Navruz in Uzbekisan

Description

Navruz (in Farsi “New day”) is celebrated on 21 March, on the day of vernal equinox. One of the oldest holidays in Central Asia symbolizes the beginning of the New Year, rebirth of nature, start of a planting season.

During Navruz tour you will dive into festive mood, enjoy small improvised street shows with national songs and dances. In Uzbekistan, there is a beautiful tradition of preparing national dish from wheat sprouts – sumalak, a sweet wheat cream.

Traditional festive table (dastarkhan) should be rich as there is a saying: as your table is, so it will be the next year. We cordially invite you to spend festive days of Navruz with hospitable people of Uzbekistan and visit oldest cities of our wonderful country.

Itinerary

Day 1. March 17, Arrival in Tashkent

Arrive in Tashkent. You will be met by Uzbegim tour driver and transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel at noon. Free day in Tashkent. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2. March 18, Tashkent – Bukhara

At 07:45 meet your group and the driver at the lobby of the hotel. Transfer to Tashkent domestic airport. Flight HY 1321 departs for Bukhara at 09:15. Arrival in Bukhara at 10:25. Transfer to the hotel for breakfast. Later meet your guide and start walking sightseeing tour.

Spend your day in fascinating Old Bukhara which is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Explore Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Madrasahs of Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan, trade domes, Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble, Chor-Minor Madrasah. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3. March 19, Bukhara

Today we celebrate Navruz holiday with townspeople. Start the second day in Bukhara discovering Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Samani dynasty and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Participation in street festivities, during the day – you will be able to feel the spirit of the holiday on the streets of old Bukhara, visit streets’ small improvised concerts with national songs and dances.

Then visit Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa – summer residence of Bukhara’s last Emir, unique site combining Oriental and Russian architecture. Continue to Mausoleum of Bakhouddin Naqshbandi and Chor Bakr necropolis. Dinner at national house, with traditional Navruz dishes in menu: kuk somsa (small patty with greens) and sumalak. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4. March 20, Bukhara – Gijduvan – Samarkand

In the morning depart Bukhara and drive to Samarkand (290 km, 4hrs). En-route stop in Gijduvan to visit a local pottery masters workshop. Participate in a master class and have lunch. In the afternoon continue driving to Samarkand. Check in the hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5. March 21, Samarkand

At 9:00 start sightseeing tour in Samarkand. Visit a spectacular Registan Square, remains of Bibi-Khanum Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugbek Observatory, Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and Gur-Emir Mausoleum – authentic shrine of Tamerlane. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6. March 22, Samarkand – Tashkent

Check out from the hotel after breakfast and continue sightseeing Samarkand. Explore Afrosiyab Museum and the tomb of Saint Daniel. Visit to paper making factory Koni Ghil, where you will learn how paper from mulberry is produced in a traditional way.

Transfer to the railway station at 16:00. Fast going train “Afrosiyob” departs at 17:00. Arrival in Tashkent at 19:10.

Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7. March 23, Tashkent

At 9:00 meet your guide to start sightseeing tour in the capital of Uzbekistan, the biggest city in Central Asia. Visit Old City part of Tashkent with Khast-Imom Complex where the world famous Quran of Caliph Uthman – Ottoman has been preserved.

In Khast-Imom visit Madrasah of Barak-Khan, Tilla-Sheikh Mosque, Mausoleum of the Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari. Explore Chor-Su Bazaar. Then take a ride on Tashkent Metro to the city center where you will visit Amir Temur Square, Independence Square and Applied Arts Museum.

Free time in the afternoon.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8. March 24, Tashkent – departure

After having a breakfast departure Transfer to Tashkent International airport. End of the tour.