5 days
Fixed dates
30 people
from 10 years
Basic
Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Excursion tours
On this tour you will visit two of the most beautiful cities of Uzbekistan - Samarkand and Bukhara. It is here that the most impressive architectural monuments and cultural masterpieces are concentrated, and on the ancient streets a rich history comes to life, in which real facts are intertwined with myths and legends.
“Two Capitals of the East” is a short but very eventful tour.
Noisy bazaars, majestic mosques, craft shops and medieval quarters await you: a great opportunity to take a break from the drabness of everyday life in the atmosphere of an oriental fairy tale! Many centuries ago, caravans traveling along the Great Silk Road stopped in Samarkand and Bukhara; these cities saw the birth and destruction of empires, and the great commander Tamerlane proclaimed Samarkand the capital of his state. The best artisans, architects, sages and scientists came here. Samarkand and Bukhara, like fascinating books, tell the history of the region through the centuries. You will see the most important and beautiful sights of both cities: Registan Square with three majestic madrassas, the Gur-Emir mausoleum, which became a model during the construction of the Taj Mahal, the picturesque and cozy Lyabi-Khauz square with a pond, the monumental Ark fortress, the fascinating Poi-Kalyan ensemble, and a country palace, the poetic name of which translates as “Like the Sun and the Moon.” You will learn about the lives and deeds of many real and legendary personalities and even visit the tomb of the biblical Job (Ayyub in the Islamic tradition), where a healing spring flows from underground. In addition to Samarkand and Bukhara, we will visit the city of masters Gijduvan, where we will visit a ceramics workshop and learn the secrets of the craft, carefully restored and preserved by hereditary masters.
Atmospheric hotel within walking distance from the historical city center. The building itself and the interior interiors are skillfully stylized to resemble the architecture of the early 20th century: brick walls, bas-reliefs, elegant wooden furniture and many unique details - copper jugs of fancy shapes, paintings, lamps. Ergonomic rooms are equipped with everything you need.
The hotel has an ideal location - literally across the street from Lyabi-Khauz Square, the city's central attraction. Some rooms offer direct views of the square's architectural ensemble. The hotel's design uses national motifs, while the Kabir Hotel fully complies with modern requirements for comfort and equipment. Guests celebrate delicious buffet breakfasts.
You arrive at Samarkand airport, where your guide will meet you. He will accompany you to the hotel (check-in from 14:00). On the first day, you will have the opportunity to simply take a break from the flight and acclimatize. And if you want to immediately start exploring Samarkand, go for a quiet walk through the charming streets of this museum city, stop by local cafes and try excellent Uzbek cuisine.
On this day you will see the main attractions of Samarkand, the most important point on the Great Silk Road, the center of culture and religion. We will walk along the famous Registan Square, which is surrounded by three majestic madrassas built in the 15th-17th centuries. The architectural ensemble looks surprisingly harmonious and has become the most recognizable symbol of Samarkand. We will also see the Gur-Emir mausoleum, where the great commander Tamerlane rests, the Bibi-Khanum Cathedral Mosque, the Shahi-Zanda mausoleum complex, the Siab bazaar and the Ulugbek Observatory. The walls and domes decorated with mosaics and ornaments are like a book from which the fascinating history of Samarkand can be read.
Today we are leaving from Samarkand to Bukhara. On the way, we will make a stop in the city of craftsmen Gijduvan, which is famous for its pottery school. You will visit the workshop of the hereditary ceramicists, the Narzullaev brothers, and learn about the secrets of the craft, which were carefully restored many generations later. Here we will have lunch with delicious Gijduvan kebabs. Upon arrival in Bukhara, you will check into a hotel and go on a short tour of the city. Let's take a walk along the magnificent Lyabi-Khauz square, where a beautiful pond is surrounded by a madrasah and there is a monument to Khoja Nasreddin. Also on this day we will look into the shopping district of covered bazaars.
We will devote the last active day of the tour to exploring Bukhara. You will see two unusual mausoleums: the Samanid mausoleum, which combines features of Sogdian and Islamic architecture, and Chashma-Ayub, an atypical prism-shaped building with which a fascinating legend is associated. We will also visit a mosque with elegant carved columns, the ancient Ark fortress, madrasahs decorated with ornaments and, of course, the “calling card” of Bukhara - the simultaneously strict and elegant ensemble of Poi-Kalyan. In the afternoon we will go outside the city, to the summer palace of the Bukhara emir and the memorial complex of Bakhautdin Naqshbandi, which is called the “Central Asian Mecca”.
After breakfast, transfer to Bukhara airport. See you again!
Children aged 10 years and older are allowed to participate.
Breakfast on all days except the first, and lunch at the ceramicists' house on the third day.
Transport depends on group size. This could be a car, minibus or bus. All vehicles are comfortable and equipped with air conditioning systems.
The tour price does not include airfare, lunch (except on the third day) and dinner, as well as entrance fees to monuments and museums.
You can book an extra night at the hotel - just let us know when purchasing your tour. Additional payment will be required.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
