9-Day Uzbekistan Highlights Tour with Aral Sea and Desert Yurt Camp

• Arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and meet your driver at Tashkent International Airport with a signboard.
• Check-in at the hotel is available at 1:00 pm.
• Meet a local expert guide and begin your excursion through Tashkent, exploring both its old and modern parts.
• First, stop at the Khasti Imam Ensemble (16th-20th centuries). This shrine holds a special place in the Islamic world, as it preserves the Holy Qur'an manuscript from the 7th century, written by Caliph 'Uthman, in an almost complete and original form.
• Visit Chorsu Bazaar, the huge and beautiful domed bazaar of Tashkent, where you will discover its oriental style and enjoy Uzbek products.
• Proceed to the Tashkent Underground, a magical world beneath the city.
• Continue to Broadway, located in the centre of Tashkent and a favourite gathering place for the city's youth.

Lunch and dinner at the Uzbek national restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

• Check out of the hotel at 6:30 am and transfer to Tashkent local airport for the morning flight to Nukus. (Departure and arrival times: 7:25 am to 9:10 am)
• Arrive at Nukus airport and transfer toward the famous Aral Sea, one of the great tragedies of the 20th-21st centuries.
• Enjoy a tour of the Ship Cemetery, a place familiar to many travellers. Despite its sad scenery, it is a very unusual and interesting site.
• In the afternoon, return to Nukus and, on the way, visit Mizdakhon cemetery, the oldest and most famous cemetery in Karakalpakstan. See its underground mausoleum, an unexpected and astonishing discovery.
• Arrive in Nukus, check in at the hotel, and rest for a while before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch and dinner at the Uzbek national restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

• Today, you will proceed on a Khiva city tour.
• Visit Muhammad Amin-Khan Madrasah and see the Kalta Minor Minaret.
• Continue to Kunya-Ark Citadel, one of the oldest and most beautiful eye-catching buildings in Khiva.
• Admire the real beauty of Khiva in panoramic form and take the opportunity to capture great photos at Ok Shaykh Baba Terrace.
• Visit Muhammad Rahim-Khan (Feruz) Madrasah and explore one of the most beautiful madrassas in the city, consisting of a mosque, a porch, a classroom, a library, and rooms.
• Head to the Friday Mosque, one of the first mosques built in Central Asia (10th-18th centuries).
• Tour Tach Khaouli Palace and Khan's Kharam, Allakuli Khan Caravanserai, and the Madrasah and Minaret of Islam Khoja.
• Conclude at Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, built in honour of the great philosopher, poet, scientist, wrestler, and master fur and hat maker Pakhlavan Mahmud.

Meals: Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch and dinner at the Uzbek national restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

• Check out of the hotel at 8:00 am.
• Transfer to Khiva railway station and board your train to Bukhara. (Departure and arrival times: 8:30 am to 1:20 pm)
• Arrive at Bukhara (Kagan) railway station and transfer to the ancient Bukhara-i-Sharif.
• Check in at the hotel and begin your excursion through the ancient city of Bukhara.
• Head to explore the Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble.
• Continue with a stroll through the ancient oriental domed markets of Bukhara.
• Visit the Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan Madrasahs of the 15th-17th centuries.

Meals: Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch and dinner at the Uzbek national restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

• Continue your excursion through the legendary city of Bukhara.
• See the Samanids Mausoleum of the 9th-10th centuries. It is the world's first brick building and mausoleum preserved in good condition.
• Continue to the Chashmai Ayub Mausoleum of the 12th-16th centuries.
• Explore the markets of Bukhara Bazaar.
• Head to two other important sites of Bukhara - Bolo Hauz Mosque (18th-20th centuries) and the Ark of Bukhara (5th-20th centuries).
• In the second half of the tour, you will cover the Poi Kalon Ensemble.
• Savour an exclusive dinner at the Nadir Devon Begi Madrasah with a folklore show.

Meals: Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch at the Uzbek national restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

• Complete your short tour in the holy city of Bukhara by visiting several historical monuments outside the city early in the morning.
• Proceed to explore Sitorai Mokhi Khosa Palace, a summer garden palace belonging to the third generation of the Mangit dynasty of the Emirate of Bukhara.
• On the way, visit the Gijduvan pottery workshop, one of the most famous pottery schools in Uzbekistan and Central Asia. Observe how beautiful handicrafts, pottery, and embroidery are made.
• Make your way into the endless desert, without which it is impossible to imagine the Great Silk Road.
• Turn to Nurata, one of the ancient cities, where you will find the remains of the ancient fortress of Nur, also called Alexander Fortress, the defensive wall from the 4th-3rd centuries BC, and the Chilustun Mosque (9th-20th centuries).
• Get acquainted with the Great Dome Mosque (16th century) and taste the water of the mysterious spring of Nurata.
• Continue your journey to Aydarkol, the largest lake in the country, which appears like a mirage in the seemingly endless Kyzylkum Desert.
• Arrive at the desert campground. These tourist camps in the Kyzylkum Desert tell the story of the life and past of ancient nomadic tribes. A quiet, peaceful, noiseless camel ride through the desert is a great pleasure for any traveller.
• Take the opportunity to observe a wonderful sunset.
• Sit around a campfire with the team, listen to magical and charming nomadic music, and dance together at dinner.

Meals: Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch at the Uzbek national restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

• Transfer to the ancient and eternally old city of Samarkand, a city of almost three thousand years, with a drive of about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Visit and explore the Gur-E Amir Mausoleum (14th-15th centuries), Registan Square (15th-17th centuries), Bibi Khanym Mosque (14th-15th centuries), and Siab Bazaar.
• Proceed with an excursion to the Shah-i-Zinda Ensemble and the Observatory of Ulugbek (15th century).

Meals: Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch and dinner at the Uzbek national restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• Complete your excursion by visiting interesting sites outside Samarkand city.
• Visit the Muhammad Al-Baukhari Complex and discover the ruins of Afrosiyab.
• Explore the Samarkand Paper Mill Factory and Samarkand Silk Carpet Factory. Gain insight into the processes involved in paper-making and silk carpet manufacturing.
• Transfer at 4:00 pm to Samarkand railway station to board the modern Talgo-Afrosiyob high-speed train to Tashkent. (Departure and arrival times: 5:00 pm to 7:10 pm)
• Arrive in Tashkent in the evening. Transfer to the hotel for check-in and rest before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch and dinner at the Uzbek national restaurant.

Overnight in the hotel.

• After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Tashkent International Airport in the morning. Your sojourn in Uzbekistan comes to an end.

Thank you for opening the door to "The Lost World" with us. See you again!