The Marco Polo Tour - 7 days

• Your odyssey begins in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, a city that has been a cultural melting pot for over 2,000 years. Upon arrival at Islam Karimov International Airport, you’ll be greeted by our driver, who will take you to your cozy Uzbek hotel.

• Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at the hotel or start exploring the city, one of the Silk Road’s commercial hubs, with a guided tour.

• Tashkent awaits you with its bustling Chorsu Bazaar, the heart of local commerce, where you can lose yourself among stalls filled with spices, fruits, crafts, and textiles.
• You’ll visit the Hazrati Imam complex, an architectural ensemble that includes the Baroqxon Madrasa, Hazrati Imam Mosque, Moʻyi Muborak Madrasa, which houses the famous Usman Quran, one of the oldest copies in the world, and the Qaffol Shoshiy Mausoleum.

• In the evening, you’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, sampling local delights like plov (pilaf), Uzbekistan’s national dish.

• After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the Tashkent International airport to take a flight to the Urgench International Airport with destination to Itchan Kala (Khiva). Upon your arrival, you’ll set out to visit the World Heritage citadel, truly an open-air museum where every corner tells an ancient story. You’ll spend the day exploring the labyrinth of narrow streets, mosques, madrasahs, and minarets. The citadel contains over 50 historical monuments, caravanserais, markets, and houses dating mainly from the 17th to 19th centuries. It is said that the city was built by the Prophet Muhammad and thus has become a sacred place.

• Here are some important places you’ll be able to visit:

o The Konya Ark,

o The Juma Mosque, us for its 213 carved wooden columns,

o Ak Mosque, 

o The imposing Kalta Minor Minaret,

o The Hasanmurod Qushbegi Mosque,

o The madrasahs of Alla-Kulli-Khan, Muhammad Aminkhon, Muhammad Rakhimkhon, Islam Khodja;

o The Mausoleums of Pahlavon Mahmoud, Sayid Allavuddin, Shergozikhon,

o The Tosh-Hovli Palace,

o The Isfandiyar Palace,

• During the visits you'll make a stop to have lunch.

• In the evening, you’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, celebrating your last night in Uzbekistan with the local culinary art of typical dishes like shurpa.

• On your third day, after breakfast, you’ll leave Itchan Kala and head into the vast Kyzylkum Desert, the “Red Desert,” which covers much of Uzbekistan, heading towards the region of Khwarazm and passing near the Amu Darya River.

• During the approximately 7-hour journey, you’ll stop for lunch at an oasis, enjoying the desert’s tranquility and observing the local fauna.

• As you approach Bukhara, one of the Silk Road’s jewels, you’ll begin to catch sight of the walls of the ancient Bukhara citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Upon arrival, you’ll check into a hotel within the old city and you’ll then have free time to relax before exploring this fascinating place.

• In the evening, you’ll have another night of dining at a local restaurant to savor more Uzbek dishes like kurut.

• You’ll start with a visit to the Samanid Mausoleum, a masterpiece of 10th-century Islamic architecture, known for its elegant brick design.

• Next, you’ll visit the Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum, also known as the “Spring of Job,” a sacred site dating back to the 12th century.

• You’ll continue to the Bolo Haouz Mosque, famous for its exceptional carved wooden iwan. The mosque was built in the 18th century and is now registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

• After that, you’ll explore the famous Ark of Bukhara, a fortress that served as the residence of the emirs and was the center of power from the 5th century until 1920.

• Here, you’ll take a break to have lunch.

• In the afternoon, you’ll visit the spectacular Po-i-Kalyan complex, the most notable in Bukhara and one of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture in the region, a testimony to the past splendor of the place,

• You’ll explore the Bukhara Photo Gallery, the most captivating photo gallery in Uzbekistan, located in the iconic Olimjon caravanserai,

• You’ll end the afternoon strolling through the bazaars of the trade domes: Toqi Telpak Furushon, Tim Abdulla Khan, Toqi Sarrofon Bazaar, and Zargaron,

• The evening will culminate with dinner at a typical restaurant, where you can savor local dishes like halva, a traditional sweet of the local cuisine.

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• After breakfast, you’ll embark on a fascinating journey to Shakhrisyabz, the hometown of one of history’s greatest conquerors: Amir Timur, also known as Tamerlane. This 5-hour journey through Uzbekistan’s landscapes will connect you with the land that saw the birth of an empire.

• In Shakhrisyabz, you will have time to take lunch.

• Next, you’ll explore the Dorut Tilovat Complex.

• Then, you’ll visit the majestic Kok-Gumbaz Mosque.

• The next stop will be Amir Timur Square, the heart of Shakhrisyabz, to see the imposing statue of the notable local figure, Timur.

• Following this, you’ll visit the Ak-Saray Complex, undoubtedly the crown jewel of Shakhrisyabz. Its palace, dating back to the 14th century and still as awe-inspiring as ever, was Timur’s summer residence. This UNESCO World Heritage site allows you to walk through the same halls once traversed by ambassadors from around the world.

• After visiting Shakhrisyabz, you’ll embark on a 2-hour journey to Samarkand, one of the most emblematic cities of the Silk Road, arriving at your hotel at around 5 PM.

• A fantastic traditional dinner awaits to close this day full of history and discoveries. At a central restaurant, the authentic flavors of Uzbek cuisine will introduce you to the rich culinary heritage of this historic region with typical dishes such as chuchvara.

• After breakfast, your sixth day takes you to explore the heart of Samarkand, starting with the impressive Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, the tomb of the great conqueror Tamerlane, also known as King Timur.

• Then, you’ll head to Samarkand’s crown jewel and center of the Timurid Renaissance: Registan Square, also UNESCO-protected. This majestic ensemble of three madrasas (Islamic universities): Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor, and Tilya-Kori.

• Your next stop will be the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built in honor of Tamerlane’s favorite wife.

• After lunch, you’ll stroll through the alleys of the Siyob Bazaar, Samarkand’s largest market.

• In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Konigil Meros paper factory in Konigil, where you’ll learn about the traditional process of paper making using ancient techniques dating back to the time of Tamerlane.

• With your guide, the next stop will be the Ulugh Beg Observatory, built in the 15th century under the Timurid Empire.

• Next, you’ll head to Shah-i-Zinda, a necropolis extending with a series of tombs and mausoleums dating from the 11th to the 19th century, adorned with turquoise and blue ceramic tiles, and belonging to elite figures.

• The evening concludes with dinner at a typical restaurant, where you can savor local dishes like shashlik, an iconic dish of Uzbek cuisine, in a setting full of history.

• After a final breakfast in Samarkand, you’ll bid farewell to this magical city and start your journey back to Tashkent. The 5-hour return trip will give you the opportunity to relive the unforgettable moments you’ve experienced during this adventure along the routes once traveled by ancient traders and explorers.

• You will arrive to the capital of Tashkent, around 4 PM.