can be Afrosiab museum where you will see the fresco of 5th Century AD of Kings palace, and later we will go to Observatory of Ulughbek. Ulugbek together with his teacher Rumi, paid a great attention to the development of sciences, and first of all to astronomy. In their time Samarkand became one of the largest scientific centers in the Middle Ages. The Ulugbek Observatory was built on the hill Kuhak near Samarkand in 1424-1428. Today you can see there the remains of sextant and astrolabe. It was there, at the Ulugbek Observatory, that in 1437 there was compiled the catalogue of the sky called the «Gurgan Zidj». It contained 1018 stars and 38 constellations.
Day 6 Samarkand-Shahrisabz-Samarkand
Today we can have free day on our own or join a day trip to Shahrisabz. Shahrisabz is the home town of Ami Temur, the great grandfather of Bobur who found Moghul Dynasty in India. We will visit the mausoleum of Jahangir, his son, father’s tomb and his teacher’s mausoleum and his own empty tomb. Because he was supposed to be buried in his birthplace but due to climate and unforeseen conditions her was buried in Samarkand in Gur Emir mausoleum. We will travel there by sedan cars and afternoon return to Samarkand.
Day 7 Samarkand-Bukhara by car or by train (2 options to choose)
Option 1: Drive by car 300 km 4-5 hrs or Option 2; Take train ride 2 hrs (time and schedule to be advised once the travel dates are fixed approx. at 0945-1130) upon arrival go to orthodox church in train station of 19 century. And also can pass through Kogan palace of 19-20 century. Bukhara can offer you many madrasahs, mosques, workshops, galleries, museums to visit. After check in to your hotel, located in the old town, the alleyways and teahouses are your to discover on foot. The ancient caravansary and madrasahs have been converted into artisans workshops.
Day 8 Bukhara
Visit: Emir’s summer palace. This palace, an over-the-top Russian/Central Asian confection built in 1911, also houses the excellent Bukhara Museum of Decorative Applied Arts. (this museum is closed on Wednesday) Return to Bukhara and visit the workshops of scissors master, blacksmith workshop and embroidery and end the day with visiting Bukhara Hammam (public bath) of 16 c.
Day 9 Bukhara
You will visit architectural wonders such as the 9th century Ismael Samani Mausoleum, a perfect cube made of baked bricks in basket weave pattern. Other sites include Bolo Hauz mosque, the Kalon minaret (which served as a beacon on the Silk Road), the Ark fortress, Chor Minor, the Registan area. At the end of the day you can enjoy local Music and Dance show with some local designer’s costume show.
Day 10 Bukhara-Khiva 500 km, 7 hrs drive by Minibus or by train or by flight
This is a long day’s drive: 500 kms along the Kyzylkum desert and crossing the Amu Darya river, known as the Oxus in ancient times. However, the desert scape is compelling: vast steppes, shepherds and their flocks, odd villages, military outposts, surprising vegetation. Arrive in Khiva late afternoon. If we travel by train we will arrive in 4 hours and enjoy Free time in Ichan kala. Overnight.
Day 11 in Khiva (walking tour in day time)
Khiva, once famous for its slave trade and ruthless emirs, is the most intact and the most remote of Central Asia’s Silk Road cities. The Soviets removed the residents, restored the city and made it an ‘open air’ museum. Happily, since independence, the old families have moved back and life again vibrates within the baked mud walls.
There is a wonderful carpet shop in Khiva: unique silk carpets and suzane inspired by the designs of the tiles and doors of the city. You will spend a full day exploring Khiva and visiting Juma Mosque, Kukhana Ark Shir, Gaza Khan Madrasa, Islam Khwaja madrasah, Tosh Khovli Palace, Mausoleum of Pahlavan Mahmud, and the nearby Nurullah Palace, Atajan Tura mosque and madrasah. In Khiva as an option a cooking class or local handicraft master class can be arranged.
Day 12 Khiva-Tashkent flight
Transfer to airport of Urgench for your flight to Tashkent at 0920-1040. Free day in Tashkent for your own activities. You may visit more museums, theatre of Opera and Ballet (at 1800) or visit local bazar Chorsu and handicraft shops for last day shopping. We can also arrange visit to Human House Studio and Gallery where you can shop local brand clothes, enjoy cup of tea or coffee or even arrange lecture with a local master of embroidery or any master you are interested in. if you are interested in buying their clothes you can visit the shop on the first day and by your return to Tashkent your order will be ready for pick up. Overnight.
Day 13 Tashkent-Ferghana valley trip for 4 days. The trip to Ferghana valley from
Tashkent to Kokand city will be in Sedan cars (3 people in one), Because it is not allowed to drive on Minibuses, VAN and Buses on mountain pass. So we will arrange 5 sedans for 12 people and guide. In Kokand you will get on Minibus and we travel in minibus for 3 days. The distances from each site or place to another is far so it requires a lot driving on local bumpy roads. Begin with an early departure, around 8:00 a.m. to drive to the Ferghana valley via the Kamchik pass, (2267 metres). After 4 hours drive, stop in Kokand, center of the Khanate of Kokand that was toppled by the Russians. Visit the incredible Khudayarkhan Palace, Juma mosque, Dahmai Jahon, the Royal cemetery. There is an excellent halva (sweet made of honey and egg white but there are several of them made of Sunflower seeds) maker in the mosque grounds! Lunch in Kokand. Visit the wood carving center at the house of Master Haidarov in Kokand. It is a in beautiful setting and there is a small, family museum showcasing the seven generations of this family’s work. The great-grandfather made special pieces for Lenin. Overnight in hotel in Ferghana.
Day 14 Margilan
Today is the visit to the highlight of Ferghana, Yodgarlik Silk Factory. (Open only Monday – Friday). Margilan weavers are the most skillful ikat weavers in the world. Here you will see the entire process from cocoon to finished ikat. There is a shop of the factory where you can purchase the same Ikat made right in the factory. Afternoon Visit the training center of Rasuljon Mirzaahmedov, at the Sayyid Ahmad Huja Ishan Madrassah, Margilan. This is the renowned ikat weaver mentioned in a post of Penelope Price on Oscar de la Renta’s love affair with ikat. The setting of the centre, with its own canal, is lovely. There is also a master woodblock printer, Abdullaev Solidjon, at the center.
Day 15 Ferghana- Kumtepa-Margilan and Rishtan.
Start the day at the Kumtepa bazaar, one of the best places to buy ikat silks. Great local market with extensive area devoted to local textile crafts representing several different technologies – warp-resist, natural dyes, Weaving, embroidery. (only on Thursday and Sundays). Visit workshops of master potters Alisher Nazirov and Rustam Ustmanov (and also the Japanese school there) in Rishtan. Their works are made from unique red Rishtan clay, and are painted with the ishkor glaze giving the pottery a distinctive blue-green color. Overnight in hotel in Ferghana.
Day 16 Ferghana-Margilan-Ferghana (Master class)-Osh Kyrgyzstan
Today we will spend the day for our master class at the workshop home of Fazliddin in Margilan. We will enjoy also local meal during the master class and we learn also cooking Fergana plov. Afternoon cross the border to Osh, Overnight.
Day 17 Osh-Bishkek
AM city tour in Osh, visit Sultan Sulayman mosque and Osh bazar and afternoon fly to Bishkek.
ARRIVAL IN BISHKEK from Osh, afternoon or evening. Overnight.
Day 17 Bishkek city tour
Today we start our first day in one of Central Asian Stans capital, Bishkek. Walking city tour of Bishkek, Central Square Ala-Too, Oak Park, Parliament house, State Museum. We will have good opportunities to learn about Kyrgyz felt NGO supported workshops. Since Soviet collapse Kyrgyz women have enjoyed developing felt art designs freely. There will be following visits: Ms. Aidai Asngulova is the leading and well-known young felt-maker designer based in Kyrgyzstan. She is an owner of Kyal Handicraft and Yurt Maker’s Non-Profitable Organizations. You can visit this site for more info about her: http://www.christensenfund.org/2013/04/26/looking-at-the-world-through-felt-eye-glasses/ and http://www.aidai-design.com/
TUMAR STUDIO: Tumar is a modern Kyrgyz felt boutique shop, which produces all manner of felt from ethnographic horse trappings to simple, contemporary shoes. To create livelihoods in the wake of the Soviet disintegration in 1991. Visit: http://www.tumar.com
Visit Osh bazaar, which is famous with the section “Kiyal” where Kyrgyz souvenirs and traditional staffs are on sale.
Day 19 BISHKEK – KOCHKOR
After breakfast, travel to Kochkor village, 260 kms from Bishkek. Kochkor village where you will visit the Altyn Kol Women’s Handicraft Co-operative. At Felt Master’s we will learn how nomadic Kyrgyz women made felt rags Shyrdak, Ala-Kiyiz- a floor covering made by pressing felt of various naturally dyed colors. You will see a show of the process of felt carpet making. Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQAlll0ybP8 and visit: http://www.altyn-kol.com/
Lunch will be served at Felt Master Mairam’s house in Kochkor.
Kochkor is a famous province for farmers and woolen felt makers. Used to be one of the billionaire soviet kolkhoz (collective farm). It is also a birthplace of Extra VIP Usubaliev Turdakun (the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Soviet Kyrgyzstan). Afternoon visit Karasuu village to explore local felt makers house workshops. Back to Kochkor village dinner and overnight in Kochkor guest house.
Day 21 KOCHKOR – TASHRABAT CARAVAN SARAI
Today we drive to Tash-Rabat Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road, a well-preserved 15th century stone fortress in At-Bashy Mountain Range, 100 km before Kyrgyz-Chinese border Torugart. There is an argue in the history that it was related to Nestorian or Buddhist monastery. Today’s trip will pass through the beautiful mountains and valleys of Tian-Shan where we will enjoy the stunning view of the At-Bashy mountain ranges. Upon arrival exploration of Tash-Rabat canyon with similar to Mongolian landscapes. Dinner in Yurt. Experience a night in the Yurt at the high altitude of 3000 m.
Day 22 TASHRABAT-NARYN-KYZYL TUU –BOKONBAYEVA
After breakfast we drive to Naryn town which is the 10th largest by population town in Kyrgyzstan and with nicknames: Naryngrad and Kyrgyz Siberia. It is situated on banks of the Naryn River, one of the main tributaries of the Syr-Darya river that flows to Aral Sea. Visit local workshops of felt and rags. Afterwards transfer to Kyzyl-Tuu village where a Kyrgyz family member’s show us how to make traditional Yurt. We will all help to assemble a yurt. Continue driving to Bokonbayeva village located on the south part of Issyk-Kul Lake. Dinner and overnight in Homestay.
Day 23 BOKONBAYEVA – DJETY-OGUZ – KARAKOL
After breakfast visit Eagle hunter’s house to meet Golden Eagle hero. FAQ of eagle hunting. Later demonstration of Kyrgyz national traditions such as kyz-uzatuu (good buy ceremony of the just married daughter), beshik (baby cradle ceremony). Lunch in Bokonbayeva CBT houses. After lunch we will drive to one of the Kyrgyz’s pride Djety-Oguz Gorge, a lush valley with striking red sandstone rock formations – the ‘Seven Bulls’ from which the valley takes its name. Later drive to Karakol. Karakol town, one the first Russian military outpost founded on July 1, 1869. Here you will enjoy walking in the streets with blue framed windows “gingerbread” style houses. Walking tour of visits to: wooden Russian Orthodox church- the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Pagoda Mosque, souvenir shop. Dinner at Uighur family house. Interesting Kyrgyz folk concert will accompany our dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 24 KARAKOL – BISHKEK
After breakfast drive to Bishkek. En route stop in Cholpon-Ata rock petroglyphs nd Burana Tower of 11th century. Accommodation in hotel. Overnight.
Day 25 Transfer to airport. End of Services.
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