The Trip Itinerary

The Golden Road to Samarkand

Duration • 12 days & 10 nights Expert-led group tour • From £2,995 (incl. flights) Category • Standard Art • Architecture • History

the Kyzylkum desert stopping at the Amu Tour overview Darya river, known as the Oxus river in the ancient world. Stay at Emir Hotel (or similar) Visit the most magnificent cities of for 4 nights. (B, L) the ancient Silk Road with Islamic expert Diana Driscoll or William Taylor. Day 6: Bukhara These include Uzbekistan’s second Take a full-day walking tour of Bukhara, visiting largest city, Samarkand, built by the Persian Samanid brick mausoleum, the the infamous 14th-century Emperor Chashmai Ayub, known as Job’s Well, and the Tamerlane; the medieval city of Bolo Hauz mosque. Visit the trade domes, Bukhara, with its dazzling blue mosaic madrasas and traditional Bukharan bazaars. domes; the jade-green city of Khiva; Continue to the Poi-Kalyan complex, which and Nukus, which once protected the includes the towering Kalyan minaret and the Russian avant-garde art collection of twin-domed Miri-Arab madrasa. (B) archaeologist and artist, Igor Savitsky from the Soviets. Chor Minor, Bukhara Day 7: Bukhara Visit the architectural ensemble around the Day 1: Fly to Tashkent Lyab i-Hauz pool, fed by the waters of the Signature experiences Board the overnight flight from London royal canal. Continue to the Chor Minor, a (regional connections available) to Tashkent curious four-towered gatehouse, and the  Private tour of the Karakalpakstan with Uzbekistan Airways. (N) Sitora-i Mokhi-Khosa, the summer palace of State Museum of Art in Nukus with the last emir of Bukhara. Then visit the Fayzulla a local specialist Day 2: Tashkent • Fly to Nukus Khodjaev Museum, set in the house of a  See traditional silk weavers at work Arrive in Tashkent and transfer to the Miran wealthy Bukhara merchant showing aspects of  Full-day tours of Bukhara & Khiva International Hotel (or similar) for a rest. life in the early 20th century. Continue to the  Discover the intricacies of After an introductory lecture and welcome Balyand neighbourhood mosque, a jewel of Samarkand’s Islamic architecture lunch, take a city tour to see the highlights of 16th-century architecture, and the imposing  Visit ceramicist workshops Tashkent, including Kukeldash mosque, Muyie ark fortress of the Bukhara emirs. Walk down Mubarak library and Tillya Sheikh mosque. In the narrow streets of historic Bukhara to the the afternoon, fly to Nukus and overnight at old Jewish quarter. See one of the city’s hidden Expert lecturers Hotel Jipek Joli (or similar). (B, L) gems, the Jewish synagogue, which houses a collection of ancient torahs dating back Diana Driscoll read Day 3: Chilpak • Khiva approximately 600 years. (B) ancient Middle East and Morning tour of the Karakalpakstan State Islamic studies at SOAS. Museum of Art, which houses the collection of Day 8: Rabat i-Malik • Gijduvan • Vabkent She is an independent Igor Savitsky, who secreted away thousands Drive along the royal road to the 11th-century researcher who gives of Russian avant-garde and post avant-garde Rabat i-Malik caravanserai (a trading route regular talks at the British paintings during the Stalinist Soviet period. stop-off). Continue to Gijduvan, renowned for Museum. Her area of Besides this rare and extensive collection of its traditional ceramics, and see Abd-al-Khalyk expertise is the Islamic world: religion, art (second only to St Petersburg), he also Gijduvani mazar. Return to Bukhara via Vabkent history, culture and languages. collected thousands of Uzbek artefacts, textiles to see the minaret commissioned in the 12th and jewellery. Tour the museum with a local century by one of the rulers of Bukhara. (B, L) Dr William Taylor, an specialist. En route to Khiva, stop at Chilpak to expert in Ottoman and see the fourth-century Zoroastrian Tower of Day 9: Shahrisabz • Samarkand Orthodox studies, is also Silence. Stay for 2 nights at Orient Star Khiva Drive to Shahrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane, an Anglican priest and (or similar). (B, D) where he built an enormous palace, of Chairman of the Anglican which part of the beautifully ornamented and Eastern Churches. Day 4: Khiva audience chamber remains. Drive alongside His personal contacts Full-day tour of the old walled city of Khiva, the Zerafshan mountains to Samarkand for a guarantee special access to many capital of Khorezm between the 16th and 20th 2-night stay at the Dilimah Premium or Malika monasteries and churches. He has worked centuries, and one of the most remote of the Diyora (or similar). (B) in Jordan, Cairo and Turkey, and travelled Silk Road cities. Visits include the Kunya Ark in the Middle East and Central Asia. (old fortress), the original residence of the Day 10: Afrosiyob • Samarkand Khiva khans; the beautifully decorated Tash Drive to the ancient deserted site of Afrosiyob Hauli (stone palace); the Friday Mosque; and on the outskirts of Samarkand, where a madrasas (theological colleges), which now settlement once thrived until it was destroyed house museum collections. Also visit a Unesco by Tamerlane. Archaeological finds are housed silk carpet workshop. (B) in the Afrosiyob History Museum. Continue to the observatory of Ulugbek, Tamerlane’s Day 5: Drive to Bukhara astronomer grandson, and see the Bibi Khanum Full-day drive to Bukhara (7-8 hours), through mosque, built by Tamerlane for his favourite

Contact us on 020 3930 5211 or visit CoxandKings.co.uk Western Gate, Itchan Kala, Khiva wife. End the day at the magnificent Gur Day 14: Kokand • Tashkent Standard tour: This tour is based in 4-star Emir mausoleum, where Tamerlane is buried Return to Tashkent visiting the ancient city accommodation. Please visit our website to beneath the Timurid fluted blue domes. (B) of Kokand en route. Overnight at the Miran see details of the hotels. International Hotel (or similar). (B) Day 11: Samarkand • Tashkent Day 15: Fly to London Accessibility: The tour involves some long Visit Registan Square, framed by three Transfer to the airport for the return flight to drives and requires a good level of fitness as brilliantly ornamented madrasas, and see London. (B) there is walking over rough terrain and up the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis. Visit the Amir some high, uneven steps. There are also Timur gate in Djizak . Drive to Tashkent. After Alternative extensions are also available to some long road journeys. a farewell dinner, overnight at the Miran Tashkent, Muynak and Termez. International Hotel (or similar). (B, D) Private visits: Please note that the exclusive and individual nature of private Day 12: Tashkent • Fly to London visits means that they are subject to This morning, visit the Museum of Applied IMPORTANT INFORMATION confirmation nearer the time of departure. Arts in a former Russian diplomat's residence. Mosques, private houses and other In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for a Arts & Culture tours: A collection of expert- buildings often have fluid opening times. flight to London. (B) accompanied tours focusing on creativity in If any visits have to be re-arranged, please its many forms. All tours are open to everyone be assured that we will seek alternatives of Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, and can be viewed at CoxandKings.co.uk/art equal interest. L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals. Expert-led tour: This tour is fully escorted Please visit CoxandKings.co.uk or call throughout by the lecturer, as well as an 020 3930 5211 for details on our latest TOUR EXTENSIONS experienced local guide. pricing, tour information and availability

Tour + Fergana Valley 4 days & 3 nights from £625 Guideline prices for 2022 Tour code: UZA

Explore Uzbekistan’s cultural heartland with 08 Apr – 19 Apr 2022 with Diana Driscoll from £3,195 single supp from £375 visits to some of the major towns in the 22 Apr – 03 May 2022 with Diana Driscoll from £3,295 single supp from £375 Fergana valley. Highlights include Andijan’s 23 Sep – 04 Oct 2022 with William Taylor from £3,295 no single supp* vibrant local market and the Yodgorlik 14 Oct – 25 Oct 2022 with William Taylor from £2,995 single supp from £325 silk factory in Margilan, which still uses traditional production methods that date * No single supplement on select group tour departure dates (limited availability) back to the days of the Silk Road caravans. A limited number of places on the following departures are available with no single supplement (once limited places are taken, a single supplement will apply): 23 Sep 2022

Day 12: Fergana valley Drive to the Fergana region of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan Airways flight upgrades Regional air connections Business Class from £995 return Please speak to your consultant for details Stay for 2 nights at the Hotel Asia Fergana (or similar). (B, D) The guideline tour prices are all per person in UK pounds, based on two people sharing a twin / double room. Day 13: Fergana valley For current prices for all departure dates, including special offers when applicable, please call 020 3930 5211 Full-day tour of the region, including Andijan or visit CoxandKings.co.uk. All prices are subject to availability. and Fergana. (B, D)