Uzbekistan Islamic Art and Culture Tour from Malaysia/Indonesia

Start your Uzbekistan tour from Malaysia/Indonesia depart from Kuala-Lumpur with Uzbekistan Airways and arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital. Your driver picks up you from airport and transfer to the hotel, where check-in and have a rest after your flight. Overnight in Tashkent.

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up to begin your Tashkent city tour. Your private tour will include:

• Excursion to the Old City, including the Khazret-Imam Architectural Complex. The complex includes the Madrasah of Barak-Khan (16th century), Tillya-Sheykh Mosque, Juma Mosque and Mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi (15th century). Walking through the Islamic Civilization Center and Zarqaynar street;
• Visit to Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent’s most famous bazaar that includes a large selection of traditional Uzbek ceramics, jewelry, handbags, garments and more;
• Kukeldash Madrasah (16th century), a centre of Islamic education which remains active to this day;
• Walk through Amir Timur Square, with a massive statue of none other than Tamerlane himself at the center;
• Independence Square, including the moving Mourning Mother Monument and the Eternal Flame, burning continuously in memory of more than half a million Uzbek soldiers who died during World War II;
• Tour of the Applied Arts Museum, an informative collection of Uzbekistan’s finest handicrafts housed in an ornately decorated villa.

Finish your city tour Uzbekistan Culture tour from Malaysia. Overnight at the hotel in Tashkent.
Tour duration: 5-6 hours

Breakfast at the hotel before taking the morning train to Bukhara (580 km). Arrive in Bukhara and transfer to your hotel in the Old City. With your private local guide, enjoy a walking tour of the most impressive sights of Bukhara’s Old City:

• Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble, including the largest artificial reservoir of medieval Bukhara (14th-17th centuries) and some of the largest madrasahs in the city: Khanaka Madrasah, Kukeldash Madrasah and Nadir Divan Beghi Madrasah (all 16th century);
• Magoki-Attori Mosque, the oldest mosque in Bukhara (12th century);
• Four Trade Domes (15th-16th centuries), which still house local handicrafts for sale;
• Poi Kalyan Ensemble (12th-16th centuries), consisting of the Kalyan Minaret, Kalyan Mosque, Amir-Alimkhan Madrasah and Miri-Arab Madrasah;
• Ulugbek Madrasah (15th century) and Abdulazizkhan Madrasah (17th century), relatively untouched yet impressive religious schools;
• Ark Fortress (4th century), the ancient center of Bukharan statehood and currently home to a small museum;
• Bolo-Khauz Complex, consisting of an artfully decorated 18th century mosque, a minaret and reservoirs that once provided water for the entire city.

Overnight in Bukhara, your Uzbekistan Islamic Art and Culture Tour from Malaysia/Indonesia third night.
Tour duration: 6-7 hours

Begin the fourth day of your Indonesia to Uzbekistan Islamic Art tour with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Your guide and driver will meet you at hotel reception to continue your tour of Bukhara region to the following locations:

• Chor Minor ("Four Minarets"), an unusual madrasah built by Niyazkul in the 18th century, whose four minarets are said to reflect the four major world religions of that period;
• Emir's Summer Residence, Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa (19th century), a unique site boasting of a blend of Oriental and Russian architecture;
• Visit Said Amir Kulal complex;
• Bakhautdin Naqsband Mausoleum, an ensemble dedicated to the founder of the Sufi Order "Naqshbandia"; the site includes a mausoleum, mosque, pond, and museum;
• Fayzulla Khodjaev House Museum, a replica of the interior of a 19th century Bukharan home and tribute to this influential leader’s life.
• Samanids Mausoleum (9th-10th centuries), believed to be the most ancient brick building in Central Asia.

Overnight in Bukhara.
Tour duration: 5-6 hours

Start fifth day of your Uzbekistan Cultural tour from Malaysia with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy free time until noon. Check out from the hotel and drive to Gijduvon (50 km, 1hr), a small town whose traditional crafts and ceramics have been sought after in Central Asia for centuries due to their quality and colorful, decorative style.
Continue driving to Samarkand (240 km, 3.5 hrs). Along the way, stop by the Rabat-i-Malik Caravanserai ruins and Sardoba, an ancient water reservoir. Arrive in Samarkand, the capital of Tamerlane's Empire. Check in to the hotel and have a free evening. Overnight in Samarkand.

After breakfast, your Uzbekistan Islamic Art tour from Indonesia continues with a private Samarkand tour with local experienced guide:

• Gur Emir, the imposing burial site of Tamerlane and Mirzo Ulugbek;
• Continue to the Imam Moturidiy mausoleum, a 10th-century Islamic philosopher;
• Registan Square, the commercial center of Samarkand for centuries and Samarkand’s most famous site today. The square includes three madrasahs: Ulugbek Madrasah (15th century), Sher-Dor Madrasah (17th century) and Tilla-Kori Madrasah (17th century);
• Bibi Khanum Mosque, built by Tamerlane for his favorite wife;
• Siab Bazaar, a multi-level complex where you can shop for souvenirs and sample sweets, fruits and Samarkand’s famous bread;
• Shakhi-Zinda, a burial complex built between the 9th-14th centuries and Kusam ibn Abbas mausoleum (Prophet Muhammad's cousin). Climb the blue-domed path and explore more than 20 small mausoleums that line the broad alleyway.

Overnight in Samarkand.
Tour duration: 5-6 hours

Breakfast and check out of the hotel. Your sightseeing tour of Samarkand will continue with trips to these culturally significant sights:

• Ulugbek Observatory, where you can see the remains of a 14th-15th century sextant and tour the Ulugbek Museum.
• Tour of the mausoleum of Khodja Daniyar, believed to be the tomb of the prophet Daniel, whose remains were brought here by Tamerlane;
• Drive to Konigil Village to observe the traditional way of making Samarkand paper from mulberry leaves and eco village;
• Continue to the Khodja Akhrar Valiy Ensemble, dedicated to the 15th-century leader of the Naqshbandi Order.

Transfer to the railway station to catch the afternoon train to Tashkent (330km, 2-3hrs). You’ll be met at the Tashkent station and taken to the Tashkent International Airport. Flight HY553 to Kuala-Lumpur in the evening. End of Uzbekistan Islamic Art and Culture Tour from Malaysia/Indonesia/Singapore.
Tour duration: 4-5 hours