Travel to the Aral Sea

Arrival in Tashkent. Our comfortable transfer and guide will meet you at the airport, and without delay you will begin a sightseeing tour of the capital. You will visit Khast-Imam Square, the Barak-Khan Madrasa, and the Mausoleum of Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi. After exploring the oldest landmarks of Tashkent, you will have time to stroll through Independence Square and Amir Temur Square, take vivid photographs, and see the Alisher Navoi Theatre. Then our transfer will take you to Tashkent International Airport for your flight to Urgench (departure: 20:40 – arrival: 22:10). Upon arrival, our transfer will meet you and take you to the city of Khiva. Hotel accommodation. Overnight in Khiva.

Breakfast at the hotel. Then you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city of Khiva. We will introduce you to the legendary Ichan-Kala (12th–19th centuries), the inner city of Khiva, where more than 50 historical monuments and ancient residential buildings have been preserved. You will visit the Kunya-Ark Fortress, the Pahlavan Mahmud Complex, the stone Tash-Khovli Palace, the Kalta-Minor Minaret — the symbol of the city, the Islam Khodja Complex, the Juma Mosque, the Khoja Islam Mosque, the Al-Kulikhan Mosque, the Abdullakhan Madrasa, the Mausoleum of Sayid Allauddin, the Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasa, and the Muhammad Rahim Khan Madrasa. Then our transfer will take you to the city of Nukus (177 km, approximately 3 hours). Hotel check-in. Overnight in Nukus.

Breakfast at the hotel. We begin a sightseeing tour of the city of Nukus. We will visit the I. V. Savitsky Karakalpak State Museum of Art — a unique museum known as the “Louvre in the Desert” and a place of pilgrimage for art historians. Next, we will visit the House-Museum of Bazarbay Serekeev, an Honored Artist. This cozy place is a true repository of creativity. Then we will head to the studio of his son, contemporary artist Bakhtiyor Serekeev, where works in a modern style are displayed. After that, we will visit the workshop of Bibisara Kunnazarova, who revives traditional carpet weaving and creates carpets to decorate modern yurts. Overnight in Nukus.

Breakfast at the hotel. The extreme tour begins with departure from Nukus to the Aral Sea (400 km). Along the way, there will be an excursion to the Ship Cemetery, a place steeped in the history of the once-thriving shipping life of the Aral Sea. Next, you will visit the Muynak State Museum of Local History and the museum dedicated to the memory of the Aral Sea. Lunch at a cozy guesthouse. The excursion continues across the dried seabed of the former Aral Sea toward the Ustyurt Plateau. Along the route, you will have many opportunities to take photographs of unique natural landscapes, including the majestic canyons of Ustyurt. The journey will then continue along the shores of the Aral Sea, where (in season) there will be time for swimming, walking along the shore, and collecting seashells. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt camp.

The second day greets you with a sunrise over the sea and breakfast. On the return journey to the city of Nukus, a visit to Kurgancha-Kala (12th–14th centuries), a fortified trading post on the Great Silk Road, is included. Then our transfer will take you to the railway station in Nukus, from where a train will take you to another remarkable city of our country — Bukhara (552 km, departure at 15:03, arrival at 23:35). Upon arrival, a transfer will take you to the hotel. Overnight in Bukhara.

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you will enjoy a walking tour full of new impressions. You will be amazed by the Bolo-Khauz and Poi Kalyan ensembles, admire the ancient Ark Fortress, and visit a number of famous madrasas: Abdulaziz Khan, Kosh, Ulugbek, Kukeldash, and Nadir Divan-Begi. The Lyabi-Khauz ensemble will leave a particularly strong impression. Then our transfer will take you to Bukhara railway station, from where a high-speed train will take you to the pearl of our country — Samarkand (departure at 16:51, arrival at 19:13). Upon arrival, hotel accommodation. Overnight in Samarkand.

Breakfast at the hotel. You will meet our professional guide, after which the sightseeing tour will begin immediately. First, you will find yourself in the very heart of Samarkand — Registan Square, consisting of three stunningly beautiful madrasas: Mirzo Ulugbek, Tillya-Kori, and Sher-Dor. Next, you will visit the Gur-Emir Mausoleum. Your day will be rich and eventful: you will also see the tombs of the famous Timurid dynasty, and the Shakhi-Zinda ensemble will reveal its historical secrets to you. Then our transfer will take you to Samarkand railway station, from where a high-speed train will take you back to the capital of our country — Tashkent (departure at 18:15, arrival at 20:30). Upon arrival, hotel accommodation. Overnight in Tashkent.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the scheduled time, our transfer will take you to the international airport. End of the tour.