The Golden Road to Samarkand 26th March 2021 12 Days From £2395pp* Discover a spellbinding land... Dazzling blue mosaic domes, magnificent and fascinating trading cities. Join Regent as we travel the ancient Silk Road, one of the greatest trade routes of antiquity. Regent Highlights Tour Itinerary Fully escorted by Wendy Friday 26th March 2021 Monday 29th March 2021 Birch (subject to minimum numbers) Departing from Staffordshire, we head to London Today, we embark on a full day tour of Khiva, Heathrow for our Uzbekistan Airways overnight flight the historic heart of this ancient mud-walled city Economy flights (as itinerary specify) to Tashkent, the capital and largest city of is a beautifully preserved mix of minarets, Uzbekistan. madrassas and twisting alleyways. The capital 10 nights accommodation in of Khorezm between the 16th and 20th various 3 - 4* hotels on a Saturday 27th March 2021 centuries, and one of the most remote of the bed & breakfast basis with Upon arrival we transfer to the Miran Hotel, with time Silk Road cities. The tour has many highlights 3 lunches and 8 dinners to freshen up, before we head out on our city tour to explore Tashkent. We make our way to the historic including the Madrasa Mohammed Amin Khan, Included tours of the part of the city to the Kukeldash mosque and with the Kalta Minor minaret, the turquoise-tiled mosques, madrasas and Madrasa. Built in 1570, the madrasas have served symbol of Khiva. This iconic minaret was begun mausoleums of Tashkent, many functions over the years from a fortress of in 1851 by Mohammed Amin Khan, with the Khiva, Bukhara and Kokand khans to the present day where it is a school dream for him to be able to see all the way to Samarkand for students. Visit the Amir Timur Maydoni, the vast Bukhara. Unfortunately the building stopped Enjoy a traditional Uzbek square at the heart of Soviet Tashkent. In the centre suddenly in 1855 when he died, leaving the plov cooking demonstration of the square is a monument of Amir Timur beautifully tiled structure unfinished. Other visits include the Kunya Ark (fortress); the beautifully Excursion to Shahrisabz, enscribed with his famous motto “Power is in Justice” and is surrounded by buildings of historical decorated Tash Hauli; the Friday Mosque and a birthplace of Turco-Mongol local bakery. (B, D) conqueror Timur importance. Visit the Museum of Decorative and Applied Art where visitors can get a sense of the Continues overleaf... Includes all local taxes regional decorative styles of Uzbekistan many new 15% Government taxes exhibits including bright ghanch (carved and painted and airport taxes plaster). Then it’s back to our hotel for dinner. (D) Executive coach transfers Sunday 28th March 2021 from local departure points, With morning transfers to the airport, we take a short £85pp flight to Urgench. Upon arrival we visit the ancient Competitive rate travel fortresses of Ayaz-Kala and Topraq-Kala before an insurance & commission afternoon drive to Khiva via Ulli Khovli, a traditional free currency available in Khorezmian house. The welcoming old Silk Road store town of Khiva and the Malika Kheivak Hotel will be our home for the next 2 nights. (B, L, D) Our tour will take us to... A deposit of 15% is required to reserve your place on this tour FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS DEPARTURE PLEASE CONTACT:- Regent Tel 01785 818202 [email protected] www.regent-travel.co.uk 63 High Street, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8AD Regent act as Agent for Cox & Kings (ATOL 2815, ABTA V2999), and bookings are all subject to their booking conditions. Please see their current brochure for details. All UK transport provided by Regent and their suppliers. Regent ABTA 89283. Itinerary details & prices correct at time of going to print, but are prepared in advance and are subject to change. Regent reserve the right to make changes. Leaflet issue 2 - 07/02/2020 - WJB. Kalyan Mosque and Minaret, Bukhara Tuesday 30th March 2021 Friday 2nd April 2021 Transfer to Bukhara spend a full and Today we drive alongside the Zerafshan fascinating day driving through the Kyzyl- mountains to Samarkand via Shahrisabz, Accommodation Kum or Red Desert. We make a stop at birthplace of Timur, where we visit the Hotels are all of good 3 - 4* quality. Guest the Amudaryo river, which was known as summer palace, mosques and mausoleums. rooms each have en-suite bathroom. Hotel the Oxus river in the ancient world. Stay at Arrive in Samarkand for a 3-night stay at the locations are ideal for our itinerary, the Zaragon Plaza Hotel for 3 nights. (B, Emirkhan Hotel. (B, L, D) conveniently located near points of interest L, D) Saturday 3rd April 2021 and local facilities. Hotels as listed, or will be Wednesday 31st March 2021 We start our day in Samarkand by admiring alternatives of a similar standard. Take a full-day tour of Bukhara, another of the colourful mosaics and blue domes of the the major cities on the Great Silk Road famous Registan Square. A real gem located and a centre of trade for more than 2,000 in the centre of the city, the square is framed Hotel Details: years. Considered Central Asia’s holiest by three brilliantly ornamented madrasas, Tashkent, 2nts - Miran International city, our tour will visit many of the holy each with their own unique décor. Over it’s Hotel buildings including the Chor Minor history, locals gathered here for Khiva, 2 nts - Malika Kheivak mosque and the Poi-Kaylan complex, the announcements and trading, and soldiers spiritual centre of the city. The complex is gathered to prepare for war. After extensive Bukhara, 3 nts - Zaragon Plaza Hotel made up of the Kalyan minaret and the restorations, the square now hosts concerts, Samarkand, 3 nts - Emirkhan Hotel impressive Miri-Arab madrasa with its two and other events. We also visit the Afrosiab blue domes that dominate the skyline. The Museum, housing archaeological finds from Madrasa is still an active institution where the ancient deserted site of Afrosiab, the future imams and religious mentors Ulugbek Observatory, the Shah-i-Zinda * £425.00 Single supplement receive their education. Other highlights necropolis and the Bibi Khanum mosque, include the architectural ensemble around built by Timur for his favourite wife. We finish the beautiful Lyab-i-Hauz pool, once the our day with a walk through the bazaar. (B) city’s principal source of water, a stop at the ancient silk market, and a visit to the Sunday 4th April 2021 surviving trade domes which were once We continue our tour of Samarkand today part of a vast market complex. This with a visit to the Gur Emir mausoleum, the evening enjoy dinner and a traditional final resting place of several members of the Uzbek plov cooking demonstration. (B, D) Timurid dynasty beneath the fluted blue domes. Other visits include the Nodir Thursday 1st April 2021 Devonbegi madrasa, Hazrati Hizr mosque Get a glimpse of ancient Bukhara as we and the Hodja Doniyor mausoleum. After visit the spectacular-looking fortress of the lunch, we stop at a silk paper-making Bukharan emirs known as the ‘Ark’. This workshop before returning to our hotel for Ark Fortress, Bukhara royal town-within-a-town, is Bukhara’s dinner. (B, D) oldest structure, located on the site of a 2,000-year-old fortress. From ancient Monday 5th April 2021 times to more recent history, we visit the Morning at leisure. Why not visit the Khodja Mobility Information: Akrar complex with a stunningly decorated This tour requires a good level of fitness as it involves an Summer Palace of the last emir of amount of walking over rough terrain and up some high, Bukhara, Sitorai Mohi Hosa, with its three madrasa, mosque and minaret, a place held uneven steps. Regent must be informed of all mobility, building compound incorporating elements sacred to pilgrims and local people alike. This health and dietary requirements at time of booking, and if of both Russian and traditional Bukharan afternoon we drive to Tashkent with a stop health declines over the booking period. en route at a small market and the architecture - a reminder of Uzbekistan’s Tamerlane Iron Gate. Return to the Miran Tour Information: era of Russian rule. Other highlights of our Hotel for 1 night. (B, D) British citizens do not require a visa to visit Uzbekistan as tour today include the Chashma Ayub a tourist. mausoleum, known as Job’s Well, and the Tuesday 6th April 2021 Have a leisurely morning in Tashkent before We will be using air-conditioned vehicles with no toilet. Ismail Samani mausoleum, built in the Regular comfort stops will be made over longer drives. early 10th century with a facade transferring to the airport this afternoon for Vehicle type is not guaranteed. incorporating Zoroastrian symbols. (B) our return flight to London. (B) A deposit of 15% is required to reserve your place on this tour FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS DEPARTURE PLEASE CONTACT:- Regent Tel 01785 818202 [email protected] www.regent-travel.co.uk 63 High Street, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8AD Regent act as Agent for Cox & Kings (ATOL 2815, ABTA V2999), and bookings are all subject to their booking conditions. Please see their current brochure for details. All UK transport provided by Regent and their suppliers. Regent ABTA 89283. Itinerary details & prices correct at time of going to print, but are prepared in advance and are subject to change. Regent reserve the right to make changes. Leaflet issue 2 - 07/02/2020 - WJB. .