Uzbekistan is probably the country with the best preserved relics from the time of the Great Silk Road between Europe and China. The main Central Asian cities on that road were Kriva, Buchara, Samarkand and Tashkent, and they are still symbols of oriental beauty and mystery. This trip to Uzbekistan includes a stop in each of there cities. The Centarl Asian region was famous even before Europeans discovered silk. Alexander the Great set up at least 8 cities in Central Asia between 334 - 323 BC. Then China opened its boarders around 138 BC and the region flourished because of the active trade with silk and other essential goods. Between 484 - 1150 Huns, Turks and Arabs came from the west and the Arabs brought with them the new religion of Islam. Many mosques and madrassahs were built in the following centuries. Some of those buildings were destroyed during the invasion of the Genghis Khan in 1220. Later Timur, known also as Tamerlane, restaured the once famous cities by using the labor of slaves and artists captured during successful crusades. Timur conquered Persia, Baghdad, and lead expeditions to Anatolia and India. Most of the architecture that is found in Samarkand was build or restaured by Timur and his grandson Ulugbek. This tour represents the best of what has remained from ancient times, influenced and modified by all the empires that have settled there over the centuries.
Highlights:
♦ Khiva - The inner town, or Itchan Kala, is encircled by brick walls, whose foundations are believed to be laid in the 10th century.
♦ Bukhara - The town boasting more than 140 architectural monuments.
♦ Samarkand - one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world (about 2,500 years old), prospering from its location on the trade route between China and Europe (Silk Road).
♦ Tashkent - Uzbekistan’s modern capital, which shows its roots as a Silk Road City even today.
Price Includes:
Accommodation in a dbl room at standart hotels with breakfast
transport as per program incl. transfer from/to the airport
flight tickets Urgench-Tashkent in economy class (luggage max 20 kg)
sightseeing tour in each city according to the program with local English-speaking guides
local English speaking tour leader with a group of min. 10 people
a small bottle of mineral water
Not Included:
International flight tickets
drinks and meals not mention
entrance fees
insurance
personal expenses
video and photo shooting fees on spot
tips
visa
visa invitation if necessary
Additional Services:
Single room supplement
entrance fees: about 85 USD in total to be paid on spot
additional nights: on request,
Gallery
The following companies have flights to Tashkent: Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways etc.
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No special experience is needed; everyone who is in condition to cope with long Saturday walks in the forest can also cope with these tours. As a rule, the trips are short and at a low altitude. Often, it is your choice to join or skip a day-tour. The routes follow a hilly terrain without steep ascents and descents. Normally we walk 3/5h a day.
Most of you, who are used to walking/cycling during a long weekend, will be in condition to cope with a tour of this level. You should be in a good health condition. We have successive days of longer and more difficult walking and days of lighter walking/cycling. Some parts of the day routes are done at a higher altitude. The paths are in good condition. We walk/cycle for 5/7h a day.
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