Tales and legends of the Silk Road

Upon arrival at the airport , you will be transferred to your hotel to rest overnight and in the morning. After lunch at a local restaurant , you will spend the afternoon exploring Tashkent . A walking tour of the traditional quarter will take you to the Hazret Imam complex , which includes the 16th-century Barak Khan Madrasa , the Djami Mosque ( still open for worship), and the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum . You will then travel by bus to the Kukeldash Madrasa and the Chorsu Bazaar . Finally, you will visit the Tashkent Metro , renowned throughout Central Asia for the elegant design of its stations.

Early in the morning, you take the train to Samarkand . Upon arrival, your exploration of the city begins primarily on foot, strolling along its shaded avenues. You first discover Registan Square , the heart of the city, bordered by the madrasas of Ulugh Beg (15th century), Sher-Dor , and Tilla-Kari (17th century). Crossing through an old quarter, you reach the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum (15th century), where Timur and his descendants are buried. After lunch at a local restaurant , the afternoon is dedicated to visiting the Ulugh Beg Observatory and the archaeological site of Afrosiab . These ruins bear witness to the ancient city founded in the 8th century BC. The city was founded in the 1st century BC, before being destroyed by the Mongols in 1220. You will complete this historical immersion with a visit to the city's founding museum , which displays 7th-century stucco paintings. The day concludes with dinner at a restaurant.

You continue your exploration of Samarkand by starting the day at the local market . This is a chance to stroll among the stalls of dried fruits, vegetables, traditional breads, and handicrafts. Next, you visit the Bibi-Khanim Mosque , an imposing structure built on the orders of Timur (Tamerlane). The exploration continues on foot to the Shakhizinda necropolis , a collection of mausoleums dating from the 11th to the 15th centuries, a remarkable example of medieval architecture. You then have free time in the afternoon to explore the old quarter at your own pace before meeting up for dinner at a restaurant .

You leave Samarkand for the traditional village of Hayat , nestled in the heart of the Nuratinskiy Mountains . After arriving around noon , you settle into your guesthouse . This peaceful mountain village, characterized by its stone houses, vegetable gardens, and livestock, is an ideal setting for hiking. You enjoy lunch in the garden before setting off in the afternoon for a hike in the area surrounding Hayat .

You'll depart early in the morning for Lake Fozilmon , perched at an altitude of 2,000 meters in the heart of the mountains. During your hike, you'll cross a protected reserve , discover a remarkable natural monument , and trek to Sentob-Kurgan , a historic village destroyed by the Mongols. Upon arrival at the lake, you'll enjoy a picnic lunch . You'll then arrive at your host village in the late afternoon to meet your hosts. If you wish, you can participate in preparing the meal alongside the family before sharing dinner together.

You set off on foot to explore the area around the village of Sentob before meeting your hosts for lunch . In the afternoon, you travel to the village of Dongalak to settle into your yurt camp . In the evening, you share a traditional nomadic dinner . Depending on the availability of the akyn , the local singer, the evening may continue around a campfire accompanied by folk dances.

Off the beaten track, you'll explore the Uzbek countryside with your hosts. You'll take a walk through a traditional village, meeting its inhabitants. Depending on the season, you might participate in the cotton or silkworm harvest. As you stroll, you'll discover the work of local artisans and farmers, and then visit a French-language school to chat with the students and their teacher. Back at the guesthouse , you can help prepare dinner with your host family.

You dedicate the day to exploring the treasures of Bukhara . The tour begins with the Poi-Kalian complex , comprising the Kalian Minaret , the Kalian Mosque , and the Miri-Arab Madrasa . You continue to the Toki-Zargaron Trading Dome , the Ulugh Beg and Abdulaziz Khan Madrasas, and the Abdulla Khan Tim .

After lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Liabi-Khaouz Square basin, the afternoon takes you to the heart of the Liabi-Khaouz complex and the Magok Attor Mosque . You then stroll beneath the domes of the money changers ( Toki-Sarafon ) and the hatters ( Toki-Tilpak Fourouchon ) to observe the craftsmanship of local artisans . The day concludes with a visit to the four minarets of the Chor Minor , before dinner at a madrasa .

You begin the day with a walk to the Ark Citadel and the Bolo-Khaouz Mosque , built in the 18th century. Your route then takes you to the Ismail Samani Mausoleum and the Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum , famous for housing the spring of the Prophet Job . After lunch , you explore the Sitora-i Mokhi-Khossa , the former country residence of the Emirs of Bukhara. Finally, you enjoy some free time to stroll through the city at your own pace before meeting up for dinner in town .

You'll be heading towards Khiva . During this journey, you'll cross the steppe and dune landscapes of the Kyzylkum Desert , renowned for its red sands. Along the way, you'll stop to explore the famous fortresses of Toprak Kala and Ayaz Kala , ancient citadels rising from the arid expanse.

You will spend the day exploring Khiva , a fortified city located in the heart of the Khorezm oasis . Your tour begins with the Muhammad Aminkhan Madrasa and the Kalta Minor Minaret , before continuing to the Kunya Ark Fortress and the Muhammad Rakhimkhan II Madrasa . You will then visit the Juma Mosque , renowned for its 213 carved wooden columns , and finally, the Tash-Khaouli Palace .

After lunch at a local teahouse , the afternoon is dedicated to the Islam Khodja complex and the mausoleum of Pakhlavan Makhmoud . At sunset, you climb onto the ramparts to admire a panoramic view of the historic city.

Depending on your flight schedule to Tashkent , you'll have some free time to explore Khiva or the capital. You'll meet up again in Tashkent in the evening for dinner , followed by a short night at the hotel before your return flight to France .

Note: Depending on flight availability, the journey to Tashkent may take place the evening before (in which case the night will be spent in Tashkent). Furthermore, departure is usually from Urgench Airport, but may exceptionally be from Nukus , which adds approximately 2 hours to the journey.