Dear Friends,
As I mentioned in my last post, I have now revisited our itinerary in Uzbekistan as the result of the things I learned in my recent visit.
Itinerary (subject to change)
Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent, Wednesday
Arrive in Tashkent. Time to rest after the night flight and then visit Independence Square and sites and the city centre to kick off our trip in Uzbekistan. Overnight: Tashkent
Day 2: Tashkent – Bukhara, Thursday
Today we will visit the Old City of Tashkent. We will see the Oldest Koran in the world, visit the synagogues of Tashkent and the local markets. In the late afternoon we will transfer to the airport for a 1.5 flight to Bukhara.
Day 3: Bukhara, Friday
Today we focus on the countryside around Bukhara. We will visit a Sufi Shrine and hear about Sufi Islam, and its influence on the development of mystical schools in Judaism. We will also visit the summer palaces of the Emir of Bukhara before returning to the city to prepare for Shabbat. Evening at Jewish community Synagogue in Bukhara including Shabbat Dinner with local community. Overnight: Bukhara
Day 4: Bukhara, Saturday
Morning with Jewish community in Bukhara and afternoon walking tour in the old city of Bukhara. We will see the amazing old Madrasahs and mosques, including the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Finish the day with Havdalah in the old synagogue. Overnight: Bukhara.
Day 5: Bukhara-Samarkand, Sunday
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive along the ancient Silk Route to Samarkand by bus (5 hours). Arrive in Samarkand and transfer to the hotel. Visit Ulugbek Observatory, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Registan Square. Overnight at the hotel. At night an optional Kosher or Kosher/Vegetarian dinner at Nina’s, a member of the local Jewish community. Overnight: Samarkand.
Day 6: Samarkand, Monday
Start the second day in Samarkand with a visit to Samarkand Synagogue and guided walk in the Jewish quarter of the old city. Continue to Koni Ghil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Continue visits in Samarkand: Samarkand bazaar, Bibi Khanum Mosque and Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and the Tomb of the Prophet Daniel. Overnight Samarkand. Optional Vegetarian Lunch will be offered at the paper mill. Overnight: Samarkand.
Day 7 (for those who are not on the extention): Samarkand – Tashkent-London, Tuesday
Morning drive to Tashkent (4-5 hours). Arrive in Tashkent. If there is enough time, lunch in Tashkent and some time in the market. In the afternoon transfer to the airport, for your flight to London. End of the tour.
Optional Extension:
Day 7: Samarkand-Tashkent- Khiva, Tuesday
In the morning visit local Museum in Samarkand. We continue by train to Tashkent for some free time in the local market. Transfer to airport for nighttime flight to Khiva. Overnight: Khiva
Day 8: Khiva-Urgench-Tashkent, Wednesday
Full day tour in Khiva. Visit Ichan-Kala Fortress which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour features visits to Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Toshkhovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum. Try climbing Islom Khodja Minaret, the highest minaret in Uzbekistan. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Old Khiva in Kunya-Ark.
Transfer to local airport (Urgench) in the evening for flight back to Tashkent. Arrival in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel. Overnight: Tashkent
Day 9: Tashkent – departure
Transfer to the airport in the morning. End of the tour.
Flights:
Uzbekistan Airways offers direct from London to Tashkent on Tuesday nights and return from Taskent on Tuesday afternoon. The main trip has been planned around these flights.
Those choosing the extension will be able to return on Thursday via Frankfurt, Istanbul, Milan, Tel Aviv or Riga as there is no direct flight to London on a Thursday. There is also an option to return on Friday directly to London, but this option is not appropriate for those who are Shabbat Observant.
The flight schedule for 2015 is not yet available, and the programme is subject to change pending confirmation of the flight times. Further details about the flights will follow as they become available.
Cost:
Basic trip: £890. Single Supplement: £160.
Extended trip: £1190. Single supplement: £195
This price includes hotels on a B/B basis. Airport transfers. Coaches, guides, Shabbat meals with the local community, entrance fees and the internal flight from Bukhara-Tashkent or Khiva (Urgench) –Tashkent as appropriate. It does not include International Flights, travel insurance, extras in hotels, any other meals, visa fees or anything not specifically mentioned.
All my previous posts, including the updates from my Uzbekistan Trip and the Posts with flight details and Practical Tips are available if you Click Here.
As I mentioned in my last post, I have now revisited our itinerary in Uzbekistan as the result of the things I learned in my recent visit.
Itinerary (subject to change)
Day 1: Arrival in Tashkent, Wednesday
Arrive in Tashkent. Time to rest after the night flight and then visit Independence Square and sites and the city centre to kick off our trip in Uzbekistan. Overnight: Tashkent
Day 2: Tashkent – Bukhara, Thursday
Today we will visit the Old City of Tashkent. We will see the Oldest Koran in the world, visit the synagogues of Tashkent and the local markets. In the late afternoon we will transfer to the airport for a 1.5 flight to Bukhara.
Day 3: Bukhara, Friday
Today we focus on the countryside around Bukhara. We will visit a Sufi Shrine and hear about Sufi Islam, and its influence on the development of mystical schools in Judaism. We will also visit the summer palaces of the Emir of Bukhara before returning to the city to prepare for Shabbat. Evening at Jewish community Synagogue in Bukhara including Shabbat Dinner with local community. Overnight: Bukhara
Day 4: Bukhara, Saturday
Morning with Jewish community in Bukhara and afternoon walking tour in the old city of Bukhara. We will see the amazing old Madrasahs and mosques, including the Lyabi Hauz Ensemble, Magoki-Attori Mosque, Chor-Minor Madrasah, trade domes, Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque and Miri-Arab Madrasah, Ulugbek and Abdulazizkhan madrasahs, Ark Fortress, Bolo-Khauz Mosque, Ismail Samani and Chashma-Ayub mausoleums. Finish the day with Havdalah in the old synagogue. Overnight: Bukhara.
Day 5: Bukhara-Samarkand, Sunday
In the morning depart Bukhara and drive along the ancient Silk Route to Samarkand by bus (5 hours). Arrive in Samarkand and transfer to the hotel. Visit Ulugbek Observatory, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Registan Square. Overnight at the hotel. At night an optional Kosher or Kosher/Vegetarian dinner at Nina’s, a member of the local Jewish community. Overnight: Samarkand.
Day 6: Samarkand, Monday
Start the second day in Samarkand with a visit to Samarkand Synagogue and guided walk in the Jewish quarter of the old city. Continue to Koni Ghil village to explore traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry. Continue visits in Samarkand: Samarkand bazaar, Bibi Khanum Mosque and Shakhi-Zinda Necropolis and the Tomb of the Prophet Daniel. Overnight Samarkand. Optional Vegetarian Lunch will be offered at the paper mill. Overnight: Samarkand.
Day 7 (for those who are not on the extention): Samarkand – Tashkent-London, Tuesday
Morning drive to Tashkent (4-5 hours). Arrive in Tashkent. If there is enough time, lunch in Tashkent and some time in the market. In the afternoon transfer to the airport, for your flight to London. End of the tour.
Optional Extension:
Day 7: Samarkand-Tashkent- Khiva, Tuesday
In the morning visit local Museum in Samarkand. We continue by train to Tashkent for some free time in the local market. Transfer to airport for nighttime flight to Khiva. Overnight: Khiva
Day 8: Khiva-Urgench-Tashkent, Wednesday
Full day tour in Khiva. Visit Ichan-Kala Fortress which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour features visits to Mukhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Mukhammad Rahimkhan Madrasah, Kalta Minor, Juma Mosque, Toshkhovli Palace, Pakhlavan Makhmud Mausoleum. Try climbing Islom Khodja Minaret, the highest minaret in Uzbekistan. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Old Khiva in Kunya-Ark.
Transfer to local airport (Urgench) in the evening for flight back to Tashkent. Arrival in Tashkent, transfer to the hotel. Overnight: Tashkent
Day 9: Tashkent – departure
Transfer to the airport in the morning. End of the tour.
Flights:
Uzbekistan Airways offers direct from London to Tashkent on Tuesday nights and return from Taskent on Tuesday afternoon. The main trip has been planned around these flights.
Those choosing the extension will be able to return on Thursday via Frankfurt, Istanbul, Milan, Tel Aviv or Riga as there is no direct flight to London on a Thursday. There is also an option to return on Friday directly to London, but this option is not appropriate for those who are Shabbat Observant.
The flight schedule for 2015 is not yet available, and the programme is subject to change pending confirmation of the flight times. Further details about the flights will follow as they become available.
Cost:
Basic trip: £890. Single Supplement: £160.
Extended trip: £1190. Single supplement: £195
This price includes hotels on a B/B basis. Airport transfers. Coaches, guides, Shabbat meals with the local community, entrance fees and the internal flight from Bukhara-Tashkent or Khiva (Urgench) –Tashkent as appropriate. It does not include International Flights, travel insurance, extras in hotels, any other meals, visa fees or anything not specifically mentioned.
All my previous posts, including the updates from my Uzbekistan Trip and the Posts with flight details and Practical Tips are available if you Click Here.
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