Uzbekistan Muslim-Friendly Tour

Arrive in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital. Our driver will pick you up from Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport for transfer to the hotel, where check-in begins at noon. Have a rest after your flight, followed by free time for independent exploration. The city is more than 2200 years old and has evolved from a small ancient settlement into one of the largest metropolitan areas in the region. Tashkent is simply bursting with fascinating museums, ancient historical sites and lush parks. Overnight at the hotel in Tashkent.
Meals provided: none

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide and driver will meet you at hotel reception to being your ziyarat of Tashkent. The private tour includes the following:

• Excursion to the Old City, including Khazret-Imam Architectural Complex, which holds the oldest known original Usman Quran in the world. Also on site are the Madrasah of Barak-Khan (16th century), Tillya-Sheikh Mosque, Juma Mosque, Mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi (all 15th century) and the Islamic Institute of Imam al-Bukhari (1971);
• Visit to Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent’s most well-established 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;
• Visit to the Mausoleum of Sheikh Zainuddin-Bobo, a prominent poet and Suhrawardi Sufi (12th-16th century), located in the Kukcha quarter;
• Continue your pilgramage to Sheikh Khavendi Takhur (Shayhantaur) Memorial Complex, burial grounds of a revered 14th-century Sufi dervish;
• Wrap up your city tour at the Applied Arts Museum, an informative collection of Uzbekistan’s finest handicrafts housed in an ornately decorated villa.

Drive back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Tashkent.
Tour duration: 5-6 hours
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch

After breakfast, transfer to the train station to take a bullet train from Tashkent to Samarkand (330 km, 2hrs 15min).
From the Samarkand train station, begin your tour of this historic and sacred city. The private tour of this local holy land, led by an experienced local guide, will include the following:

• Drive to Muhaddis Imam al-Bukhari Mausoleum, a truly beautiful and holy place (30 km, 40 min). On the way, visit the mausoleum of Sufi philosopher Hazrat Makhdumi A'zam Dahbediy (1461-1542);
• Transfer back to Samarkand, crossroad of the world’s cultures, for check-in to the hotel.
• Continue to the Khodja Akhrar Ensemble, dedicated to the 15th-century leader of the Naqshbandi Order, and the Mausoleum of Abu Mansur Al Maturidi, a 10th-century Islamic philospher.
• Sightsee at Gur Emir, the imposing burial site of Tamerlane, Mirzo Ulugbek and Mir Said Baraka;
• Tour the spectacular Registan Square, the commercial center of Samarkand for centuries and the city’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);
• Walk along a boulevard lined with workshops and souvenir stores to reach Siab Bazaar, where you can buy sweets, fruits and Samarkand’s famous bread;
• Visit Bibi Khanum Mosque (15th-century), built by Timur the Great (Tamerlane).

Drive back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Samarkand.
Tour duration: 6-7 hours
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and continue your second day of Samarkand tourism with a local, experienced guide. Your tour will include:

• Exploration of Shakhi-Zinda, a burial complex built between the 9th -14th centuries. Climb the blue-domed path and explore more than twenty small mausoleums, including the tomb of Kusam ibn Abbas, cousin of the Prophet Muhammad;
• Excursion to 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; you’ll also have the chance to buy these unique souvenirs.

Transfer to the train station to take the late afternoon train from Samarkand to Tashkent (330 km, 2hrs 15min). Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Tashkent.
Tour duration: approximately 5 hours
Meals provided: breakfast, lunch

Free morning to pack or continue exploring Tashkent on your own. Check out from the hotel by noon and transfer to Tashkent International Airport.
End of Uzbekistan Muslim-Friendly Tour.
Meals provided: breakfast